Making sense of Blue Jays’ second base options for 2023

The Toronto Blue Jays roster-building efforts for the 2023 season haven’t been accomplished, nevertheless it’s secure to say the heavy lifting is completed.

The outfield has been overhauled and the catching surplus has been sorted. The rotation and bullpen have been bolstered, even when there are nonetheless depth strikes to make on each counts. The infield has been left untouched, however three of its positions are being held down by three doable all-stars.

It’s the fourth spot on that infield the place probably the most intrigue on the roster resides proper now.

Whit Merrifield completed 2022 sturdy, Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal are pure platoon bats who determine to get some run and prospect Addison Barger is the last word wild card.

The finish outcome right here could also be a boring mix-and-match based mostly on hyper-specific matchup searching and taking part in the recent hand. Injuries may additionally take numerous the choice making out of the Blue Jays’ arms.

Even so, for a workforce that can be low on spring-training positional battles, second base is the closest factor the Blue Jays are prone to see. Here’s a rundown of their choices:

Run it again with Merrifield

Merrifield took the second base job and ran with it on the finish of the 2022 season, hitting .281/.323/.446 in 44 video games with the Blue Jays — good for a 119 wRC+.

The majority of that stellar manufacturing got here within the final 14 video games of the 12 months as he hit .417/.431/.750 within the season’s ultimate act.

It’s no exaggeration to say it was the very best 14-game stretch of his profession.

What Toronto must know is whether or not that stretch included any breakthrough he can carry ahead. Before he went on that tear he had a 74 wRC+ on the season with a dismal 45 mark in a Blue Jays uniform.

You can’t completely dismiss Merrifield’s end-of-season manufacturing, nevertheless it’d be onerous to argue that he demonstrated something new.

The .333 ISO stands out, nevertheless it largely got here off 4 house runs — three of which have been hit lower than 100 mph and travelled lower than 400 ft. He pulled the ball loads (52.5%), however not at an unprecedented price for a 14-game stretch. His BB/Ok (0.22) didn’t recommend a constructive swing-decision change.

Steamer is projecting Merrifield will produce his highest wRC+ in three years this season (97), a quantity similar to his wRC+ with the Kansas City Royals since 2019.

An consequence like that wouldn’t be disastrous for Toronto. The membership must be completely happy if he’s an roughly common offensive participant who brings a pace component and defensive versatility to the underside of the lineup.

While that outlook would fulfill the Blue Jays — and signify a strong worth on his $6.75 million wage — he must carry out properly above expectations to dominate at-bats on the keystone.

A platoon that includes Biggio

The thought of Biggio taking part in a major function for the 2023 Blue Jays could appear unpalatable for a lot of followers, however the statistical case for it’s fairly sturdy.

When the Blue Jays are dealing with right-handed pitching, it’s obvious that Biggio is their best choice offensively:

Giving Biggio the bigger facet of a platoon may seem to be a major defensive sacrifice, however the 27-year-old has at all times graded comparatively properly at second. Each of DRS (+2), UZR (0.8), and OAA (+3) have him within the black there in 1377 profession innings.

A Biggio-heavy platoon may be massaged right into a extra balanced association if the utility man is promptly eliminated every time he faces a left-handed reliever and lifted for defensive alternative late in video games.

His repute for struggles in opposition to high-velocity pitchers may have him sit in sure matchups as properly.

Biggio might be counted on to be roughly common on the plate and within the subject when Toronto is dealing with right-handed pitchers, which is an interesting ground.

Merrifield and Espinal are each extra thrilling in opposition to southpaws than he’s in opposition to righties, however that doesn’t imply he isn’t a sound choice for the heavy facet of a platoon.

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The Barger wild card

Barger is so removed from a confirmed commodity that it’s doable you’re studying his identify for the primary time on this article.

That’s legitimate contemplating he’s a former sixth-round choose who hasn’t spent any time on the high of prospect lists. Despite his lack of pedigree, Barger appeared like a bit of the Blue Jays’ future in 2022 transferring all the way in which from Single-A to Triple-A in his age-22 season.

Across these three ranges he hit .308/.378/.555 with 26 house runs. He by no means appeared out of his depth, producing a .355/.444/.677 line in an eight-came cameo at Triple-A. It’s value noting that he slashed simply .189/.313/.321 within the Arizona Fall League after the season, nevertheless it’s honest to surprise if he ran out of gasoline after taking part in greater than 100 professional video games for the primary time in 2022.

To be clear, Barger has lots to show. Barring a spring coaching efficiency for the ages, he’ll want to indicate he can thrive at Triple-A, and he’s posted eyebrow-raising strikeout charges during his minor-league profession.

That concern is mitigated by the actual fact he has much more energy than Merrifield, Biggio or Espinal — resulting in statistical success within the minors that may’t be ignored. Steamer tasks him for a .252/.307/.448 line on the major-league degree in 2023 — good for a wRC+ of 113 that’s no less than seven factors higher than any of the opposite three.

Barger is low on expertise, particularly contemplating he’s performed most of his minor league video games at third base and shortstop, however he’s received some severe helium. His vary of outcomes is very large as he may spend all 12 months at Triple-A or steal this job by midseason.

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