Three years later, the Blue Jays are one of the most talented baseball teams. Guerrero Jr. and Bichette have become stars and expectations are as high as they have been for years. When players talk about expectations for this team, it is clear that the playoffs are the starting point and not the end goal. “It’s just excitement,” Bichette told the Rogers Center on Thursday. “Everyone knows the talent we have and the things we are capable of. We will do everything we can to complete a World Series. It is exciting to start.” And for Bichette and most of his teammates, the start-up experience in Toronto will be something new. The team spent the whole of 2020 in Buffalo due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then started the 2021 season in Dunedin, Florida, before moving to Buffalo and finally to Toronto, where they spent the last two months of the season only to lose playoff. on the last day of the season. “I’m so happy for our players and our fans,” said GM Ross Atkins. “There are more than 20 (players) who have not experienced this here in Toronto. I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces, to feel the energy on this pitch and to see the excitement on the faces of the fans. It’s something you can do. physical sensations, this level of energy and intensity “. It’s an exciting time, but as the Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers’ guests worked to prepare for the start of Friday, some questions remained. For example: how far is Nate Pearson, what is the status of Pitching coach Pete Walker and are discussions going on with the young stars of the Blue Jays? Pearson (mononucleosis) was officially placed on the injury list on Thursday, but Atkins said he was feeling better and indicated that the right-hander could resume baseball activities soon. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have 10 reliefs to cover and Ross Stripling is able to make a spot start sometime this month. Walker, who was arrested and charged with driving under the influence last month, was at the Rogers Center Stadium on Thursday, training with the team as usual. According to Atkins, this will not change until the legal situation develops further. “Pete came to me very early in this process, he came to Charlie, he spoke to the team,” Atkins said. “It’s still a legal process, so I’m limited to how much I can comment on that. … Once we have clarity about the legal process, we will look to make a decision if there are things we need to do.” As for the team’s offense, manager Charlie Montoyo hinted that he has compromised with the eleven of the first day without revealing details. As spring training ended, the Blue Jays played with different lineups, beating Guerrero Jr. third, where he spent most of last year, and second. At the moment, Montoyo does not say how he will settle things for the first game against Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and the Rangers. Perhaps more important to the long-term structure of the team is the status of the expansion talks between the club and its emerging young stars. Bichette said there have been some discussions about a possible deal, while showing that his focus is now on the pitch. “We had discussions,” Bichette said. “I think at the moment we are focused on the season and achieving what we think we are capable of. At the moment, we are not talking.” Asked if the team is open to in-season expansion talks, Atkins left open the possibility. “Every situation is unique,” GM said. “Each case we will handle separately. So happy that these players are here and for whatever way we can find a way to keep this team together longer, we are always thinking.” Both Guerrero Jr. and Bichette are four years away from free service now, so the Blue Jays have time with them. Where small market teams such as the Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates must rush to lock Wander Franco and Ke’Bryan Hayes, the Blue Jays have spent a lot recently, signing three players in $ 100 million deals since its inception. 2021, despite limited incomes. The signature of Guerrero Jr. or Bichette would probably require even more commitments, but this franchise now works more like a big market team, so landing players at the top of the market is still a possibility. It’s hard to say where these talks are going, but for now this team is undoubtedly talented. With a strong squad and a deep start, they are arguably the best team in the deepest part of baseball. External expectations are high, as one would expect, but as Bichette told the media on Thursday afternoon, the players themselves see things similar. After last year’s road ended, they will not be satisfied with another one. “I think we expected a lot more from ourselves than any of you in the past,” he said. “For us, I think it’s more, it’s time. But like I said, we have to go out there and do it.”
