UKAmericanSportsFans.com brings you previews of all 30 MLB sides, in just 30 days, from our team of Jonathan Northall, Callum Carson, and Max Whittle.

Toronto Blue Jays

2012 : Fourth in the AL East

Record : 73-89

The Blue Jays were very much the talk of the town in baseball circles this off-season. Mammoth trades and big name free-agents signings have pushed the 73 win team of last season into early favourites for the World Series title.

No fewer than 29 players have signed for the club, through either trade or free agency, with 28 departing. Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle arrive from Miami, with reigning N.L. Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey and Melky Cabrera also moving north of the border. The genius, however, was not signing such big names, but doing so with seemingly one-sided trades, which means the likes of Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Brandon Morrow stay put.

Whether they live up to expectations or not, all eyes will be on Toronto this year.

INCOMINGS

C Henry Blanco – Free Agent (ARI), John Buck – Trade (MIA), Mike Nickeas – Trade (NYM), Josh Thole – Trade (NYM), Eli Whiteside – Waivers – (NYY), Bobby Wilson – Waivers (LAA)

1B/OF Lars Anderson – Waivers (CWS)

SS Jose Reyes – Trade (MIA)

IF Maicer Izturis – Free Agent (LAA)

IF/OF Mike Aviles – Trade (BOS), Emilio Bonifacio – Trade (MIA), Russ Canzler – Waivers (CLE), Mark DeRosa – Free Agent (WAS)

OF Melky Cabrera – Free Agent (TOR), Scott Cousins – Waivers (MIA)

RHP Chad Beck – Waivers (PIT), Tyson Brummett – Waivers (PHI), R.A. Dickey – Trade (NYM), David Herndon – Waivers (PHI), Jeremy Jeffress – Trade (KC), Josh Johnson – Trade (MIA), Todd Redmond – Waivers (BAL), Esmil Rogers – Trade (CLE), Michael Schwimer – Trade (PHI), Mickey Storey – Waivers (HOU), Cory Wade – Waivers (NYY)

LHP Mark Buehrle – Trade (MIA), Tommy Hottovy – Waivers (TEX), Scott Maine – Waivers (CLE)

OUTGOINGS

C John Buck – Trade (NYM), Travis d’Arnaud – Trade (NYM), Jeff Mathis – Trade (MIA), Eli Whiteside – Waivers – (TEX), Bobby Wilson – Free Agent (NYY)

C/IF Yan Gomes – Trade (CLE)

1B Art Charles – Trade (PHI), Mike McDade – Waivers (CLE2B Kelly Johnson – Free Agent (TBSS Yunel Escobar – Trade (MIA)

IF Adeiny Hechavarria – Trade (MIA)

IF/OF Mike Aviles – Trade (CLE), Russ Canzler – Waivers (CLE)

OF Wuilmer Becerra – Trade (NYM), Scott Cousins – Waivers (SEA), Jake Marisnick – Trade (MIA)

RHP Henderson Alvarez – Trade (MIA), Chad Beck – Waivers (PIT), David Carpenter – Trade (BOS), Anthony DeScalfani – Trade (MIA), Sam Dyson – Waivers (MIA), Jason Frasor – Free Agent (TEX), David Herndon – Waivers (NYY), Brandon Lyon – Free Agent (NYM), Noah Syndergaard – Trade (NYM), Carlos Villanueva – Free Agent (CHC)

LHP Scott Maine – Waivers (MIA), Justin Nicolino – Trade (MIA)

Outfielders

Melky Cabrera is the new arrival in the outfield and Toronto will be his fifth team in five years, having previously suited up for the Yankees, Royals, Braves and Giants in successive seasons. Last year he hit .346 in 112 games, but was suspended for 50 games after admitting using a banned substance. He will be partnered in the outfield by Jose Bautista and Colby Rasmus.

Bautista is coming off an injury hit year, playing just 92 games in 2012. He still, however, hit 27 homers and made his third consecutive All-Star appearance. Rasmus was hardly a slouch either, knocking 23 dingers himself, giving the Blue Jays the hardest hitting outfield in the game. Rajai Davis will be the fourth outfielder and will often be used as a speedster and defensive specialist. He stole 46 bases in 2012, and has totalled 171 in the last four seasons. Youngster Moises Sierra will be next on the depth chart.

Infielders

Like every other part of the roster, the infield has been improved upon during the off-season. Jose Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio arrive from Miami and will compliment the returning duo of Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Lawrie.

Reyes signed a six-year deal with the Marlins last year, only to be traded following the season as Miami decided to dump the majority of their large contracts. That Reyes hitting .287 and stealing 40 bases is considered a down year for the Dominican is proof of his ability. He will bat lead-off. His former Marlins teammate, Emilio Bonifacio is a ‘mini-Reyes’ and possesses much of the same skill set. He stole 30 bases in just 64 games in 2012.

First baseman Encarnacion is coming off a career year, hitting 42 homers, almost double his previous best, while Lawrie, at just 23 years old, has a great deal of upside and will be looking to take the next step in his career after batting .273 with 11 homers in his first full season. Adam Lind will start as DH, but with such a strong line-up there will be plenty of options to fill the role should his previous injury history strike again. Veterans Maicer Izturis and Mark deRosa will provide infield depth.

Catchers

J.P. Arencibia will be the no.1 catcher. He hit 18 homers in 102 games last season. 41-year-old Henry Blanco will be the back-up. Manager John Gibbons has announced that knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will have his own personal catcher and the odds appear to favour the more experienced Blanco to be given that role.

Starters

The rotation was the main concern for the Blue Jays going into the off-season, so how did they go about fixing the problem? How does signing the N.L. Cy Young winner and a duo with a combined 3.65 career ERA sound?

In comes R.A. Dickey, Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson, who give the Blue Jays one of the strongest trio of starting pitchers in the game.  While Dickey’s successful 2012 (20-6, 2.73 ERA) came from nowhere, Buehrle and Johnson have been dominant pitchers from many years and will be looking to replicate their form in Canada. Brandon Morrow, who had a sub 3.00 ERA in 21 starts last season, will be the no.4 starter, with Ricky Romero also likely to make the rotation. With a 5.77 ERA in 2012, he will certainly be looking to improve those numbers.

Kyle Drabek, Dustin McGowan and Drew Hutchison could be next o the list should they be needed, but all three will start the season on the disabled list.

Relievers

Sergio Santos was signed last year to be the closer of the future, but poor form and injury has led to Casey Janssen taking up the role. The smart money would be on the 31-year-old bettering his 22 saves from 2012.

Darren Oliver, at 42 years old, could be the oldest player on an Opening Day roster this season. With a 2.06 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 2012, the lefty shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Steve Delabar will be his set-up partner, with Esmil Rogers and Brad Lincoln providing middle relief. With such an impressive starting rotation, however, the relievers may be close to redundant this season in Canada.