5 spring training questions for the Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays still have plenty of decisions to make with just over three weeks until Opening Day. Here, we take a look at five questions that need to be answered before the club opens up the season against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre.

Who hits leadoff?

It's safe to assume George Springer will again be penciled in atop the lineup. That's generally been the case since he signed with the Blue Jays ahead of the 2021 season. However, Springer's 35 years old and saw his offensive productivity decline in each of the last three years. He posted a below-average OPS+ (92) for the first time in his 11-year MLB career last season.

Springer could get another look atop the lineup to start the season, but it's clear the Blue Jays are auditioning other players for the role after their leadoff hitters finished the 2024 season 27th in wRC+ (87), OBP (.296), and OPS (.648). Bo Bichette, Will Wagner, Joey Loperfido, Andrés Giménez, and Nathan Lukes have all had opportunities to hit leadoff in spring games. There isn't really a player on the roster that jumps off the page as an ideal option, but outfield prospect Alan Roden is a name to keep in mind. The 25-year-old is on the radar after posting an .866 OPS with 16 home runs and 26 doubles across a pair of minor-league levels last season. His offensive skill set looks like a potential fit atop a lineup whenever he works his way into the plans at the major-league level. This is likely a question that won't have an answer by the first game of the season, and it won't be surprising if manager John Schneider continues tinkering with the leadoff spot as the campaign goes on.

Will Orelvis Martinez make the team?

Martinez is coming off a tumultuous 2024 campaign in which he served an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The 23-year-old made just one appearance for the Blue Jays last season before the suspension, hurting his development and squandering an opportunity to get acclimated with MLB pitching on a consistent basis.

It's fair to wonder what Martinez's ceiling is a hitter. He has incredible power potential but has struggled with strikeouts in the minor leagues. There are also serious question marks about where Martinez can be effective enough defensively to carve out consistent playing time. He's started two games at second base this spring, so that looks like the most likely home for him moving forward. But unfortunately for Martinez, Giménez is entrenched at the position as one of the best defensive second basemen in baseball.

Martinez's cleanest avenue to at-bats might be as a designated hitter against left-handed pitching. He posted a .966 OPS against southpaws at Triple-A last season. The Blue Jays' front office hasn't been keen to let young players sit on the bench at the major-league level, opting instead for everyday reps in the minors. The franchise must weigh how much merit there is to having Martinez as a bench bat.

Is 3B Ernie Clement's to lose?

The Blue Jays have been searching for a linchpin at the hot corner since Matt Chapman left at the end of the 2023 season. Clement got the bulk of the opportunities last season, making 96 appearances at third base, and it looks like his job to lose.

The 28-year-old was excellent defensively, ranking in the 92nd percentile in Baseball Savant's outs above average. He was also fourth among all MLB third basemen with nine defensive runs saved, trailing only Chapman, Ke'Bryan Hayes, and Ryan McMahon. There's no question that Clement has more than enough defensive value to be a primary option at third base.

The bigger question is whether Clement's bat can be dangerous enough at what's historically been a premium offensive position. He hit 12 home runs, 21 doubles, and stole 12 bases last season. However, he registered a 94 wRC+ and walked just 2.4% of the time, leading to a .284 OBP. Those aren't ideal offensive numbers for a third baseman. The only intriguing alternative is Will Wagner, but his ability to handle the defensive responsibilities is in doubt. It's hard to see any scenario right now that doesn't include Clement at third base.

How will the bullpen come together?

The Blue Jays' bullpen was a disaster in 2024. There's no sugarcoating it. The relief corps cost the team countless games and needed a complete overhaul entering the offseason. The additions of Jeff Hoffman, Yimi García, and Nick Sandlin should alleviate some of the issues, and a return to form for Erik Swanson would go a long way as well. Swanson saw his ERA jump more than two runs last season, while his K/9 declined from 10.13 to 8.47.

A five-man relief corps in which Hoffman is in the closer's spot - and backed by Chad Green, Garcia, Swanson, and Sandlin - is a solid starting point. Brendon Little is the only left-handed reliever projected to head north for Opening Day, while Josh Walker, Easton Lucas, Richard Lovelady, and Amir Garrett are options to consider with a strong spring performance. The Blue Jays also reunited with Ryan Yarbrough after he emerged as an unlikely contributor last season.

Is there enough pitching depth?

The rotation heading into the season looks to be in relatively good shape. Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, and Bowden Francis project to form a solid group in the American League.

There are some question marks, however. Gausman struggled last season and is entering his age-34 campaign. Bassitt is 36 and entering the final year of his contract. Scherzer struggled to stay healthy over the past few years and will turn 41 in July. That being said, Gausman, Berríos, and Bassitt were as durable as any pitchers the past few years and made at least 30 starts in each of the past two seasons. The big question is what things will look like if, or more likely when, the Blue Jays have to navigate an injury to a starting pitcher.

Yariel Rodríguez made 21 starts last season, posting a 4.47 ERA, 4.34 FIP, and 8.8 K/9. He showed flashes of being a capable major-league starter but struggled through bouts of inconsistency and an ability to get hitters out multiple times through the order. With the addition of Scherzer, Rodríguez looks ticketed for a relief role, and a move back to the bullpen could be ideal. Rodríguez was excellent in his last season in Japan as a reliever. It's what led the five-year, $32-million contract that brought him to North America.

Looking a little further down the depth chart, it will be interesting to see how right-hander Jake Bloss continues to develop. The Blue Jays acquired him in the Yusei Kikuchi trade last season. Bloss is intriguing but looks like a young arm that needs more seasoning in the minors. The 23-year-old is probably another year away from being in a position to make a meaningful impact for the Blue Jays.

Alek Manoah is continuing to rehab from Tommy John surgery and is unlikely to be an option before August. The Blue Jays also signed veteran left-hander Eric Lauer to a minor-league deal. Lauer posted strong strikeout numbers in the KBO last season and posted an 18-12 record with a 3.47 ERA and 8.9 K/9 as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers across 2021 and 2022. The 29-year-old is a name to keep handy if the Blue Jays are in need of a starting pitcher who can fill in during the early part of the regular season.