Toronto Blue Jays facing tough roster decision once George Springer returns
Photo credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The Toronto Blue Jays are approaching a difficult roster decision once George Springer makes his return.
With both Eloy Jimenez and Lenyn Sosa performing better than expected, the Toronto Blue Jays will have a challenging call to make when George Springer is back in the fold.
The situation is even more complicated because neither Jimenez nor Sosa has minor league options remaining, which limits the team’s flexibility and could lead to some intriguing roster moves.
The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon, who co-hosts the Blue Bird Territory Podcast alongside Kevin Pillar and Ricky Romero, believes that Jimenez may be the most likely odd man out.
His reasoning centers on Sosa’s greater versatility and clearer path to consistent playing time.
"When George Springer comes back where does this guy [Jimenez] play? He's a bench bat. I can tell you one thing, the Blue Jays will not be playing Jesus Sanchez in one corner and Eloy Jimenez in the other. Maybe he will play every so often at first base but, there just is not an easy path for playing time for him. So I could see despite him hitting .409 right now, with an .870 OPS in 22 at bats, being the odd man out. Just because Sosa is a little more versatile and you can see more consistant playing time for him [Sosa]."
Pillar and Romero believe Davis Schneider will be sent to Triple-A Buffalo
Kevin Pillar, however, doesn’t believe the Blue Jays will part ways with Jimenez.
"I'm going to go with the political option and say the the guy who still has options will get sent down [Schneider] and it isn't Nathan Lukes, because post Vertigo Lukes has turned into Mickey Mantle."
Pillar’s comments suggest that Davis Schneider, who still has minor league options, could be sent down to Buffalo, at least temporarily.
Ricky Romero, though hesitant, agreed with Pillar’s perspective and acknowledged how difficult the decision will be.
"It turns into a battle about who is producing right now, and Eloy Jimenez seems to be doing that whether it's off the bench of hitting behind Vladdy, it's the way it is right now. Man I love Davis Schneider and everything he brings to the ballclub, and seems to be a vey likeable guy in that clubhouse but, ya I'll go with KP [Pillar] maybe it is Davis that goes to Triple-A."
Ultimately, it will be fascinating to see how the Blue Jays handle this situation once Springer is back in the lineup.
Who do you think the Blue Jays will send down when George Springer returns?
Tell us what you think in the poll below.
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