Atkins: Blue Jays "Not Significantly" Involved in Outfield Market

[Leo Morgenstern]

Speaking to Sportnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith, Toronto Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins said that the team is "not significantly" involved in the outfield market. This comes in light of the news that Anthony Santander could miss the next five to six months recovering from shoulder surgery. 

While Santander's injury news was a shock, this update from Atkins isn't altogether surprising. The Blue Jays have no shortage of healthy outfielders on their 40-man roster, including Daulton Varsho, Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider, and Myles Straw.

Varsho will be the everyday center fielder, with Straw as his backup. Manager John Schneider told Nicholson-Smith today that he expects Barger to get the majority of the reps in right field, while Lukes and Davis Schneider will platoon in left. The skipper also suggested that George Springer will be an option for the outfield as needed. 

There will be a spot up for grabs on Toronto's bench, which could go to another outfielder (likely Joey Loperfido), but an infielder might make more sense. Leo Jiménez is already on the 40-man roster, while Josh Kasevich is another name to keep an eye on. One more player to follow will be outfielder RJ Schreck. He isn't on the 40-man, but Atkins told MLB.com's Keegan Matheson that he's particularly excited to watch Schreck in spring training.

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[Spanky__99]

I believe it's Jimenez job to lose, he projects well and the glove is good.

[Bob_Gratton]

15 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

I believe it's Jimenez job to lose, he projects well and the glove is good.

He was awful last year with his .069 BA

[Bob_Gratton]

Just now, Bob_Gratton said:

He was awful last year with his .069 BA

If we want to win a WS, we need far better OF than Schneider, Lukes, Loperfido, Jimenez. So far we didn't replaced Bo bat. To be fair, we have big holes in our offensive, especialy at third and fourth ranks batting lineup. Barger, Kirk, Varsho, Clement, Gimenez, Lukes, are no suited for such roles, and we have no idea if Okamoto will be good or not.

[Pendleton]

Schreck might be a hitter, and they had him playing more CF than anywhere else upon being called up to AAA, so that's interesting 

[Spanky__99]

1 hour ago, Bob_Gratton said:

He was awful last year with his .069 BA

[John_Havok]

8 hours ago, Bob_Gratton said:

If we want to win a WS, we need far better OF than Schneider, Lukes, Loperfido, Jimenez. So far we didn't replaced Bo bat. To be fair, we have big holes in our offensive, especialy at third and fourth ranks batting lineup. Barger, Kirk, Varsho, Clement, Gimenez, Lukes, are no suited for such roles, and we have no idea if Okamoto will be good or not.

3rd and 4th ranks? Our offensive?

Where you from?