Breaking down Blue Jays' '22 roster options

TORONTO -- The 2021 season ended in heartbreaking fashion for the Blue Jays, coming down to the final minutes of the final game. This leaves them looking ahead at a long list of offseason priorities, topped with two of their own pending free agents in Robbie Ray and Marcus Semien.

Recapping the roster that went 91-71, let’s take a look at how it projects forward to 2022:

Catcher
Danny Jansen (first-year arbitration eligible)
Jansen’s stock was down and injuries kept it there for most of the season, but he surged to a fantastic finish. A trusted defender who feels as “veteran” as a 26-year-old can on this roster, Jansen will have a role on the 2022 squad.

Alejandro Kirk (pre-arbitration)
A hip injury cost Kirk time and his .242 average with a .764 OPS didn’t represent his offensive potential. There’s still plenty of defensive development ahead for the 22-year-old, but his bat remains enticing and will make an impact in ’22.

Reese McGuire (pre-arbitration)
Designated for assignment on April 1, McGuire found his way back and appeared in 78 games. With Kirk, Jansen and No. 1 prospect Gabriel Moreno coming, this position may be crowded for McGuire, but he held his own in ’21.

First base
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (first-year arbitration eligible)
With 48 home runs, a .311 average and 1.002 OPS, Guerrero put up a historic, MVP-caliber season (though Shohei Ohtani will have something to say about that). He’s the face of the Blue Jays and will be one of the faces of the league for the next decade if he keeps this up.

Second base
Marcus Semien (free agent)
Semien set a new AL/NL record for the most home runs by a second baseman with 45, putting up a career year while immediately emerging as the leader of the Blue Jays. This was just a one-year deal, though, and Semien will be one of the top names in free agency. This reunion will be tough for the Blue Jays to pull off.

Shortstop
Bo Bichette (pre-arbitration)
The 23-year-old is already an All-Star after hitting 29 home runs and driving in 102 runs. We know Bichette can hit, but what was most encouraging was the development of his defense in the second half of the season. Bichette is a franchise cornerstone to build around.

Third base
Cavan Biggio (pre-arbitration)
Biggio was never 100 percent, with multiple injuries following him through the season. He hit just .224 and never fully established himself in the Majors, but Biggio could be a much more natural fit in a super-utility role on the ’22 roster. He’s a great bounce-back candidate who could add some real value to the club’s roster and lineup construction.

Santiago Espinal (pre-arbitration)
Espinal did nothing but help himself in ’21. Hitting .311 while playing great defense at third, the versatile and athletic Espinal earned himself a role on the ’22 roster. It’s likely that’s more of a utility or part-time role, but as he showed with 92 games in ’21, “part time” can still be important.

Breyvic Valera (pre-arbitration)
The Blue Jays continued to trust Valera in big situations in ’21, playing him at both second and third. The organization likes him, but there’s younger options on the way.

Kevin Smith (pre-arbitration)
Toronto's No. 9 prospect didn’t hit much in his MLB debut, but coming off a great season in Triple-A with a reliable glove, Smith has earned an opportunity to compete for a job in Spring Training.

Left field
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (signed through 2024)
Gurriel struggled at times early but finished red hot, showing why he can be such a game-changing talent for this lineup. He’s likely the Blue Jays’ starting left fielder next spring, but opposing teams will continue to ask about him in trade talks if the Blue Jays aim big.

Corey Dickerson (free agent)
Dickerson complemented this lineup very well after coming over via trade from the Marlins. This is the type of player the Blue Jays need coming off the bench or as a part-time outfielder.

Center field
George Springer (signed through 2026)
Multiple injuries slowed Springer in the first year of his six-year, $150 million deal. His peaks were exceptional and he still hit 22 homers with a .907 OPS over just 78 games, so the ’22 season will be his chance to chase 40 homers and lead the Blue Jays to the postseason.

Randal Grichuk (signed through 2023)
Grichuk filled in admirably for Springer early in ’21, but by the time the season ended, he owned a .241 average and .703 OPS. With two years remaining on his extension, it’s possible the Blue Jays try to move his contract.

Jarrod Dyson (free agent)
Dyson appeared in 25 games, though mostly as a pinch-runner or defensive sub. Don’t expect him back, but this type of role -- the bench speedster who can play some defense -- worked well with the roster late in the season.

Right field
Teoscar Hernández (second-year arbitration)
Hernández is the quiet star of the Blue Jays. With 32 homers and 116 RBIs over 143 games, he’s one of the game’s most underrated power hitters and could be an extension candidate.

Starting pitchers
Robbie Ray (free agent)
From the MLB walks leader to the likely AL Cy Young Award winner, what a turnaround it was for Ray. The lefty became the Blue Jays’ ace and put up one of the best seasons in club history. His return may be slightly likelier than Semien’s, but it will still be a very competitive market for Ray.

José Berríos (signed through 2022)
Berríos was acquired at the Trade Deadline and delivered. One of the game’s most consistent starters has one year of team control left, and if Ray doesn’t return, it’s possible Berríos enters ’22 as the club’s No. 1 starter.

Hyun Jin Ryu (signed through 2023)
Ryu struggled down the stretch to a 4.37 ERA, his highest in any full MLB season. With two years remaining on his deal at $20 million each, the Blue Jays will need the lefty to bounce back. He may have vacated his role as an “ace," but a healthy Ryu can still be a No. 2 or very good No. 3.

Alek Manoah (pre-arbitration)
Manoah was the story of Spring Training, dominated over three starts in Triple-A and shot right to the big leagues well ahead of schedule. With a 3.22 ERA over 20 starts as a rookie, he’s no longer a prospect leaning on potential. Manoah has a chance to be the No. 2 or 3 in this rotation.

Steven Matz (free agent)
Ray and Semien will get the attention in free agency, but don’t forget Matz. The lefty is a fringe candidate for a qualifying offer, but should earn himself a nice deal after putting up a 3.82 ERA over 29 starts.

Ross Stripling (third-year arbitration)
Stripling was brilliant for a stretch in ’21, filling a rotation spot, but later regressed and ran into injury trouble late, ending with a 4.80 ERA. His ’22 outlook will depend greatly on what the Blue Jays do with their rotation and bullpen.

Thomas Hatch (pre-arbitration)
Hatch made just three MLB appearances in ’21, but would have had a much larger role if it weren’t for an elbow injury in camp. Much like last offseason, he enters next year as a bit of a dark horse who could contribute in multiple roles, but expect him to stay a starter for now.

Relief pitchers
Jordan Romano (pre-arbitration)
Romano is the closer, and that’s not changing. The Canadian was excellent in ’21 and rose to big moments late in the season, finishing with a 2.14 ERA.

Tim Mayza (second-year arbitration)
Mayza was one of the stories of the season. Coming back from Tommy John surgery to earn a 40-man roster spot, Mayza eventually took the eighth inning as his own. He’ll earn a nice raise in his second year of arbitration and return as a high-leverage arm in ’22.

Adam Cimber (second-year arbitration)
The Cimber trade was one of the Blue Jays’ best moves of ’21. The submarining righty put up a 1.69 ERA over 39 appearances and will be a core piece of the ’22 bullpen.

Trevor Richards (first-year arbitration)
Another nice in-season pickup by the Blue Jays, Richards saw plenty of high-leverage situations and should be part of the bullpen solution in ’22.

Trent Thornton (first-year arbitration)
After transitioning to a relief role, Thornton put up a 4.78 ERA over 49 innings in the big leagues. If Thornton has a role with the club in ’22, it’s likely in a similar, up-and-down fashion from Triple-A.

Ryan Borucki (first-year arbitration)
Borucki looked so good at points in ’20, but pitched to a 4.94 ERA in ’21 and missed time with injury. He should still get a shot in ’22, though, given his unique talent from the left side.

Julian Merryweather (pre-arbitration)
Merryweather’s season debut in April was brilliant, touching 100 mph with dominant secondary pitches, then an oblique injury cost him nearly the entire year. Merryweather has a massive ceiling in ’22, but as we’ve seen, there’s risk involved.

Anthony Castro (pre-arbitration)
Castro certainly had his moments early, but he’s likely to be more of a depth piece for the club in ’22.

Tayler Saucedo (pre-arbitration)
Saucedo earned his MLB debut and pitched to a 4.56 ERA, so he’ll return in ’22 as a depth piece. As a lefty, he could see some opportunities arise once again.

Anthony Kay (pre-arbitration)
This was a difficult season for Kay, both in Triple-A and the big leagues. He still has potential, but Kay could enter ’22 down the depth chart in Triple-A.

Nate Pearson (pre-arbitration)
Who is Nate Pearson? Is he a starter, a reliever or a hybrid who throws 100-120 innings? This will be one of the stories of the spring in ’22, and with some of his flashes late in ’21, the former No. 1 prospect will have all eyes on him.

Joakim Soria (free agent)
Soria was a sensible deadline addition, but struggled late and ended the season on the COVID-19 IL. Don’t expect a return, but a veteran like Soria, who’s pitched in any and all MLB situations, makes sense for the Blue Jays this offseason.