It doesn’t move!
“I’d definitely like to see a better sense of how the other players approach playing and competing as a team.”
– Coach Jon Cooper (via Sports Illustrated)
The Toronto Blue Jays have been criticized quite a bit of late for their roster construction. In general, their lack of depth at both the major and minor league levels has put them at a disadvantage vis-à-vis their opponents across the league in order to field a competitive team. It is an unfortunate trend that has resulted in the Jays being on the receiving end of countless injury crises.
What we have seen over the last few seasons is that the Jays have been at a disadvantage in their own ballpark, and in the outfield as well. With that in mind, I think it is time to take a look at how the Blue Jays handle players within their organization. By looking at two players that appear to be in play to be added to the roster, and see how they perform in their first few seasons as an employee, I think we can get a better idea of how the Blue Jays would like to build the squad.
One of the first things that comes to mind is the trade for Ryan Goins. The Blue Jays were looking to improve their offense a little while back, but after a long offseason of injuries and slumps, the Blue Jays couldn’t afford to waste a draft pick on a young outfielder who they couldn’t really afford to keep. It was after this decision that Goins was eventually acquired from the San Francisco Giants in the Ryan Goins deal. Unfortunately, the signing was a bit of a bust, as Goins started off hot, in his first season in Toronto, but then faded for the remainder of the season due to poor plate discipline and defensive issues.
When it comes to the Blue Jays’ minor league system, the team has an abundance of talent, especially in the outfield. In a nutshell, the Blue Jays seem to enjoy a level playing field in their minor leagues. In fact, in my estimation, we may have a better chance of finding a young player with some skill elsewhere in 2013 than when looking at a team like the Washington Nationals who don’t have many prospects. While it sounds simple to say, this system isn’t designed to be a one-man show. Rather, it is designed to be a stable environment for future prospects.
For a team like the Blue Jays, their main competition in the outfield is undoubtedly pitchers. With the exception of catcher Russell Martin, the