TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays maxed out their 40-man roster by adding catchers Riley Adams and Gabriel Moreno, infielder Otto Lopez, outfielder Josh Palacios and righty Ty Tice ahead of Friday’s deadline, keeping them from being exposed in next month’s Rule 5 draft.
While clearing space for future big-league additions won’t be impossible – outfielder Derek Fisher is clinging to a spot and Travis Shaw is a non-tender candidate – adding so many players suggests the Blue Jays are positioning themselves for a potential trade, as well.
In adding Adams and Moreno, both top prospects who were on the club’s 60-player regular season pool, the Blue Jays now have five backstops on the roster, which is an atypically high number.
That’s an area of depth to deal from, and Alejandro Kirk, who made an impressive debut, was sought after by the Pittsburgh Pirates ahead of the trade deadline. The Texas Rangers have also had interest in the club’s backstops.
At the same time, the Blue Jays are no doubt trying to protect themselves against what could be an aggressive Rule 5 draft, especially if big-league rosters remain expanded beyond 26 players. Anyone drafted or signed out of college in 2017, or high schoolers selected in 2016 left off 40-man rosters, is eligible to be chosen.
Palacios, who spent all of 2019 at double-A New Hampshire, is a logical add with Fisher on the bubble. The Blue Jays were impressed enough by his work at the alternate training site that they added him to their 40-man playoff pool.
Tice, a hard-throwing reliever, put himself on the doorstep of a relief role after splitting 2019 between New Hampshire and triple-A Buffalo. Like Palacios, Adams and Moreno, he was also on the club’s 60-man regular-season pool.
Lopez, 22, was not and his addition was a bit more unexpected as he spent all of 2019 at low-A Lansing, although his varied skill-set, .796 OPS and positional versatility put him on the internal radar.
Notable eligible Blue Jays not added to the 40-man roster included shortstops Kevin Smith and Logan Warmoth, righties Josh Winckowski and Justin Dillon, and lefty Zach Logue.
