The 2021 Major League Baseball season began April 1, and the Toronto Blue Jays, along with their eager fans, are looking for a significant upgrade to last year’s 32–28 performance that ended with a sweep in the Wild Card round to Tampa Bay. For their part, Jays’ management was aggressive in the offseason, acquiring the pieces they hope will deliver an exciting young squad for 2021, and being equally forceful with their wallets in the process. In January, the Jays signed one of MLB’s top free agents in outfielder, George Springer, for a franchise-record, six-year, $150 million contract. Infielder Marcus Semien’s one-year, $18 million deal followed a week later.
Due to travel restrictions connected with COVID-19, the Jays begin the season in their Dunedin spring training venue, which has gone through extensive renovations and enhancements to accommodate regular-season games for the first time. The expectation is that they will remain in Dunedin until the end of May, possibly moving back to Buffalo in a tiny hop before what amounts to a giant leap home to the Rogers Centre, where they haven’t played since Sept. 29, 2019.
On the field, fans can expect to see the Jays’ emerging core of fledgling talent in Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio and Bo Bichette accompanying its newly acquired vets, Springer and Semien. On paper at least, the Blue Jays possess one of the American League’s more impressive and dynamic lineups.
Want to find out more about what’s going on in Toronto? Contact me, let’s sit for a coffee and a chat.
Want to find out more about what’s going on in Toronto? Contact me, let’s sit for a coffee and a chat.