Known for their hitting, Blue Jays flush with pitching value

As the 2017 fantasy baseball season approaches, we take a look at the biggest news and story lines from each club. We'll feature one team each weekday ... and we'll finish up as teams are finally getting their full squads on the field for spring training.

2017 fantasy baseball team previews

Last season was a weird one for the Toronto Blue Jays. They made it to the American League Championship Series for the second consecutive year, but they did it largely on the strength of their pitching -- as their top-ranked offense in 2015 scored 132 fewer runs. The Jays took a major hit on offense this winter, losing DH Edwin Encarnacion (and nearly losing OF Jose Bautista) to free agency.

2016 at a glance

Record: 89-73 (2nd in AL East)
Hitting: 9th (4.69 R/G)
Pitching: 6th (3.78 ERA)

Arrivals

DH Kendrys Morales
1B/OF Steve Pearce

Once Encarnacion turned down the Jays' initial contract offer, they moved quickly to sign Morales, who hit 30 homers in 2016 for the Kansas City Royals.

Pearce crushes left-handed pitching (1.039 OPS last year) so he'll get plenty of important at-bats against the division's tough southpaws.

Players to watch

3B Josh Donaldson
OF Jose Bautista
SP Aaron Sanchez

Donaldson is a rock in the middle of the lineup. A consensus first-rounder in every fantasy format, he's averaged 39 homers, 111 RBI, 122 runs scored and a .387 OBP in his two seasons with Toronto.

Bautista is back in the fold after a down year in 2016 (.234, 22 HR, 69 RBI in 116 games) limited his attractiveness on the free agent market.

Sanchez went 15-2 and led all AL starters with a 3.00 ERA, but fantasy owners seem to be skeptical of him staying healthy this season after pitching almost 100 more innings than he did in 2015. That could make him a nice value pick.

Aaron Sanchez, Jose Ramirez among most undervalued in early fantasy drafts

Sleepers

2B Devon Travis
SP Marcus Stroman

Travis has had issues with injuries, but has been excellent when healthy. In parts of two major league seasons, he sports a .301 career average and .342 OBP. If he plays a full season and hits leadoff, as expected, Travis would be a virtual lock for 90-100 runs.

Stroman is going considerably lower than Sanchez, even though their strikeout rates are comparable and their FIPs last year were within 0.16 of each other. Stroman underperformed his peripherals last season, while Sanchez and 20-game winner J.A. Happ outperformed theirs.

Bullpen

Closer: Roberto Osuna
Next: Joe Biagini/Jason Grilli

Osuna was excellent in his first full season as closer, converting 36 of 42 save chances and pitching to an ERA of 2.68. That Drew Storen "challenge" last spring is a long-forgotten memory.

The Blue Jays added depth to their bullpen this offseason in Joe Smith, J.P Howell and Mike Bolsinger. However, Biagini is the primary choice in high-leverage situations with Grilli, 40, handling the routine setup situations.

Position battles

Pearce should be in a fairly strict platoon with the switch-hitting Justin Smoak at first base.

The left field situation is a bit murky with free agent Michael Saunders leaving. The speedy Ezequiel Carrera was a favorite down the stretch when Melvin Upton's bat went cold (he hit .196 in 57 games with the Jays). But Upton did finish with a 20-20 season. They'll likely platoon with Carrera getting the strong side of the playing time. Youngster Dalton Pompey could also work his way into the mix.

Prospects

1B Rowdy Tellez
OF Anthony Alford
SS Lourdes Gurriel

Tellez, 21, should get close to a full season at Class AAA after hitting .297/.387/.530 with 23 homers at Class AA New Hampshire. The Jays especially like his discerning batting eye (63 walks, 92 strikeouts).

Alford, 22, seemed to take a step back last season because of a knee injury and a concussion. However, he had a solid showing in the Arizona Fall League and appears ready for Class AA this season.

Gurriel, the younger brother of the Houston Astros' Yulieski Gurriel, signed with the Jays in November after defecting from Cuba. He's 23 and has plenty of international experience. It may take him close to a year in the minors before he's ready for The Show, but the tools are solid. A definite target in keeper leagues.

Projected batting order

1. 2B Devon Travis
2. DH Jose Bautista
3. 3B Josh Donaldson
4. DH Kendrys Morales
5. SS Troy Tulowitzki
6. C Russell Martin
7. 1B Justin Smoak/Steve Pearce
8. CF Kevin Pillar
9. LF Melvin Upton/Ezequiel Carrera

Projected rotation

1. RHP Marcus Stroman
2. LHP J.A. Happ
3. RHP Aaron Sanchez
4. RHP Marco Estrada
5. LHP Francisco Liriano