The Blue Jays will be facing another year of uncertainty and questions, despite the few offseason additions. The club went through hardship from the beginning of the free agent market, swimming on the losing side for most of the time. 
Toronto branded their name into almost every single big-market negotiation this offseason. The first major pursuit was Juan Soto, where the Blue Jays took it to the final days. The offer from Toronto concluded at under $700 million.
The Blue Jays also lost out on pitcher Rōki Sasaki. Various pitching options were passed on or taken by other teams. The biggest losses were the other big bats that the Jays were allegedly in dealings with. 
Pete Alonso, Teoscar Hernández, and Alex Bregman were huge misses for Toronto and while they signed Anthony Santander, the offensive reinforcements are still somewhat lacking heading into the 2025 season. These will be major concerns if the bats don’t find traction early on. 
In a dreadful competitive American League East, there are three parts of the game the Blue Jays need to establish out of the gate to compete.  Let&#8217;s take a look at them.
<h2></h2>
<h2>Establish a Well Constructed Lineup and Come Out With Aggressive Barrels </h2>
Many baseball minds have opinions about the 2025 lineup, and the results are the same. The top four in your order will be your top producers with the ability to make the strongest offensive impact. 
Other than Toronto’s projected top-four sticks, the offence seems somewhat scarce in the rest of the order. George Springer will remain in the leadoff spot, where he’ll execute both power and streaky base hits, getting on base. Springer’s on-base percentage was a .303 last season.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr will follow in the two-spot, being Toronto’s top heavy hitter followed by newly added Anthony Santander. Santander is established and proven to be productive and powerful. 
He is extremely aggressive, put’s bat-on-ball, and can work all fields. Santander is a perfect candidate to employ with runners on base or runners in scoring position. Bo Bichette will occupy the clean-up spot.
The Blue Jays&#8217; remaining five may set up as such:
<ol start="5">
<li> Will Wagner</li>
<li> Alejandro Kirk</li>
<li>Andrés Giménez</li>
<li> Ernie Clement </li>
<li> Nathan Lukes OR  Daulton Varsho</li>
</ol>
The ninth spot is important as the wrap-around to the top needs to be persistent at the dish with abilities to drive in runs, move guys across, and hit with a running intent. Lukes would be the projected option for that, however, Varsho holds the profile. 
However, the left-handed bat at the end of the lineup is not ideal but his contact abilities and ability to get extra-base hits are not overlooked. Varsho recorded 98 hits with 28 of them getting extra bases and 18 of them home runs. His running game, speed, and IQ on the base pads also account for such a decision. 
On paper, this may be the most sophisticated starting lineup at hand, unless or until there’s another transpiring factor. Spots five to nine must be aggressive and execute scenarios as needed.
<h2>Identify and Execute the Running Game </h2>
The running game in Toronto has been almost non-existent. The Blue Jays do not snag bases, and are not built for such a type of game. In 2024, there were only three players who stole more than 10 bags. 
Varsho stole 10 bags in 2024, followed by Ernie Clement who stole 12 bags. The team leader in stolen bases was George Springer, who recorded 16 snagged bases. 
These three will be looked upon this season, however you can add one more name as a reinforcement to this list. Newly acquired infielder Andrés Giménez is also sneaky on the pads.
He recorded 30 stolen bags in 2024 and 30 in 2023, for a total of 60 in two years. He was only caught stealing five times last season. The Blue Jays will look to him to increase their chances of getting to scoring position and inching every 90 feet possible towards winning situations. 
<h2>Identify and Establish the Closer and Set-Up Options </h2>
Chad Green was Toronto&#8217;s long-term fill-in last season when Jordan Romano went down on injury.  However, the Blue Jays signed Jeff Hoffman to a three-year, $33 million deal this off-season and he&#8217;s set to be their closer. Of course, he failed two physicals from the Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles, so who else can pitch in high-leverage for the Blue Jays in a set-up role and as a closer if Hoffman is injured at any point in 2025?
Like last season, Green would be seen as the go-to guy. Another backup could be Yimi García, who is back with the club. García would ideally spend more time in the set-up role alongside Green due to his reliability in the hot seat of the ninth. 
Hopefully, some more options emerge from their depth, like Nick Robertson, Josh Walker, or Amir Garrit.

The Blue Jays will be facing another year of uncertainty and questions, despite the few offseason additions. The club went through hardship from the beginning of the free agent market, swimming on the losing side for most of the time. 

Toronto branded their name into almost every single big-market negotiation this offseason. The first major pursuit was Juan Soto, where the Blue Jays took it to the final days. The offer from Toronto concluded at under $700 million.

The Blue Jays also lost out on pitcher Rōki Sasaki. Various pitching options were passed on or taken by other teams. The biggest losses were the other big bats that the Jays were allegedly in dealings with. 

Pete Alonso, Teoscar Hernández, and Alex Bregman were huge misses for Toronto and while they signed Anthony Santander, the offensive reinforcements are still somewhat lacking heading into the 2025 season. These will be major concerns if the bats don’t find traction early on. 

In a dreadful competitive American League East, there are three parts of the game the Blue Jays need to establish out of the gate to compete.  Let's take a look at them.
<h2></h2>
<h2>Establish a Well Constructed Lineup and Come Out With Aggressive Barrels </h2>
Many baseball minds have opinions about the 2025 lineup, and the results are the same. The top four in your order will be your top producers with the ability to make the strongest offensive impact. 

Other than Toronto’s projected top-four sticks, the offence seems somewhat scarce in the rest of the order. George Springer will remain in the leadoff spot, where he’ll execute both power and streaky base hits, getting on base. Springer’s on-base percentage was a .303 last season.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr will follow in the two-spot, being Toronto’s top heavy hitter followed by newly added Anthony Santander. Santander is established and proven to be productive and powerful. 

He is extremely aggressive, put’s bat-on-ball, and can work all fields. Santander is a perfect candidate to employ with runners on base or runners in scoring position. Bo Bichette will occupy the clean-up spot.

The Blue Jays' remaining five may set up as such:
<ol start="5">
 	<li> Will Wagner</li>
 	<li> Alejandro Kirk</li>
 	<li>Andrés Giménez</li>
 	<li> Ernie Clement </li>
 	<li> Nathan Lukes OR  Daulton Varsho</li>
</ol>
The ninth spot is important as the wrap-around to the top needs to be persistent at the dish with abilities to drive in runs, move guys across, and hit with a running intent. Lukes would be the projected option for that, however, Varsho holds the profile. 

However, the left-handed bat at the end of the lineup is not ideal but his contact abilities and ability to get extra-base hits are not overlooked. Varsho recorded 98 hits with 28 of them getting extra bases and 18 of them home runs. His running game, speed, and IQ on the base pads also account for such a decision. 

On paper, this may be the most sophisticated starting lineup at hand, unless or until there’s another transpiring factor. Spots five to nine must be aggressive and execute scenarios as needed.
<h2>Identify and Execute the Running Game </h2>
The running game in Toronto has been almost non-existent. The Blue Jays do not snag bases, and are not built for such a type of game. In 2024, there were only three players who stole more than 10 bags. 

Varsho stole 10 bags in 2024, followed by Ernie Clement who stole 12 bags. The team leader in stolen bases was George Springer, who recorded 16 snagged bases. 

These three will be looked upon this season, however you can add one more name as a reinforcement to this list. Newly acquired infielder Andrés Giménez is also sneaky on the pads.

He recorded 30 stolen bags in 2024 and 30 in 2023, for a total of 60 in two years. He was only caught stealing five times last season. The Blue Jays will look to him to increase their chances of getting to scoring position and inching every 90 feet possible towards winning situations. 
<h2>Identify and Establish the Closer and Set-Up Options </h2>
Chad Green was Toronto's long-term fill-in last season when Jordan Romano went down on injury.  However, the Blue Jays signed Jeff Hoffman to a three-year, $33 million deal this off-season and he's set to be their closer. Of course, he failed two physicals from the Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles, so who else can pitch in high-leverage for the Blue Jays in a set-up role and as a closer if Hoffman is injured at any point in 2025?

Like last season, Green would be seen as the go-to guy. Another backup could be Yimi García, who is back with the club. García would ideally spend more time in the set-up role alongside Green due to his reliability in the hot seat of the ninth. 

Hopefully, some more options emerge from their depth, like Nick Robertson, Josh Walker, or Amir Garrit.

Three areas that the Blue Jays need to find early success in 2025

Recent articles from Nick Prasad

Breaking News