The2020 Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's 44th season inMajor League Baseball.
On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic (includingin Toronto), the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled.[1] Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by theU.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks.[2]
On June 23, commissionerRob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players were to report to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 23 or 24Opening Day.[3] The team was forced to play their home games in the home of their AAA affiliate in Buffalo, New York.[4]
Due to the pandemic and the shortened season, Major League Baseball instituted certain rule changes which included the use of a universal designated hitter, a runner on second base to start extra innings, and a revised schedule.[5] On July 30, the league and the union agreed that all remaining doubleheaders on the season would be seven innings.[6]
On September 24, the Blue Jays clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2016, and on the next day they clinched their first winning season since 2016 as well. As the eighth seed in the expanded playoff format, they faced the top-seededTampa Bay Rays in one of four2020 American League Wild Card Series where they were swept 2–0 in the best-of-three series.
For the 2020 season, MLB instituted several new rule changes including the following:[7]
Single trade deadline – there will no longer be a waiver trade deadline later in the year.
26-man roster – rosters will expand from 25 players, but no team may carry more than 13 pitchers.
Three-batter minimum for pitchers - a pitcher must face three batters in a game before they can be removed unless there is an injury or the end of an inning.
Further rule changes came into effect in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including the use of the DH in the National League, a shortened schedule, and starting extra innings with a runner at second base.[5]
On November 7, Devon Travis became a free agent.[13]
On November 11, Ryan Tepera cleared waivers and became a free agent.[14]
On November 20, the Blue Jays designated RHPJustin Shafer for assignment and out righted RHPTim Mayza to Triple-A. In corresponding moves, the Blue Jays purchased the contracts of RHPThomas Hatch and 2BSantiago Espinal from the minors.[15]
On November 25, the Blue Jays traded Justin Shafer to theCincinnati Reds for cash considerations.[16] The Jays also signed RHPA.J. Cole to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training.[17]
On December 18, the Blue Jays signedTanner Roark to a 2-year, $24 million contract.[21]
On December 27, the Blue Jays signedHyun-jin Ryu to a 4-year, $80 million contract.[22]
On December 28, the Blue Jays signedShun Yamaguchi to a 2-year, $6.35 million contract.[23]
On December 30, the Blue Jays signedTravis Shaw to a 1-year, $4 million contract.[24] In a corresponding move,Richard Ureña was designated for assignment.[24]
On January 20, the Blue Jays signed several players to minor league contracts with invites to spring training, includingJoe Panik,Ruben Tejada, andCaleb Joseph.[25]
On July 2, the Blue Jays claimed INF Breyvic Valera off waivers and added him to the 60-man training camp roster, they also added RHP Bryan Baker, UTLPatrick Kivlehan, and OF Josh Palacios to the 60-man training camp list as the corresponding moves to the transactions on June 30.[30]
The Blue Jays announced they would return to Montreal to finish their spring training for the seventh consecutive year. The opponents would have been the New York Yankees.[31] However, spring training games, including the aforementioned series in Montreal, were cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[32] On June 23, MLB announced the resumption of spring training on July 1.[33]
On July 18, theCanadian government denied approval for the Blue Jays to play their home games atRogers Centre in Toronto, due to concerns surrounding repeated cross-border travel between the United States and Canada by teams involved in its games.[34] With the Blue Jays denied permission to play in Toronto, this was the first season since1968 (the year before theMontreal Expos were founded) to feature no regular season games played in Canada. After authorities inPennsylvania rejected the Blue Jays' request to sharePNC Park with thePittsburgh Pirates, the Blue Jays struck an agreement to useSahlen Field, home of their AAA affiliateBuffalo Bisons, for their home games. The first game in Buffalo took place on August 11; the Jays' "home" games prior to that date were scheduled to be played in their opponents' stadiums[35] (though some of these were later postponed). Under MLB's health and safety protocols, all Blue Jays home games were heldbehind closed doors.[36][failed verification] The Jays were the first major league baseball team to play its home games inBuffalo, New York since theBuffalo Blues of theFederal League ceased operations in 1915.
In their 14–11 defeat to theMiami Marlins on August 12, the Blue Jays tied a major league record when they became the fourth team to hit seven home runs in a game and still lose.[38]
In their 10–8 victory over theBoston Red Sox on September 6, the Blue Jays set a new franchise record for longest 9-inning game at 4 hours 23 minutes.[39]
In the 15–17 September series against theNew York Yankees, the Blue Jays recorded the dubious achievement of becoming the first team since 1901 to give up six or more home runs in each of three consecutive games.[40]
On July 26, optioned Billy McKinney to the team's alternate training site and activated Brandon Drury.[42]
On July 27, placed Ken Giles on the 10-day injured list, placed Travis Shaw on the bereavement list, activated Wilmer Font, and recalled Ryan Borucki from the team's alternate training site.[42]
On July 29, optioned Brian Moran to the team's alternate training site and selected the contract of Nate Pearson.[42]
On July 31, optioned Sam Gaviglio to the team's alternate training site.[42]
On August 5, placed Derek Fisher on the 10-day injured list and recalled Billy McKinney.[43]
On August 6, optioned Santiago Espinal and Jacob Waguespack to the team's alternate training site, placed Trent Thornton on the 10-day injured list and recalled Jacob Waguespack from the team's alternate training site.[43]
On August 8, activated Chase Anderson and optioned Billy McKinney to the team's alternate training site[43]
On August 16, placed Bo Bichette on the 10-day injured list and recalled Santiago Espinal and Sam Gaviglio.[43]
On August 17, optioned Sam Gaviglio to the team's alternate training site.[43]
On August 18, optioned Jacob Waguespack to the team's alternate training site and recalled Julian Merryweather.[43]
On August 19, placed Nate Pearson on the 10-day injured list and recalled Jacob Waguespack.[43]
On August 20, designated Anthony Alford for assignment, recalled Billy McKinney, and activated Trent Thornton.[43]
On August 21, optioned Billy McKinney and Jacob Waguespack to the team's alternate training site and recalled Sam Gaviglio.[43]
On August 23, placed Matt Shoemaker on the 10-day injured list and recalled Jacob Waguespack.[43]
On August 24, placed Trent Thornton on the 10-day injured list, designated Thomas Pannone for assignment, acquired Daniel Vogelbach from the Seattle Mariners for cash and selected the contract of Travis Bergen.[43]
On August 26, optioned Travis Bergen and Sam Gaviglio to the team's alternate training site, activated Derek Fisher and recalled Sean Reid-Foley.[43]
On August 27, activated Daniel Vogelbach, transferred Trent Thornton to the 60-day injured list, optioned Sean Reid-Foley and acquired Taijuan Walker from the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later.[43]
On August 28, activated Taijuan Walker, outrighted Thomas Pannone to the team's alternate training site and optioned Brandon Drury to the team's alternate training site.[43]
On August 29, placed Jordan Romano on the 10-day injured list and recalled Sean Reid-Foley.[43]
On August 31, designated Brandon Drury and Sam Gaviglio for assignment, released Ruben Tejada, acquired Robbie Ray from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Travis Bergen, acquired Jonathan Villar from the Miami Marlins for a Player To Be Named Later and acquired Ross Stripling from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a Player To Be Named Later and a Player To Be Named Later.[43]
On September 1, activated Robbie Ray and Jonathan Villar, optioned Jacob Waguespack to the team's alternate training site, designated Daniel Vogelbach for assignment and traded Alberto Rodriguez to the Seattle Mariners.[44]
On September 2, activated Ross Stripling and optioned Sean Reid-Foley to the team's alternate training site.[44]
On September 4, recalled Sean Reid-Foley and outrighted Brandon Drury and Sam Gaviglio to the team's alternate training site.[44]
On September 5, optioned Reese McGuire and Sean Reid-Foley to the team's alternate training site, selected the contract of Caleb Joseph and transferred Ken Giles to the 60-day injured list.[44]
On September 7, placed Wilmer Font and Teoscar Hernandez on the 10-day injured list and recalled Jonathan Davis and Sean Reid-Foley.[44]
On September 9, placed Rowdy Tellez on the 10-day injured list, recalled Billy McKinney and released Jake Petricka.[44]
On September 11, activated Ken Giles, designated Caleb Joseph and Billey McKinney for assignment, optioned Sean Reid-Foley to the team's alternate training site, selected the contract of Alejandro Kirk and recalled Jacob Waguespack.[44]
On September 12, activated Bo Bichette and optioned Jacob Waguespack to the team's alternate training site.[44]
On September 15, outrighted Caleb Joseph to the team's alternate training site.[44]
On September 16, recalled Hector Perez and Jacob Waguespack, placed Derek Fisher and Ken Giles on the 10-day injured list, activated Teoscar Hernandez, optioned Anthony Kay to the team's alternate training site and traded Justin Miller to the Cincinnati Reds for Future Considerations.[44]
On September 17, optioned Hector Perez to the team's alternate training site, placed Jacob Waguespack on the 10-day injured list, activated Wilmer Font and recalled T.J. Zeuch.[44]
On September 18, recalled Patrick Murphy and traded Griffin Conine to the Miami Marlins.[44]
On September 19, optioned Santiago Espinal to the team's alternate training site.[44]
On September 21, placed Julian Merryweather on the 10-day injured list and activated Matt Shoemaker.[44]
On September 22, transferred Ken Giles from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.[44]
On September 24, activated Nate Pearson and designated Wilmer Font for assignment.[44]
On September 27, outrighted Wilmer Font to the team's alternate training site.[44]
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; WHIP = Walks plus hits per inning pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts; Ref. = Reference
The2020 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft occurred on Monday, June 10 through June 11, 2020. The draft assigned amateur baseball players to MLB teams. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the draft was shortened to only five rounds.[94]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Major League Baseball announced the cancellation of the entire Minor League Baseball season on June 30.[99] The Blue Jays taxi squad was based atFrontier Field inRochester, New York.
