Blue Jays can slug, but can they pitch?

Once again, the Blue Jays are built to slug. The core of the offense Tyler Myers Jerseythat topped baseball with 891 runs last season is back in 2016, a batting order led by AL MVP Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. Behind that powerful trio are slugging shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and catcher Russell Martin. Yet while Toronto's lineup looks sturdy, the starting rotation is another matter. Left-hander David Price, who went 9-1 in 11 starts after joining the Blue Jays last July, http://www.officialjetsonlinestore.com/Womens_Youth_Andrew_Ladd_Jerseywas allowed to leave as a free agent and joined AL East rival Boston. Left-hander Mark Buehrle also departed, leaving knuckleballer R.A. Dickey as the only Blue Jays pitcher with a 200-innings season. The presumptive ace is right-hander Marcus Stroman, who missed most of 2015 while recovering from a knee injury but returned to go 4-0 in four September starts. Behind him will be righty Marco Estrada, who signed a $26 million, two-year deal to stay with Toronto after a career-best 13 wins last season. The Blue Jays have high hopes for J.A. Happ, who signed a $36 million, three-year contract after going 7-2 in 11 starts for playoff-bound Pittsburgh. Only 24, Stroman is set to be a star http://www.officialjetsonlinestore.com/Womens_Youth_Blake_Wheeler_Jerseyfor years to come. Still, if Toronto's other starters can't deliver, it won't matter how many home runs their slugging lineup hits. Here are some other things to watch as the Blue Jays get set for spring training: FIGHT FOR FIFTH STARTER'S Josh Bailey JerseySPOT: Candidates for the fifth spot include right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who began 2015 in the rotation but returned to the bullpen following a midseason muscle strain; right-hander Jesse Chavez, another former Blue Jay who was acquired from Oakland last November; oft-injured righty Gavin Floyd; and right-hander Drew Hutchison, Toronto's opening-day starter in 2015. NEW DEALS FOR SLUGGING DUO?: Bautista and Encarnacion both have one year remaining on their contracts before becoming eligible for free agency. The new executive team of president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins have held preliminary talks with Bautista (35) and Encarnacion (33) about new deals, and more substantive talks are possible during spring training. At the winter meetings, Encarnacion's agent said his client would cease negotiations once the regular season begins. WHO'LL HANDLE THE NINTH? Roberto Osuna rose from Class A to the major leagues after a strong http://www.officialislandersstore.com/Womens_Youth_Kyle_Okposo_Jerseyshowing at spring training in 2015. By late June, the unflappable rookie had emerged as Toronto's closer, saving 20 of 23 chances with a 2.58 ERA. But the January trade that saw reliever Drew Storen join the Blue Jays has created competition for the ninth-inning role. In early February, Atkins said Toronto likely will use at least half of spring training, and maybe more, to decide whether Osuna or Storen will be the go-to guy in save situations.