Plenty to like about Blue Jays' future despite ALCS loss

When you get past the potential departure of two of the team's top sluggers, there is plenty to like about the future of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Yes, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista are set to become free agents and chances are good at least one of them will not be back. Their offensive production will be hard to replace but as the cliche goes, good pitching beats good hitting, and the Blue Jays could have one of the best staffs in baseball in 2017.

The rotation is essentially set for next year with American League earned-run average leader Aaron Sanchez and 20-game winner J.A. Happ providing a stellar one-two punch. Marco Estrada posted decent numbers even with a nagging back injury and Marcus Stroman cleared the 200-inning plateau despite a so-so first half.

Free-agent knuckleballer R.A. Dickey is unlikely to return, but Francisco Liriano or even reliever Joe Biagini could fill that slot.

The bullpen looked shaky over the final month of the season, but shone in the playoffs. Toronto relievers were not charged with a single earned run in the five-game American League Championship Series loss to the Cleveland Indians.

Roberto Osuna is one of the best young closers in baseball. Brett Cecil and Joaquin Benoit are set to become free agents, but Jason Grilli could have his option picked up and serve as a setup man.

Outfield depth will be a concern if Bautista leaves and free agent Michael Saunders doesn't return. The infield is in pretty good shape as long as second baseman and leadoff hitter Devon Travis can stay healthy.

General manager Ross Atkins still has several things on his to-do list. In addition to dealing with free agency season, he'll be looking to add some left-handed bats, improve team speed and perhaps add a switch-hitter or two.

A strong core — anchored by Troy Tulowitzki, Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson — will remain in place. Team payroll could rise given the strong attendance numbers and the fan base is energized after back-to-back appearances in the ALCS.

Grilli confident

Grilli is proud of the team's effort and confident the Blue Jays can take it to the next level.

"I'll go to the final four any day," he said after this week's Game 5 loss. "You get your foot in the door, it's what you hope for. You've got a shot. Baseball is very unforgiving. You give it your best effort and you hope that you're the last team on the field spraying champagne and in a two-week stupor after that. So we've still got time."

Bautista and Encarnacion, both consistent home-run hitters and run producers, are the two big dominoes for the team and could set the tone for the entire free agent market.

They have become faces of the franchise in recent years. However, going younger may not be such a bad thing for Atkins and the Blue Jays.

Bautista's numbers were down this year in an injury-plagued campaign. He just turned 36 and his arm and defensive range aren't what they used to be.

Encarnacion, meanwhile, turns 34 in January. The first baseman/designated hitter will still cash in after hitting 42 homers — the fifth straight year he has cleared the 30-homer mark — and driving in 127 runs.

"What they do on the field speaks for itself," Estrada said. "But what they do in here, in this clubhouse, means even more. They're both leaders. We need them and I really hope we get them both back. But I know that's not [always] the case, that's not how it always works, but you never know. I guess I'll pray that they'll both be back.

"But if not, we have to move on. Right now what we have coming back — guaranteed to come back — we're almost the same team again."