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Toronto Blue Jays Offseason: What’s Been Done and What to Watch for

By James Middleton

Nov 8, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins during the MLB general managers meeting at the Omni Scottsdale Resort. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins during the MLB general managers meeting at the Omni Scottsdale Resort. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Blue Jays
Oct 13, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (10) works out one day prior to game one of the ALCS at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

First Base:

Potential Options: Joey Votto, Edwin Encarnacion, Steve Pearce/ Mike Napoli, Rowdy Tellez

This is by far the most controversial position on the team. For the Jays, the only player who has ever played first at a major league level that is under contract is Smoak, and there is nothing that scares a Blue Jays’ fan more than the idea of him starting more than 100 games at first.

The potential options aren’t limited, but there aren’t many. At the moment the Jays have three potential options available to them: Trade for Votto, re-sign Encarnacion, or sign a veteran like Pearce/Napoli and call up Tellez from double-A New Hampshire and see if he can hold up for a 162 game season.

All three options are vastly different; either sign the known commodity and fan favorite in Encarnacion, trade a few pieces and long-term flexibility for the elite left-handed bat in Votto, or sign a solid first basemen, while calling up one of your more major league ready hitters in Tellez.

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