It's hard to imagine the Dioner Navarro situation reaching George Bell proportions, circa 1988, when the latter erupted following Blue Jays manager Jimy Williams's announcement that Sil Campusano would be given full-time work in the outfield.
Still, there is potential for the catcher's trade demand, which he reiterated Monday on Day 1 of spring training for pitchers and catchers, to become a distraction.
Wondering what uniform Navarro might be wearing in six weeks when the Blue Jays break camp leads us to our stories to watch this spring.
When will there be closure on Navarro?
Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulous would probably like to get this resolved before the end of spring training, but through the winter has yet to find a trade partner either willing to give him fair value or one with an immediate need for an every-day catcher. Arizona has long been rumoured as a potential fit, with Tuffy Gosewisch projected as the Diamondbacks' No. 1 catcher entering spring training.
Navarro, 31, is coming off a career year in which he had 69 runs batted in and played more than 100 games (139 total, 112 as catcher) for the first time since 2009, but the signing of Montreal's Russell Martin has moved him down the depth chart. While Navarro's .274 average from 2014 would fit nicely in the lineup, his 12 home runs in 481 at-bats are not the makings of a full-time DH.
Is Dalton Pompey the real deal?
The fact Toronto let centre-fielder Colby Rasmus leave as a free agent (now in Houston) and traded Anthony Gose to Detroit is a strong indication of how the organization feels about the potential of the Mississauga, Ont., native. Pompey, 22, made the leap from high Class A to the major leagues in 2014, combining for a .317 average, .861 on-base-plus-slugging percentage and 43 steals in 50 attempts in the minors. In 39 at-bats for the Blue Jays, he hit .231 but didn't look overmatched. He also reportedly looked good in the Arizona Fall League, so the Jays might have a potential star in Pompey. Kevin Pillar (.267 in 116 AB) is expected to battle him for playing time.
Who's battling for the 5th starter's job?
Barring a move by Anthopoulos to sign or trade for a veteran arm, rookies Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris are in the mix with newcomer Marco Estrada. There might not be a decision on this role until late in spring training. While the Jays probably would like the 22-year-old in the starting rotation, there's a good chance Sanchez could find himself in the closer's role after former stopper Casey Janssen signed with Washington. The hard-throwing Sanchez converted all three of his save chances late last season and posted a miniscule 1.09 ERA in 24 appearances, striking out 27 batters in 33 innings.
Estrada, who was acquired from Milwaukee in a Nov. 1 trade for Adam Lind, could also be bullpen-bound, where he shone in 21 games last season with the Brewers (2.89 ERA vs. 4.96 in 18 starts). Estrada gave up 29 home runs in 150 2/3 innings, but he did have the fourth-lowest ground-ball percentage among pitchers with at least 100 innings last season.
Norris, the Jays' top pitching prospect, will probably start the season at triple-A Buffalo if he doesn't win the job. The 22-year-old started last season at single-A but was pitching for Toronto in September. He possesses a low-90s fastball with good movement and a plus changeup that helped him fan 163 in 124 2/3 minor league innings in 2014.
Who's in the mix for the vacant closer's role?
Left-hander Brett Cecil has already said he wants the job. Five saves in seven chances last season along with a good strikeout rate (76 in 53 1/3 innings) certainly puts the sixth-year Blue Jay in the conversation. His walk total of 27, plus the fact he's a lefty, might go against Cecil. In the last five years, only six left-handed relievers have notched 20 saves, compared to 68 righties over that time. But two of them emerged last season — Sean Doolittle in Oakland and Zach Britton in Baltimore, so …
Returning Blue Jay Aaron Loup (four saves, 3.15 ERA last season) will also get a chance, along with Sanchez (mentioned earlier in this story). Otherwise, Anthopoulos could sign a free agent as Rafael Soriano and Francisco Rodriguez remain unsigned.
Is newcomer Josh Donaldson poised for career season?
Toronto's projected No. 5 hitter has shown durability and power in each of the last two seasons, which is more than the man he is replacing, Canada's Brett Lawrie, could say. The 29-year-old Donaldson, who will make $4.3 million US after his recent loss in salary arbitration, had 29 home runs and 98 RBIs in his second consecutive 158-game season in 2014 after 24/93 totals the previous campaign.
Some say Donaldson is primed for 35-plus homers at Rogers Centre, which was rated the third-most homer friendly a year ago according to ESPN's Park Factors, while Oakland's O.co Coliseum ranked 21st of 30 stadiums. Donaldson hit .276 with 18 homers on the road in 2014 while hitting .233 at his home stadium, which hurts a player's average and takes away a slugger's at-bats with its expansive foul territory.
Who will emerge as the Opening Day 2nd baseman?
Many view this as a two-man battle between Ryan Goins and Maicer Izturis, but prospect Devon Travis might make things interesting. Goins is stellar defensively but weak with the bat (.188 in 181 AB with the Jays in 2014) while Izturis hit .286 in 11 games last season before having season-ending surgery to repair a torn knee ligament. He's a .269 hitter in 10-plus seasons. Travis, who was acquired in a Nov. 13 trade that sent centre-fielder Anthony Gose to Detroit, was the Tigers' minor league player of the year in 2013. Some scouts believe he is major league-ready after hitting .298 with 10 homers and 52 RBIs in 110 games for double-A Erie last season.
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