Toronto Blue Jays: 2017 Team Preview
By s.a. rose
In: DH Kendrys Morales; UTIL Steve Pearce; C Jarrod Saltalamacchia; RP J.P Howell; RP Joe Smith
After being eliminated by Cleveland in the ALCS, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said that the team had an “all-or-nothing” offense and the team needed to have more balance (left-handed hitters) and speed. Despite best efforts from the front office to sign Dexter Fowler, not much was done to address the weaknesses pointed out by the manager at a vulnerable moment after the Jays’ post-season exit. Morales and Saltalamacchia are both switch hitters but this might not be the impact left-handed hitter the Jays need. Speed on the base paths will not be addressed by the half a stolen base Saltalamacchia averages per season or by Morales, whose most famous base-running occurred when he broke his leg being mobbed after a game-winning home run.
In Steve Pearce, the Jays get a player who knows the AL East well (Toronto is his fourth AL East team) and he can fill in at a number of positions. Pearce is decent at a number of things and could be best described as plug for a hole instead of a weapon for Gibbons to unleash.
Imported from the Los Angeles teams, former Dodger Howell immediately becomes the top left-handed option out of the bullpen and former Angel Smith and his side-armed slot will give Blue Jay opponents a different look on the mound in the late innings of games. These could be very shrewd signings from Shapiro and Co. to improve the bullpen and keep Toronto in the playoff race throughout the season.