Three spring questions for Blue Jays with three weeks to go

DUNEDIN, Fla. — A spring training that began with a barrage of bad news has settled into a quiet rhythm for the Toronto Blue Jays, whose biggest dilemma now is a decidedly good problem to have.

Take Friday for example. The day started with Davis Schneider taking batting practice in a Team USA Ernie Clement jersey and continued with a Nathan Lukes grand slam and four strong innings from José Berríos, who averaged 93.3 m.p.h. on his fastball while bolstering his case for a rotation spot.

“I’ve got that in mind,” he said. “Just be me and just keep competing out there.”

With exactly three weeks to go before Opening Day, here’s a closer look at the three biggest questions remaining for the Blue Jays this spring:

How will the Blue Jays set up their rotation?

With each day that passes, we learn a little more about the team’s starting-rotation mix, which now includes seven healthy pitchers for what would ideally be five slots. 

“It is nice to have options,” said manager John Schneider. “I know it can look crowded at times (but) they’re all going to get stretched out in camp and then probably — hopefully — if everyone’s healthy and performing, we’ll have some tough decisions to make.”

Eric Lauer will keep stretching out after throwing 46 pitches on Thursday, and Max Scherzer could be ready to throw upwards of 50 pitches in his spring debut Saturday. On the other hand, Trey Yesavage is only built up to one inning and will likely pitch at least one more live batting practice before getting into games.

“We’re slow-playing him and I’m sure he’s getting a little antsy but everything was good,” Schneider said.

Asked whether there’s any chance Yesavage starts the season by pitching out of the bullpen, the manager downplayed the possibility.

“Right now we still view him as a starter,” Schneider said. “And we want to keep that pretty regular. Last year was a year of disrupting a young guy’s routine as much as we could, so we want to be pretty regular with him.”

Best-case scenario, the Blue Jays are piggybacking Yesavage with someone like Lauer or Ponce while another starter gets bumped to the bullpen temporarily. Yet more likely, the situation resolves itself over the course of the next three weeks.

Speaking of Yesavage, he’s expected to agree to terms with the Blue Jays on a pre-arbitration salary for 2026 when that process is completed this month. In the past, pre-arb players like Bo Bichette and Alek Manoah have had their contracts renewed — a way for the players to indicate disagreement with the team’s process for setting pre-arbitration salaries. This time, there doesn’t appear to be any such tension with Yesavage.

Who will round out the bullpen?

The rotation sweepstakes will have a major say on how the bullpen comes together because the team can only roster 13 total pitchers.

Left-handers Brendon Little and Mason Fluharty appear well-positioned to break camp, and both would be useful in the first series of the year against a lefty-heavy Athletics lineup.

That would give the Blue Jays five bullpen locks for eight spots, as right-handers Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Rogers and Louis Varland are among the team’s most trusted relief arms. Plus, it now seems likely that at least one starter will occupy a long-relief role to start the year.

In that way, a bigger rotation puts more pressure on those competing for the last couple bullpen spots, a group including right-hander Braydon Fisher, the recently acquired Chase Lee, the out-of-options Tommy Nance and Rule 5 picks Spencer Miles and Angel Bastardo. 

Since Miles has only appeared in 10 career minor-league games, industry observers don’t expect him to break camp. But both Miles and Bastardo have impressive stuff, so there’s no harm in having them pitch more and seeing where it leads. Plus, a trade is always possible if the Blue Jays want to get creative.

Given how well Fisher (2.70 ERA in 50 innings) and Nance (1.99 ERA in 31.2 innings) pitched for the 2025 Blue Jays, they may be ahead of Lee and the Rule 5 picks for now. Yariel Rodriguez, who impressed for Cuba in the WBC Friday, also appears to be on the outside looking in for now since he’s off the 40-man roster.

What's the composition of the bench?

As of Friday, the most likely bench configuration for the Blue Jays would look like this:

• C Tyler Heineman

• Util Davis Schneider

• OF Nathan Lukes

• OF Myles Straw

Although Lukes technically has an option remaining, the Blue Jays like what he offers defensively, on the bases and against right-handed pitching (career .751 OPS). His grand slam off right-hander Jarod Bayless in Friday’s game against the Pirates offered a reminder of that offensive ability.

“We expect him to be a huge contributor,” Schneider said. “Everyone’s competing to a certain degree, but we feel really comfortable and confident with Nate and how he fits in with us and how he’ll continue to be counted on.”

But as nice as this outfield mix is, it corresponds to less depth on the middle infield behind Andres Gimenez and Clement. Davis Schneider would be the third option there, but he’s also needed in the outfield mix, putting pressure on Gimenez and Clement to play just about every day.

While the Blue Jays could roster Leo Jimenez to bolster their infield, he appears to be on the outside looking in for now.

Instead, Jimenez could be sent to the minors — he’d have to clear waivers first — where he’d just be a phone call away along with prospect Josh Kasevich, who’s been impressing team decision makers.