Who will emerge as key contributors among Blue Jays' depth options?
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DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The Blue Jays need a lot of things in 2025, but above all else, they need a pleasant surprise.
This lineup has improved with the addition of Anthony Santander, but it still feels one bat away from being a true strength for the organization. The Blue Jays can continue to tinker with depth, but a strong floor hasn¡¯t gotten them anywhere. Someone needs to raise the ceiling, which is where ¡°quantity¡± comes in.
Beyond the final spots in the bullpen, this is the closest thing the Blue Jays have to a camp competition, particularly on the infield. From the right side to the left, they¡¯ll have Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Andr¨¦s Gim¨¦nez and Bo Bichette locked in every day, but third base and the reserve jobs -- which will still see plenty of at-bats -- need to produce something more than just depth.
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¡°We always look offensively, right? We¡¯re not going to do that,¡± manager John Schneider said. ¡°We want to see their game clock, their situational awareness on defense. Whether that¡¯s [Addison] Barger at third, Orelvis [Martinez] at second, Leo [Jim¨¦nez] at short and second, they¡¯ve all made tons of positive strides. I want to see that carry over. I¡¯m not going to get caught up in the at-bats in Spring Training.¡±
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Here¡¯s a look at the Blue Jays¡¯ options and what each is capable of:
Will Wagner (2B, 3B, 1B)
Think of 2023 Cavan Biggio, who bounced around all season but played in 111 games. Think of 2024 Ernie Clement, who entered the season as a part-time player but ended up in 139 games. That¡¯s Will Wagner. He may not have an everyday position, but as the Blue Jays chase more offense, his bat will be worth wedging into the lineup as often as possible. Given Schneider¡¯s desire to keep the ¡°core¡± of his lineup consistent -- Bichette, Guerrero and Santander -- Wagner could be next in line for the leadoff spot, too.
Ernie Clement (3B, SS, 2B)
Expect Clement to open the year at third, but once the season gets rolling, that position should belong to the hot hand. Schneider did single out Clement as a likely option to back up Bichette at shortstop whenever needed, and given Clement¡¯s athleticism, he should be a valuable piece regardless of how ¡°regular¡± his position is.
Leo Jim¨¦nez (SS, 2B)
Jim¨¦nez is one of the more underrated players on the 40-man roster ¡ and he might be the Blue Jays¡¯ starting shortstop in 2026, if Bo Bichette signs elsewhere. Jim¨¦nez feels like a big leaguer not only in how he plays, but how he carries himself around the field and in the clubhouse. He can handle the position defensively, but look for his offense to tick up a bit in 2025, after his rookie debut didn¡¯t quite capture that part of his game. There¡¯s a reason Jim¨¦nez has been asked about over and over again in trades over the years.
Orelvis Martinez (2B, 3B)
This is where the real upside lives, even if the floor of Martinez¡¯s potential impact is also well below everyone else listed above. There¡¯s a chance Martinez hovers in Triple-A most of the season. There¡¯s also a chance he kicks the door down, perhaps crushing lefties in a platoon. His defense just needs to be playable.
¡°It¡¯s going to be expected of him to bounce between second and third, and he¡¯s got to put a lot of work in. It¡¯s going to be an interesting camp for him,¡± Schneider said.
Addison Barger (3B, RF)
Barger is built like Captain America and has all the physical upside you could dream of. It¡¯s about putting those tools together consistently, but if you¡¯re looking for ¡°boom¡± potential, he has it. Barger has the strongest throwing arm in the organization, so the corner outfield spots are still options, but he¡¯ll need to hit for some power to force the Blue Jays¡¯ hand. Barger likely starts in Triple-A, but if third base goes to the hot hand, he has an invitation to run with it.
Davis Schneider (2B, LF)
It¡¯s time for Schneider to reset after a brilliant debut in 2023 and a step back in ¡®24. Schneider has power, though, which is what the Blue Jays need more of. There¡¯s a reason the organization stuck it out with Schneider through his ¡®24 struggles, and he¡¯ll have every opportunity to crack this roster, especially if Daulton Varsho¡¯s shoulder rehab opens up some more outfield reps. Spring at-bats are crucial for Schneider, but the player we saw in ¡®23 wasn¡¯t a fluke.