The defending American League champions, the Toronto Blue Jays, have announced a series of concerning injuries at the start of Spring Training. In addition to Anthony Santander's shoulder surgery, the team revealed that Shane Bieber will begin the season on the injured list due to forearm fatigue, and Bowden Francis will undergo Tommy John surgery.
Manager John Schneider attributed the cautious approach with Bieber to his history of forearm issues during the playoffs and offseason. Bieber, who missed most of the 2023-24 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, is expected to get plenty of work this season, throwing off flat ground up to 90 feet. The team has not provided a specific timetable for his season debut.
The Blue Jays' starting lineup is already shaping up with José Berríos, Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, Kevin Gausman, and Cody Ponce. However, the loss of Francis as a depth starter is a setback. The 29-year-old right-hander struggled with a 6.05 ERA last year before his shoulder impingement, spending the second half of the season on the injured list.
The team is also without right-hander Jake Bloss, who is recovering from an elbow procedure, and left-hander Eric Lauer, who is projected for a long relief role. The 40-man roster is light on big league experience, making further injuries a concern. The Blue Jays have pushed their luxury tax payroll estimate over $310MM, and they are still considering adding stability to the back end with potential moves.
The team's injury concerns and luxury tax situation create a challenging environment for the Blue Jays as they prepare for the season. With a handful of mid-rotation starters still unsigned, including Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer, the team must carefully manage its roster and injuries to remain competitive.
