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MLB Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays Will Make Playoffs In 2015

By @bradberreman24

Toronto Blues Jays, Russell Martin, Alex Anthopoulus

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

When we last saw the Toronto Blue Jays in the MLB playoffs, outfielder Joe Carter was racing frantically around the bases after hitting a walk-off home run off Philadelphia Phillies’ closer Mitch Williams in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. That was just the second World Series to end with a walk-off homer, and for another perspective on how long ago it was — current Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor was named MVP of the series.

With the Kansas City Royals bringing an end to their postseason drought that dated back to 1985 this past season, the Blue Jays now own the longest streak of seasons without a playoff berth in all of baseball. But general manager Alex Anthopoulus seems set on ending that streak by building up to and making some very aggressive moves already this offseason. Based on that, and the expectation more moves will be made before Opening Day, I think the Blue Jays are in line to make a return to the playoffs in 2015.

Toronto started things off this offseason by trading first baseman Adam Lind to the Milwaukee Brewers for pitcher Marco Estrada. Estrada posted a 3.97 ERA with solid peripherals (8.4 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9) over the last three seasons with the Brewers, but he also allowed 66 home runs over that span and that is a concern. The Blue Jays made a couple of smaller moves around that time as well, claiming first baseman Justin Smoak and outfielder Andy Dirks off waivers, but it quickly became clear Anthopolous was not done attempting to overhaul the Blue Jays’ roster.

The Blue Jays were not widely considered the front runner to sign Russell Martin, with that honor going to the Chicago Cubs, but they agreed to a five-year, $82 million contract with the free agent catcher to bring him north of the border. The intelligence of signing a catcher who will be 32 years old before next season starts to a five-year deal is worth a healthy debate, but Toronto may have a small window to move into playoff contention and Anthopoulus clearly recognizes that.

On Friday, Toronto sent four players, including former top prospect third baseman Brett Lawrie, to the Oakland Athletics for third baseman Josh Donaldson. Donaldson has emerged as one of the top third baseman in either league over the last two seasons, and he set career highs in home runs (29) and RBI (98) in 2014 as he earned his first career All-Star selection. His addition to a lineup that already includes Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Reyes puts the Blue Jays in line to have one the best offenses around next season.

The Blue Jays have a solid starting rotation, with veterans R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle leading the way for some promising younger arms (Marcus Stroman, Drew Hutchinson and Estrada). But they are missing a quintessential staff ace that is in his prime, so that has to be another priority this winter for Anthopoulus, in free agency or on the trade market.

The Baltimore Orioles are clearly the class of the American League East right now, since they won the division by a comfortable 12 games in 2014. But the rest of the division is very vulnerable, with the New York Yankees full of aging and injury-prone, big-name stars and the Boston Red Sox seemingly trying to buy their way out of the cellar with a free agent spending spree this offseason. Even the Tampa Bay Rays, baseball’s model for excellence on a small budget, will be in transition next season with manager Joe Maddon and general manager Andrew Friedman leaving for greener pastures this offseason.

So now looks like the time for the Blue Jays to move out of mediocrity and become a legitimate playoff contender, or they stand a good chance of remaining a postseason afterthought after July 1 every year until further notice. Anthopoulus tried a bold move to make Toronto a contender back in November of 2012, by acquiring Reyes, Buehrle and two other players from the salary-dumping Miami Marlins, and that obviously has not bore any fruit yet. But adding some more prominent pieces to the equation this offseason, starting with Martin and Donaldson before the end of November, has over two decades without playoff baseball in Canada primed to end in 2015.

Toronto was a big disappointment in 2013 after being widely declared one of the winners of the offseason leading up to that season, so I’m not going out on a limb to predict that they’ll win the American League East next year. I won’t even put them in line for a deep playoff run right now, with more offseason moves needed to address some other concerns on the roster. I think Anthopoulus will be given the leeway to spearhead those necessary moves, within reason of course, but I don’t see another big free agent signing happening.

I think the Blue Jays will stay in the playoff race well into next summer, as long as key players are able to stay on the field, and they could even threaten to win the division for a time. I think Toronto will ultimately fall short in their pursuit of a division title next season, since taking down the Orioles will be a tall task, but one of the wild card spots in the American League will be theirs.

Brad Berreman is a Columnist at Rant Sports.com. Connect with him on Twitter or Google +.

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