Which Toronto Blue Jays veterans' stock are up/down after first month of the MLB season (2024)

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays aren’t where they want to be.

After 32 games, including Wednesday’s 6-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals, the Blue Jays are 15-17 and manager John Schneider called their performance “so-so.” This Blue Jays’ team came into the season with a roster heavy on returning players with established roles. Some have exceeded expectations, while others aren’t performing to their regular norms. With that mix, it isn’t surprising that the team is hovering around .500.

“We know we need to be better, we will be better in all aspects,” Schneider said. “When it does click, I think you’re going to see the complete brand of baseball.”

As we open May, let’s look at whose among those returning veterans’ stock is going up and who’s going down on the Blue Jays.

Stock up

José Berríos, RHP

Not only has Berríos been the best Blue Jays starter, he’s been one of the best starters in baseball, period.

José Berríos, Filthy 95mph Front Door Two Seamer. 😷

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Take a called strike, get a punch in the arm. I like it. pic.twitter.com/fIREIUhkmq

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 30, 2024

After the right-hander’s recent seven-inning, two-run start on Tuesday, Berríos sat second in the majors with 43 2/3 innings pitched, while his 1.44 ERA ranked fourth. Berríos has surrendered two runs or fewer in seven straight starts to begin the season, the longest streak by a Blue Jays starter in club history, and his six quality starts also lead the majors. Berríos has been particularly effective against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .088 average (5 for 57), the best mark in the majors (with a minimum of 30 at-bats). Armed with confidence and sharp stuff, Berríos is off to the best start of his career.

Yimi García, RHP

From spring training onward, García has been on a different level and has become the Blue Jays’ most valuable reliever. The right-hander has an 0.68 ERA with 16 strikeouts and just three walks in 13 appearances (13 1/3 innings). His results haven’t come cheaply, either, as Schneider has consistently deployed García in the highest leverage situations against the opposition’s best batters. The Blue Jays were without closer Jordan Romano to start the season and without García’s sublime pitching, things could have been a lot worse for them.

"At this moment, I think Yimi García is the best Blue Jays reliever we've seen in years."@bnicholsonsmith on García's big moment against the top of the #Dodgers' order yesterday with @BlakeMurphyODC. #TOTHECORE

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📻 https://t.co/tEtiRUWyip pic.twitter.com/31S9w4hZtD

— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) April 29, 2024

García’s hot start has been thanks to a boost in his velocity — he’s averaging a career-best 96.6 mph on his four-seam fastball — and improved command. No batter has a hit off García’s four-seam fastball yet this season and he’s allowed only one single on his sinker. With six pitches in his arsenal, García is already a unique reliever and through April, he’s proven to be an invaluable one to the Blue Jays.

Danny Jansen, C

As if we needed a reminder of how important Jansen’s bat has become to Blue Jays lineup, the 29-year-old catcher has hit .267/.371/.667 with three home runs in 10 games since returning from the injured list on April 15. Jansen’s home run total — three — is already tied for third on the team and matches that of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, who have each played three times more games than Jansen.

A Danny Jansen homer gets the Blue Jays on the board. 💥 pic.twitter.com/k4yf2JKUQ1

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 1, 2024

Hitting for power and doing damage was a team-wide emphasis coming into the season, but so far, the Blue Jays rank 21st with 28 home runs. Jansen represents one of the Blue Jays’ best power bats, and with Alejandro Kirk off to another slow offensive start, it might be time to explore playing Jansen more frequently. Of course, catching is a physically and mentally demanding position. Priority No. 1 is keeping Jansen healthy and in the lineup, so rest is required.

Stock down

Bo Bichette, SS

For the past two seasons, you could look atop the MLB leaders in hits and expect to see Bichette’s name among them. This season, however, you have to scroll down to No. 125 to find Bichette listed with 23 hits (as of the end of the Blue Jays’ game Wednesday evening). It’s been an uncharacteristically slow start for the shortstop. Through 29 games, Bichette is slashing .205/.262/.295 with one home run and 11 RBIs.

What stands out this season is that Bichette isn’t hitting the ball as hard as he typically does. His hard-hit rate is 38.5 percent compared to 44.9 percent last year, while his barrel rate is 2.2 this season compared to 9.6 percent the past two seasons. Schneider said the reason for Bichette not hitting the ball as hard this year could be a timing or approach issue.

“I think when (Bo’s) swinging with some intent, that’s when he’s been really good,” the Blue Jays manager said. “That part of it has been a little bit off throughout the season. There’s been games where it’s been good, but I don’t really worry about Bo. Bo’s going to hit, you know? I think it’s just like one of those things that just happens.”

George Springer, OF

When Springer hit home runs in the season’s first two games, there was optimism that the 34-year-old was tapping into his pull power, something the Blue Jays were keen for him to do more of this season. But Springer has only hit one home run since then, and he’s slashing .212/.295/.322 through 30 games with five RBIs. In general, Springer’s hard-hit rate and pull percentage are down this season compared to previous years.

For most of his career, Springer has hit in the leadoff spot and been one of the best to do it. His 57 career leadoff home runs trail only Rickey Henderson (81) for most in MLB history. But as reliable as Springer has been at the top of the lineup historically, it’s fair to wonder if it’s time to shake up the batting order amid Springer’s struggles.

“Guys are going to get pitched how they’re going to get pitched, no matter where they’re hitting,” Schneider said. “If I feel like there comes a time where you need to shake things up, yeah, we’ll do it for a game.”

Schneider has previously moved Springer out of the leadoff spot, notably last July when the right-fielder was scuffling. He was replaced by the red-hot Whit Merrifield temporarily but eventually returned to the leadoff spot about a month later. The Blue Jays likely won’t rush to move Springer down in the lineup, but if he continues to struggle at the plate, it may be a lever for Schneider to pull to try to spur on the offence.

Erik Swanson, RHP

Last season, Swanson was one of Toronto’s best and most trusted relievers, posting a 2.97 ERA in 69 appearances, the majority of which came in high-leverage innings. But Swanson hasn’t found his best stuff yet this season.

The right-hander began the year on the injured list with forearm inflammation and since he returned on April 16, he has an inflated 12.60 ERA in six appearances, largely due to a couple of multi-run outings. Underlying numbers say Swanson hasn’t gotten the typical swing-and-miss on his splitter compared to last season. That said, Swanson remains firmly in Schneider’s circle of trust and his blowups this year have appeared more a matter of execution rather than a lack of stuff.

(Photo of José Berríos: Ed Zurga / Getty Images)