#25
The Toronto Blue Jays have a new coaching staff and the most talked about player in baseball to have yet to play in single major league game. Will the changes and the hype make immediate success in 2019, or will it point to a bright future not yet realized?
2018 Predictions
3rd in AL East
2018 will be Josh Donaldson's last season as a Blue Jay.
2018 Results
73-89, 4th in AL East
The Blue Jays had another less than stellar season in 2018 as the window on their latest wave of success officially slammed closed. The team started into full rebuild mode, which was shown by the mid-season trades of any veterans with value: Steve Pearce, JA Happ, Roberto Osuna, and former MVP Josh Donaldson. Outside of trading these players to contenders, and giving a native Canadian (James Paxton) his first no-hitter on his native soil, the Blue Jays really had an inconsequential season.
The biggest story of the season might have been the fact that their top prospect didn't get the call-up despite every indication that he was ready (keep building the hype!).
Additions / Subtractions
The subtractions were more notable than the additions. Veteran catcher Russell Martin was moved to the Dodgers, and outfielder Curtis Granderson, as well as infielders Aledmys Diaz and Yangervis Solarte, left via free agency. In their place? They were replaced internally for the most part. In fact, outside of starting pitchers Matt Shoemaker and Clayton Richard entering the organization, the roster is practically unchanged from the way it ended last season. The most significant change was the firing of longtime manager John Gibbons and the hiring of longtime Rays' coach Charlie Montoyo.
Most Important Hitter
Randal Grichuk
At one point, Randal Grichuk was a top prospect and looked at as a centerpiece of the next generation of Cardinals in St. Louis. After not being as strong as expected, he was moved to Toronto before last season. In his first year in Toronto, he was solid hitting 25 homers and a 118 OPS+. He was third on the team in WAR behind first baseman Justin Smoak and defensive freak Kevin Pillar. The Blue Jays acquired him with the hope that a change of scenery would help him achieve some of the success his talent once promised. If he is to be a potential building block of the next wave of Blue Jay success that is around the corner, 2019 is an important year for him to show that he is worthy of it.
Most Important Pitcher
Aaron Sanchez
In 2016, Aaron Sanchez was the next great ace in the league. He went 15-2 with a 3.00 ERA (led the league) and had a 142 ERA+ (league average is 100). The Blue Jays shut down his season early to control innings and hopefully avoid injuries. Even with the extra precautions, the injuries came anyways, only throwing 36 innings in 2017 and 105 innings in 2018. The only encouraging sign is the injuries were mainly revolving around finger injuries and not shoulder or elbow. Even when he was healthy in 2018, he posted a 4.89 ERA and an 86 ERA+, the first time he dropped below average in his career. Sanchez is only entering his age 26 season, and if he is healthy the Blue Jays are hoping he returns to form, even if it is just to drive up the asking price for his potential mid-season trade to a contender.
Prospect to Watch
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The hype is real! Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the overall top prospect in baseball and one of the best hitting prospects to come along in the last few decades. With the success he showed at the plate in the minors last year, he should have been on the roster for the last half of 2018, however the Blue Jays are trying to control service time and keep him in their organization for as long as possible. Because of that, don't expect to see him in the big leagues until mid-April as the Blue Jays eek out one more extra year of club control. Once he arrives, be prepared for him to hit. He may only be 19, but he is ready. If he stays at third base, watch for two sons of former players, Vlad Jr. and Bo Bichette (might be called up by mid-season), to be the future left side of the Toronto infield for the next five or six seasons.
2019 Prediction
4th in AL East
The top of this division is definitely in a different category than the bottom. The Blue Jays are in no way ready to compete with the top three teams in the division. They are at least a couple years away from being competitive again. However, as soon as Vlad Jr. is called us to big leagues, no one will be able to say they aren't exciting. Vlad will mark the start of a new wave of stud prospects hitting the big league club over the next few seasons that will make them competitive again. Until then, enjoy watching Vlad hit. It will be one of the few things the Blue Jay fans will have to cheer for this season, especially if guys like Bo Bichette are held back unfairly like Vlad Jr. was.
Fearless Prediction
Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez will be traded mid-season.
The Blue Jays are probably eyeing 2021 or 2022 as their peak year to really start competing again in the AL East. That is when their top prospects will really be hitting their prime. Both Stroman and Sanchez will be free agents after the 2021 season. Add that to the fact that the top of the Blue Jays' farm system is loaded with hitters but lacking a little in the pitching department, and it would make sense if they decided to move these two potential aces now to bring back some pitching prospects that will be peaking at the same time as the rest of their prospects. Either way, if they are not viewed as being on the team when the Blue Jays plan on being competitive again, trade them now.
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