<p>The Blue Jays sit 14.5 games back in the AL East and 9.5 back in the AL Wild Card race, making it highly unlikely that they will be playing baseball this fall. The team waved the white flag at the trade deadline, sending off veterans while providing a jolt to their lacklustre farm system.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The team acquired 14 new players, many of which are on the cusp of making a Major League impact. We&#8217;ve already seen Joey Loperfido and Will Wagner earn some starting reps in Toronto, with others such as Jake Bloss likely to get the call before the end of the season. The multitude of players acquired in the Double-A to Triple-A range suggests that the Blue Jays don&#8217;t plan to instigate a total rebuild, instead having their sights set on competing in short order.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Will Wagner’s only the fifth player in franchise HISTORY to record 5 hits in his first two <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a> games! <a href="https://t.co/BF5KCQDpaa">pic.twitter.com/BF5KCQDpaa</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1823577424572956933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Refusing to trade Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette certainly instills some confidence that the team may spend some money this winter and go for it again next season. Let&#8217;s take a look at what each position group may look like heading into 2025.</p>
<h2>Starting Rotation</h2>
<p>The team will likely be relying on veteran starters in Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Chris Bassitt again next season. Although neither of the three have had a truly excellent season, they have all been at least slightly above average this year. Berrios ($18.7m) Bassitt ($22.0m) and Gausman ($23.0m) each carry reasonable enough contracts to make them good bets to return to Toronto next year.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yariel Rodriguez had a great start yesterday, allowing just 1 ER in 5.2 IP</p>
<p>Rodriguez has been a bright spot for the Blue Jays this season, posting a 3.53 ERA in 51.0 IP while alternating between a starter and bullpen role. He looks to be an important pitcher for Toronto in 2025 <a href="https://t.co/zo5O6HFIJ3">pic.twitter.com/zo5O6HFIJ3</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) <a href="https://twitter.com/TJStats/status/1822649892134678832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Yariel Rodriguez (3.86 FIP) has shown signs of brilliance in his first season since signing a 5-year, $32m contract, and the team will likely want to give him every chance to run with a rotation spot next year.</p>
<p>The fifth spot in the rotation is where things could get interesting for the club. Pitching prospect Jake Bloss would appear to be the likeliest candidate to earn the spot, which of course depends on how he performs with the big league squad in September as well as in Spring Training. Alek Manoah has also been effective in limited action with the club this season, despite battling injury issues.</p>
<p>If the Jays like all six of those guys as rotation pieces, they could opt to move Rodriguez to a bullpen role or trade one of them for an upgrade at a different position. There has also been some buzz over a possible reunion with recently traded pending free agent Yusei Kikuchi, which would make sense if the club wanted at least one lefthanded starter.</p>
<p><strong><em>Rotation Prediction: Gausman, Berrios, Bassitt, Rodriguez, and Bloss, with Manoah traded for bullpen help </em></strong></p>
<h2>Bullpen</h2>
<p>If the Blue Jays are going to compete next year, they will have to completely revamp their bullpen. They currently rank 29th in bullpen ERA on the season (5.02), one spot ahead of the Colorado Rockies. Aside from Chad Green and the recently traded Yimi Garcia, the team has really struggled with finding even league-average arms to come out of the pen. They will at least get Jordan Romano back from injury, although he struggled himself through 16 games this year.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chad Green has been ridiculously good for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> this year, representing the only solid reliever in an otherwise underwhelming bunch. He deserves some love for his versatility in the &#39;pen. <a href="https://t.co/HfXqtfPnKh">https://t.co/HfXqtfPnKh</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Jays Journal (@JaysJournal) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaysJournal/status/1822265424270012789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>With Triple-A Buffalo not offering much in terms of Major League-ready relievers, the team will likely have to spend in free agency and via trade to acquire a few capable arms.</p>
<p><strong><em>Prediction: Romano, Green and maybe Brendon Little, with the rest of the bullpen consisting of guys currently outside the organization.</em></strong></p>
<h2>Lineup</h2>
<p>Although the team decided to hang onto Guerrero Jr. and Bichette at the trade deadline, it doesn&#8217;t mean that one of them won&#8217;t be moved in the offseason. The most likely situation would probably be a long-term deal for Vladdy, and a trade out of town for Bo. Immediate bullpen help and young pitching prospects would likely be an ideal return in a trade for the 26-year-old.</p>
<p>This kind of deal would open some playing time for some young infielders in the organization. I suspect that the team will put trust in some of their top prospects to see what they may have going forward.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="fi" dir="ltr">Best offensive seasons in Blue Jays history (21st century)</p>
<p>1. José Bautista (2011): 180 wRC+<br />2. Carlos Delgado (2000): 179 wRC+<br />3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2021): 166 wRC+<br />4. José Bautista (2010): 165 wRC+<br />5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2024): 164 wRC+</p>
<p>All before turning 26 years old. <a href="https://t.co/sifxVNZIPl">pic.twitter.com/sifxVNZIPl</a></p>
<p>&mdash; nick (@splitteraces) <a href="https://twitter.com/splitteraces/status/1823718619160961084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Although it would be best for Jays fans to temper expectations at this point, a free-agent signing of Juan Soto would certainly be a big boost for the lineup. He would drastically change the expectations for the season and would make at least one of Loperfido or Jonatan Clase trade bait. Then again, after the Shohei Ohtani saga from last offseason, forecasting Soto to Toronto seems like a tough prediction to make.</p>
<p><strong><em>Lineup Prediction:</em></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>C: Alejandro Kirk</li>
<li>1B: Spencer Horwitz</li>
<li>2B: Orelvis Martinez</li>
<li>SS: Leo Jimenez</li>
<li>3B: Will Wagner</li>
<li>LF: Joey Loperfido/Jonatan Clase</li>
<li>CF: Dalton Varsho</li>
<li>RF: George Springer</li>
<li>DH: Vladimir Guerrero</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Final Word</strong></h2>
<p>There is quite possibly a small chance that these predictions won&#8217;t come to fruition. Save for the bullpen, which absolutely can not be fixed with the current guys in the organization, it wouldn&#8217;t be surprising to see the team go in any number of ways with the rotation and offence. Moving on from manager John Schneider could also impact certain moves that get made or don&#8217;t get made. Unless the team can make a Soto-esque splash this offseason, putting trust in some of their young players seems like a nice plan &#8211; and perhaps the smartest plan &#8211; for the team in 2025.</p>

The Blue Jays sit 14.5 games back in the AL East and 9.5 back in the AL Wild Card race, making it highly unlikely that they will be playing baseball this fall. The team waved the white flag at the trade deadline, sending off veterans while providing a jolt to their lacklustre farm system.



The team acquired 14 new players, many of which are on the cusp of making a Major League impact. We've already seen Joey Loperfido and Will Wagner earn some starting reps in Toronto, with others such as Jake Bloss likely to get the call before the end of the season. The multitude of players acquired in the Double-A to Triple-A range suggests that the Blue Jays don't plan to instigate a total rebuild, instead having their sights set on competing in short order.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1823577424572956933

&nbsp;

Refusing to trade Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette certainly instills some confidence that the team may spend some money this winter and go for it again next season. Let's take a look at what each position group may look like heading into 2025.
<h2>Starting Rotation</h2>
The team will likely be relying on veteran starters in Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Chris Bassitt again next season. Although neither of the three have had a truly excellent season, they have all been at least slightly above average this year. Berrios ($18.7m) Bassitt ($22.0m) and Gausman ($23.0m) each carry reasonable enough contracts to make them good bets to return to Toronto next year.

https://twitter.com/TJStats/status/1822649892134678832

Yariel Rodriguez (3.86 FIP) has shown signs of brilliance in his first season since signing a 5-year, $32m contract, and the team will likely want to give him every chance to run with a rotation spot next year.

The fifth spot in the rotation is where things could get interesting for the club. Pitching prospect Jake Bloss would appear to be the likeliest candidate to earn the spot, which of course depends on how he performs with the big league squad in September as well as in Spring Training. Alek Manoah has also been effective in limited action with the club this season, despite battling injury issues.

If the Jays like all six of those guys as rotation pieces, they could opt to move Rodriguez to a bullpen role or trade one of them for an upgrade at a different position. There has also been some buzz over a possible reunion with recently traded pending free agent Yusei Kikuchi, which would make sense if the club wanted at least one lefthanded starter.

<strong><em>Rotation Prediction: Gausman, Berrios, Bassitt, Rodriguez, and Bloss, with Manoah traded for bullpen help </em></strong>
<h2>Bullpen</h2>
If the Blue Jays are going to compete next year, they will have to completely revamp their bullpen. They currently rank 29th in bullpen ERA on the season (5.02), one spot ahead of the Colorado Rockies. Aside from Chad Green and the recently traded Yimi Garcia, the team has really struggled with finding even league-average arms to come out of the pen. They will at least get Jordan Romano back from injury, although he struggled himself through 16 games this year.

https://twitter.com/JaysJournal/status/1822265424270012789

With Triple-A Buffalo not offering much in terms of Major League-ready relievers, the team will likely have to spend in free agency and via trade to acquire a few capable arms.

<strong><em>Prediction: Romano, Green and maybe Brendon Little, with the rest of the bullpen consisting of guys currently outside the organization.</em></strong>
<h2>Lineup</h2>
Although the team decided to hang onto Guerrero Jr. and Bichette at the trade deadline, it doesn't mean that one of them won't be moved in the offseason. The most likely situation would probably be a long-term deal for Vladdy, and a trade out of town for Bo. Immediate bullpen help and young pitching prospects would likely be an ideal return in a trade for the 26-year-old.

This kind of deal would open some playing time for some young infielders in the organization. I suspect that the team will put trust in some of their top prospects to see what they may have going forward.

https://twitter.com/splitteraces/status/1823718619160961084

Although it would be best for Jays fans to temper expectations at this point, a free-agent signing of Juan Soto would certainly be a big boost for the lineup. He would drastically change the expectations for the season and would make at least one of Loperfido or Jonatan Clase trade bait. Then again, after the Shohei Ohtani saga from last offseason, forecasting Soto to Toronto seems like a tough prediction to make.

<strong><em>Lineup Prediction:</em></strong>
<ul>
 	<li>C: Alejandro Kirk</li>
 	<li>1B: Spencer Horwitz</li>
 	<li>2B: Orelvis Martinez</li>
 	<li>SS: Leo Jimenez</li>
 	<li>3B: Will Wagner</li>
 	<li>LF: Joey Loperfido/Jonatan Clase</li>
 	<li>CF: Dalton Varsho</li>
 	<li>RF: George Springer</li>
 	<li>DH: Vladimir Guerrero</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Final Word</strong></h2>
There is quite possibly a small chance that these predictions won't come to fruition. Save for the bullpen, which absolutely can not be fixed with the current guys in the organization, it wouldn't be surprising to see the team go in any number of ways with the rotation and offence. Moving on from manager John Schneider could also impact certain moves that get made or don't get made. Unless the team can make a Soto-esque splash this offseason, putting trust in some of their young players seems like a nice plan - and perhaps the smartest plan - for the team in 2025.

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