How Blue Jays' offseason headliners could help Vlad's star shine brighter

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Good moves make one position better, but great moves bring in players who can elevate those around them.

The Blue Jays are hoping to strike that sweet spot with both Anthony Santander and Andrés Giménez, the two headliners of their offseason. Everything within this organization comes back to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., too, particularly after the week that’s been, and each of these players will end up right next to him.

Santander is expected to bat right behind Vladdy in Toronto’s lineup, likely taking the No. 3 and 4 spots on a nightly basis, while Giménez will be to Guerrero’s right on the infield. Guerrero is a star all on his own, but there’s always room for a little help.

In the lineup: Santander’s protection

The Blue Jays didn’t have that other true “power threat” in 2024. Tandem sluggers are a beautiful thing, though, and we saw that most recently in Toronto with José Bautista and Edwin Encarnación. Finding a third -- think Josh Donaldson -- turns a lineup terrifying, but two is a fine place to start.

“When you have a guy behind [Guerrero] who hit 44 homers last year, that’s a real thing,” manager John Schneider said. “With Vlad, you could say he didn’t operate with that threat behind him last year and did just fine. It makes a pitcher think, ‘OK, who do I want to beat me? Where does my stuff play better? Is it against Vlady or is it against Tony?’ Hopefully, that works for both of them.”

Even though that Opening Day lineup is still over a month away, Santander lights up when he talks about the potential of hitting alongside Vladdy. Frankly, Santander lights up at just about any topic, immediately one of the most expressive and engaging personalities on this roster.

“This is going to be exciting,” Santander said. “He’s a great hitter. Actually, every time we go to the cages, I go with him to try to pick up something and get better. This will be exciting.”

This goes both ways, like Schneider says. Picture a runner on second with Vladdy at the plate and two outs. Will the opposing team want to pitch to Vladdy … or give him the free base, handing Santander the run-scoring opportunity?

In the field: Giménez’s defensive brilliance

Schneider was sick of playing against Giménez.

“He’s probably taken away 30 hits from us the last couple of years,” Schneider said.

This feels so similar to when the Blue Jays first acquired Kevin Kiermaier. They’d hated playing against him for so long, losing hit after hit to one of the game’s best defenders, but everything changes when he’s on your team.

“I think [Giménez is] the best infielder in baseball,” John Schneider said. “The thing that goes unnoticed is that with his awareness and his range, it allows Vlad to play in a different spot.”

This is the key part. Guerrero has settled into first base by this point, but when he was younger, he was often too eager to chase ground balls in the hole that he shouldn’t have. Once Guerrero made one initial step towards second base to make a play on the ball and didn’t get it, he wouldn’t have time to recover and get to the bag.

That shouldn’t even have to cross his mind any more. He can draw a line in the dirt.

“Vlad, at times at first, he was trying to cover a little more of the hole than he will have to this year,” Schneider said. “It just puts guys in the right spot. The same thing can be said for Bo [Bichette]. The cool thing with Giménez is that he’s very articulate with what he’s good at. He’ll say, ‘If I’m starting here, I can get to a ball here. Anything past here is yours.’ He’s very clear with that.”

Bichette should benefit greatly, of course, and he’ll be playing with the best double-play partner a shortstop could ask for. Perhaps Giménez is the Blue Jays’ starting shortstop a year from now if Bichette leaves in free agency, but as the 2025 season slowly approaches, some level of focus needs to sit on this season alone.

Regardless of whether this is going to be Vladdy’s last ride in Toronto, the Blue Jays need him to be at his very best if they’re going to surprise some people, and their two biggest additions this offseason only help their biggest star.