Toronto’s title defence of the Golden Grapefruit, as coined by MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson, will begin later this month — with the Blue Jays’ first exhibition game scheduled for Feb. 21 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

But the storylines will be flowing long before then.

There’s no denying the Blue Jays will look different once spring training opens, adding to the intrigue around a franchise coming off its first World Series appearance in 32 years, albeit a magical run that ended in unforgettable heartbreak. This is the beginning of a new era, marked by the reigning AL champs’ franchise-altering off-season.

Several new faces will arrive to camp over the next few weeks, most notably right-handed starter Dylan Cease, who’ll be joined by fellow newcomers Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers and Kazuma Okamoto.

The Blue Jays also endured many notable subtractions over the winter, including Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer — both of whom remain unsigned, but aren’t expected to return to the organization at this time — as well as Seranthony Domínguez (signed with the White Sox). However, they also said goodbye to a franchise cornerstone — shortstop Bo Bichette.

Bichette’s departure to the New York Mets, ending his tenure with the Blue Jays organization that spanned almost an entire decade, will be felt on numerous fronts this spring. It’ll be the most talked-about storyline throughout camp, and understandably so, given how much he meant to this franchise and what his absence now means for them moving forward.

Thus, there’s no better place to start as we dive into the top storylines around this team ahead of next week’s pitchers and catchers reporting date.

Adjusting to this new normal without Bichette will pose as the Blue Jays’ biggest challenge this spring, a task that’ll assuredly be easier said than done. It’ll take time to move past what used to be a staple of the club’s infield, as the 27-year-old had been their everyday shortstop for the past five seasons — and now begins a new chapter of his career as the Mets’ primary third baseman.

The post-Bichette era will bring a new dynamic to Toronto’s infield, both on the field and in the clubhouse. In Bichette’s place, Andrés Giménez will slide over to short full-time — a transition he had already been planning for over the off-season anyway — and attempt to pick up where he left off after seamlessly filling in on the left side down the stretch last season.

Giménez, whose +67 defensive runs saved and +59 outs above average at second base rank third among major league defenders (any position) since 2022, will create everyday opportunities at second for Ernie Clement by moving to short. Considering Bichette’s defensive decline, resulting in career-worsts in OAA (-13) and fielding run value (-10) last season, that duo will actually represent an upgrade for the Blue Jays in ’26.

But while the Giménez-Clement tandem will provide additional defensive upside, the biggest lingering question is whether Toronto’s offence can be as good, if not better, than it was a season ago now that Bichette has moved on.

The answer to that question almost certainly won’t be found this spring. That, too, will take time to assess. On the surface, replacing someone whose offensive value has been at least 20 per cent above league average per wRC+ (100 is average) each season since Bichette’s 2019 debut — excluding his injury-riddled ’24 campaign — will be incredibly difficult. Not to mention, Bichette has also finished shy of being either a four- or five-win player via fWAR in four of the previous five seasons.

To overcome such a significant loss, the Blue Jays’ lineup, which will have to create runs a bit differently without Bichette this year, needs many things to go right — like avoiding monumental regressions from George Springer and Alejandro Kirk, witnessing a seamless transition against improved competition from Okamoto and a return-to-form showing from Anthony Santander.

All those factors need to click to prevent Toronto’s offence from taking a considerable step back.

By signing Cease and Ponce, the Blue Jays have significantly raised the ceiling of this season’s starting rotation — which will also welcome back Shane Bieber, too. Together, that trio will enter camp alongside Kevin Gausman, rookie phenom Trey Yesavage, José Berríos and Eric Lauer, serving as one of the organization’s deepest spring-training staffs of all time.

It’s been a long… long time since this team arrived in Florida with more MLB-calibre starters than rotation spots available. They’re currently seven starters deep before reaching the likes of Bowden Francis, Adam Macko and others, who’ll act as an extra layer of protection at triple-A this season.

You’ll never hear anyone complain about having too much pitching depth. It’s a great problem to have, and in Toronto’s case, one that’ll likely be met by an internal competition for the fifth starter’s job between Ponce, Berríos and Lauer.

Berríos, in particular, enters camp with plenty to prove after late-season woes cost him his rotation spot before the playoffs. The 31-year-old starter will also need to mend relationships throughout the organization following his absence from the World Series, which was initially described as a personal matter, before general manager Ross Atkins revealed last month that it was Berríos’ decision.

Ponce and Lauer, meanwhile, will also compete for the multi-inning reliever role in the Blue Jays’ bullpen. If Gausman, Cease, Bieber and Yesavage all remain healthy, that could force management into a tough decision regarding its surplus of rotation depth — as Berríos and Lauer aren’t exempt from waivers, whereas Ponce has one minor-league option remaining.

But there are also scenarios in which this situation could solve itself: if Bieber requires an extended build-up, there’d suddenly be two rotation jobs up for grabs. Separately, since the team will closely monitor Yesavage’s workload, it may be worth carrying six starters on Opening Day or having a spot starter (likely Ponce or Lauer) ready to step in when needed.

You could argue that no Blue Jays player enters spring training under more scrutiny than Santander — perhaps even more than Berríos.

The first of Santander’s five-year, $92.5 million contract was a complete disaster. He missed all but 54 games due to multiple IL stints. And even when he was available, the switch-hitting outfielder was ultimately a non-factor at the plate, earning a 61 wRC+ across 221 plate appearances — finishing 39 per cent below league average.

For context, of the 175 American League hitters who compiled at least 200 plate appearances last season, only two finished further below replacement level than Santander’s minus-0.9 fWAR — Chicago’s Josh Rojas (-1.3) and Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone (-1.6).

With $82.25 million still owed to Santander, the Blue Jays are banking on a bounce-back performance to prevent the 31-year-old’s contract from becoming a sinking ship, although some already believe we’ve reached that point with the bat-first slugger. Nevertheless, there are a few reasons to feel optimistic about him recapturing his 2024 form.

During that ’24 season, as Santander posted a career-high 44 home runs and 102 RBIs, signs of sustainability also arose from his 11.7 per cent barrel rate (another career high) and 28 per cent pull air rate (includes line drives, fly balls and pop-ups). He also delivered his fastest average bat speed reading (73.1 m.p.h.) since tracking began in 2023.

But the problem of Santander being a notorious slow starter still exists, and it could have a major influence on how this team performs out of the gate if other key hitters also start slow. Next to the fifth starter’s job, this will likely be the franchise’s most fascinating — and closely watched — storyline of the spring.

As of now, barring injury, the bullpen locks for Toronto appear to be closer Jeff Hoffman, the returning Yimi García (if healthy), Louis Varland, Rogers and a traditional multi-inning reliever — likely either Ponce or Lauer. That leaves three spots up for grabs this spring, or two if they break camp with a six-man rotation.

Despite last season’s up-and-down performance, Brendon Little will likely have an inside track to claim one of those remaining jobs, given his value as a high swing-and-miss lefty, as will Tommy Nance — who’s out of options. Braydon Fisher and Mason Fluharty should also be included in that mix, though they could end up getting caught in a numbers game since they both have options left.

Sometimes, it’s all about maximizing asset management. And with a pair of Rule 5 selections in camp, Angel Bastardo and Spencer Miles, having either of those wild cards hit could alter the bullpen landscape. There’ll also be a few other under-the-radar hurlers to keep an eye on this spring: Chase Lee, acquired from the Detroit Tigers a few days before the Rogers signing, as well as Yariel Rodríguez, Ryan Jennings and Jorge Alcala — the last three are non-roster invitees.

Whichever relievers break camp with the Blue Jays, the reality is that injuries, poor performances and workload concerns will keep this group fluid all year long. Just look at last year’s bullpen on Opening Day; Chad Green, Nick Sandlin, Jacob Barnes and Richard Lovelady all made the team. Now, none of those four are even still with the organization.

These days, it’s all about building a good enough bullpen until the trade deadline arrives, the time of year when every playoff contender is searching for upgrades.

At long last, the Blue Jays’ former top pitching prospect is healthy and ready to get back on track this season.

Tiedemann, who missed most of 2024 and all last season due to Tommy John surgery, will return to competitive action for the first time in nearly two years when he takes the mound this spring. The 23-year-old southpaw must prove he can stay healthy, with only 140 career innings under his belt since being selected in the third round of the 2021 draft.

In all likelihood, he’ll begin this season back at triple-A Buffalo, where he’s logged just five starts (13 innings), but has a chance to emerge as the organization’s biggest X-factor — with his high-rising four-seamer capable of reaching the upper 90s and high swing-and-miss sweeper from the left side — if he returns to form.

Whether it’s as a starter or high-leverage reliever, Tiedemann could become a valuable weapon for the Blue Jays down the road. Along those lines, other notable pitchers returning from injury that could impact the big-league club are Chad Dallas, Connor Cooke and T.J. Brock — none of whom are on the 40-man roster.