The Blue Jays made a number of shocking selections in naming their closing roster forward of the 2025 common season. To be honest, that they had some tough decisions to make, however I used to be shocked by not less than a pair of the paths taken.
For starters, I used to be all however sure that Addison Barger would make the staff a method or one other, however on Sunday the Jays introduced that he was among the many closing roster cuts. Barger had been tearing the quilt off the ball this spring, slashing .367/.429/.733 with three house runs and 6 RBI over 30 at-bats. Granted it’s a small pattern dimension, however the 25-year-old has been hitting the ball with authority, and I assumed that his versatility would additionally assist him to earn an enormous league roster spot.
As a substitute, the Blue Jays determined to take each Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes north with them to start the season. An enormous a part of the explanation for that’s the absence of Daulton Varsho to start the yr and the necessity for protection in centre discipline. There’s a superb likelihood the pair will kind a platoon up the center till Varsho is able to return from the injured checklist, and I can perceive the pondering to a point. Nevertheless, in Straw’s case specifically, he needed to be added to the 40-man roster, which meant that another person must be eliminated. With all due respect to Straw, I’m undecided making that addition was definitely worth the strikes that may observe even when he’s performed effectively throughout Grapefruit League motion. As of this writing, the one DFA that has been introduced is Tommy Nance, however there will probably be extra to come back after the Blue Jays additionally notified Alan Roden he could be making the journey to Toronto, and he too wants a 40-man roster spot.
As a lot as I’m questioning the pondering of the Blue Jays’ entrance workplace right here, I’ll admit that I used to be happy to see the information that Roden will break camp with the staff, and I’ll acknowledge that doubtless had a extra direct affect on Barger’s destiny than something. Roden will make his MLB debut and likelihood is he’ll get an every-day alternative out the gate. That doubtless means he’ll be beginning in one of many outfield corners, and Anthony Santander and George Springer will play within the different/function the designated hitter. With Will Wagner and Ernie Clement a possible job share at third base, I can perceive why there isn’t a variety of alternative for Barger in the mean time. I simply thought they’d discover a spot for him a method or one other, even when they meant George Springer needed to flip again the clock and make a few begins in centre discipline.
Carrying Wagner/Roden made Addison Barger odd man out, stated John Schneider. "With Will, with Ernie at third base, it turned Addie into extra of an outfielder after which what would the taking part in time appear to be? We wish him to be taking part in persistently with the strides that he's made."
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) March 23, 2025
The pitching aspect of the roster additionally didn’t prove as I assumed it might.
For instance, Ryan Yarbrough was knowledgeable on Sunday that he was not going to make the Opening Day roster, which is a choice that doubtless shocked nearly all of Blue Jays followers, myself included. The veteran southpaw regarded excellent final yr as a Blue Jay, and together with his capability to throw a number of innings, his presence made a variety of sense alongside Yariel Rodriguez within the bullpen to cowl any long-relief duties. That’s particularly the case with the questionable well being of Max Scherzer, who has battled points together with his thumb this spring.
It additionally by no means hurts to have a surplus of left-handed relievers obtainable both, particularly in an AL East division with a number of harmful hitters from the left aspect like Rafael Devers, Gunnar Henderson, and plenty of extra. To be honest, they did preserve a second lefty in Richard Lovelady together with Brendon Little, however I used to be nonetheless shocked to see Yarbrough let go.
Along with conserving Lovelady as a second lefty, the Jays elected to hold on to Jacob Barnes as they put together for the 2025 marketing campaign. Barnes was one other non-roster invite that must be added to the 40-man roster, though he’ll doubtless must carry out effectively to maintain his job all through the whole season. The 34-year-old was fairly helpful to the Washington Nationals final yr with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP over 66 appearances, and he’ll doubtless work in largely low-leverage conditions to start the yr. Nonetheless, I’ll admit that his inclusion on the Opening Day roster was not one thing I anticipated.
All that stated, the gamers that make up the roster on day one actually gained’t be assured a long-term spot in lots of circumstances, and guys like Straw, Lukes, Roden, Barnes, Lovelady and extra should carry out with the intention to stick round for the lengthy haul.
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