In years past, Spring Training cuts were easy.

For example, in 2022 we were discussing whether Gosuke Katoh or Greg Bird would fill in as the Blue Jays’ backup first baseman. Katoh won the job and had 11 plate appearances with the Blue Jays that season before heading overseas at the end of the season. Bird split his 2024 season between Mexico and Australia.
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The same cannot be said for the final week of the 2025 Spring Training. Of the 13 roster spots for position players, centre field, designated hitter, and third base aren’t guaranteed. There are also one or two spots on the bench up for grabs.
There’s a lot of contention for those roles as well. Take third base, which was mainly played by Ernie Clement last season. The utility infielder is having a good Spring Training, slashing .405/410/.622 with two home runs in 29 plate appearances. However, his power is a little lacking behind a guy like Addison Barger, who has also had a good Spring Training. So is Orelvis Martínez, who may be better suited to the designated hitter’s role.
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/blue-jays">Fangraphs’ roster tool projects</a> Will Wagner will be the team’s designated hitter but he hasn’t had a good Spring Training. As noted in the last paragraph, Martínez is a possible fit for the role but so too is Daulton Varsho if he’s not healthy enough to play the outfield. So far this Spring Training, Varsho has slashed .320/.379/.920 with four home runs in 29 plate appearances for a 204 wRC+.
Then you have a crowded outfield. Even if Varsho ends up on the Injured List, there are four, maybe five outfield spots and far too many bats. Anthony Santander is set to play one corner while George Springer will likely play the other. Centre field is open for the taking if Varsho isn’t ready to start the season, with Joey Loperfido pencilled in the spot by<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/blue-jays"> Fangraphs’ roster projection</a>. He hasn’t had a good Spring Training, nor has Jonatan Clase.
That’s the exception though as the rest of their outfielders have had a solid to great Spring Training. Alan Roden has been the best Blue Jays’ hitter this Spring Training and it’s becoming increasingly clear he’s ready for regular MLB at-bats. This Spring Training, he’s slashing .391/.545/.739 with two home runs in 33 plate appearances. Realistically, the Blue Jays could push Springer to the centre field or even move him to the fourth outfielder role against left-handed pitching.
For a defensively sound outfielder, the Jays could look to Steward Berroa. The centre fielder didn’t play much with the Jays last season but he’s had a good Spring Training, slashing .383/.355/.500 with one home run in 31 plate appearances for a 120 wRC+. However, the Jays may aim for someone with more experience, such as Myles Straw who’s 182 wRC+ this Spring Training is the seventh-best for the Blue Jays. Either guy could be used as the team’s fourth outfielder until Varsho is back.
The Blue Jays’ rotation is set in stone with José Berríos, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, and Bowden Francis occupying the five spots. With that being said,<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/max-scherzers-thumb-injury-has-reignited-concerns-around-blue-jays-starting-pitching-depth"> if Scherzer’s thumb issue persists</a>, Jake Bloss, Yariel Rodríguez, and Eric Lauer could be options to fill his spot in the rotation for the time being.
Toronto’s bullpen is a little less set in stone, though. Jeff Hoffman will close, Chad Green and Yimi García will split up, and Nick Sandlin and Brendon Little will be used in middle relief. It’s expected that Yariel Rodríguez will spot start, but if Ryan Yarbrough makes the team off his minor league deal, he’s another good option to make the bullpen as a long-man. 
Right now, Richard Lovelady, Yarbrough, and Tommy Nance are pencilled as a part of the Jays’ bullpen according to the <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/blue-jays">roster projector from Fangraphs</a>, but there are other options, like <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/report-blue-jays-reliever-zach-pop-shut-down-for-7-10-days-due-to-elbow-discomfort">Zach Pop when he returns</a>. Another option is left-handed pitcher Mason Fluharty, who has a 1.50 ERA and a 2.77 FIP in six innings pitched, with a 37.5 K% and a 4.2 BB%. Of course, Erik Swanson and Ryan Burr could return at some point in the first few months of the season, making matters even more complicated.
With all that being said, it’ll be interesting to see what the Blue Jays do ahead of next Thursday’s Opening Day.
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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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In years past, Spring Training cuts were easy.



For example, in 2022 we were discussing whether Gosuke Katoh or Greg Bird would fill in as the Blue Jays’ backup first baseman. Katoh won the job and had 11 plate appearances with the Blue Jays that season before heading overseas at the end of the season. Bird split his 2024 season between Mexico and Australia.
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The same cannot be said for the final week of the 2025 Spring Training. Of the 13 roster spots for position players, centre field, designated hitter, and third base aren’t guaranteed. There are also one or two spots on the bench up for grabs.

There’s a lot of contention for those roles as well. Take third base, which was mainly played by Ernie Clement last season. The utility infielder is having a good Spring Training, slashing .405/410/.622 with two home runs in 29 plate appearances. However, his power is a little lacking behind a guy like Addison Barger, who has also had a good Spring Training. So is Orelvis Martínez, who may be better suited to the designated hitter’s role.

<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/blue-jays">Fangraphs’ roster tool projects</a> Will Wagner will be the team’s designated hitter but he hasn’t had a good Spring Training. As noted in the last paragraph, Martínez is a possible fit for the role but so too is Daulton Varsho if he’s not healthy enough to play the outfield. So far this Spring Training, Varsho has slashed .320/.379/.920 with four home runs in 29 plate appearances for a 204 wRC+.

Then you have a crowded outfield. Even if Varsho ends up on the Injured List, there are four, maybe five outfield spots and far too many bats. Anthony Santander is set to play one corner while George Springer will likely play the other. Centre field is open for the taking if Varsho isn’t ready to start the season, with Joey Loperfido pencilled in the spot by<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/blue-jays"> Fangraphs’ roster projection</a>. He hasn’t had a good Spring Training, nor has Jonatan Clase.

That’s the exception though as the rest of their outfielders have had a solid to great Spring Training. Alan Roden has been the best Blue Jays’ hitter this Spring Training and it’s becoming increasingly clear he’s ready for regular MLB at-bats. This Spring Training, he’s slashing .391/.545/.739 with two home runs in 33 plate appearances. Realistically, the Blue Jays could push Springer to the centre field or even move him to the fourth outfielder role against left-handed pitching.

For a defensively sound outfielder, the Jays could look to Steward Berroa. The centre fielder didn’t play much with the Jays last season but he’s had a good Spring Training, slashing .383/.355/.500 with one home run in 31 plate appearances for a 120 wRC+. However, the Jays may aim for someone with more experience, such as Myles Straw who’s 182 wRC+ this Spring Training is the seventh-best for the Blue Jays. Either guy could be used as the team’s fourth outfielder until Varsho is back.

The Blue Jays’ rotation is set in stone with José Berríos, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, and Bowden Francis occupying the five spots. With that being said,<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/max-scherzers-thumb-injury-has-reignited-concerns-around-blue-jays-starting-pitching-depth"> if Scherzer’s thumb issue persists</a>, Jake Bloss, Yariel Rodríguez, and Eric Lauer could be options to fill his spot in the rotation for the time being.

Toronto’s bullpen is a little less set in stone, though. Jeff Hoffman will close, Chad Green and Yimi García will split up, and Nick Sandlin and Brendon Little will be used in middle relief. It’s expected that Yariel Rodríguez will spot start, but if Ryan Yarbrough makes the team off his minor league deal, he’s another good option to make the bullpen as a long-man. 

Right now, Richard Lovelady, Yarbrough, and Tommy Nance are pencilled as a part of the Jays’ bullpen according to the <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/blue-jays">roster projector from Fangraphs</a>, but there are other options, like <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/report-blue-jays-reliever-zach-pop-shut-down-for-7-10-days-due-to-elbow-discomfort">Zach Pop when he returns</a>. Another option is left-handed pitcher Mason Fluharty, who has a 1.50 ERA and a 2.77 FIP in six innings pitched, with a 37.5 K% and a 4.2 BB%. Of course, Erik Swanson and Ryan Burr could return at some point in the first few months of the season, making matters even more complicated.

With all that being said, it’ll be interesting to see what the Blue Jays do ahead of next Thursday’s Opening Day.

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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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As Opening Day looms, the Blue Jays will have to make tough decisions for their roster

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