Toronto

Blue Jays

Berríos’s velocity was down about one mph from 2025, but he said after the game that he feels 100 percent after last year’s arm woes and he’s actually still hoping to be cleared to pitch for Puerto Rico in the WBC. Berríos’s rotation status with the Jays was in doubt for much of the winter, but he should have a spot initially with Shane Bieber set to go on the IL.

Okamoto’s homer off the batting eye in center left his bat at 103.4 mph and was projected at 431 feet. He struck out in his other at-bat, leaving him 1-for-4 in two appearances this spring. He hit fifth today after batting sixth in his first game Saturday.

The Jays knew they could get away with taking Rodríguez off the 40-man over the winter, but that doesn’t mean they were ruling him out as a contributor. Today, though, he didn’t look like someone who was ready to compete for a spot. He averaged 92.6 mph with his fastball, which is down three mph from last year, and throwing out the six balls in play against him, only five of his remaining 20 pitches were strikes. He was unlucky to give up five hits on the quality of contact against him — just one of the six balls in play was hard hit — but he didn’t resemble a major leaguer.

He actually hit the double 40 feet farther than the homer. (398 feet to 357.) Jiménez is slated to see some time at first base this spring with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. off playing in the WBC. He doesn’t seem like a fit for Toronto’s roster, but if he performs well, some lesser contender might want to give him a look.

Varsho was a big help in fantasy leagues in the final two months of last season, hitting .256 with 12 homers and 35 RBI in 47 games after returning from a hamstring strain. If he could keep that up, he might get a chance to hit third or fourth against righties, giving his value another boost. Alas, he was all the way down at seventh in the lineup today behind Addison Barger in the fifth spot and Kazuma Okamoto hitting sixth.

He averaged 95.0 mph with his fastball today, which is a nice bump from last year’s 93.0 average in Triple-A. Macko keeps missing time each year, slowing his development, and he wound up finishing last year in the pen in Triple-A. He doesn’t seem hopeless as a starter just yet, but this is his last option year and it’s not going to be easy for him to break into the Toronto rotation; a full-time move to the pen might come at some point.

Yepez qualifies as an interesting zero-risk depth addition for the Blue Jays to stash at Triple-A Buffalo as emergency depth. The 28-year-old former prospect struggled last year in the minors after failing to make Washington’s season-opening roster. He’s unlikely to get a look with the Blue Jays unless he starts tearing the cover off the ball for an extended stretch. He can be safely ignored in all fantasy formats.

Okamoto immediately slots into the heart of Toronto’s loaded lineup as the defending American League champions open their spring exhibition schedule. The 29-year-old infielder brings an extensive track record of success in Japan as a power-oriented bat with solid contact skills, a profile that should make his transition to the majors less volatile than most international imports. He’s been going outside the top 275 picks on average in NFBC drafts since early February, making him an intriguing late-round flyer for fantasy managers. Here is the full lineup: Ernie Clement (2B), Andrés Giménez (SS), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Alejandro Kirk (C), Addison Barger (RF, Okamoto (3B), Daulton Varsho (DH), Davis Schneider (LF), Nathan Lukes (CF).

Blue Jays manager John Schneider was hopeful that García might be ready for Opening Day, but that has changed to “100 percent” that he will not be available for the start of 2026. The right-hander will be a high-leverage option in the late innings once available, but for now, there’s an open spot in the Toronto bullpen.

Nicholson-Smith notes that other teams are still in the mix as well, but the Blue Jays appear to be his most serious suitor at the moment on a one-year deal. The 41-year-old hurler made 17 starts for the Jays in 2025, posting an underwhelming 5.19 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and an 82/23 K/BB ratio across 85 innings of work. With Shane Bieber set to open the season on the injured list, the Jays look to be in the market for additional rotation depth and a reunion with Scherzer seemingly makes sense for both sides.