The Big E's 2022 Toronto Blue Jays Outlook

It’s been quite the off-season for the Toronto Blue Jays, who are now the second choice to win the World Series at +950. Only the Los Angels Dodgers at +470 have shorter odds.

Toronto lost Robbie Ray,  their AL Cy Young Award winner, and Marcus Semien, who finished third in MVP voting to free agency. But after, the Blue Jays traded for Matt Chapman to go along with the other key free agents signed earlier in the off-season and became the clear favourite in the American League East. 

Toronto went from +240 to win the division before the Chapman trade to +175 as of March 28. Toronto has also seen its win total increase from 91.5 to 92.5.

Toronto’s starting rotation of Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, Hyun-jin Ryu, Alek Manoah and Yusei Kikuchi is the best one-through-five in the division and has the potential to rival the Dodgers as one of the best in baseball. 

Berrios is currently tied for the seventh choice to win AL Cy Young at +2500. While Manoah and Gausman are both in the top 11 sitting at +3000. Blue Jays starting pitchers will benefit from a lights-out offence that should put them in a position to pick up a lot of wins. Also, Chapman’s defence at 3rd base will help immensely. 

A healthy Nate Pearson and Jordan Romano should benefit a bullpen that had its struggles last year, especially in the first half of the season. As of now, the Blue Jays have not added much to their bullpen, which could change as the season gets going. Toronto is tied with the White Sox at +750 to have the best record in baseball, and only the Dodgers at +220 have shorter odds. 

With the playoffs expanding to a new 12-team format, the odds of the Blue Jays making the playoffs are currently -355. 

Last year, Toronto finished 22-9 down the stretch