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2015 Blue Jays, Phillies and Yankees spring training previews

 
Published March 3, 2015

Toronto Blue Jays

Key additions: 3B Josh Donaldson, C Russell Martin, LF Michael Saunders

Key losses: OF Melky Cabrera, LHP J.A. Happ, INF Brett Lawrie, OF Colby Rasmus

Spring storylines

Homecoming: The Jays' biggest offseason splash occurred in November, when Toronto-born veteran catcher Russell Martin signed the second-largest contract (five years, $82 million) in club history. Though not in dire need of an upgrade behind the plate, the Jays got one. Martin shined — both defensively and as a clubhouse cornerstone — the past two seasons in Pittsburgh. Signing a hometown guy never hurts at the turnstiles, either.

Who will take the fifth? While the front of the Jays' rotation is solid with knuckleballer extraordinaire R.A. Dickey and veteran workhorse Mark Buehrle, a vacancy exists in the No. 5 spot. Journeyman Marco Estrada (23-26, 4.23 career ERA) is an option, as are youngsters Aaron Sanchez (righty) and Daniel Norris (lefty). Speaking of Sanchez ...

Starter or closer? A rangy 22-year-old, Sanchez shined in a limited closer role last season (33 IP, 1.09 ERA), converting all three of his save chances. Now, the Jays find themselves with a coveted conundrum of just how to use him. "He has a chance to be one of the better starters in baseball," manager John Gibbons recently told the Toronto Star. "I think we all feel it. Only time will tell, but if he ends up in the bullpen that eliminates a lot of the questions."

Schedule

Where: Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, 373 Douglas Ave., Dunedin, 34698. (727) 733-0429 or toll-free 1-888-525-5297

Tickets: toronto.bluejays.mlb.com or ticket office.

Single-game tickets: (prices vary with opponent) baselines $17-$24; reserved $22-$29; box seats $25-$32

March

All games 1:05 except where noted

3 vs. Pirates, 1:07

4 at Pirates

5 at Orioles, 7:05

6 vs. Orioles, 1:07

7 at Phillies

8 vs. Pirates, 1:07

9 at Tigers (SS)

vs Astros (SS), 1:07

10 vs. Twins, 1:07

11 at Orioles

12 at Rays

13 vs. Orioles, 1:07

14 vs. Yankees, 1:07

15 at Braves (SS)

vs. Canada Jr. Team (SS), 1:07

17 at Yankees, 7:05

18 vs. Rays, 1:07

19 vs. Red Sox, 1:07

20 at Rays

21 at Phillies

22 vs. Rays, 12:37

24 at Twins

25 at Orioles

26 vs. Phillies, 1:07

27 vs. Tigers, 1:07

28 at Pirates (SS)

vs. Braves (SS), 1:07

29 vs. Orioles, 1:07

30 at Astros, 6:05

31 vs. Phillies, 1:07

April

1 at Red Sox

3 vs. Reds at Olympic Stadium, Montreal, 7:07

4 vs. Reds at Olympic Stadium, Montreal, 1:07

New York Yankees

Key additions: SS Didi Gregorius, LHP Andrew Miller, INF/DH Alex Rodriguez

Key losses: SS Derek Jeter, RHP Hiroki Kuroda, RHP David Robertson, OF Ichiro Suzuki

Spring storylines

Barnum & Bailey & A-Rod: After being sent to timeout for a year (for doping), 39-year-old Alex Rodriguez returns to the Bronx with a fuselage full of baggage. Yankees brass likely cringes every time it thinks of the $61 million it still owes on A-Rod's contract, but the club does need a right-handed bat with pop. Its resident lightning rod may or may not be able to provide it.

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Adios Derek, Aloha Didi: A 25-year-old native of the Netherlands, Gregorius was acquired in December for the impossible task of replacing Derek Jeter. Defensively, he'll be an upgrade from Jeter circa 2014 and could be a long-term solution at shortstop if he can improve on his .243 career batting average. Achieving the immortality of his predecessor? Let's wait on that.

The return of Tanaka: No appendage could be more critical to the Yankees' 2015 aspirations than the surgically mended right wing of $155 million right-hander Masahiro Tanaka. After suffering a partially torn elbow ligament last season, Tanaka (13-5, 2.77 ERA in '14) opted for rest instead of surgery and actually returned for a couple of late September starts. The early returns from his pre-spring workouts in Tampa have been favorable.

Schedule

Where: George M. Steinbrenner Field, 1 Steinbrenner Drive, Tampa, 33614. (813) 879-2244

Tickets: newyork.yankees.mlb.com.

Single-game prices: (prices vary with opponent) 200 section $17-29; 100 section $29-33; deck $27-32

March

All games 1:05 except where noted

3 at Phillies

4 vs. Phillies

5 at Pirates

6 vs Pirates (SS), 7:05

at Phillies (SS)

7 at Astros

8 vs. Nationals

9 vs. Rays

10 at Orioles

11 vs. Red Sox

12 vs. Braves, 7:05

13 at Red Sox, 7:05

14 vs Tigers (SS)

at Blue Jays (SS), 1:07

15 vs. Phillies

17 vs. Blue Jays, 7:05

18 at Braves, 6:05

19 vs. Phillies, 7:05

20 at Tigers

21 vs. Astros

22 at Mets, 1:10

23 at Nationals

24 vs. Tigers, 7:05

25 vs. Mets

26 at Rays

27 at Phillies

28 vs. Orioles

29 at Astros

31 at Twins

April

1 vs. Rays

2 at Tigers (SS)

vs. Pirates (SS)

3 vs. Nationals

4 at Nationals at Nationals Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Key additions: RHP Chad Billingsley, RHP Aaron Harang

Key losses: LHP Antonio Bastardo, RF Marlon Byrd, RHP Kyle Kendrick, SS Jimmy Rollins

Spring storylines

"Sprain" training: Six-time all-star 2B Chase Utley told reporters in Clearwater that he sprained his ankle in January and still hasn't fully recovered. With middle infield chum Jimmy Rollins gone (to the Dodgers) and rumors swirling about Ryan Howard's future in Philly, a hobbling Utley is the last thing this club needs.

Howard's end? As sure as traffic clogs U.S. 19, speculation about the future of Howard — a former National League rookie of the year and MVP — will emanate daily from Bright House Field. Howard, 35, hit .223 with a career-low .380 slugging percentage last season. If those numbers didn't fuel trade talks, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. did when he recently acknowledged on Philadelphia radio that he told Howard the organization might be better without him.

Return to form? The Phillies must determine which version of OF Domonic Brown will last for the long haul: The one who made the National League All-Star team in 2013; or the one who hit .235 with 10 home runs last season. Few Phillies find themselves at a more pivotal juncture than Brown, a former football/baseball star at Pasco High.

Schedule

Where: Bright House Field, 601 Coachman Road, Clearwater, 33765. (727) 467-4457

Tickets: philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com or ticket office.

Single-game prices: (prices vary with opponent) berm seating, $14-17; baseline, field and premium box seats, $28-33; club seats, $34-39

March

All games 1:05 except where noted

3 vs. Yankees

4 at Yankees

5 at Astros

6 vs. Yankees

7 vs. Blue Jays

8 at Rays

9 at Orioles

10 vs. Tigers

11 vs. Pirates

12 at Tigers

13 vs. Rays

14 at Tigers

15 vs. Red Sox (SS)

at Yankees (SS)

16 vs. Orioles

17 vs. Rays

19 at Yankees, 7:05

20 at Pirates

21 vs. Blue Jays

22 at Red Sox

23 vs. Twins

24 at Braves

25 vs. Astros

26 at Blue Jays, 1:07

27 vs. Yankees

28 at Twins

29 vs. Tigers

30 at Pirates

31 at Blue Jays, 1:07

April

1 vs. Braves

2 vs. Rays

3 vs. Pirates at Citizens Bank Park, 7:05

4 vs. Pirates at Citizens Bank Park, 1:05