DUNEDIN, Fla. -- This camp has been a long wait for two roster decisions, and now it looks like the Blue Jays’ first one is clear.

With Mitch White experiencing right elbow inflammation after a recent Minor League outing, Canadian right-hander Zach Pop is in line to take the eighth and final spot in Toronto’s bullpen.

Pop has earned the opportunity on his own merit, too, impressing the Blue Jays’ coaching staff in the early days of camp then carrying that momentum right into live bullpen sessions and Grapefruit League games. Pop is coming off an impressive 2022 season, during which he posted a 2.77 ERA over 39 innings and finished strong after being traded to Toronto from Miami at the Trade Deadline.

“He’s moving that elite sinker around to where righties know it may not just be coming in on you, it may be a back-door two-seamer,” manager John Schneider explained. “He’s landing his slider more consistently than he did last year, too, so [hitters] have a little doubt that a sinker may not be coming. Improvements with the running game and fielding his position were a big part of what we were looking at this year with the new rules, and he’s checked every box.”

Entering camp, Pop had been on the outside of the bullpen looking in, but just barely. With seven names seemingly set, the “competition” for the No. 5 rotation spot between White and Yusei Kikuchi was expected to produce one starter and one long reliever.

White was slowed by a right shoulder impingement in January, though, and is now dealing with this elbow inflammation. He’s already undergone imaging, and the Blue Jays now plan to rest him for a few days to see how the elbow responds, then plan their next steps from there.

Profiling the bullpen
Assuming Pop does earn the eighth spot -- the Blue Jays haven’t made their roster official just yet -- he’ll join Anthony Bass, Adam Cimber, Trevor Richards and Tim Mayza in a group that can be used anywhere and everywhere. Here, you can see how the Blue Jays have not just built a deeper bullpen, but one with greater upside than they’ve had in quite some time.

Yimi Garcia and newcomer Erik Swanson can be broadly cast as “setup men," meaning John Schneider can use them freely to target the highest-leverage innings prior to the ninth. When the ninth rolls around, of course, it still belongs to Jordan Romano, coming off a 36-save season with a 2.11 ERA. This group will likely change a dozen times or more throughout the regular season, but it’s a very strong starting point.

Which relievers are next in line?
The Blue Jays optioned Nate Pearson, Zach Thompson and Trent Thornton Saturday, all of whom could contribute in one way or another in 2023. Jay Jackson, who joined Toronto on a Minor League deal and had a superb camp, was released Saturday as well. Pearson is the one to keep an eye on, though, after the former No. 1 prospect showed plenty of upside this spring in his new multi-inning relief role.

Schneider had a simple message for Pearson on Saturday: “Don’t lose your momentum that you gained in camp.”

“I thought he had an outstanding camp and it’s a tough decision,” Schneider said. “I think anyone would want his stuff in the bullpen. It’s an extremely valuable piece to have as depth at Triple-A.”

If an injury happened tomorrow, Pearson could be that next man in line, but that picture will develop in real time as the MLB and Minor League seasons begin.

What about the long man?
Toronto won’t have a traditional long reliever to open the season, so if a starter is lifted in the second or third inning, the rest of the game will be a group effort rather than one rubber arm eating five innings.

“We have a few options that can do that,” Schneider said. “Trevor Richards can go multiple innings, and Zach Pop can go a couple. Anthony Bass can go a couple of up and downs. We’re not pigeonholing anyone into only getting three outs. Maybe Jordan Romano, maybe Erik Swanson to start, but it’s nice to have that [flexibility].”

A more pressing issue for the Blue Jays may prove to be their rotation depth. Thompson will be an option there alongside Drew Hutchison, who is working back from a minor oblique issue. On the prospect side, No. 3 Yosver Zulueta is expected to open the season in Triple-A and No. 1 Ricky Tiedemann in Double-A, but some patience will be required on each front.