Max Scherzer to start Saturday as Blue Jays roster comes into focus

DUNEDIN, Fla. – Making enough progress with his thumb issues to start Saturday and seeking the type of test only big-league hitters provide, Max Scherzer will make the two-plus hour drive to Fort Myers for an outing against the Minnesota Twins.

The veteran right-hander, whose status to begin the season is uncertain because of the troublesome digit, will be among a handful of regulars on the lengthy trip during camp’s penultimate day, an atypical choice for someone of his stature.

Surprising call, John Schneider?

“For other 40-year-old future Hall of Famers, yes,” replied the Toronto Blue Jays manager. “Max Scherzer, no.”

The goal will be for Scherzer to throw 60-65 pitches and how he feels during the outing – and perhaps more pivotally how he feels during his recovery Sunday – will be one key component of a weekend that will bring the Blue Jays’ roster into focus.

Lefty swingman Ryan Yarbrough exercised an out in his minor-league contract Friday, according to an industry source, and a decision on reliever Jacob Barnes looms Saturday, when teams face a noon ET deadline to add players on minor-league deals with at least six years of service time to the 26-man roster. If the player isn’t added, a team must pay him a $100,000 retention bonus, or release him.

In Yarbrough’s case, the Blue Jays must put him on the roster by 2 p.m. Sunday or allow him to become a free agent. Given the questions about Scherzer – even if he breaks camp, Schneider acknowledged the thumb “is something that we're going to be in touch with him about” during the season – it’s hard to imagine them sacrificing the length option for the bullpen.

A complicating factor is that for the moment, the Blue Jays’ bullpen configuration is uncertain, as if Scherzer is ready, Yariel Rodriguez will work as a reliever, and if not, he’s a starter.

Jeff Hoffman, Yimi Garcia and Chad Green are locked into leverage roles, with Nick Sandlin and Brandon Little in front of them. With Rodriguez, that’s two open spots for Yarbrough, fellow lefty Richard Lovelady and righty Tommy Nance. The latter two are both out of options, otherwise there’s room for all three.

But on the horizon is Dillon Tate, optioned to triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, who could be ready relatively soon, while Erik Swanson has resumed his buildup after dealing with an elbow issue. Zach Pop (elbow) and Ryan Burr (shoulder) are set to open on the injured list and are also out of options.

Further, left-hander Eric Lauer, another important layer of the Blue Jays’ starting depth, has an assignment clause he can exercise Sunday. If triggered, an assignment clause forces teams to give other clubs 48 hours to express interest in adding the player to their 26-man roster. If a team is interested, the originating club then has an additional 48 hours to either add the player or send him out.

So, the Blue Jays must figure out how to best manage their assets there, although it will be less complicated with some of their other players on minor-league deals with assignment clauses: catcher Ali Sanchez (June 1 with a full out July 25); and infielder Michael Stefanic (June 15 with a full out July 31). Catcher Christian Bethancourt can request his release June 16 or be added to the big-league roster within 48 hours.

A bit more clarity emerged Friday after an 11-7 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, when the Blue Jays optioned infielder Leo Jimenez and outfielder Joey Loperfido to triple-A Buffalo.

Jimenez’s demotion bodes well for Addison Barger, who hit his third homer of the spring in the rout of the Phillies, while Loperfido leaves Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw and Alan Roden in the mix for one or two outfield spots, depending on whether Daulton Varsho (shoulder) is ready to start the season.

SPRINGER DINGER: George Springer, grinning widely, threw his arms up as he crossed home plate and then again as he arrived at the dugout following his first homer of the spring, a three-run drive in the third inning Friday.

The 35-year-old outfielder added a walk, his eighth of camp, and is now batting .114/.311/.229 in 14 Grapefruit League games.

“It's exciting,” Springer said of having fun after the blast. “This is why you work, for moments like that, to kind of reassure yourself that everything you're doing is on the right track. Obviously you have to make adjustments, that's the name of the game. But at this point, it's good to see what I've been doing and the process slowly unfold. I thought the at-bats have been good. I haven't necessarily gotten the hit result, but staying in the strike zone, looking for stuff to hit and if it's not on the plate, don't swing. There's been a lot of good that I can take away from it.”

Coming off a down 2024 in which he batted .220/.303/.371 in 145 games, Springer has used this spring as “a time to fail” while working on different approaches in the batter’s box.

“Let's just say every day we try something different, you try something new, try to learn from it, see if you can get yourself into a situation,” explained Springer. “Like, hey, I'm trying to hit down in the count today, not necessarily the smartest idea, but now's the time to try it because there are going to be times where you're going to have to hit down on the count. And there are going to be times we're going to be able to hit ahead in the count. Spring, that's the good news, you have the freedom and the flexibility to try stuff and to really work, to try to hone in on the situations that may pop up in a game over the next 162-plus.”

BATTING ORDER CONUNDRUM: Springer was batting fifth Friday as the Blue Jays continue to play with different batting order configurations, with Schneider saying he likes the idea of going lefty hitter, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Anthony Santander and Bo Bichette, but also likes how a Bichette, Guerrero, Santander opening guarantees each at-bats in the first inning.

“When push comes to shove, you want Tony and Vlad to hit in the first inning. I want Bo to hit in the first inning, too, with the way he's swinging the bat. It's tough,” said Schneider. “You always feel bad if one of those guys is left on deck. You want all these guys facing the starters as much as they can. And if you've got Bo in the four, you may lose one AB or you may lose one late against a leverage arm. That's the discussion we're having internally with players and staff. It is nice to have someone who can really hit like Bo sitting there with guys on base for the most part when he's coming up, whether it's the first time or second or third.”

WAGNER IMPRESSES: Will Wagner played 21 games at second base and one at first base with the Blue Jays last season and the team was eager to see him play the hot corner, too, but didn’t use him there because of his left knee issues that led to surgery.

This spring, they like how he looks there, especially with a couple of strong plays during Thursday’s 4-1 win over the Rays. Wagner has only 74 games and 628.2 innings of experience at third base in the minors, but the Blue Jays are comfortable enough now to plan for him to get some reps there once the season begins.

“He's been impressive,” said Schneider. “Will has the ability to do it because of his arm and because of his feet.”

Wagner likes playing third, where he’s learning to stay lower to the ground to better read hops and is comfortable with the quick reactions necessary on the corner. He couldn’t have done it a year ago when “I was just playing on one leg the whole year,” and with the surgery behind him, “I feel like I'm more explosive over there.”

At the plate he’s had a solid .265/.359/.412 spring in 14 games while seeing some time at leadoff.

“I'm working a lot on defence while still working on my swing, keeping that strong,” said Wagner. "I'm going to be ready for whatever. I want to be in the lineup as much as possible and the best way to do it is play as many positions as you can.”