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<\/p>\nThe Toronto Blue Jays spent all winter, and $337 million, filling holes on the roster. For the reigning American League champions, there are few remaining needs or points of major concern.<\/p>\n
If the Jays make it through spring healthy, the final days of camp could be particularly boring, without many roster battles. But as Toronto\u2019s pitchers and catchers report to spring training Wednesday, some burning questions still need answering. They may determine just how good the Blue Jays will be this year.<\/p>\n
How will the back of the rotation shake out?<\/p>\n
\n Shane Bieber is among the seven starters competing for five rotation spots. Will he be healthy enough to stay in the mix? (Megan Briggs \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
There are two certainties at the top of Toronto\u2019s rotation (barring injury) \u2014 Kevin Gausman and freshly signed Dylan Cease. After that, the Jays have intrigue. Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce, Shane Bieber, Jos\u00e9 Berr\u00edos and Eric Lauer enter camp fighting for just three spots. While Berr\u00edos and Lauer appear to be the odd men out, each of those options comes with a question or concern attached.<\/p>\n
Is Yesavage ready for another workload increase after the longest season and shortest winter of his baseball life? Will Ponce\u2019s KBO greatness translate back to the big leagues? How healthy is Bieber after suffering from forearm soreness at the end of the postseason<\/a> and return from Tommy John? How will Berr\u00edos look after his 2025 scuffles, late-season arm injury and departure from the team ahead of the World Series<\/a>? Can Lauer start in the bullpen and remain stretched out enough to start when needed?<\/p>\n Seven starters for five rotation slots is a great problem to have. Injuries in spring could easily solve the issue. If Bieber needs to slow-play spring and isn\u2019t ready for Opening Day, this starting group looks a lot less busy. That depth is part of why FanGraphs projects<\/a> Toronto\u2019s staff to be the seventh-most valuable in MLB entering spring. But this remains Toronto\u2019s most intriguing position group, and if ailments or performance don\u2019t sort out the surplus, the Jays will face tough conversations or trade talks.<\/p>\n How does Kazuma Okamoto adjust?<\/p>\n Kazuma Okamoto, signed for $60 million and four years in early January, enters spring as a largely unknown commodity and Toronto\u2019s only major offensive addition.<\/p>\n If Okamoto plays to his projections \u2014 25 home runs and 2.9 WAR \u2014 he should be one of the club\u2019s most valuable hitters. But the hit rate on players coming over from NPB can be sporadic. Seiya Suzuki (2022) and Masataka Yoshida (2023) were instantly above-average hitters. Shogo Akiyama (2020) and Yoshi Tsutsugo (2020) scuffled before returning to Japan. Both Tsutsugo and Akiyama signed for far less than the $60 million guaranteed to Okamoto, though. The Jays clearly view him as closer to Suzuki and Yoshida.<\/p>\n Okamoto flashed an ability to adjust throughout his Japanese career with the Yomiuri Giants. He\u2019s been a 30-homer slugger with a 20 percent strikeout rate at times. In recent years, he nearly halved his strikeout rate by increasing contact. On top of Okamoto\u2019s ability to pull high-velocity fastballs, the Jays figure that adaptability will help him quickly adjust to big-league pitching.<\/p>\n