SEVEN QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING AS BLUE JAYS’ 2024 SEASON ENTERS FINAL MONTH
The marathon is nearly complete for the Toronto Blue Jays, who, beginning Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, have 23 games remaining before they can (finally) bid farewell to a disappointing 2024 season.
Now in the final month of the regular season, it’s impossible to ignore the reality that this team won’t be partaking in meaningful September baseball for the first time since ’19. Even as well as this young group has performed lately, coming off arguably their best month of the year with a 16-12 record, nothing can ease the pain of sitting outside the playoff race.
That feeling of heartbreak is why many who follow the Blue Jays have been counting down the days to this season’s end since the July 30 trade deadline passed. While that date is just around the corner, a handful of questions must be addressed before we can turn the page to ’25.
Is it worth bringing Bo Bichette back this season?
You can argue for either side here, and both would probably make a ton of sense. However, for someone who’s struggled with his on-field performance as much as Bichette has, concluding the year on a positive — and healthy — note would certainly help bookend what’s been an understandably frustrating campaign.
Bichette, sidelined with a nagging calf injury since July 19, has resumed fielding drills and could be ready to begin a rehab assignment as soon as this week. If all goes well, the 26-year-old shortstop would likely have a runway of three weeks or so to earn as many live-game reps as possible before the regular season wraps up.
There isn’t enough time for Bichette to correct his miserable offensive results, which include four home runs, 30 RBIs, a .222/.275/.320 slash line and a 69 wRC+ (100 league average) across 80 games. But that wouldn’t be the main focus of his return, either.
If nothing else, this late-season comeback could ensure he heads into this off-season with some momentum, hopefully improving his odds of hitting the ground running next spring. At the same time, it could also have a double purpose, serving as a mini showcase for any clubs pondering a potential trade pursuit this winter.
In saying that, though, it’d be shocking if Bichette weren’t still a Blue Jay by Opening Day 2025.
What about Jordan Romano?
There are similar benefits to having Romano return this season, even if it’s only for a handful of games, rather than entering the off-season following an extended injury layoff. But unlike his teammate, it’s unclear if he’ll make it back before time runs out.
Toronto’s premier closer hasn’t pitched in a game in over three months or begun a throwing program yet, which he’s expected to do at some point this week at the organization’s player development complex in Dunedin, Fla. Still, building up will take time, especially coming off arthroscopic surgery for his right elbow.
One aspect to monitor if Romano returns to game action is his fastball velocity, which fell to an average of 94.7 m.p.h. in his final outing, his lowest reading since May 2022.
Should Blue Jays piggyback Jake Bloss with Yariel Rodríguez?
The Blue Jays have said they plan to manage Rodríguez’s remaining workload the rest of the way as he nears the 100-inning mark in his first major league season, which they’ll do by limiting the length of his outings — just as they did in his most recent start against the Minnesota Twins, where he was lifted after only 57 pitches through three innings.
We saw them do this with the 27-year-old righty early in the year as he continued building up his stamina at the big-league level after a back injury limited his availability in spring training. Back then, Bowden Francis — who’s flourished since moving to the starting rotation — was used in conjunction to piece together enough innings to save the rest of the bullpen. Moving forward, it’ll likely be Ryan Yarbrough who fills that role, although Jake Bloss could, too.
Bloss has endured a chaotic first full professional season, climbing three minor-league levels and making a trio of big-league starts, totalling 89 combined innings thus far. That’s why Toronto afforded him a minor reset following his arrival from the Houston Astros and has since been hesitant to bring him up from triple-A.
The 23-year-old righty got shelled in his last start, allowing eight runs (all earned) on nine hits — including three home runs — and a pair of walks. But the Blue Jays will begin a stretch of 18 games in 20 days on Sep. 6, and with an extra bullpen spot available, piggybacking him with Rodríguez could lead to valuable experience, and it’d also free up Yarbrough for other situations.
Has Bowden Francis cemented his spot in the ’25 rotation?
Every time Francis toes the rubber lately, the more he resembles a legitimate major-league-calibre starting pitcher — one whose stock as a viable 2025 starter continues to rise.
Francis has flat-out dominated since returning to Toronto’s starting rotation. Over his last five starts, the 28-year-old owns a 1.06 ERA and 2.47 FIP with 39 strikeouts across 34 innings, a remarkable span that includes 13.1 no-hit frames — making him a can’t-miss AL Pitcher of the Month winner for August.
Maintaining this momentum down the stretch will be crucial for Francis. At this rate, though, the right-hander appears well on his way to leading the race for one of the two rotation spots behind Toronto’s core trio of Kevin Gausman, José Berríos and Chris Bassitt.
The front office should still aim to add an established starter this off-season. Nothing that occurs between now and the end of September should alter that approach. But management has to feel slightly more encouraged about next season’s starting pitching depth.
Can we already pencil Spencer Horwitz in as a full-time contributor next season?
Committing to that kind of declaration may be a tad premature at this stage, given the number of factors involved, like what moves Toronto could make this winter and Horwitz’s defensive position. However, the type of impact he can have in the batter’s box is certainly undeniable.
Horwitz has been 20 per cent above league average per wRC+ in 75 games since being called up in June, registering a .340 xwOBA that ranks in the 75th percentile of the majors. His exceptional plate discipline from the left side is well documented at this point, as evidenced by his impressive strikeout (17.7 per cent, 73rd percentile), whiff (18.3 per cent, 83rd) and walk rates (10.9 per cent, 81st).
Most of that success has occurred versus right-handers, but he has flashed promising signs in a limited sample size in left-on-left matchups, earning a pair of doubles with four walks while striking out only nine times over 55 plate appearances. So, it’d probably behoove the Blue Jays to increase his exposure versus southpaws the rest of the way.
Still, the biggest question surrounding Horwitz’s status in 2025 is where his at-bats will come from. Second base makes the most sense, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first and the Blue Jays expected to pursue a slugging DH this winter. The only wrinkle is he’s made just one start at that position since Aug. 11, as the team has needed to create opportunities for Leo Jiménez and Will Wagner.
Granted, Guerrero could occasionally move to third to make room for Horwitz at first next season. But if he’s to earn most of his reps at second, whether that’s as an everyday player or in a platoon role, the coaching staff likely needs to find him more playing time at a position where he’s recorded minus-four defensive runs saved in less than 300 innings of work.
How has Addison Barger’s recent power surge impacted his future outlook?
For a Blue Jays squad desperate to add more thump to its 2025 lineup, Barger is quickly becoming an intriguing option amidst the best stretch of his young big-league career.
The 24-year-old has been a different, more polished hitter in his third major league stint of the season. He’s hitting for a ton of power, with 14 of the 23 hits recorded since his latest call-up landing for extra bases, resulting in a .521 SLG and .277 ISO in 27 games.
More notably, Barger has dramatically reduced his swing-and-miss output, totalling only four strikeouts to three walks over his last 10 games. For context, he punched out 20 times and walked twice through his first 21 contests with the Blue Jays.
Third base remains a position the front office will probably supplement with an impact addition before next season. But perhaps Barger’s recent success — combined with Ernie Clement’s impressive production — reduces the urgency to acquire an everyday player for the hot corner.
Would Davis Schneider benefit from a late-season triple-A stint?
These past few months have been a major struggle for Schneider, whose offensive results include a sub-.200 AVG and sub-.300 OBP with a strikeout rate above 30 per cent on the year.
Understandably, Schneider has lost plenty of playing time to many of his teammates in recent weeks. He earned just 52 plate appearances in August, his lowest total for a single month since debuting last season. With others like Joey Loperfido, Wagner, Jiménez and now Nathan Lukes on the roster, the team can’t justify handing him many at-bats in the short term.
Maybe a few weeks with triple-A Buffalo would prove beneficial. Or perhaps they wouldn’t. The Blue Jays would have to weigh how optioning him could affect the mental side of his game. Plus, he’d no longer be able to work through his struggles with someone he trusts, such as assistant hitting coach Matt Hague.
With Bichette likely back later this month, though, Schneider could be the odd man out.
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2024-09-03T19:20:13Z dg43tfdfdgfd