Article: Blue Jays 2025 Spring Training Newbies: How Did They Get Here?

[Mike LeSage]

A quick look at some of the new and lesser-known faces joining the Jays in spring training. 

Spring training is here. Pitchers and catchers reported on February 13 and have already begun working out. The rest of the players will be arriving for full-squad workouts on February 18 (also known as Hope-Vladdy-is-Signed-by-Today Day). This is a light primer to give you some background on some of the new names you'll be hearing over the next six weeks.

The Big Names

OF Anthony Santander: Signed as a free agent after eight years and 155 home runs in Baltimore. Santander signed a five-year, $92.5-million deal with some deferments and opt-outs/ins. He’ll cover the corner outfield spots and rotate through the DH position as needed.

INF Andrés Giménez: Acquired via trade from Cleveland. Giménez is one of the game's great defenders and immediately becomes the everyday second baseman.

RHP Jeff Hoffman: Signed as a free agent. Three years and $33 million guaranteed, with a little failed physical drama mixed in. Hoffman is a true lights-out reliever who should be given the first shot at the closer role.

RHP Max Scherzer: Signed as a free agent. One year and $15 million. The future Hall of Famer will start as long as he’s able. I also feel compelled to mention that Baseball Reference still projects one save for Scherzer, so keep an eye out for that.

RHP Yimi García: Signed as a free agent. Two years and $15 million. If you tuned out at the end of last season, this one might surprise you, but after a deadline trade to Seattle, the Jays have brought Yimi back to the ‘pen. (The prospect he was traded for appears later on.)

The Non-Roster Invitees

The Pitchers

Simon Li has a pretty great breakdown of five of the non-roster invitee pitchers. RHP Braydon Fisher (acquired in the Cavan Biggio trade), RHP Lazaro Estrada (signed to the minors), LHP Mason Fluharty (fifth round pick in 2022), RHP Hayden Juenger (6th round pick in 2021) and RHP Ryan Jennings (fourth round pick in 2022). Of the five, Jennings might have the best shot, but Fluharty’s lefty status can’t be ignored.

RHP Andrew Bash: 30th round draft pick by the Angels in 2019, signed as a free agent with the Jays in 2021. Bash pitched 78 innings of AAA ball last year with a 2.97 ERA, 4.00 FIP and a 21.8% K-rate.

RHP Adam Kloffenstein: Drafted by the Jays in the third round of the 2018 draft. He was traded to St. Louis for Jordan Hicks in 2023 and is back with the Jays after signing as a free agent. He threw one scoreless inning with the Cardinals in 2024, but spent the final two months of last season out with a shoulder injury. He should be expected to start the year in the minors, but could see a midseason call-up.

The Catchers

None of these guys projects to see major league time in 2025, but Sosa and Sharp might be names to remember in a few years' time.

Phil Clarke: Ninth-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt in 2019. Clarke ran a 137 wRC+ over 29 double-A games in 2024, but struggled in a larger sample size at Triple A.

Andres Sosa: Signed as a free agent in 2021, Sosa has struggled to hit over the past few seasons.

Jacob Sharp: Acquired from Seattle in the Yimi García trade, Sharp was a 17th-round draft pick out of UNLV in the 2023 draft. He's so far put up passable offensive lines by avoiding strikeouts.

Robert Brooks: Signed as a minor league free agent in 2024, Brooks time previously in Tampa Bay’s minor league system. He hit well in 2024, despite some scary strikeout rates.

Matt Whatley: Drafted in the third round in 2017 by the Texas Rangers. The 30-year-old spent seven years in the Rangers minor leagues.

The Infielders

Riley Tirotta: 12th round Blue Jays draft pick in 2021 and made it as high as triple-A Buffalo last season. One to watch.

Josh Kasevich: Second-round Jays pick in 2022. Scouting reports typically tout his defense, so eyes will be on his plate appearances to see what he can do there.

Charles McAdoo: Acquired from Pittsburgh in the Isiah Kiner-Falefa trade and the our 10th-ranked prospect.

Eddinson Paulino: Acquired from Boston in the Danny Jansen trade and the our 19th-ranked prospect.

The Outfielders

Alan Roden: Third-round draft pick of the Jays in 2022. Expected to start the season in Buffalo, but could see a late season call up when rosters are expanded. He can hit.

RJ Schreck: acquired from Seattle in the Justin Turner trade. Played as high as Double A last year and is expected to spend a couple more seasons developing.

Myles Straw: Probably the biggest name (for better or worse) of all the invitees. Acquired from Cleveland in a trade for international bonus pool money that didn’t go to Roki Sasaki. Straw has speed and a Gold Glove, but no bat to speak of. Ssome project him to be on the Jays Opening Day roster… but not me.

 

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