Toronto Blue Jays All-Time Team

Greetings, eh? The Collector's All-Time teams series wraps up the American League East with a stop across the border. Let's visit the Rogers Centre in cosmopolitan Toronto, Ontario for a look at the Blue Jays All-Time roster.

The Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series titles three decades ago, in 1992 and 1993.

Cito Gaston was the first (and second) African-American manager to win a World Series. Here's his lineup for the All-Time Jays.

Three first basemen in a row? Not exactly; Delgado is Toronto's DH and Encarnacion will play third base.

These players are all safe - for now. How about Gaston's bench bats?

Gregg Zaun had some competition as the backup catcher.

	Blue Jays stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Gregg Zaun	10.8	0.255	0.354	0.399	0.753	98
	Darrin Fletcher	4.9	0.276	0.318	0.434	0.752	92
	Russell Martin	8.3	0.225	0.336	0.399	0.735	99

Meanwhile Lyle Overbay, Willie Upshaw, and Josh Donaldson were brought in to compete with Adam Lind and Rance Mulliniks for a corner infield spot. In the end, Cito decided to stick with the status quo.

Did he do the same for Shannon Stewart, who had some fresh competition as the fifth outfielder?

	Blue Jays stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Shannon Stewart	18.7	0.298	0.365	0.440	0.790	106
	Lloyd Moseby	26.0	0.257	0.333	0.415	0.748	103
	Teoscar Hernandez	10.5	0.263	0.320	0.503	0.823	122

Stewart's underrated bat gives him the slight edge. Hernandez won't be adding to his Toronto totals; he was traded to Seattle this past off-season.

There were two battles brewing in the pitching rotation - one at the top and one at the bottom.

Does Dave Stieb belong in the Hall of Fame? Jon Bois says he does. Does the Blue Jays' all-time leader in WAR belong at the top of Toronto's rotation ahead of Hall of Famer Roy Halladay?

	Blue Jays stats	WAR	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP
	*Roy Halladay	48.4	3.43	133	3.29	1.198
	*Dave Stieb	56.9	3.42	123	1.63	1.241

No change neccesary. How about the fifth starter battle?

	Blue Jays stats	WAR	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP
	*David Wells	15.0	4.06	110	2.67	1.275
	Jim Clancy	24.8	4.10	103	1.52	1.360
	Marcus Stroman	12.5	3.76	114	2.87	1.278

Boomer never seemed like a Blue Jay to me, but Stroman wasn't in the Six long enough. Wells wins the job.

The Toronto roster is chalk so far. However Gaston did attempt to overhaul the Blue Jays bullpen.

Jason Frasor, Scott Downs, and Casey Janssen were thrown into an eight-man mix that included Barnstomers reliever Mike Timlin.

	Blue Jays stats	SV	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP
	Casey Janssen	90	3.52	122	3.04	1.219
	Jason Frasor	36	3.73	119	2.22	1.310
	Scott Downs	16	3.13	141	2.40	1.231
	Mike Timlin	52	3.62	125	1.98	1.363
	Paul Quantrill	15	3.67	131	2.32	1.441
	Roberto Osuna	104	2.87	150	6.33	0.919
	Aaron Loup	6	3.47	120	3.03	1.271
	Roy Lee Jackson	30	3.50	122	1.59	1.291

Roberto Osuna did a lot of damage in a short amount of time. He'll take Frasor's spot as a set-up man to "Terminator" Tom Henke. Jannsen and Downs keep their roster spots, while Timlin and Quantrill get a second chance in the Barnstormers bullpen.

Looking ahead, the Blue Jays have loads of young stars that could force a shakeup on the All-Time roster. Alek Manoah, Jordan Romano, and Alejando Kirk are on the right track. And then there's these two:

Both Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are technically eligible now. Bichette is close to pushing for a bench spot, while Vlad has a 1st base/DH logjam to break though. The future looks very bright for the Blue Jays.

TL; DR: One change from the original roster. Frasor out, Osuna in.

We'll stay along the Atlantic this week with a look at the National League's eastern teams. Come back Thursday for the Atlanta Braves All-Time roster.


Thanks for reading!

 

 

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