2017 Toronto Blue Jays (est 2013)

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Previous Seasons

2013 - 75-87 (Atlanta Braves beat Boston Red Sox in World Series)

2014 - 83-79 (Los Angeles Angels beat the Colorado Rockies in World Series)

2015 - 85-77 (Texas Rangers beat Atlanta Braves in World Series)

2016 - 91-71 - Won the AL East, Made it to the ALCS, swept by the Mariners (Dodgers beat Mariners in World Series)

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The writers are saying that the Blue Jays have taken the biggest step backwards this year. They were devastated by the expansion draft and the money they cleared up to use on free agents ended up being not as effective as they would have liked.

MAJOR ADDITIONS

Trevor Cahill (FA)
Matt Wieters (FA)
Franklin Barreto (Trade with MIA)

MAJOR LOSSES

Neftali Feliz (expansion draft to Indianapolis)
Carlos Quentin (expansion draft to Indianapolis)
Nick Franklin (expansion draft to Indianapolis)
Danny Salazar (expansion draft to Indianapolis)
Jesus Montero (expansion draft to San Antonio)
Brandon Short (expansion draft to San Antonio)
Dallas Keuchel (expansion draft to San Antonio)
Justin Maxwell (expansion draft to San Antonio)
Brett Lawrie (expansion draft to San Antonio)
Ryan Verdugo (expansion draft to San Antonio)
Chun-Hsiu Chen (expansion draft to San Antonio)
Brian Cavazos-Galvez (trade with Miami)
John Stilson (FA)
Aroldis Chapman (FA)
Brian Wilson (FA)
Chris Perez (FA)

The Jays are trying to resign Wilson as well as signing fellow relievers Boone Logan and Bobby Parnell.

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Minor oops. I waited until day one of Spring Training to decide to change the structure of the expansion.

One day to late. Oh well.

San Antonio will remain in the NL East for now, I guess.

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The new teams will be called the Indianapolis Racers and the San Antonio Missions. The Racers are in the AL East and the Missions are in the NL East.

For this year, anyway.

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February 18th, 2017

Spring Training is here! The first game was a little sloppy but the Jays still beat the Astros 6-4. Jason Heyward went 2 for 3 with a home run and 3 RBI.

Mat Latos struck out 7 in 5 innings.

Jamie Jarmon suffered a minor injury and will be riding the pine for a week.

WP - Huston Street (1-0)
LP - Rhiner Cruz (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-0

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February 19th, 2017

Eduardo Nunez got thrown out stealing in the 9th inning, leaving the Jays with a 3-2 loss to the Rays.

Of note was Aaron Loup who threw three scoreless innings of relief.

WP - Brett Anderson (1-0)
Save - Johnny Hellweg (1)
LP - Jose Fernandez (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-1

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February 20th, 2017

Boston beat the Jays 6-2.

WP - Chase Johnson (1-0)
Save - Ramon Rodriguez (1)
LP - Ricky Nolasco (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-2

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February 21st, 2017

Trevor Cahill's debut in a Blue Jays uniform went well as the Jays beat the Tigers 8-2.

Phillip Ervin left the game with an undisclosed injury.

WP - Trevor Cahill (1-0)
LP - Alex Burgos (0-1)

Spring Record - 2-2

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Brian Wilson signed: 1 yr, $1.4m


TRADE

To MISSIONS

Matthew Dean
Eduardo Nunez
Hunter Dozier
Jose Urena

To BLUE JAYS

Jesse Hahn
Stephen Tarpley
Addison Russell
Justin Wilson
Chun-Hsiu Chen

The two Wilsons and Chen were added to the spring training roster. As was Kohl Stewart.

Hahn, Tarpley and Russell join the minor league camp.

Getting Chen back was a nice goal (though with Wieters in place he isn't AS key as he was to end the season...) and Addison Russell is a prime prospect.

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February 22nd, 2017

Lance McCullers Jr. had a very strong first start but when the Jays turned to their bullpen, things went differently. First Brian Wilson left the game with an undisclosed injury after facing only one batter, then Kohl Stewart showed that maybe he isn't ready for the big leagues.

WP - Dan Schlereth (1-0)
Save - Jim Johnson (2)
LP - Kohl Stewart (0-1)

Spring Record - 2-3

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Brian Wilson has a hamstring strain that will shelve him for 8 weeks.

Ryan Duke is added to the Spring Roster.

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February 23rd, 2017

The Blue Jays really spanked the Angels today, beating them 15-2.

Jason Heyward went 4 for 5 with a Grand Slam and 6 RBI. Home runs were also hit by Tomas Nido and Matt Reynolds.

Ryan Duke did well in his spring debut, pitching two innings and only giving up one hit.

WP - Mat Latos (1-0)
LP - Eswarlin Jimenez (0-1)

Spring Record - 3-3

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Phillip Ervin has a fractured cheekbone and will be out for 5-6 weeks.

Nate Mondou is called up from the minor league complex.

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February 24th, 2017

Jose Fernandez left the game early with a minor injury and the Jays couldn't make up for the deficit this caused as the bullpens struggled to keep things together.

The A's won 7-6.

Tomas Nido hit a home run.

WP - Brandon Morrow (1-1)
Save - Sean Doolittle (1)
LP - Jose Fernandez (0-2)

Spring Record - 3-4

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February 25th, 2017

In the bottom of the 12th Rubi Silva hit a walk-off RBI double to score Nick Williams to give the Jays a 6-5 win over the Rangers.

Ryan Duke was very impressive, pitching four scoreless innings in relief.

WP - Ryan Duke (1-0)
LP - Luke Jackson (0-1)

Spring Record - 4-4

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Boone Logan ($3.8m) and Bobby Parnell ($1.1m) signed one year contracts with the Jays.

The bullpen is starting to look pretty good!

Brian Wilson is transferred to the 60-day D.L.

Luke Gregerson and Kohl Stewart are sent to minor league camp.

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February 26th, 2017

It looked like the Jays were putting this one away but then Marcus Stroman gave up six runs in the ninth, allowing the Royals to steal an 8-5 win.

Jason Heyward hit a home run.

WP - Dave Piatt (1-0)
Save - Greg Holland (1)
LP - Marcus Stroman (0-1)

Spring Record - 4-5

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February 27th, 2017

The Blue Jays faced the Racers for the first time and beat them 7-4 in ten innings.

Greg Martin left the game with an undisclosed injury.

WP - Aaron Loup (1-0)
Save - Dillon Howard (1)
LP - Tyler Thornburg (0-2)

Spring Record - 5-5

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First Round of Cuts

Sent to minor league camp: Marcus Stroman, Franklin Barreto, Matt Wieters, Nathan DeSouza, Jake Marisnick

Wieters has really struggled this spring and the Jays are hoping a lower-pressure environment will help him get back on track.

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February 28th, 2017

A real team effort today as the Jays scratched out a 6-3 win over the Twins.

WP - Carter Capps (1-0)
Save - Aaron Loup (1)
LP - Javi Salas (0-1)

Spring Record - 6-5