Declan Collins Wyatt Thomas interview on Blue Jays offseason needs

The Declan Collins Wyatt Thomas interview centered on why Collins believes Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s struggles and injuries held back the Toronto Blue Jays, and what the club should do next. Collins told Thomas that the Jays need a corner outfielder, sees Brett Bateman as a potential Opening Day center fielder and would give Spencer Miles a chance to start.

What did Declan Collins say about Toronto Blue Jays injuries and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.?

Declan Collins put substantial weight on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s difficult season, saying he accounted for roughly half of what went wrong for the Blue Jays. Among the injuries, Collins found Addison Barger’s absence especially costly because it meant more time in the outfield for Heizu Sanchez, whose defense he believed hurt the team.

Guerrero’s place in the lineup

Collins described Guerrero as one of the team’s worst hitters that season despite his standing as a star. He focused on the effect of getting so little production from a hitter occupying the third spot in the order, even while acknowledging that other problems ran through the season.

Why Barger’s absence stood out

Cody Ponce going down in his first start was also a major blow to Collins. He said losing Alejandro Kirk for a stretch mattered, particularly after Kirk returned and played well. Collins also pointed to Anthony Santander’s lack of time on the field and Barger’s absence when explaining why the team fell short of expectations.

Barger’s injury had a further consequence in Collins’s view: Sanchez played more often. Collins credited Sanchez’s bat but said his outfield defense could decide games, recalling two or three that he believed it cost the Jays. Even with those problems, Collins praised the younger players who stepped in. He summed up their contribution this way:

It was the young guys. It was the young guys that stepped up all year.

What does Declan Collins want from the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason?

Declan Collins wants the Blue Jays to address corner outfield first, with the middle infield another concern after its second-half offensive struggles. He named Seattle Suzuki and Ian Hap as outfield possibilities, while arguing that Andres Jimenez and Ernie Clement’s defensive value did not erase what he saw as poor production at the plate.

Corner outfield targets

The outfield need followed directly from Collins’s concerns about the defense he watched while Barger was out. He brought up Suzuki and Hap as players to consider, describing Hap as a switch hitter. His larger point was that Toronto should add a dependable option rather than count on its existing corner-outfield arrangement remaining unchanged.

The second-base decision

Collins said Clement would enter spring training with the second-base job to lose unless the Blue Jays found someone else. He did not rule out a return to a role that better suited Clement, but thought the club had to weigh his difficult second half against what it had seen from Charles McAdoo.

That decision could be divisive, Collins suggested. Clement had been an All-Star and a fan favorite, and Collins noted his reputation with the glove. Still, he saw enough decline in Clement’s hitting and defense to consider whether Toronto might choose not to tender him a contract.

Which Toronto Blue Jays young players does Declan Collins expect to stick?

Declan Collins identified Brett Bateman as the young player most likely to hold a starting job when the next season opens. He saw Charles McAdoo as a useful option in several positions, Schonkeys as a less convincing everyday choice and Toronto’s young backup catcher as valuable primarily for his defense.

Bateman’s case for center field

Bateman looked like a leadoff hitter to Collins, who cited an OPS in the mid-.800s, a batting average around .326 and excellent defense. He also saw no large free-agent market for center fielders, strengthening his expectation that Bateman could take the job.

McAdoo and the backup catcher

McAdoo had shown Collins he could play at the major-league level. His ability to handle second base, a corner-outfield position or first base made him a potential platoon piece rather than someone Collins penciled in as a fixed starter. Collins was less certain Schonkeys had enough offense to offset his defensive limitations.

For the young catcher, Collins liked the fit as Kirk’s backup. He praised the catcher’s arm, pop time and framing, while acknowledging that his bat had cooled after a productive stretch with more regular playing time. Collins thought the defensive ability was clear even when the offense became less reliable.

Who does Declan Collins see as the Toronto Blue Jays’ next designated hitter?

Declan Collins considers Anthony Santander the clearest choice for the Blue Jays’ designated hitter spot, provided he can play. If that does not work out, Collins would look at a corner outfielder such as Nathan Lucas or Addison Barger, with Charles McAdoo and Schonkeys also among the internal names he mentioned.

The question arose with uncertainty around George Springer’s future in Toronto and Santander’s availability. Collins did not present another player already on the roster as an established, full-time solution at DH. A new corner-outfield addition, he argued, could make it easier to leave Santander in the designated hitter role.

Collins also saw a possible spring-training opportunity for Yohendrick Piñango. After watching him during a week in spring training, Collins came away liking his bat and thought he might offer some power. That was a case for giving Piñango a look, not a prediction that he would win the job.

Who does Declan Collins favor for the Toronto Blue Jays pitching rotation?

Declan Collins would give Spencer Miles a chance to claim the fifth spot in the Blue Jays’ rotation, with Ricky Tiedemann another candidate already in the organization. Collins viewed Miles as a pitcher who had earned consideration after working effectively in different roles, including appearances behind an opener.

The discussion treated Dylan Cease, Soriano, Trey Yesavage and Cody Ponce as the other possible starters, while recognizing the uncertainty that injuries had created. Rather than immediately looking outside the organization for a fifth starter, Collins put Miles and Tiedemann at the front of his answer.

Miles’s rise impressed Collins in part because of his limited professional innings before his opportunity with Toronto. Collins pointed to his velocity and tight slider, and recalled that he had been in the Giants organization before the Jays took a chance on him. A starting opportunity, in Collins’s view, would test what the team had found.

Can the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen repeat its success, according to Declan Collins?

Declan Collins expects the Blue Jays’ bullpen to change somewhat, and he would not count on every reliever repeating the same numbers. He specifically allowed for regression from Varlin and Rodgers, but believed Toronto had enough ways to fill innings that the group could remain similar in strength.

Collins questioned how much Varlin’s fastball alone would carry over, while noting that the pitcher had other offerings. He was similarly cautious about expecting Rodgers to reproduce an exceptionally low earned-run average. Those concerns did not amount to a call to rebuild the bullpen.

Brennan Little was another option Collins discussed. He thought Little looked better in lower-leverage work and could provide an inning in the right situation, rather than being the automatic choice for a narrow eighth-inning lead.

Toronto could also try Tiedemann or other minor-league arms, Collins said. He pointed to the possibility of finding relief help through the Rule 5 draft or a short free-agent deal. Miles’s emergence was his example of why a useful bullpen arm need not arrive as an established name.

What did Declan Collins pick to eat during a Jays game and to win the World Series?

Declan Collins chose Miss Vickie’s chips, a dog and either a Coors Light or a Pepsi as his at-home Jays-game lineup. For the World Series, he picked the Dodgers and Yankees to meet, then chose the Dodgers to win because of the strength he saw in their starting pitching.

The game-day snack

Collins settled on the blue-bag Miss Vickie’s chips after briefly considering Lay’s. His drink depended on the day: he named Coors Light and Pepsi as the two possibilities.

The Dodgers over the Yankees

Collins did not relish picking the Yankees to reach the World Series, but thought they would get there. He chose the Dodgers in the matchup, saying their roster had five aces. It was a prediction, separate from his assessment of what the Blue Jays needed to change.