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	<title>Toronto &#187; Steve McEwen</title>
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		<title>Happy Trails: Rafael Soriano Calls it Quits</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/03/17/happy-trails-rafael-soriano-calls-it-quits/</link>
		<comments>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/03/17/happy-trails-rafael-soriano-calls-it-quits/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2016 03:12:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve McEwen]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bullpen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rafael Soriano]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=452</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Back at the start of camp, the Blue Jays thought they had made a good depth signing when they brought in Rafael Soriano on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. He had been great as recently as 2014, so maybe there was a little magic left. Unfortunately, things haven&#8217;t exactly gone according [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Back at the start of camp, the Blue Jays thought they had made a good depth signing when they brought in Rafael Soriano on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. He had been great as recently as 2014, so maybe there was a little magic left. Unfortunately, things haven&#8217;t exactly gone according to plan. First Soriano&#8217;s arrival to camp was delayed by visa issues. Then, despite his continued absence, we heard nothing about the former All-Star closer. Well, that all changed tonight.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">From former Nat dept.: hearing Rafael Soriano, who had a minor lg deal with Toronto, is retiring. Last full year in MLB was w/ Nats in &#39;14.</p>
<p>&mdash; James Wagner (@JamesWagnerWP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesWagnerWP/status/710659040217583618">March 18, 2016</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Rafael Soriano has apparently decided to call it a career.</p>
<p>As one of the favourites to win a bullpen job out of spring training largely due to his track record and reports of throwing well in the Dominican League, this news certainly comes as a bit of a shock.</p>
<p>Over 14 big league seasons, Soriano threw 636 1/3 innings with an ERA of 2.89, a DRA of 3.64, and 207 saves. He saved over 20 games for four different teams and ranks 44<sup>th</sup> on the all-time list. Soriano last pitched in the majors in 2015 with the Chicago Cubs, posting a 6.35 ERA and 9.02 DRA in 5 2/3 IP before succumbing to injury.</p>
<p>What does this mean for the Blue Jays? It appears more likely that one of David Aardsma, Steve Delabar, Bo Schultz, Joe Biagini, Ryan Tepera, or Arnold Leon will make the team out of spring training. Given the fact that Soriano likely would have pitched in some leverage situations, there is also an outside possibility that this could move Sanchez back to the bullpen. It would help save his innings for later in the year while giving the Blue Jays a more comforting face with the game on the line.</p>
<p>Regardless, it was a great career for Soriano and we here at BP Toronto wish all the best to Rafael in retirement.</p>
<p><em>Lead Photo: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports</em></p>
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		<title>Non-Roster Invites in Blue Jays Camp: The Hitters</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/03/11/non-roster-invites-in-blue-jays-camp-the-hitters/</link>
		<comments>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/03/11/non-roster-invites-in-blue-jays-camp-the-hitters/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2016 14:00:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve McEwen]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Casey Kotchman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Adams]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Domonic Brown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humberto Quintero]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maicer Izturis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tony Sanchez]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=57</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every year at spring training, there there are a numbers of non-roster invitees (NRIs) that may seem surprising; some are there more as instructors and mentors while others are projects returning from injuries or just looking for another shot at the big leagues. This year the Blue Jays have 29 players in camp who aren’t on [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Every year at spring training, there there are a numbers of non-roster invitees (NRIs) that may seem surprising; some are there more as instructors and mentors while others are projects returning from injuries or just looking for another shot at the big leagues. This year the Blue Jays have 29 players in camp who aren’t on the 40 man roster &#8211; twelve pitchers and seventeen position players. Fourteen (eight pitchers, six hitters) of these players have some major league experience while the remaining eighteen players comprising of minor league fodder mixed in with legitimate prospects.</em></p>
<p><em>BP Toronto will be breaking down these NRIs into three groups &#8211; <a href="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/03/10/non-roster-invites-in-blue-jays-camp-the-pitchers/">veteran pitchers</a>, veteran hitters, and prospects &#8211; and assessing their odds of making the opening day roster.</em></p>
<p>Without further ado, let&#8217;s get to the veteran hitters in camp looking for a job.</p>
<p><strong>Humberto Quintero – Catcher</strong></p>
<p>PECOTA Projection: 250 PA &#8211; .232/.256/.344 &#8211; 4 HR, 1SB, 7 BB, 54 K, .212 TAv, -1.0 WARP</p>
<p>In Spring Training, the more catcher depth that you have, the better; Quintero is a prime example of what you want to bring in. Humberto Quintero has good reviews for his work with pitching staffs, and is a veteran of nearly 500 MLB games. While he isn&#8217;t a prolific hitter in any sense of the word (.594 career OPS), he&#8217;s a solid catch and throw backstop. Quintero has thrown out 33% of would be base stealers in his major league career.</p>
<p><em>How he fits:</em> He&#8217;s a likely mentor for young catchers, both in Spring Training and in the minors. Quintero will likely slot in at AAA Buffalo for the season.</p>
<p><em>Chance of Making the Opening Day Roster:</em> 1/5</p>
<p>If Quintero makes it as the backup, it&#8217;s unlikely that he&#8217;ll play much. However, he could fulfill the one or two day a week role if he develops a rapport with a starter a lá Dioner Navarro and Estrada/Buehrle.</p>
<p><strong>Tony Sanchez – Catcher</strong></p>
<p>PECOTA Projection: 250 PA &#8211; .236/.314/.388 – 7 HR, 1 SB, 22 BB, 62 K, .292 TAv, 0.7 WARP</p>
<p>Tony Sanchez is easily the second best catcher in camp&#8230;and yes, that includes Josh Thole. He is a former Pittsburgh Pirates first round pick, and has gone through quite a bit of adversity on his climb to the majors. In contrast to Humberto Quintero, Sanchez is not a good catch and throw receiver, as his career 22% caught stealing rate shows. However, Sanchez has additional defensive value in the his framing. Over the last three years between AAA and MLB, he&#8217;s posted well above average pitch farming numbers, and isn&#8217;t a liability at keeping the ball from the backstop. Beyond his defense, Sanchez has also been a solid offensive catcher for years in the minors, and he hasn’t failed miserably in the majors. At AAA Indianapolis, he he has a triple slash of.248/.342/.415.</p>
<p><em>How he fits:</em> As the second best catcher in camp, he profiles well as a backup to Russell Martin. His only drawback being his inexperience in catching the knuckler.</p>
<p><em>Chance of Making the Opening Day Roster</em>: 3/5</p>
<p>I&#8217;d give him a 4 out of 5 if it weren’t for his lack of options. The Jays seem to want someone who can catch the knuckleball. If Sanchez made the team out of camp, and then couldn&#8217;t catch the knuckler, he&#8217;d have to be waived in order to bring up Thole. That&#8217;d be an asset management disaster.</p>
<p><strong>David Adams – Secondbase and Thirdbase</strong></p>
<p>PECOTA Projection: 250 PA &#8211; .240/.311/.372 &#8211; 5 HR, 0 SB, 21 BB, 51 K, .246 TAv, 0.3 WARP</p>
<p>David Adams is able to play at the keystone or at the hot corner. He is more infield depth for a team that already plenty. He&#8217;s been a competent hitter in the minor leagues, and was once thought to have the upside of a quality utility infielder. However, injuries have slowed him, limiting his ability at both second base and the plate. In that way, he has a similar profile to Jays farmhand Andy Burns. In the end, Adams should slot in for the Jays at AA New Hampshire.</p>
<p><em>How he fits: </em>As the emergency 2B, for the emergency 2B. If everyone gets injured, he&#8217;ll be up in the big leagues. However, there&#8217;s far too many guys ahead of him on the depth chart for that to realistically happen.</p>
<p><em>Chance of Making the Opening Day Roster</em>: 0/5</p>
<p>As mentioned above, the Jays just have so much depth in the middle infield. Even if Devon Travis is out beyond May, there is little chance that Adams makes the team.</p>
<p><strong>Casey Kotchman – Firstbase</strong></p>
<p>PECOTA Projection: 250 PA &#8211; .259/.323/.382 &#8211; 5 HR, 0 SB, 19 BB, 30 K, .253 TAv, 0.0 WARP</p>
<p>Casey Kotchman is a former four time Baseball America Top 25 prospect. At present, he&#8217;s an elite defender with above average contact skills at first base. Kotchman was a valuable player early in his career with the Angels, but was never quite as good after leaving LA as part of the Mark Teixeira deal. Outside of one resurgent season with Tampa Bay in 2011, Casey Kotchman has been in the minors, struggling to replicate the promise that he once showed. Now on the wrong side of 30, he appears to be in the line to play 1B for the Bisons.</p>
<p><em>How he fits:</em> Kotchman is at least 5th guy on the first base depth chart heading into the season. It&#8217;s possible that he was brought in to spring to mentor beloved Blue Jays first base prospect Rowdy Tellez on the finer points of the position.</p>
<p><em>Chance of Making the Opening Day Roster</em>: 0/5</p>
<p>There is just too much depth in front of him to expect him to make the team out of camp.</p>
<p><strong>Domonic Brown – Left Fielder</strong></p>
<p>PECOTA Projection: 290 PA &#8211; .252/.312/.413 – 9 HR, 5 SB, 35 BB, 53 K &#8211; .281 TAv, 0.5 WARP</p>
<p>Another former top prospect, Domonic Brown was the one Phillies&#8217; one untouchable players during the Roy Halladay trade negotiations. Since then, there has been a lot of struggles for the former Top 25 prospect. He was once viewed as a right fielder with some power, an ability to run, and solid defence. However, Brown has struggled to live up to the hype once bestowed upon him. However, somehow, in 2013, Brown was an All-Star. That was mostly on the back of his first 62 games wherein he hit .293/.333/.604 with 19 home runs. He&#8217;s yet to be able to repeat the success he had in that short run.</p>
<p>With that said, despite Brown&#8217;s negatives, there is still untapped talent inside. We&#8217;ve seen formerly well regarded prospects come to Toronto and thrive. Brown could be a dark horse to make the team this season; particularly if an outfielder starts the season on the DL.</p>
<p><em>How he fits:</em> In addition to unfulfilled potential, Domonic Brown brings a much needed left-handed power bat to the table. With analytical and supportive hitters like Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista in the clubhouse, it&#8217;s possible that some of that talent could shine through.</p>
<p><em>Chance of Making the Opening Day Roster</em>: 3/5</p>
<p>Brown&#8217;s potential makes him a fun add to the team. However, his inability to cover centre field and be an effective fourth outfielder hurts his chances to make the team.</p>
<p><em>NOTE: Maicer Izturis was on the initial draft of this post, but due to his retirement, he has been left off. He was an underrated and very valuable utility piece during him prime as a result of quality defence and some solid hitting for some very good Angels teams. While he never produced in his time with the Jays, he was a player who gave it his all on the field. His retirement leaves Bartolo Colon as the last remaining active former Montreal Expo. All the best in retirement Maicer!</em></p>
<p>In the end, it&#8217;s unlikely that any of the hitters profiled break camp with the team. With that said, there are some interesting names in camp like Tony Sanchez and Domonic Brown. Both players have untapped potential and are in the prime of their athletic careers. Next up on Saturday, Ewan Ross will break down the prospects in camp.</p>
<p><em>Lead Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</em></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Non-Roster Invites In Blue Jays Camp: The Pitchers</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/03/10/non-roster-invites-in-blue-jays-camp-the-pitchers/</link>
		<comments>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/03/10/non-roster-invites-in-blue-jays-camp-the-pitchers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2016 13:55:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve McEwen]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Aardsma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Non-Roster Invitees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pat McCoy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rafael Soriano]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spring Training]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=36</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every year at spring training, there there are a numbers of non-roster invitees (NRIs) that may seem surprising; some are there more as instructors and mentors while others are projects returning from injuries or just looking for another shot at the big leagues. This year the Blue Jays have 29 players in camp who aren’t on [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Every year at spring training, there there are a numbers of non-roster invitees (NRIs) that may seem surprising; some are there more as instructors and mentors while others are projects returning from injuries or just looking for another shot at the big leagues. This year the Blue Jays have 29 players in camp who aren’t on the 40 man roster &#8211; twelve pitchers and seventeen position players. Fourteen (eight pitchers, six hitters) of these players have some major league experience while the remaining eighteen players comprising of minor league fodder mixed in with legitimate prospects.</em></p>
<p><em>Over the next three days, BP Toronto will be breaking down these NRIs into three groups &#8211; veteran pitchers, veteran hitters, and prospects &#8211; and assessing their odds of making the opening day roster.</em></p>
<p>Without further ado, let&#8217;s get to the veteran pitchers in camp looking for a job.</p>
<p><strong><a title="David Aardsma" href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=45369" target="_blank">David Aardsma</a> – Right Handed Relief Pitcher</strong></p>
<p>PECOTA Projection: 41.2 IP, 4.00 ERA, 4.72 DRA, 8.7 K/9, 3.7 BB/9</p>
<p>Aardsma, the guest on the <a title="debut episode of Artificial Turf Wars" href="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/podcasts/artificial-turf-wars-episode-1-david-aardsma-debuts-and-dingers/" target="_blank">debut episode of Artificial Turf Wars</a>, was as one of the best college pitchers during his time at Rice University. An eventual first round draft pick, he is most remembered as the Mariners closer in 2009 and 2010. During that time, Aardsma posted a 2.90 ERA and saved 69 games. Following those two terrific years, he struggled with injuries. After undergoing hip labrum surgery and then two Tommy John procedures he managed to throw only 71.1 innings with an ERA of 4.54 between 2011 and 2015. Finally healthy, Aardsma’s 2015 was spent with the middling Braves where he posted a 4.70 ERA in 30.2 IP and struck out 35 with a fastball that sat 91-92 MPH. He was excellent at the start of the year, posting an ERA of 1.80 over the first 20 innings, but over his final ten innings his ERA was an abysmal 10.13.</p>
<p><em>How he fits:</em> Aardsma is likely mostly just depth in the bullpen should they need him, and he can provide some decent innings for the Blue Jays as long as he isn’t over exposed.</p>
<p><em>Chance of Making the Opening Day Roster:</em> 3.5/5</p>
<p>If Soriano (below) isn&#8217;t healthy, Aardsma should have a leg up on Steve Delabar for the final bullpen spot, who seems far removed from the pitcher who made the 2013 AL All-Star team.</p>
<p><strong><a title="Scott Copeland" href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=66520" target="_blank">Scott Copeland</a> – Right Handed Swingman</strong></p>
<p>PECOTA Projection: 118.3 IP, 5.05 ERA,5.13 DRA, 4.5 K/9, 3.2 BB/9</p>
<p>In with a bang and out with a whimper is the best way to describe Copeland&#8217;s 2015 with the Blue Jays. In his first start with the team threw seven innings of six hit, one run ball, then gave up seven runs in his following 1.1 innings. A control specialist, Copeland doesn&#8217;t have a lot of upside and has already been on and off the 40-man once and cleared waivers.</p>
<p><em>How he fits:</em> For a guy who is 1o-12th  on the organizational starting chart he is fine, but a lot will have to go wrong for Copeland to ever make it back to Toronto.</p>
<p><em>Chance of Making the Opening Day Roster:</em> 0/5</p>
<p>Unless the rotation is hit by a meteor in ST, Copeland has no chance of making the team.</p>
<p><strong><a title="Scott Diamond" href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=57790" target="_blank">Scott Diamond</a> – Left Handed Starting Pitcher</strong></p>
<p>PECOTA Projection: 122.7 IP, 4.89 ERA, 5.19 DRA, 4.0 K/9, 2.3 BB/9</p>
<p>The Blue Jays decided to bring in a soft tossing lefty who relies on control and mixing pitches. No, it’s not Mark Buehrle. A veteran of 58 major league starts, the Canadian-born Diamond has posted a respectable 4.43 ERA over 343 innings. While he has never been a strikeout pitcher, he has produced very solid strikeout to walk ratios. His best season came in 2012 when he posted a 3.54 ERA for the Twins while striking out batters at a 12.6 percent rate and walking less than five percent of all batters. To accompany his strong control stats he also posted a 53.4 percent ground ball rate.</p>
<p><em>How he fits:</em> He is a quality depth and a spot start candidate who will probably be in line to get starts before someone like Copeland.</p>
<p><em>Chance of Making the Opening Day Roster:</em> 0/5. Much like Copeland there would have to be four or five serious injuries in the rotation for him to get his shot.</p>
<p><strong><a title="Roberto &quot;Fausto Carmona&quot; Hernandez" href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=33548" target="_blank">Roberto (Fausto Carmona) Hernandez</a> – Right Handed Swingman</strong></p>
<p>PECOTA Projection: 15 IP, 5.01 ERA, 5.30 DRA, 5 K/9, 3.4 BB/9</p>
<p>Hernandez is yet another depth piece for the Blue Jays rotation. Formerly an All-Star with the Cleveland Indians under his alias Fausto Carmona, Herhandez is probably the best of the non-roster starters brought to camp. Despite declining velocity, he has posted a very respectible 4.19 ERA in 249 innings over the past two seasons. This is entirely due to his ability get good sink which makes him a sure bet to post a ground ball rate greater than 50 percent.</p>
<p><em>How he fits:</em> Likely the 9<sup>th</sup> man in line should a starter go down, he could provide some quality long relief outings out of the bullpen.</p>
<p><em>Chance of Making the Opening Day Roster:</em> 1/5</p>
<p>Hernandez likely has no shot at making the opening day rotation, but he gets one point for his ability to provide help in relief.</p>
<p><strong><a title="Wade LeBlanc" href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=51959" target="_blank">Wade LeBlanc</a> – Left Handed Swingman</strong></p>
<p>PECOTA Projection: 34.7 IP, 4.27 ERA, 4.56 DRA, 6.5 K/9, 2.6 BB/9</p>
<p>LeBlanc is a 31 year old veteran with 446 innings in his big league career who spent last season in Japan. Another soft tossing left hander, he never has shown a terrific ability to command the ball or strike out batters. In addition to not having any sort of defining characteristic as a starter, he doesn’t have much of an identity or path to playing time in the bullpen. For LeBlanc’s career he has a triple slash of .313/.368/.532 against left-handed batters, so <a title="Aaron Loup" href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=60619" target="_blank">Aaron Loup</a>’s injury concerns don’t appear to help his chances.</p>
<p><em>How he fits:</em> Depth starter at AAA to keep the Buffalo Bisons owners happy. Maybe he gets called up if the Jays need a long man who they don’t mind losing on waivers, but that&#8217;s really his only value.</p>
<p><em>Chance of Making the Opening Day Roster:</em> 0/5</p>
<p>There is just no chance. LeBlanc is even behind Copeland on the depth chart.</p>
<p><strong><a title="Patrick McCoy" href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=56074" target="_blank">Patrick McCoy</a> – Left Handed Relief Pitcher</strong></p>
<p>PECOTA Projections: 57.7 IP, 4.65 ERA, 4.93 DRA, 5.8 K/9,  3.3 BB/9</p>
<p>One of the few true lefty relievers in camp, Pat McCoy has one of the clearest paths to the majors of any non-roster invitee. With Aaron Loup dealing with flexor tendon issues and possible extended time off, the Blue Jays will need another lefty. McCoy throws 91-92 mph and has a decent slider, but is relatively unproven at the major league level, with only 14 career major league innings under his belt. While his Triple-A ERA isn&#8217;t great by traditional standards (4.03 in 89.1 innings) either, he has been used against right-handers and left-handers which doesn’t suit him entirely. Where he excels is as a lefty specialist, or LOOGY; against lefty minor leaguers he allowed an OPS of .593 in 2015 and .575 in 2014. To go along with this dominance he throws 91-92 and has a useable slider.</p>
<p><em>How he fits:</em> McCoy could either be a left handed specialist or a long man for the Blue Jays. In AAA he was used in multiple innings fairly regularly.</p>
<p><em>Chance of Making the Opening Day Roster:</em> 3/5</p>
<p>There is a strong chance that with a solid spring McCoy could be chosen as the temporary second lefty out of the pen while Loup recovers from injury.</p>
<p><strong><a title="Brad Penny" href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=524" target="_blank">Brad Penny</a> – Right Handed Starting Pitcher</strong></p>
<p>PECOTA Projections: 104.3 IP, 4.66 ERA, 4.93 DRA, 4.5 K/9, 2.8 BB/9</p>
<p>Easily the most experienced non-roster pitcher the Jays brought in, Penny is a veteran of nearly 2000 MLB innings. Despite his age (38 in May), Penny still throws in the low 90’s with a sinking fastball. However, while he has spent plenty of time in his career on big league rosters, Penny hasn’t truly seen regular duty in the majors since 2011 when he posted an ERA over 5.00 in 31 appearances. Since then, Penny has flipped between the bullpen and starting for the Giants, Marlins and White Sox. From 2003 to 2007 he was a very solid pitcher for the Dodgers and Marlins putting up a 3.72 ERA over 911 innings. That may not sound that impressive, but because baseball was just starting to come out of the steroid era, the 3.72 ERA was actually 15 percent above league average.</p>
<p><em>How he fits:</em> Yet another AAA starter who will provide depth for the Blue Jays should they be targeted by a sociopath who removes arms.</p>
<p><em>Chance of Making the Opening Day Roster:</em> 0/5</p>
<p>There just are too many pitchers ahead of Penny at this time to give him a legitimate shot of even light hope to make the team.</p>
<p><strong><a title="Rafael Soriano" href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=1182" target="_blank">Rafael Soriano</a> – Right Handed Relief Pitcher</strong></p>
<p>PECOTA Projection: 38 IP, 3.92 ERA, 4.54 DRA, 7.8 K/9, 2.9 BB/9</p>
<p>Probably the most notable name on this list, Rafael Soriano was one of the best relief pitchers of the last decade. With a career 2.89 ERA (an astounding 44% above league average), one might begin to wonder how he is only a non-roster invite. The reason is that after a fantastic first half in 2014 (0.97 ERA at the all-star break), he imploded down the stretch to the tune of a 6.48 ERA over the second half. He lost his closing job to current Jays reliever Drew Storen, then went unsigned until midway through the 2015 season. Eventually the Chicago Cubs took a chance and Soriano threw only six innings with poor results before a shoulder injury ended his season. Reports are that he was throwing well in the Dominican Winter League, leading to the Blue Jays inviting him to camp.</p>
<p><em>How he fits:</em> If he regains his old form he provides terrific depth to the Blue Jays bullpen in much the same way <a title="Ryan Madson" href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=31537" target="_blank">Ryan Madson</a> did for the Royals last season.</p>
<p><em>Chance of Making the Opening Day Roster:</em> 4/5</p>
<p>If the reports out of the Dominican are accurate, and if he can sort out his visa issues and actually show up to camp, there is a very good chance that Soriano could beat out the remaining candidates for the last spot in the bullpen.</p>
<p>Despite a decently large group of non-roster pitchers in camp, the only three who have much of a shot are Soriano, Aardsma, and McCoy. And without the injury to Aaron Loup, this list would be even smaller. There just aren&#8217;t a lot of jobs open for Blue Jays pitchers this spring.</p>
<p><em>Tune in tomorrow for Part Two where we will be taking a look at the non-roster positional players in camp.</em></p>
<p><em>Lead Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</em></p>
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