Jays not totally comfortable with bench

Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos (Nathan Denette/CP)

Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos acknowledged that he’s not completely comfortable with his opening day bench. While the GM believes in catcher Josh Thole, infielder Maicer Izturis and outfielder Moises Sierra, he knows there’s value in having more than three bench players.

“It’s definitely an area that we certainly can shore up,” he said on Prime Time Sports on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. “And I agree. We would prefer to have a four-man bench. We would definitely prefer to have a little more thump.”

Anthopoulos said the Blue Jays would look to add a fourth bench player ‘when the opportunity presents itself’ and pointed out that rosters can change shape early and often. Even though the Blue Jays are opening the season with an eight-man bullpen, they could adjust before long.

“That can change fairly fast, within a few days of the year, where we may go back to a four-man bench and upgrade that area,” the GM said.

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