LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The Toronto Blue Jays intend to determine the shape of their 2014 rotation before they move on and begin addressing their bench and sorting out their bullpen.
Manager John Gibbons explained Monday that the Blue Jays will adjust their off-season plans depending on whether they find the rotation reinforcements they’re presently seeking. Until then, their bench remains in limbo.
“A lot of times you want certain guys, but there are limitations of what you can do with your salary structure too,” Gibbons said. “But the No. 1 focus right now is seeing what we can do in the rotation. If nothing happens there, we’ll address some other areas.”
Those other areas include the middle infield, where the club will need to supplement incumbents Jose Reyes, Maicer Izturis and Ryan Goins. The team also has a need in the outfield, where the club could pursue established players to complement and compete with Anthony Gose and Moises Sierra.
The Blue Jays have been asking about free agents who could provide depth in the infield and outfield, including some backup outfield candidates who bat from the left side. They could also add depth at triple-A or insurance at the MLB level. Eventually those relatively minor additions could become their priority, but the rotation comes first.
“The problem is everybody and their brother is looking for starting pitching out there, and everybody knows that,” Gibbons said. “And there are limitations to what you can do as well.”
If the Blue Jays spend a considerable portion of their remaining budget on starters, they might have to spend more modestly on bench pieces. Yet if the Blue Jays miss out, their budget for bench pieces increases.
Gibbons noted that he’d like to see the Blue Jays add bench players capable of providing steady defence. With Rajai Davis expected to sign elsewhere, the Blue Jays don’t have a speed threat off of the bench. However, Gibbons says Gose has the potential to “run with anybody.”
Not only does the Blue Jays’ search for pitching affect their bench, it impacts their bullpen. If the Blue Jays add a dependable starter or two, they’re more likely to include just seven relievers on their opening day roster.
“That’s normally the teams with the strong starting rotations, they need less down there,” Gibbons said. “Hopefully that’s the case with us.”
Otherwise, Gibbons indicated that he could use an eight-man bullpen, as he did for extended stretches of the 2013 season. One way or another, the Blue Jays need the pitching staff to produce more in 2014.
TANAKA WATCH: Though general manager Alex Anthopoulos didn’t directly acknowledge interest in Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, Gibbons didn’t shy away from doing so. The Blue Jays are indeed interested in the 25-year-old.
“I know there are a lot of teams that would love to have him, us being one of them. But whether that happens or not, I don’t know,” Gibbons said.
The Blue Jays are well aware that Tanaka will have bidders lining up if the Rakuten Golden Eagles do decide to post him (though agents covet Tanaka, he doesn’t appear to have chosen representation as of Monday). If the Eagles post him, teams will be able to bid for the rights to negotiate a contract with him in a process that will closely resemble free agency.
“The advantage to the posting system before was you would have exclusive negotiating rights and you were the only game in town,” Anthopoulos said. “Now I think everyone financially can get in because of the dollar amount, but at the same time now it’s back to pure free agency.”
Gibbons saw video of the right-hander and came away impressed by his splitter.
“If they turn him loose and he comes over there’s going to be a pretty good bidding war for him,” Gibbons added.
GOINS THE INCUMBENT: Barring an addition at second base, the Blue Jays will start the season with Ryan Goins and Jose Reyes at the middle infield positions. That would leave Maicer Izturis in a bench role and allow Goins to build on a solid rookie season.
“We really like Goins,” Gibbons said. “We like what he did in September. He gave us a shot in the arm. I thought he handled the ball well enough to be top dog going in there.”
That said the Blue Jays could trade for a second baseman or sign a free agent from a market that includes veterans Mark Ellis and Jamey Carroll.
“I don’t know if that’s going to happen,” Gibbons said. “But if not, I really like what Goins did.”
NOTES: Gibbons said “the writing was kind of on the wall” with respect to J.P. Arencibia’s tenure in Toronto… Roy Halladay’s ability to pitch deep into games distinguished him from his peers in Gibbons’ eyes. “That pretty much sums it up. Never give up. Never quit” … Gibbons says the Blue Jays will “step it up a little in spring training” following their disappointing 2013 season… Mark DeRosa, on scene at the Winter Meetings as a member of the media, could manage or become a general manager in Gibbons’ view.