Griff’s Blue Jays update and 2025 MLB Power Rankings - May 7
AL East now qualifies as the worst division in MLB
BLUE JAYS 26-MAN BREAKDOWN:
Starting Pitchers: RH Jose Berrios; RH Kevin Gausman; RH Chris Bassitt; RH Bowden Francis; RH Jose Urena/RH Spencer Turnbull; (IL - RH Max Scherzer; RH Alek Manoah)
Summary: The Jays front office must have known the risk from recent history in signing Scherzer just prior to spring training, then handing him the third game of the season. Yet, when Max’s thumb-issue happened, they seemed unprepared, organizationally, to fill in that No. 5 spot after just three innings. Now they have reached out, again, inking RH Spencer Turnbull, who had been a free-agent ranked FA No. 50 in the off-season, but unsigned … until now. The 32-year-old native of Alabama has made a total of just 34 starts in the last five seasons, missing the entire ’22 season, following Tommy John surgery, July 20, 2021. Turnbull is expected to join the Jays rotation after a personal spring training buildup in Florida and then AAA-Buffalo.
One of the deepest, most durable and veteran Top 3’s in the AL, the Jays’ starting group has remained healthy and held together into its third season. Gausman has re-found his velocity, while losing slightly on movement of his split. Berrios takes the ball every fifth day and gives you a chance to win. Bassitt has been cerebrally outstanding leaving hitters guessing wrong, most of the time. Francis has struggled lately and combined with the fifth starter woes, prompted the recent signings. RH Urena will start games until Turnbull is ready, then will likely move to the pen.
Bullpen: CL Jeff Hoffman; RH Yimi Garcia; RH Chad Green; LH Brendon Little; RH Yariel Rodriguez; LH Mason Fluharty; LH Eric Lauer; RH Dillon Tate; (IL - RH Erik Swanson; RH Nick Sandlin).
Summary: A lull in the performance of the high leverage end of the bullpen is happening. Experts are suggesting too much usage for Hoffman, Garcia and Little. It’s not even Mother’s Day. If that group has already hit a wall, then this team is toast. The closer, RH Hoffman is having an all-star quality season, in his first shot at a 9th-inning role. His main setup man, RH Garcia has had two bad outings that cost the Jays wins, but, overall, the team’s high leverage relievers have done an outstanding job. The main lefty duo of Little and Fluharty have had success, but the jury is still out on enduring the marathon ahead. The Jays have used 14 relief pitchers in 35 games. RH Sandlin is in that group but is on the IL with a right lat strain and could return by the end of May. RH Swanson remains sidelined, indefinitely. The caveat to dampen the enthusiasm of optimists with a thus-far-effective set of relievers is that entering the ‘24 season, the Jays bullpen also seemed capable of effective depth, but injuries and unanticipated failures led to deadline deals sending the relief corps into a death spiral.
Catchers: Alejandro Kirk; Tyler Heineman.
Summary: It says everything you need to know about your team’s offence, when the backup catcher with just 9 starts in 35 games leads all position players in WAR. Such is the case with the Jays and Heineman. The good news is that the superior bat-to-ball skills of Kirk are emerging from the doldrums as he starts more games behind the plate. Kirk was expected by his manager to make 110-120 starts at catcher, so this is that exact pace. At 5-8, 245 lbs., Kirk has never made more than 89 starts in a season.
Infielders: 1B Vlad Guerrero Jr, 2B Andres Gimenez; SS Bo Bichette; 3B Ernie Clement; 3B-RF Addison Barger.
Summary: The slow build for Vlad’s season, still a work in progress, has followed the easy-to-understand distraction of his early-season contract negotiations. Fans have been teased by batted balls of 119 and 120 mph, neither of which was a home run. With Will Wagner optioned to Bisons, Vlad will see action at first base almost every day, with likely backups being Clement and Santander. After a strong start at the plate for Gimenez, he has been dropped to the bottom third of the order, but his defence never disappoints. When Clement at third and the consistency that a healthy Bichette has found in the field, this is one of the best defensive infields in the AL. The fact of the infield D saving the starting staff many outs and reduced pitch-counts, it will allow the rotation to work deeper into games. One has to overlook the outliers life the botched catch-and-tag by Clement at a key moment in Game 1 at Anaheim that led to a huge inning.
Outfielders: LF-RF-DH Anthony Santander; OF-DH George Springer; LF-CF Myles Straw; OF Alan Roden; OF Nathan Lukes; CF Daulton Varsho.
Summary: The quick start for pure rookie Alan Roden was a welcomed surprise, but his “best before” date may have arrived and with the plethora of six-plus outfielders on the 26-man roster, Roden’s current skills don’t stand out either offensively or defensively. He will likely shuffle off to Buffalo when this road trip ends. The return of Daulton Varsho was important due to his occasional power and the forever defence supplied by the two-time Gold Glove centre fielder. If you include Addison Barger in the outfield group, there are two righthanded, four lefthanded and one switch hitter. Amazingly, with Varsho sidelined, centre field defence had not been an issue, with a second Gold Glover, Straw, plus Springer and Lukes all drawing starts. Springer is off to a strong start after a horribly disappointing 2024 campaign. Suddenly, the Jays’ minor-league system seems teeming with outfield prospects, meaning there was no room on the four-man bench for Davis Schneider.
IMMEDIATE FUTURE:
The Jays broadcasts have stopped fawning over the arrival of new hitting coach, David Popkins, as much as they had been, mustearlier in the season. As a team, heading to California, the Jays were 20th in average and stolen bases; 24th in OPS; 26th in runs scored and dead last among 30 teams in homers.
At some point, with the back end of the rotation being an every-fifth-day roll of the dice, the Jays must find a solution, whether it’s Turnbull, Urena or a combination of bullpen parts. Heading to the West Coast, Jays had played 19 at home and 15 on the road in a difficult schedule to start the year.
2025 Division Combined Record (thru May 5)
1-NL West +12 … 2-AL West +3
3-NL East +3 … AL Central 0
5-NL Central -7 … 6-AL East -11
Griff’s 2025 Power Rankings (Last ’25 Ranking in parentheses)
1-Dodgers (1) … Have 13 roster players and $91.9-million on current IL, proving that MLB depth is more about money than it is about smarts … MGR: Dave Roberts … Most Important Players: DH Shohei Ohtani; RH Yosh Yamamoto … Highest Paid: Ohtani $70.0M.
2-Padres (2) … The bullpen is dominating led by Robert Suarez and Jason Adam. The relievers are combined 9-2, 15 saves a 1.68 ERA and .181 opponent average … MGR: Mike Shildt … Most Important Players: OF Fernando Tatis Jr; RH Michael King … Highest Paid: SS Xander Bogaerts $25.5M
3-Mets (6) … Have 7 pitchers on the 60-day IL including RH Sean Manaea and RH Frankie Montas, both counted on as key rotation members. Are 103 at CitiField… MGR: Carlos Mendoza … Most Important Players: 1B Pete Alonso; RH Clay Holmes … Highest Paid: OF Juan Soto $61.9M.
4-Mariners (11) … This team still built around the rotation. M’s have started to accompany their great pitching with scoring runs. Pleasant surprise from late-signing DH Jorge Polanco … MGR: Dan Wilson … Most Important Players: C Cal Raleigh; CL Andres Munoz … Highest Paid: RH Luis Castillo $24.2M
5-Tigers (10) … With six starters all under 30-years-old, led by LH Tarik Skubal, they are 162-game force to be reckoned with. 1B Spencer Torkelson finally reaching potential and UT Javy Diaz contributing all over the diamond… MGR: A.J. Hinch … Most Important Players: OF Riley Greene; LH Skubal … Highest Paid: Baez/Jack Flaherty $25.0M
6-Giants (7) … SS Willy Adames and 3B Matt Chapman left side of the infield are key, both ways, to a team that has no big boppers. The LH Robbie Ray revival tour, with RH Logan Webb and RH Justin Verlander keeps them in games… MGR: Bob Melvin … Most Important Players: 3B Matt Chapman; LH Ray … Highest Paid: 3B Chapman $25.2M
7-Cubs (9) … Late FA-signee C Carson Kelly opened eyes with his unexpected power numbers thus far. He has combined with RF Kyle Tucker, CF Pete Crow-Armstrong and DH Seiya Suzuki as driving forces … MGR: Craig Counsell … Most Important Players: RF Tucker; LH Matthew Boyd … Highest Paid: SS Dansby Swanson $28.0M.
8-Yankees (3) … LHP Max Fried is the real deal and RF Aaron Judge is comfortable in his role as the most irresistible offensive force in baseball. Given those two leaders, their record should be better … MGR: Aaron Boone … Most Important Players: OF Judge; LH Fried … Highest Paid: Judge $40.0M
9-Phillies (8) … Bullen situation with CL Jordan Romano has damaged what should be better W-L record. Veteran leadership allows them to stay near the top of the standings while straightening out some other issues … MGR: Rob Thomson … Most Important Players: DH Kyle Schwarber; RH Zack Wheeler … Highest Paid: RH Wheeler $42.0M
10-Diamondbacks (5) … The rotation is not yet in high gear but playing in the meat grinder of the NL West, one can cut them some slack. 3B Eugenio Suarez and 1B Josh Naylor give them pop at the corners of the infield. OF Corbin Carroll is an early MVP candidate … MGR: Torey Lovullo … Most Important Players: OF Carroll; RH Brandon Pfaadt … Highest Paid: RH Corbin Burnes $35.0M
11-Guardians (13) … LF Steven Kwan continues to amaze as an old-school leadoff man, while UT Daniel Schneeman looks to be next in line as a Blue Jays killer. CL Emmanuel Clase has had several hiccups but he stays Clase … MGR: Stephen Vogt … Most Important Players: 3B Jose Ramirez; CL Clase … Highest Paid: 3B Ramirez $19.0M
12-Royals (24) … Allowing Sal Perez to DH more often keeps his sublime presence in the lineup, no matter the offensive numbers. Surprise contributions from 3B Maikel Garcia added to the consistent excellence of Bobby Witt Jr make up for a slower start from rotation … MGR: Matt Quatraro … Most Important Players: SS Witt Jr; LH Cole Ragans … Highest Paid: C/DH Perez $22.0M
13-Reds (16) … Superstar Elly de la Cruz reminds Terry Francona daily why he decided to come back as MGR. Old friend UT Santiago Espinal has started at short the only two games de la Cruz sat. Espinal is hitting .333 with 29 hits in 28G… MGR: Francona … Most Important Players: SS de la Cruz; RH Hunter Greene … Highest Paid: RH Nick Martinez $21.1M
14-Rangers (4) … Public image is offensive, but after a tough start, the new hitting coach is Bret Boone. Questions surround 2nd consecutive down year for 2B Marcus Semien. Rotation led by RH Nate Eovaldi, RH Jacob deGrom and RH Tyler Mahle has carried them … MGR: Bruce Bochy … Most Important Players: SS Corey Seager; RH Eovaldi … Highest Paid: RH deGrom $40.0M
15-Red Sox (15) … The best course of action after 1B Triston Casas injury would be Rafael Devers to first. 3B Alex Bregman and LF Jarren Duran are Sox best players. Rotation still sorting itself out … MGR: Alex Cora … Most Important Players: CF Duran; LH Crochet … Highest Paid: 3B Bregman $40.0M
16-Athletics (23) … You can’t sprint a marathon, but the A’s have sprinted through the first six weeks. Nobody wants to play in this Sacramento minor-league ballpark – ownership, home players, visitors and, especially, fans in Sacramento. Athletics are 7-10 at home … MGR: Mark Kotsay … Most Important Players: RF Lawrence Butler; CL Mason Miller … Highest Paid: RH Severino $15.0M
17-Astros (18) … RH Hunter Brown is becoming clear ace of starting staff, while RH Lance McCullers looked good after 2-yr. IL. DH Yordan Alvarez is on IL which hurts a power-challenged lineup … MGR: Joe Espada … Most Important Players: LF Jose Altuve; RH Brown … Highest Paid: LF Altuve $33.0M
18-Braves (22) … One of the big disappointment teams thus far, no pitcher has stepped up as the ace, although LH Chris Sale and RH Spencer Schwellenbach have the credentials. RH Spencer Strider made one start and was shut down … MGR: Brian Snitker … Most Important Players: 3B Austin Riley; LH Sale … Highest Paid: LH Sale; 3B Riley; 1B Matt Olson $22.0M.
19-Brewers (14) … Have used 10 starting pitchers in the first 38 games, with RH Chad Patrick joining RH Freddy Peralta, carrying the load. RF Jackson Chourio is handling the sophomore jinx, while DH Christian Yelich is a run producer … MGR: Pat Murphy … Most Important Players: RF Chourio; RH Peralta … Highest Paid: OF Yelich $26.0M
20-Orioles (17) … Most disappointing team in baseball. Expected to win 100-plus games, with a young position-player core and a returning closer RH Felix Bautista, the team ERA over 5.50 is alarming. Prized FA RH Charlie Morton has been removed from rotation … MGR: Brandon Hyde … Most Important Players: C Adley Rutschman; CL Bautista … Highest Paid: RH Zach Eflin $18.0M
21-Twins (21) … The good news is CF Byron Buxton has been healthy (8HR/7SB) and 3B Royce Lewis is getting there. RH Pablo Lopez is having a bit of a bounce-back in the rotation … MGR: Rocco Baldelli … Most Important Players: CF Buxton; RH Lopez … Highest Paid: SS Carlos Correa $37.3M
22-Blue Jays (12) … See summary above … MGR: John Schneider … Most Important Players: SS Bo Bichette; RH Jeff Hoffman … Highest Paid: 1B Vlad Guerrero Jr. $28.5M and beyond.
23-Rays (20) … A second team playing an entire season at a minor-league ballpark, the summer outdoors in Tampa will not be kind. The Rays have exciting rookies with speed and offensive skills, but they have to learn from their mistakes … MGR: Kevin Cash … Most Important Players: 3B Junior Caminero; RH Taj Bradley … Highest Paid: IF Ha-Seong Kim $13.0M
24-Cardinals (25) … It’s assumed that 3B Nolan Arenado is playing to upgrade his value at the trade deadline. 1B Willson Contreras is settling in as fulltime 1B, while youngsters like SS Masyn Winn and CF Victor Scott II are the future … MGR: Oliver Marmol … Most Important Players: 1B Contreras; RH Sonny Gray … Highest Paid: 3B Arenado $32.0M
25-Nationals (28) … Seven of nine Nats in the everyday lineup are 26-years-old or younger, including LF James Wood ands RF Dylan Crews. LH Mackenzie Gore’s 68 Ks in 46 innings is eye-opening. The rest of the rotation is pedestrian … MGR: Dave Martinez … Most Important Players: SS CJ Abrams; LH Gore … Highest Paid: 1B Nathaniel Lowe $10.3M
26-Angels (19) … Don’t try and tell the Blue Jays. MGR Ron Washington won’t allow this team to get away … MGR: Washington … Most Important Players: SS Zach Neto; CL Kenley Jansen … Highest Paid: *3B Anthony Rendon $38.6M
27-Marlins (26) … Former Jays draft pick LF Griffin Conine finally getting an opportunity. RH Sandy Alcantara working back into shape, probably in time for a trade deadline deal … MGR: Clayton McCullough … Most Important Players: SS Xavier Edwards; RH Alcantara … Highest Paid: RH Alcantara $17.3M
28-Pirates (27) … Tough season for the Bucs, both on and off the field. The latest negative incident was a PNC Park security guard in a dustup with an idiot fan and beating him with a belt … MGR: Derek Shelton … Most Important Players: CF Oneil Cruz; RH Paul Skenes … Highest Paid: RH Mitch Keller $15.4M
29-White Sox (30) … There is no way they can be worse than 41 wins. Can they? … MGR: Will Venable … Most Important Players: CF Luis Robert Jr; LH Martin Perez … Highest Paid: OF Andrew Benintendi $17.1M
30-Rockies (29) … Playing in baseball’s strongest division should cut them a little slack, but not enough to get past the sad won-lost record … MGR: Bud Black … Most Important Players: CF Brenton Doyle; RH Kyle Freeland … Highest Paid: OF Kris Bryant $27.0M