The Toronto Blue Jays are nearly ready for Opening Day.
Mar 13, 2026; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Spencer Miles (62) throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the third inning during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
But not quite.
With most of the 26-man roster already settled, two final decisions remain — and both carry more intrigue than expected. One spot in the bullpen and one on the bench are still up for grabs, and neither battle appears as straightforward as it once seemed.
That’s where things get interesting.
The bullpen decision may not go to the obvious choice
On the surface, Chase Lee looks like the clear favorite.
Acquired during the offseason to strengthen the bullpen, Lee has done everything right this spring. He’s been dominant in limited action, keeping opponents off the board while showing the kind of control and composure the Blue Jays envisioned when they traded for him.
By performance alone, the job should be his.
But roster construction isn’t always about performance.
Spencer Miles, a Rule 5 selection, brings a different kind of consideration. He’s also had a solid spring, missing bats and holding his own against big-league hitters. More importantly, his roster status complicates the decision.
If the Blue Jays don’t keep Miles, they risk losing him.
Lee, on the other hand, still has minor league options. That flexibility gives Toronto a safety net — and creates the possibility of a surprising outcome.
In a vacuum, Lee likely wins the job.
In reality, the Blue Jays may prioritize long-term depth over short-term certainty.
That’s how unexpected decisions happen.
The bench battle is tighter than it looks
The final position player spot presents a similar dilemma.
Davis Schneider enters camp as the logical choice. He played a meaningful role last season, offers positional versatility, and fits neatly into a roster that values flexibility.
But his spring performance has raised concerns.
At the plate, Schneider struggled to find consistency, with strikeouts piling up and production lagging behind expectations. While spring numbers don’t always tell the full story, they can influence close decisions — especially when alternatives exist.
Leo Jiménez is that alternative.
He hasn’t lit up the stat sheet either, but his defensive reliability and ability to handle multiple infield positions give him a different kind of value. And unlike Schneider, he doesn’t have minor league options remaining.
That matters.
If Jiménez doesn’t make the roster, the Blue Jays risk losing him on waivers. Schneider, meanwhile, could be sent down without that risk.
Once again, flexibility becomes the deciding factor.
And once again, it opens the door for a surprise.
A reminder of how rosters are really built
These final decisions highlight something often overlooked this time of year.
Opening Day rosters aren’t just about the best 26 players.
They’re about balance. Depth. Options. And sometimes, difficult trade-offs.
The Blue Jays are building a team designed to compete deep into the season, not just win in April. That means thinking beyond immediate performance and considering how each decision affects the roster weeks and months down the line.
Whether it’s choosing Miles over Lee or Jiménez over Schneider, the logic may not be obvious at first glance.
But it reflects a bigger picture.
And regardless of how these final spots shake out, Toronto enters the season with a roster strong enough to contend — even if it takes a couple of unexpected turns to get there.
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