What now for the Blue Jays?

The Toronto Blue Jays loaded up at the trade deadline for a playoff push in 2015, but after falling short of the World Series, losing in six games to the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series, the franchise is now left to ponder what's next.

First on the agenda will be status of general manager Alex Anthopoulos, whose contract expires on Halloween. Despite his trade deadline frenzy, Anthopoulos' future with the franchise is a question mark as incoming president Mark Shapiro decides his fate and, perhaps, that of manager John Gibbons.

Following Anthopoulos' flurry of moves in late July, the Jays went an unbelievable 43-18. Yet, after leaving the club with a slew of key free agents to sign, Shapiro could elect to hire a general manager of his own choosing for the crucial off-season. In any case, the Blue Jays will have no shortage of moves to make this offseason.

In their quest to add an ace, the Blue Jays gave up three prospects - including the prized Daniel Norris - to obtain pending free agent David Price from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline. The team also added relief pitchers LaTroy Hawkins and Mark Lowe, also on expiring contracts.

Of the 11 pitchers on the Jays' postseason roster, not one is guaranteed to be under contract for the 2016 season. Three pitchers – Marcus Stroman, Roberto Osuna and Aaron Sanchez – are pre-arbitration eligible, leaving them almost no leverage in negotiations and virtually certain to return next season. Three more – Brett Cecil, Liam Hendriks and Aaron Loup – are eligible for arbitration, meaning the Jays also own their rights. Yet, of the pitchers, only R.A. Dickey has a set contract price for 2016 at $12 million on a team option. Dickey would receive a $1 million buyout if the Jays decide against picking up his option.

Along with Price, Hawkins and Lowe, 13-game winner Marco Estrada is also a free agent. Signing with the Blue Jays on a one-year deal after being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers for first baseman Adam Lind, Estrada rebounded from his poor 2014 season to post a 3.13 ERA with the Jays. Rumoured to have been tipping his pitches in the National League, Estrada ranked second in the American League with a 1.04 WHIP, while his ERA mark sat fifth in the AL among starting pitchers.

Not on the postseason roster, pitchers Mark Buehrle and Drew Hutchinson also took to the mound this season in the last year of their respective deals. Buehrle, who ranked 20th in the AL with a 3.81 ERA, is expected to retire. Hutchison, who posted a 13-5 record despite a 5.57 ERA, is eligible for arbitration.

The Blue Jays will be forced to look to retain a large portion of their pitching staff, but will also likely have to approach free agency aggressively, considering none of the pitchers in the team's top 20 prospects is expected to be ready to contribute until at least the 2017 season. The team could look to turn Osuna into a starter, but that would require finding a new closer.

Having dominated the American League in another CY Young-worthy campaign during the regular season, Price is expected to become one of Major League Baseball's highest-paid pitchers this off-season, with the Jays or elsewhere.
 

*Hawkins plans to retire

In the lineup, the Blue Jays face fewer concerns heading into the off-season. Of the 14 positional players on the postseason roster, only part-time players Dioner Navarro and Cliff Pennington are set for free agency.

The biggest concern for the team will be the contract of star third baseman Josh Donaldson, who is eligible for arbitration. Acquired from the Oakland Athletics in November of 2014, Donaldson put together an MVP-calibre campaign with Jays while playing in 158 games. The Blue Jays do, however, own Donaldson's rights through 2018.

Ben Revere, acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies prior to the trade deadline, and Justin Smoak are both also eligible for arbitration. Outfielder Michael Saunders, who missed all but nine games this season due to a knee injury, is also eligible for arbitration, but could be a non-tender candidate, because of uncertainty surrounding his injury.

Troy Tulowitzki, acquired along with Hawkins from the Colorado Rockies, is signed through 2021 – including club options - and catcher Russell Martin, signed in free agency last off-season, is locked up through 2019. Sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion are likely to have their 2016 club options picked up after hitting 40 and 39 home runs, respectively, during the regular season.

Kevin Pillar, who had a career-year in centre field, is eligible for pre-arbitration along with key contributors Chris Colabello and Ryan Goins.

Second baseman Devon Travis, who also finished the year on the disabled list, should return as a pre-arbitration player. Travis had eight home runs and a .304 batting average prior to being shut down with a shoulder injury in his rookie campaign. Travis should return in spring training at full health, leaving the Blue Jays with a decision to make between the breakout rookie and Goins. Goins struggled at the plate during the regular season, but was likely the Jays best defensive player. The Blue Jays could opt to keep both players in case injuries strike their infield once again next season.
 

As the off-season approaches and contract negotiations begin, the Blue Jays main focus will have to be on pitching, specifically in the rotation.

With only Stroman and Dickey all but guaranteed to return (if the team wants them to), the Blue Jays have three spots to fill. Price will command possibly the largest pitching contract in baseball, while Estrada will also be looking for big money after his breakout year. As for the fifth spot, the Jays could elect to promote Aaron Sanchez from the bullpen – he began the 2015 season in that role – or look to free agency. Hutchison was relegated to the bullpen late in the 2015 season and the Blue Jays may look to move on from the embattled starter.

While the addition of Shapiro leaves the team with plenty of pressing questions, the former Cleveland Indians president could give the Blue Jays a new advantage in contract negotiations. During his tenure as president, Paul Beeston implemented a maximum contract length of five years. Shapiro choosing to go over that limit could, potentially, positively impact negotiations with Price or another member of a strong free agent class of arms that includes Zack Greinke, Jordan Zimmermann and Johnny Cueto.

One thing is for sure for the Blue Jays: even after ending the longest active playoff drought in baseball, there are plenty of question marks ahead.