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Toronto Blue Jays Roster Preview Entering the 2017 Season

By David Morassutti

Apr 3, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Opening day bases lay prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Opening day bases lay prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Blue Jays
Jul 25, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Ezequiel Carrera (3), right fielder Jose Bautista (19) and center fielder Kevin Pillar (11) gather to celebrate a 4-2 win over San Diego Padres at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

The Outfield

The Toronto Blue Jays know who will be playing in center field and right field, but left field looks like a work in progress. Steve Pearce has said that he is comfortable playing in the outfield, Ezequiel Carrera will get his fair share of starts in left field after a strong showing last season. Dalton Pompey is not too far away from showing that he can be a consistent contributor in the MLB and Melvin Upton Jr. is no longer on the team. In center field Kevin Pillar has been much better behind the plate to the point where the team might experiment with him at the lead off spot again.

The important thing will be for him to get on-base more and avoid the strikeouts while providing the consistent effort on defence that people have become accustomed to seeing. Jose Bautista has a lot to prove after the discussion surrounding his contract is behind him. There is no doubting that the news that came out in training camp last season had an effect on him but now he should be ready to move forward.

Next: Can Mat Latos Turn Back the Clock?

Health will be the key to Bautista’s success, which is what is always talked about every season. He can make Blue Jays fans forget about Edwin Encarnacion and will likely have a strong voice in the clubhouse once again. Baseball is back and with all the excitement with all the Toronto sports teams, the summer could be a memorable one for the Blue Jays fans if the team can come together early.

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