With nearly every player owned throughout the fantasy baseball spectrum in 2016, the Blue Jays will continue their fantasy value renaissance into 2017 with limited changed. LF Michael Saunders left for the Philadelphia Phillies and 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion now resides in Cleveland, but the Blue Jays still possess a potent, but limited skillset offense and a deep starting rotation.

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Projected Lineup

• Devon Travis 2B*
• Josh Donaldson 3B
• Jose Bautista RF
• Kendrys Morales DH/1B
• Troy Tulowitzki SS
• Steve Pearce 1B/LF
• Russell Martin C
• Melvin Upton/Ezequiel Carrera/Dalton Pompey LF
• Kevin Pillar CF

Notes: Second baseman Devon Travis, though playing in spring games, should be treated as day-to-day as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. Otherwise, the Blue Jays lineup will once again produce a consistent home run threat with the ability to score plenty of runs. Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, Kendrys Morales and Troy Tulowitzki all possess 20-30 HR power, with Bautista, Donaldson, and Morales, potentially threatening for 40 bombs. You’ll want to stay away from the left field situation in Toronto, though, as the potential platoon mess between Melvin Upton, Ezequiel Carrera, and Dalton Pompey, will result in mediocre amounts of playing time for all involved.

Projected Rotation

• Aaron Sanchez
• Marco Estrada
• J.A. Happ
• Marcus Stroman
• Francisco Liriano

NOTES: The Blue Jays rotation was one of the best in baseball last year. No, seriously. Much of that was due to a breakout season from Aaron Sanchez (15-2, 192 IP, 3.00 ERA and 161 K), Marco Estrada continuing to get hitters off-balance with a 33% GB rate and 1.18 HR/9, a masterful season from J.A Happ (20-4, 195 IP, 3.18 ERA and 163 Ks) and a second-half resurgence from Francisco Liriano (2-2, 2.92 ERA, and 52 K over 49.1 IP as a Blue Jay). Toronto’s main rotation liability in 2016 was Marcus Stroman, but he improved greatly in the second half (3.68 ERA compared to 4.89, 83 K in 88 IP compared to 83 K in 116 first-half innings.) Assuming some regression from Happ and Estrada with some improvements from Liriano and Stroman, and the team should get a similar result in 2017.

Projected Bullpen

• Roberto Osuna (closer)
• Jason Grilli
• Joe Biagini
• Joe Smith
• J.P. Howell

Notes: Let’s be entirely honest, without an injury, Roberto Osuna is the only arm in this bullpen worth drafting this Spring. Osuna has succeeded with relative ease at his closing role, and there remains little competition within the Blue Jays organization to challenge him. The franchise has stuck with him through some struggles and a too-high HR rate (1.09/9), but have been rewarded with 56 saves in 65 chances over 143.2 MLB innings. However, if the unspeakable happens and Osuna has to be relieved of the role, Jason Grilli and Joe Smith have had success closing, but Joe Biagini has the inside track should Roberto Osuna struggle.

Stud: Josh Donaldson (3B)
Donaldson is a perennial MVP candidate. Since his breakout season in 2013, Donaldson has established 30-40 HR power, back-to-back 122 RBI seasons and an average WRC+ of 140, all while playing gold glove caliber defense at third base. While he’s likely hit his ceiling, he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

Bounce-Back Candidate: Marcus Stroman (SP)
Fresh off a huge showing in the World Baseball Classic championship game, Stroman is now a household name in baseball families, and he’s going to start getting more attention in fantasy circles as well. He’ll need his pitches to sink to be successful, and this spring they’ve been doing just that. However, as was witnessed in his first start versus Puerto Rico, he can be a bit volatile. Still, a 10-15 win, 3.75-4.25 ERA season with a 7.0 K/9 is very plausible.

Sleeper: Francisco Liriano (SP)
Francisco Liriano has had some Jekyll and Hyde seasons of late, but seems to have left much of his struggles – almost entirely the result of a high walk rate – back in Pittsburgh (5.46 ERA, 113 2/3 IP, 5.5 BB/9.) After the trade to Toronto in August, he was excellent – posting a 2.92 ERA over 49 1/3 IP with a 2.9 BB/9. This spring, he’s struck out 18 batters in just 14 innings.

Bust: Kevin Pillar (OF)
Kevin Pillar is having a very good spring, batting .349 (.417 OBP) with three RBIs and a stolen base. He’s walked more this spring than in his previous four combined, but his lack of plate discipline, while improving, just isn’t where it needs to be for him to provide much value against a steady stream of MLB pitching. His career Swing% is still 50.2%, while the separation of his ZSwing% (pitches in the zone) of 61.6 and OSwing% (pitches out of the zone) of 37.2% shows that he’s just far too vulnerable in any given plate appearance.

Late-Round Flier: Dalton Pompey (OF)
Although he missed the end of Canada’s run in the World Baseball Classic with dizziness and a potential concussion, he should be good to go by Opening Day. Unfortunately, he might be with Triple-A Buffalo. He hasn’t been nearly as bad as the organization has treated his development, and an injury to Ezequiel Carrera this spring combined with Melvin Upton‘s underwhelming play might finally open the door for the versatile Canadian outfielder.

Prospects to Watch: Conner Greene (SP/RP) and Lourdes Gurriel (SS/2B/3B/OF)
Likely to start the season with Double-A New Hampshire, Conner Greene might see time at the end of the summer as a bullpen arm. As a mid-90’s lefty, he’s the closest arm to the big leagues that can provide immediate fantasy value – plus, he’ll be stretched out as a starter to potentially serve in a long relief roll, if necessary.

Gurriel was Toronto’s sneakiest score of the offseason, and depending on how he adjusts to the American game this season, he might be prime for a quick trip through the farm system. He could potentially sub in as an injury replacement later in the season as he can play outfield, middle infield, and third base, but will most likely stick as an OF before his super-utility eligibility wears off.

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Roy Widrig is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Roy, check out his archive and follow him @rolewiii.