The Toronto Blue Jays announced last night their first round of roster cuts involving players who had a shot at the active roster. This included OF Jonatan Clase, INF Orelvis Martinez, RHP Jake Bloss, RHP Dillon Tate, and LHP Josh Walker, who were all optioned to triple-A. A few minor league players, LHP Mason Fluharty and RHP Hayden Juenger (amongst others) were also reassigned to minor league camp.

Bloss and Tate were likely starting the season in triple-A, as the starter is next on the depth charts while Tate signed late into spring training and likely needs some more time to ramp up. Walker was also a roster bubble player, with the Jays lacking in the southpaw department in the big leagues, but this move likely signals that the team will keep Ryan Yarbrough on the roster, who is currently in camp on a MiLB deal.

The more interesting names on the list were Clase and Martinez, as the battle for bench spots on the roster is starting to dwindle. The Jays also may need a centre fielder if Daulton Varsho isn’t ready to go for Opening Day and the DH spot is still up for grabs, which Martinez was in the running for given his power, although his age and development as an overall player may have been a factor. That’s not to say these players can’t be recalled before Opening Day but with who is left in camp, there are still a few players looking for spots with just a handful of games left in the regular season.

Looking at the current roster outline, there aren’t too many spots to go around. Assuming the Jays head into the new season with a 13 / 13 split, here is what the lineup construction may look like:

C: Alejandro Kirk
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
2B: Andrés Giménez
SS: Bo Bichette
3B: Ernie Clement*
LF: Anthony Santander
CF: Daulton Varsho**
RF: George Springer
DH: Will Wagner*

Bench: Backup Catcher
Bench: ??
Bench: ??
Bench: ??

I threw some asterisks in there because there are a few movable parts. Again, we won’t know 100% if Varsho will be ready to go for Opening Day or whether he will start the season as the DH – which seems unlikely given manager John Schneider’s recent comments. There is also an asterisk beside Clement and Wagner because I believe those two are battling for the third base spot but there also needs to be a player in the DH role, so Wagner slots there while Clement occupies third (but it can flip-flop in a platoon if needed).

For the remaining bench spots, here is who is still in camp looking for a spot on Opening Day:

C Tyler Heineman
C Christian Bethancourt*
INF Leo Jiménez
INF/OF Addison Barger
INF/OF Davis Schneider
INF Michael Stefanic*
OF Steward Berroa
OF Joey Loperfido
OF Nathan Lukes
OF Myles Straw*
OF Alan Roden*

That are still quite a few names left in the mix, and while some decisions may be a bit easier than others, there are roster battles to be had before Opening Day rolls around next week.

Of the group, only Heineman is out of MiLB options and would need to be DFA’d if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster – Clement is out of them too but I consider him more of a lock at this point. There’s no guarantee that the lack of options saves Heineman at this point, mostly because Christian Bethancourt’s cannon of an arm may have something to say about that, but the battle is still out in the open for the time being.

Both players aren’t impressing too much with the bat, which is another issue in itself, but for now, there is no clear favourite while some other internal options lurk under the surface.

The infield is where things get a bit tricky, as there are a few names the Blue Jays could take North but also a few players who are splitting time elsewhere on the field.

Barger has been on a hot streak as of late, boasting a .370/.419/.667 slash line with two doubles and two home runs. The Jays have used him at third base and in right field, so it will be interesting to see if that utility-type role helps him earn a spot on the roster, especially since his power and plate presence have been strong out of the gate. Schneider also fits into this category, as he has been suiting up at second base and left field this spring.

Stefanic has also been performing well, collecting seven hits through 15 contests with just five strikeouts compared to four walks. His ability to play second base and third base may help him earn a bench spot this year but he needs a 40-man spot, which might be a hurdle the Jays’ front office doesn’t want to deal with if someone like Barger is performing well and other players (mentioned later) can also cover the same positions.

Jiménez will likely begin the year in triple-A, as his bat has not found a rhythm to start the spring with just five hits through 26 at-bats. The Panamanian infielder hasn’t been optioned down as of yet, so he is still in the running, but he may need a strong weekend to help plead his case.

One of the most impressive players of the group above has been newcomer Myles Straw, who has collected 12 hits in 29 at-bats for a .414/.438/.586 slash line and a 1.024 OPS. Considering his glove-first mentality heading into the year, there is a strong chance he gets the nod for the fourth outfielder spot on the roster or takes over for Varsho if he starts the year on the IL, with the Jays finding a spot for him on the 40-man roster. This bodes well considering he doesn’t fit into the ‘needs more development’ aspect and can just rot away on the bench if need be.

Schneider and Berroa have also been playing well this spring, with each player collecting nine and 10 hits respectively and posting averages above the .300 mark. The interesting mark with Schneider is the club also has him taking reps at second base, which may aid in his bid for a spot on the Opening Day roster as well, but ultimately the club will likely only roll with one additional outfielder when the core group is healthy, so Schneider might be on the bubble. Both Straw and Berroa can handle centre field if needed, so both might get the nod for Opening Day if Varsho isn’t able to go to start the year but one will likely get cut once he returns.

Joey Loperfido likely heads to triple-A from the group, as his new stance at the plate has not correlated with strong at-bats this spring. Nine strikeouts through 28 at-bats is a tough pill to swallow, as well as just five hits in that span. Four of them have been for extra bases, which is a positive sign, but with Schneider, Barger, Straw, and Berroa all performing well, Loperfido sits a bit further down on the depth charts. Nathan Lukes is also in this bucket, and while his OBP is strong (.368), he has just six hits through 30 at-bats. He too can suit up in centre field and is getting the nod today but again, both Straw and Berroa have better numbers this spring and can play the same position, so it seems like he is on the outside looking in as well.

While Alan Roden has also been showing the front office what he is capable of, there is an argument to be made to send him back to triple-A to continue developing, although his impressive spring and consistent mentions by the Jays’ front office staff might change that narrative – especially if the Jays are in ‘win-now’ mode.

He’s the wild card in all of this roster juggling, and the outfielder has appeared in a team-high 17 games and has authored a .391/.545/.739 slash one with two home runs and five RBIs, while also impressing with his eye at the plate with his six walks compared to three strikeouts. Fans will likely revolt if Roden gets sent down – especially since George Springer is struggling this spring – but one way to get Roden on the roster would be to have him in the DH spot (which seems unlikely) or have him in left field and move Santander to the DH role (more likely). There are a few ways to make it work if the Blue Jays want.

The DH spot is an interesting topic in the Blue Jays camp. The club doesn’t have a dedicated player in that spot like a J.D. Martinez type and it almost seems like the club will use it either as a committee or figure it out this weekend.

This is why Wagner/Clement has the asterisk above, mostly because both players will likely slot into the hot corner this season – Clement likely more than Wagner – but that is still to be determined, and even so, Wagner likely finds a spot on the bench regardless.  Santander and Springer will also likely see some time at the DH spot throughout the year, barring manager John Schneider making Santander the permanent DH, so there is some fluidity here.

If Orelvis Martinez goes to triple-A and crushes the ball early, he too could be called back to the big leagues for reps in the DH spot. It’s not set in stone and the picture is murky heading into the new year.

Let’s assume Varsho is not ready to go for Opening Day and the Jays are carrying an additional outfielder as well as Wagner is the team’s DH – meaning there are five roster spots up for grabs. This is how things may shake out:

CF – Berroa/Straw
Bench – Berroa/Straw (the other)
Bench – Schneider
Bench – Barger
Bench – Betancourt

For this outcome, I see the Jays carrying Berroa and Straw to start the season and then one of them gets optioned when Varsho returns – meaning you carry four outfielders for the rest of the year. I also predict Schneider and Barger making the squad with their ability to play the corner outfield spots while also being serviceable on the infield if needed, with the bonus of having Wagner around as well. Bethancourt wins the battle behind the plate and Heineman gets DFA’d – whether he passes through or not is to be determined.

This would mean Roden starts the season in triple-A, which could happen mostly because if the Jays want Santander and Springer in the outfield, I don’t know if they feel as confident to have him be a full-time DH at this point in his career. He will get full playing time in Buffalo and if either one of Santander or Springer can’t handle everyday reps or they become a DH over a full-time fielder, then Roden gets the call.

If the club does decide that Roden is coming North to start the year, I imagine the battle for Opening Day will be split between Schneider and Barger, with Berroa and Straw needed for centre-field duties to at least start the season.