'This group is hungry': Blue Jays open spring training with sense of urgency

Eager to look forward after another quick post-season exit last year, the Toronto Blue Jays opened camp Thursday with a sense of optimism and a belief that they have the ability to contend again in the always-tough American League East.

"This group is hungry," said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. "There's guys that definitely want to do more things than they did last year.

"Not ignoring some of the really good things that we did do, but there's definitely a sense of urgency to do a little bit more than we did last year."

It was the first formal workout day for pitchers and catchers at the team's Florida development complex. Some position players were on hand for training but they don't have to formally report until early next week.

In 2022, the Seattle Mariners erased a seven-run deficit in Game 2 at Rogers Centre to advance. Last year, Toronto managed only one run over two playoff losses at Target Field.

"That's water under the bridge now, we have to turn the page," said Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman. "The guys who have been here the last two years, we're definitely upset being 0-4 in the last two post-seasons.

"The goal is to always get that first win and then go from there. Obviously it starts today."

Roster mostly intact

Most of the roster remains intact from the 2023 lineup with a few exceptions.

Third baseman Matt Chapman, designated hitter Brandon Belt and utilityman Whit Merrifield were lost to free agency.

Turner, who hit 23 homers and drove in 96 runs last year for the Boston Red Sox, will likely serve primarily in a DH role this season.

"He's already had an influence and impact on the organization from our interactions with him," Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said at an MLB media event later in the day in nearby Tampa. "I'm very much looking forward to that being firsthand."

Starting pitching and team defence were the main strengths last season but Toronto's offence struggled at times. Don Mattingly has taken on an enhanced role as offensive co-ordinator in an attempt to get the bats back in form.

"It's a really talented group," Schneider said. "I'm looking to see how they respond to a few tweaks here and there from a prep standpoint and from an approach standpoint.

"I think adding a guy like [Turner] into our lineup really speeds that up a little bit too with what he's done over his career."

Meetings and workouts were the order of the day on a warm and breezy morning under partly sunny skies.

'Exciting time' for Manoah

A trimmed-down Alek Manoah played catch with Chris Bassitt in the outfield before throwing in the gang mounds area under the watchful eye of Schneider and pitching coach Pete Walker, who looked impressed with the right-hander's stuff.

Manoah, who was scheduled to hold a media availability on Friday, was shut down last September after receiving multiple injections in his pitching arm. The 2022 AL Cy Young Award finalist struggled most of last year and was demoted to the minor leagues on two occasions.

The Blue Jays will begin their pre-season schedule on Feb. 24 against Philadelphia. The regular-season opener is set for March 28 at Tampa Bay.

"We feel like we are one of those top teams in baseball," Gausman said. "We've just got to go out and do it now."