With their final roster decisions, the Blue Jays navigate the harsh realities of baseball.
However, with the Blue Jays about to end training, Lukes is still mired in the roster bubble, competing with minor-league free agent Daniel Vogelbach—who has lived up to expectations—and Joey Votto, whose ailing right ankle complicates things even more—for the last bench place.
When manager John Schneider announced earlier in the day that Brian Serven will start the season as Alejandro Kirk’s backup catcher while Danny Jansen’s pisiform fracture heals, there was some clarity over the roster. The excruciating wait is going on for the players and pitchers who are still being considered, like as Yariel Rodriguez, who pitched three scoreless innings against an Orioles lineup that was on par with the regular season in a 3-2 loss.
Lukes remarked, “It’s a little stressful,” before going 2-for-3 with a stolen base and an RBI to raise his spring average to.450. “However, having previously gone through it several times, all that’s left to do is attempt to put it behind you and go play baseball outside. You might be harmed or helped, really. It might serve as motivation to put myself out there and succeed. It’s attempting to let it go and just be me.
Lukes has certainly been doing that for the last five and a half weeks, and if he were a middle infielder or third baseman rather than a center fielder, he very well could be searching for a place to live in Toronto at this very moment.
Rather, he becomes entangled in the team’s internal discussions on the optimal strategy to implement right away, since they have a daunting 10-game road trip that includes games against the Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros, and New York Yankees.
Lukes remarked, “That’s kind of the way the cards fall.” “They have an approach for the future. Thus, it involves having faith in their plan while still remaining true to who I am and trusting that they will continue to trust me to carry out my mission.
That is, of course, just one component of the problem. How frequently the Blue Jays deploy Lukes in the upcoming weeks in comparison to someone like Vogelbach—who has plenty of experience pinch-hitting and the raw ability to turn a game with one swing off the bench—is one of the discussions that are now going on.
It makes some sense to have Vogelbach available off the bench to face a righty leverage arm late in a close game, especially considering the bullpens the Rays, Astros, Yankees, and Seattle Mariners, whom the Blue Jays host in their home opener on April 8, can hurl at opponents.
The problem is that the Blue Jays may be hesitant to give Vogelbach a $2 million contract guarantee and clear a 40-man space in order to add him to the roster, given Votto’s impending arrival.
Votto’s precise timing is unknown, though, since he has been limited in his actions since homering in his first spring at-bat last Saturday and stepping on a bat in the dugout. Votto would have to wait a while to fill the job if the Blue Jays are keen to carry a left-handed impact option on the bench because of his late signing, which has already forced him to play some catch-up.
In light of this, the Blue Jays may decide to carry Lukes—who is currently on the 40-man roster and has options—instead of signing Vogelbach until Votto is ready.
The Blue Jays may ask Vogelbach to sign an advanced consent, which would give them the ability to immediately remove him from the 40-man roster for 45 days without giving him the opportunity to demand a complete payment upon his release. This would add still another layer of complexity. He would have to compare that to other possibilities.
The decision-making process is taking a long time because there are compelling arguments for and against each of the aforementioned possibilities, as well as undoubtedly others.
Vogelbach declared, “I’m going to let them make those decisions.” “I think I can contribute to this team’s victory. I realize I sound like a broken record, but there are things in this game you can’t control, and I want to see this team win. Being a good teammate, getting solid at-bats, and giving it my all was something I could control when I came in. I believe I’ve checked those boxes, so I’ll let them do what they want to do and see whether they believe I can assist them succeed.
Because they shared Vogelbach’s sentiments and demonstrated what the 31-year-old saw as genuine interest in him, the Blue Jays signed him just before camp began last month. Before Votto signed his contract, which also pays $2 million if he makes the majors with the possibility of an additional $2 million in incentives, there appeared to be a clear road for him to make the team.
It’s a microcosm of baseball’s harsh realities for all those involved.
Vogelbach, who went 0-for-3 against Burnes on Saturday but tied for second on the team with three spring home runs, said, “I mean, that’s just the way the game works.” There’s going to be a spot for you if you perform. When someone isn’t doing particularly well, they always say, “Oh, let’s try something else.” There will always be a place for you if you’re contributing and helping someone win. You’re not concerned about how people might deduce it or piece it together. Set your sights on winning the team, be a good teammate, and put in your best effort. And everything will work out if you do that.
Similarly, Rodriguez’s outing against the Orioles might have been sufficient to propel him into the discussion on the pitching side.
There is probably not enough runway for relievers Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson to be ready in time for Opening Day, even though an encouraging side session on Saturday morning suggested Kevin Gausman might be ready to make an April 1 start at Houston in the Blue Jays’ fifth game of the season, potentially easing the need for another starter.
Because of this, the Blue Jays may decide to use two multi-inning relievers to back Mitch White in a long-reliever position. Additionally, Rodriguez’s late push is shifting some of the dialogue. With one strikeout, he gave up a hit and two walks while forcing Austin Hays and Jorge Mateo into double plays, one with a cutter and the other with a two-seamer.
Through interpreter Hector Lebron, Rodriguez, who did not pitch professionally last year as he finished his transition to North America, remarked, “Definitely the best lineup I’ve faced in a long time.” “I felt relaxed and good. I believe I performed a decent job overall, although occasionally I had trouble finding the pitches where I wanted to.
A tentative plan to have Rodriguez throw roughly 100 innings this season and how best to distribute them is one of the factors, along with his lengthy layoff and the back spasms that cut short his spring training. The Blue Jays will undoubtedly want him to play every game and be ready towards the end of the season, but other considerations might take a backseat in the moment.
Similar to Lukes and Vogelbach, Rodriguez is unsure of his future, but he assured the Blue Jays that he will be okay no matter which path they decide to take him.
“I’m in a good place right now; simply being here is part of my dream coming true,” he continued. “I represent a squad that plays the greatest baseball in the world. My mental state is good. I’m not irritable. I’m just going to continue giving the club my all in the hopes that one day I’ll be able to contribute to the team’s victories in the major leagues.
There are just a few days left before the Blue Jays have to choose which guys will have that exact opportunity.