TORONTO -- The Blue Jays, with postseason hopes, turned their attention to the television following Game 162 of their 2021 season, only to see a Red Sox win end Toronto’s season at 91-71, just one game shy of the playoffs.

The MLB lockout has been a long wait for one of baseball’s most talented young teams, but now that it has ended, the Blue Jays are positioned well to hit the ground running. Needs remain, but Toronto took care of business prior to the lockout by signing José Berríos to a seven-year, $131 million extension and landing Kevin Gausman on a five-year, $110 million deal.

Looking ahead to the regular season that’s fast approaching, here are four questions facing the 2022 club:

1. How will the Blue Jays address their infield?
Toronto has openings at both second and third base, one of which could be filled with a committee approach. Between Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal, Kevin Smith and Otto Lopez, there could be a temporary answer at one of those spots, or at least enough to carry the position to the Trade Deadline. At least one addition is needed, though.

A short-term addition would make sense for the Blue Jays, especially given that No. 2 prospect Orelvis Martinez and No. 3 prospect Jordan Groshans are developing quickly. Keep the trade market in mind, as Toronto does have the prospect depth and available payroll to explore all possibilities, but this picture could continue to come into focus throughout the season.

2. What does a full season of George Springer look like?
Between a pair of quad injuries and an ankle injury, Springer appeared in just 78 games after signing his six-year, $150 million deal with the Blue Jays last offseason. Even though he often appeared to be playing through pain and discomfort, Springer hit 22 home runs with a .907 OPS.

A full slate of 150-plus games should see Springer chase the 40-homer mark for the first time in his career while powering a stacked lineup, and it’s the Blue Jays’ best shot at replacing the overall production lost from Marcus Semien’s bat.

Some stability in the outfield will help, too, but with Springer alongside Bo Bichette, Teoscar Hernández and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Blue Jays should once again have one of baseball’s best lineups. There won’t be many players more eager than Springer to get the 2022 season rolling.

3. Will Hyun Jin Ryu look more like his 2020 or ’21 self?
This is quietly one of the biggest variables in the Blue Jays’ rotation, and a key to their success in 2022. Getting Ryu back to his 2.69 ERA self from 2020 is a lofty goal, but if the veteran is able to recapture even some of that form, the Blue Jays will have one of the best rotations in the American League. If he stays on his ’21 trend, though, during which he posted a 4.37 ERA and didn’t look to have his best stuff at times, more pressure will fall on Alek Manoah to step into a larger role.

Age is a factor here as Ryu turns 35 on March 25, and losing a tick off your fastball at 89 mph is much more dangerous than losing it in the high 90s. That being said, betting against Ryu is a risky game. When healthy, he has been one of MLB’s best left-handers, and his ability to mix pitches and disrupt a hitter’s timing hasn’t gone anywhere. With two years remaining on his four-year, $80 million deal, the Blue Jays need Ryu at his best.

4. Is Gabriel Moreno the real deal?
Toronto still has a wealth of catching depth, but this conversation is all about Moreno. The club’s No. 1 prospect was one of the Minors’ breakout stars in 2021, hitting .373 with a 1.092 OPS over 32 games at Double-A New Hampshire before a broken bone in his hand cost him most of the season.

Moreno got a taste of Triple-A ball at season’s end and played well in the Arizona Fall League, so you can expect him to be one of the top stories this spring, much like Guerrero and Nate Pearson were in recent years. A midseason arrival is possible for the young catcher, and the most interesting wrinkle to all of this will be how much we see him at third base, a position he was just beginning to experiment with in ’21. Some combination of Danny Jansen, Alejandro Kirk and Reese McGuire will get the Blue Jays started, but Moreno is the next big thing.