The Toronto Blue Jays will have some tough decisions to make when it comes to their opening day roster, specifically in the infield.
The Blue Jays signed Kazuma Okamoto in the offseason, and they have some versatile players who can play both in the outfield and the infield. That means, a player like Leo Jiménez, who is out of options and only plays in the infield, may not make the cut. The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon projected he would not make the opening day roster.
“Toronto’s toughest infield decision will surround Leo Jiménez, who is likely the first player off the roster as things stand,” wrote Bannon on Monday. “The 24-year-old, who will play for Panama at the World Baseball Classic, is out of minor-league options. Toronto will have to place him on the Opening Day roster or expose him to waivers.”
Jiménez is still very young, and placing him on waivers would likely lead to another club scooping him up. He has big league experience and plays solid defense at both middle infield spots.
Meanwhile, he does not really fill any needs for the Blue Jays. Ernie Clement and Andrés Giménez are seemingly locks as everyday players up the middle, and Vladimir Guerrero is going to be the everyday first baseman. The only infield spot the Blue Jays could use help at is third base.
Okamoto will be playing in his first big league season, and how he handles everyday duties at third base at this level is yet to be seen. However, Addison Barger figures to be the option at third base on days Okamoto is not playing. Barger figuresto be starting in the outfield on other days. When Barger is at third, the Blue Jays have options like Davis Schneider, Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw for the outfield.
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