Although the main players in toronto blue jays like the Dominican-Canadian Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer and Alek Manoah remains after that disappointment of missing last year in the Wild Card series, the front office has revamped the roster.
Outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, a longtime enemy of the division during his years with the Tampa Bay Rays, was one of many veterans to join Toronto in free agency, along with starter Chris Bassitt and first baseman Brandon Belt. The team also traded for OF Daulton Varsho and reliever Erik Swanson.
The Blue Jays will likely spend the summer battling the New York Yankees for division supremacy. It was the Yankees who gave their opinion early last year, jumping out the door in April en route to 99 wins and a searing divisional crown. Kiermaier wants the Blue Jays to be the team that sends a first message this season by taking immediate control of the AL East.
“I would love to set the tone and go out there and try to win the division,” he told reporter Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun. “We’re trying to take the next step. Everyone knows (winning the division) is important. That’s the goal.”
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We have to let our game do the talking. These guys have always had high expectations, but let’s do something different this year and really scare the teams. We are playing for October and we want the division.”
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