Tuesday, August 12

TORONTO -- Now that the Trade Deadline has passed and everyone has exhaled, it’s all about the postseason run. 

Here’s what’s on your mind as the Blue Jays finish up their road trip in Los Angeles against the Dodgers:

What are the odds the Blue Jays work out an extension with Bo Bichette? -- @Shuman2100

I’ve learned to think of these things in terms of tiebreakers. Money always wins, so for now, the Blue Jays have to set themselves up for the tiebreakers. That way, if both the Blue Jays and another team have a $200 million offer on the table this winter, Bichette will be tempted to stay and not be tempted by something new. Right now, I think they’re winning the tiebreakers. 

I have a personal rule with players in contract years. I’ll write the story in Spring Training as much as it needs to be written, but once the season begins, I’ll only ask them one more time. I asked Bichette this two weeks ago. Here’s what he had to say:

“My priorities have always been to win, to be part of an organization that has that same goal in mind, and I want to play in an exciting environment. We’re checking all those boxes,” Bichette said. “It’s a special time right now, and the fans are definitely making their case known.”

When Shane Bieber comes back, what are the odds they expand to a six-man rotation, or will they move him to a long man/inning-eater role to build him up? -- @Darian416

When Bieber is back, he’s a starter. I’m rarely one to lean toward a six-man rotation, but the more I look at this, the more it makes sense. The one extra day of rest could benefit the veteran starters, and while there are a couple of awkward spots in early September that would result in two extra days’ rest, it’s also possible -- perhaps even likely -- that the Blue Jays could begin with a six-man group and let it take care of itself. When rosters expand by two spots on Sept. 1, that will help cover the bullpen, too.

What is the future path for Alek Manoah in terms of A) his role this season, if any, and then B) his outlook going forward? -- @clarkmunroe_

A: Before the Bieber addition, I would have written that Manoah lined up as the just-in-case depth piece. Now that the Blue Jays are already six starters deep in the big leagues, though, I don’t see a path to the big leagues in 2025 unless something really surprising happens. 

B: I should add that: Manoah not reaching the big leagues in 2025 isn’t a failure. He’s nailed this rehab. If Manoah can build up innings late this season, then come into spring camp and win a spot at the back end of the Blue Jays’ rotation, that’s a complete success story. We’ve seen elite Manoah and struggling Manoah, so all he’ll need to do is find the happy medium. Next March, I expect I’ll be writing about Manoah competing for a spot in the rotation with an inside track. 

Who would be in the running for a September call-up spot in your opinion? Any shot Adam Macko gets to the big leagues this year? -- @NathanReiter14

The position player will likely be a player you’ve already seen in 2025, especially if George Springer and Andrés Giménez return to briefly bump someone down to Triple-A Buffalo. Think Jonatan Clase for speed, Leo Jiménez for depth, etc. 

Pitching is a little more interesting, but I don’t expect Macko in September. Another long man like Lazaro Estrada or Paxton Schultz is possible, but No. 2 prospect Trey Yesavage still looms. Don’t consider it the “likely” outcome, but if you want your best 14 pitchers on the roster, he’s making a fine case to be in that Top 14.

Has Max Scherzer played his way into the postseason rotation now? -- @CakeMcJabe

Absolutely. If he’s still pitching like this come Oct. 1, Scherzer likely belongs in one of the first three games of a series alongside Kevin Gausman and Bieber. It feels like the Blue Jays’ rotation could depend heavily on matchups against whichever opponent they draw, but the postseason is all about upside and Scherzer represents exactly that. 

That said, I keep coming back to the idea that Scherzer’s stuff would play up out of the bullpen better than any other starter in October. Regardless of how this all looks, Scherzer will have to play a major role in the postseason. He’s thrown 143 innings there, so he should be easy to trust.

Will Anthony Santander be back this year? Who goes down when Giménez and possibly Santander are back with how well everything has been going? -- @Davemcp77

For now, let’s operate under the assumption that Santander will not return in 2025. The Blue Jays hope he’s swinging a bat soon, but that’s been the hope for weeks now and there is still a long ramp-up process, so there’s still a tricky path back. If he pulls it off, consider it a bonus. 

When Springer and Giménez return, consider it another one of those “good problem” conversations. Buddy Kennedy is likely on that bubble now, along with one of Myles Straw and Ty France, but once rosters expand to 28 on Sept. 1, the Blue Jays could pull one back. 

Who is the team’s MVP so far this season? -- @ReedVarshoKnies

My ballot today would read:

1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
2. Alejandro Kirk
3. Eric Lauer

Vladdy and Kirk are the obvious ones, but I really want to focus on the meaning of “valuable” here with Lauer, which doesn’t always mean the player with the highest WAR. 

If it weren’t for Lauer, the Blue Jays would have been burning through depth rotation options, which would have spilled over into a bullpen mess. However “valuable” you think he’s been to the 2025 Blue Jays, double it … maybe triple it. 

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