Blue Jays' crowded outfield attractive to other clubs as MLB trade deadline emerges
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The Toronto Blue Jays crowded outfield will be an area of intrigue as the MLB trade deadline looms. You can bet other teams will come calling in late July.
The Blue Jays broke camp with six outfielders on the roster and the season's attrition has now pushed them nine deep at the three spots there, 10 if you count Addison Barger, who's made 18 of his 53 defensive appearances so far out in right.
That's a lot, and while there's still runway before Daulton Varsho and Anthony Santander return from the injured list, the unofficial first step in clarifying a somewhat cluttered picture in an area of surplus.
«It's getting a little clearer, for sure,» manager John Schneider said «There are definitely some guys that are, auditioning is not the right word, but competitively playing for some playing time.»
How it all shakes out is an area of intrigue as the Blue Jays approach the July 31 trade deadline, as the outfield can be both an area of surplus to trade from, and potentially an area to bolster before the cutoff.
If everyone is healthy, Varsho is the obvious starter in centre field, with one of Santander and Springer in a corner while the other, in all likelihood, is at DH. Barger, if not at third base, is in right field, but when he is on the dirt, that creates some flexibility in one of the corners.
Alan Roden, injured, due to right knee inflammation that has him day-to-day, got some early-season run in left, but Lukes has been getting more regular reps, with more plate appearances than any outfielder outside of Springer, Santander and Barger.
Myles Straw, is next up in terms of playing time and offers a right-handed complement to the mix, with Davis Schneider playing the role of lefty masher. Joey Loperfido and Will Robertson waiting in the wings is the most recent addition.
That leaves Joey Loperfido' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Jonatan Clase, the 23-year-old switch-hitter who hit his second homer of the season Thursday, a 408-foot rocket at 106.1 m.p.h. out to right. Brought up May 7 when the Blue Jays were looking for a jolt, he offers up «an interesting skill-set,» said John Schneider, one that includes «power, some chase, obviously elite speed (and) can make up for some tough balls in the outfield with his speed.»
«He's a little bit younger,» added the manager, «and there are still some things that we talk about every day with him in terms of game situations and things like that and when to take chances, when to not. But he's probably a little bit different because of his age and probably the high-ceiling that he does have.»
Now that Nathan Lukes is back, there will be fewer opportunities for others, with the eventual returns of Varsho and Santander looming on the mix.
The Blue Jays may at some point choose to recalibrate the roster with another infielder and Will Wagner, who hurt his foot after being demoted, back with triple-A Buffalo and beginning to find his swing.
Hard-hitting prospect Orelvis Martinez, also with the Bisons, has started taking groundballs at first base to explore another possible pathway for him to the roster, if his bat locks in.
The time for all the outfielders to carve out their place, then, is now.
The Blue Jays will definitely be looking for pitching before the deadline and one or maybe two of these outfielders may be on their way out of Toronto.
If you were to trade one of the Blue Jays outfielders which one would it be?
Tell us what you think in the poll below.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 22 | 303 ANSWERS Blue Jays' crowded outfield attractive to other clubs as MLB trade deadline emerges If you were to trade one of the Blue Jays outfielders which one would it be? | ||
| Nathan Lukes | 13 | 4.3 % |
| Jonatan Clase | 42 | 13.9 % |
| Alan Roden | 72 | 23.8 % |
| Davis Schneider | 176 | 58.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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