What the Blue Jays realized about their core in 2022
9 min read
When evaluating group constructing, it’s intuitive to emphasise the standard of gamers a entrance workplace brings on from exterior the group.
Hitting on marquee free-agent signings and successful trades is the obvious manner a baseball operations division can excel, however making evaluations on gamers exterior your constructing is only one piece of the puzzle.
Equally vital is the interior evaluations you make by yourself guys. Yearly groups collect extra details about which of their present gamers are value constructing on, giving completely different roles to, or shifting on from.
The Daulton Varsho commerce, as an example, required the Blue Jays to spend as a lot time considering the worth and profession trajectory of Gabriel Moreno — a possible long-term constructing block — as they did doing their homework on Varsho.
Yearly there’s extra to find out about your personal gamers, and as 2022 involves an in depth it’s time to evaluate what the Blue Jays learn about their core that they didn’t previous to the season.
To be able to be thought-about a core participant — by my admittedly arbitrary definition — it’s a must to:
1. Be beneath group management by way of a minimum of 2025
2. Mission to be an above-average common in 2023 (Greater than 2.0 fWAR by Steamer)
3. Have performed all of 2022 with the Blue Jays
4. Be a place participant or beginning pitcher (until you’re one of many prime, prime relievers the volatility is just too excessive)
With that in thoughts, right here’s a abstract of what the Blue Jays realized about their core in 2022 (plus some notes on notable guys who don’t match this standards however can be round for some time):
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
What they realized: The groundball worries aren’t gone for good
After Guerrero Jr. broke out in 2021 with an elite offensive season, it was simple to examine him establishing himself as a perennial MVP candidate.
That would nonetheless occur, however he took a notable step again in 2022 as his wRC+ dropped from 166 to 132. On reflection, some regression to imply isn’t stunning, however primarily based on Guerrero Jr.’s uncooked instruments and prospect pedigree it felt like he had taken off for good after 2021.
Whereas his 2022 was nonetheless strong, his groundball charge spiked again to the degrees he confirmed in his first two seasons.
Even at his finest in 2021 he hit grounders at an above-average charge, however when half of his balls in play are within the dust it will likely be robust for him to achieve his ceiling.
It regarded like he’d buried that fear final 12 months, however it’s returned to ‘ongoing concern’ standing.
Bo Bichette
What they realized: You understand precisely what you’re going to get from his bat
Bichette entered 2022 with just one full season beneath his belt, and whereas his outcomes have been good his offensive profile was a bit odd.
The shortstop doesn’t stroll a lot, strikes out a good quantity and possesses energy that’s extra above-average than elite. For that profile to end in glorious manufacturing they should convert a disproportionate variety of balls in play into hits.
For many of the 12 months, Bichette’s capability to do this wavered. He entered September with a pedestrian 106 wRC+ thanks largely to a .320 BABIP that was properly beneath his profession common (.347).
From September 1 to the tip of the season Bichette hit .406/.444/.662 and when it was all mentioned and accomplished his numbers for the 12 months regarded extraordinarily just like what he’d produced the earlier two years — from his general numbers to his BABIP.
|
Season |
wRC+ |
wOBA |
BABIP |
|
2020 |
120 |
.353 |
.352 |
|
2021 |
122 |
.354 |
.339 |
|
2022 |
129 |
.347 |
.347 |
Alejandro Kirk
What they realized: Defence doesn’t should be a weak point
Kirk’s bat has all the time been tantalizing, however coming into 2022 it was truthful to conceptualize him as a part-time catcher with defensive limitations who was going to want loads of DH at-bats.
Whereas he could by no means win a Gold Glove, Kirk modified that notion by obliterating his presumed defensive ceiling. Final season the 24-year-old threw base runners out at an above-average charge, let fewer balls get previous him in 654 innings (13) than he did in 338 in 2021 (20), and ranked within the 94th percentile amongst framers.
That colossal step ahead modified him from an intriguing function participant, to one of many Blue Jays’ foundational items.
His work with the bat was spectacular (129 wRC+), however that wasn’t notably shocking as his anticipated stats in 2021 indicated he may do extra offensively. Kirk’s energy really took a slight step again along with his energy in 2022 and his xwOBA (.351) was worse than his 2021 quantity (.373).
Alek Manoah
What they realized: The mushy contact stuff is for actual
Because of his imposing bodily presence Manoah has the look of a pure energy pitcher, however he’s higher at inducing innocent contact than blowing hitters away.
As a rookie his ERA was 58 factors decrease than his FIP and he allowed an abnormally low .246 BABIP. It was value questioning if he obtained a bit fortunate in his first 12 months and might be in for a step again in 2022.
It could be an understatement to say that didn’t come to move. Manoah gave the Blue Jays 196.2 innings of two.24 ERA ball final season, a efficiency that landed him third in Cy Younger voting.
As soon as once more he confirmed the flexibility to permit mushy contact, and we now have over 300 innings of Manoah conceding a .245 BABIP. In every of the final two seasons the right-hander has been within the prime 10 per cent of pitchers at suppressing hard-hit balls and prime 20 per cent at stopping barrels.
In relation to producing innocent balls in play, Manoah is now a confirmed commodity.
George Springer
What they realized: The right way to handle Springer’s workload
In 2021 Springer was excellent for the Blue Jays when he suited up, however a number of accidents held him to only 78 video games.
Given his age and the best way he performs the sport, it’s inconceivable to completely decrease damage threat with Springer, however Toronto needs to be proud of getting 133 video games out of him in 2022.
This was the group’s first season having Springer from April to September and so they performed him at DH 40 occasions and have been unafraid to provide him upkeep days all through.
It’d be laborious to assert they cracked the code solely, as luck performs a major function. For instance there’s nothing the group may’ve accomplished to keep away from the flukey collision Springer suffered within the playoffs.
What the Blue Jays did do is create a template they will work off of in 2023, as a result of their plan was largely profitable in 2022. When Springer performed he produced at a excessive stage offensively (132 wRC+), graded out as an roughly common centre fielder, and even produced his highest stolen base complete (14) since 2015.
It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how a transfer to enjoying primarily proper area will have an effect on his workload administration subsequent 12 months.
Kevin Gausman
What they realized: The AL East fits Gausman simply high quality
Earlier than reaching the San Francisco Giants in 2020 Gausman had been a strong starter at occasions however he’d by no means lived as much as his prospect pedigree.
When he took off with San Francisco, it was value questioning if escaping the DH and dealing within the pitcher-friendly parks of the NL West was a major a part of his breakout.
When Toronto signed Gausman to a $110-million contract the membership was taking an opportunity on 43 begins with San Francisco being way more consultant of his skills than the remainder of his profession.
The Blue Jays have been proper to make the leap. In 2022 Gausman led the American League in FIP and earned down-ballot Cy Younger consideration. He even introduced his stroll charge to a career-low stage and posted his lowest HR/9 since 2014.
Gausman could have taken his star flip in San Francisco, however his stuff performs wherever.
BEYOND THE INNER CORE
Jose Berríos: It didn’t take lengthy for Berríos to go from a positive factor to a query mark. In each season between 2017 and 2021 the right-hander was an above-average starter with an ERA- between 92 and 80 and a FIP- between 92 and 82.
Whether or not you wished to judge him by run-suppression or fielding-independent numbers he was superb however not really elite year-in, year-out.
Final season he posted a brutal 5.23 ERA with depressing contact administration numbers.
It’s not laborious to be bullish on his capability to bounce again primarily based on his age (28), observe document, and stuff. It’s no assure that he’ll, although, and Steamer is asking for a 2.0 fWAR season, which has him falling simply out of the core.
Cavan Biggio: Biggio was a participant who was laborious to pin down getting into 2022. After a powerful begin to his profession, his sub-replacement-level 2021 created doubt about his viability as a MLB participant by his most excessive critics.
The versatile Biggio charted a center course in 2022, failing to achieve the peak of his first two seasons, however producing 1.3 fWAR as a helpful contributor with a helpful left-handed bat and a few defensive versatility.
Final season was vital for Biggio to point out he hadn’t misplaced all of his early-career magic, however 2023 may add a wrinkle into evaluations of his offensive potential because the elimination of the shift may assist him considerably. Biggio was the most-shifted Blue Jay in every of the final two seasons, with lower than 20 p.c of his at-bats coming in opposition to conventional defences.
Santiago Espinal: Espinal had a predictable offensive comedown in 2022 as his BABIP magic dissipated and he was uncovered as a participant who crushes southpaws (137 wRC+) and struggles with righties (86 wRC+).
His glove is nothing wanting elite, and might carry his bat, however regardless of incomes an All-Star nod, Espinal is kind of who he gave the impression to be heading in 2022.
He’s an especially high-level utility participant who can fill in as a starter in the course of the infield for prolonged stretches if needed.
Jordan Romano: The hard-throwing right-hander didn’t present a lot new data in 2022, however somewhat strengthened what was already identified about him.
For essentially the most half he recreated his glorious 2021 marketing campaign, which was vital as that was his first full season as a better. Romano has now established himself as a high-leverage stopper on the MLB stage — even for those who won’t categorize him as one of many majors’ prime relievers.
The 29-year-old skilled a slight dip in velocity final season, and a extra important dip in strikeouts. He additionally gave up extra laborious contact than he did in 2021. Regardless of these points, it’s robust to quibble with the outcomes.
Toronto’s bullpen doesn’t venture to impress, however Romano isn’t what ails a gaggle with extra amount than high quality.
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