Blue Jays map out winter plans for players ahead of potential lockout
Manager John Schneider says the club is emphasizing detailed off-season plans due to the uncertainty of a labour stoppage.
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays have begun outlining winter training plans for players with the threat of a lockout looming after the current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1.
Manager John Schneider said the club must finalize its guidance quickly because a work stoppage would prevent teams from communicating with players.
"We have to kind of nail everything with these guys in terms of what the plan is, when they do start ramping up, and then, depending on lockout or not, there's gonna be a lot of responsibility on the guys to be really diligent," Schneider said.
He said the goal is to ensure every player is on a good path before the off-season begins in two days.
READ MORE: From independent ball to the Blue Jays: Brendan Cellucci's unlikely journey to the majors
READ MORE: Blue Jays leadership backs Guerrero Jr. after disappointing season
Schneider singled out pitcher Jose Soriano, acquired from the Los Angeles Angels before the trade deadline, as a key part of the team's future plans.
"We are excited as hell about the potential with him going forward," said Schneider.
The manager said the focus for Soriano is preparing to throw 200 innings and improving his command.
"That's the biggest thing we've talked about with him is getting in the zone a little more and when to throw each one of his pitches," Schneider said.
Soriano, 27, had a mixed performance in Friday's 6-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds, allowing five runs on eight hits over three innings.
The offence rallied late, with Kazuma Okamoto hitting a tying, bases-clearing double in the seventh inning before Nathan Lukes drove in the go-ahead run.
Okamoto, in his first MLB season after coming from Japan, has 26 doubles, 33 home runs and 92 RBIs.
"Obviously I learned a lot," Okamoto said through interpreter Yusuke Oshima. "The numbers are numbers, but yeah, I can also improve on the numbers, as well."
Schneider called Okamoto's season fantastic, noting the adjustment to a longer campaign.
Soriano, in his fourth big-league season, set a record by allowing one or fewer runs through his first six starts.
He will finish the year with a 3.91 ERA over 32 starts and 177.1 innings.
"I don't have the results of what I [would like to] finish the season, but I feel good about how I pitched this year," Soriano said. "I threw more innings than I have [before]. Basically, career highs in everything. I finished the season healthy; that's the most important part. I feel good about it."
Since joining Toronto, Soriano has altered his pitch mix, throwing his sinker more often and his four-seam fastball less.
The Blue Jays aim to help him find the right balance to leverage his elite potential.
"Guys with that kind of talent and those kinds of pitches, you have to let them kind of do their thing," said Schneider. "But I think our job is to find the best way to just use him."
The club's off-season planning work is already underway.
With files from Sportsnet