Blue Jays' Manoah in spotlight with pitchers, catchers set to report to spring training

The Toronto Blue Jays begin spring training this week looking ahead to the season while trying to erase the memory of their latest post-season exit.

The first official workout is set for Thursday at the Player Development Complex in Dunedin, Fla., as the team prepares for the Grapefruit League opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on Feb. 24.

The Blue Jays, who have been swept in the wild-card round in three of the last four years, will open the regular season March 28 at Tampa Bay. Here's a look at five storylines entering camp:

Starting pitcher Alek Manoah has kept a low profile since he was demoted to the minor leagues for a second time last summer.

He was a 2022 American League Cy Young Award finalist but struggled mightily last year. He'll soon get a chance to speak publicly on what transpired after he was sent to triple-A Buffalo in August.

Manoah reportedly refused to report to the Bisons and didn't pitch once he eventually decided to show up in Buffalo. In mid-September, the Blue Jays said he was shut down for the season after receiving multiple injections in his pitching arm.

So is he ready to pitch? How is his relationship with the team? Does he feel he can return to his all-star form?

We'll soon find out from the big right-hander himself.

The Blue Jays lost their arbitration case with first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. last week as a three-person panel awarded the slugger the $19.9 million US he requested.

The team had offered $18.05 million, which also would have been a record amount in MLB salary arbitration.

It was a head-scratching decision by the team considering Guerrero is a franchise cornerstone who's slated to become a free agent after the 2025 season. Arbitration can sometimes ruffle feathers