JAYS NOTES: Vlad Guerrero Jr. is armed and ready to work on his defense

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DUNEDIN — It was on one of the many back fields of the Blue Jays complex here where Vlad Guerrero Jr. and third-base coach Luis Rivera did what they have done so often over the past few seasons to help the young star improve defensively.

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This time, however, Guerrero was getting his work in at third base.

Rivera was quick to squelch any early spring training speculation that there was another position change in the offing for Guerrero, however, especially after he seemingly found a comfortable home across the diamond at first base in 2021.

“It has nothing to do with him playing third base,” Rivera said after working Guerrero with his usual volley of sharply hit grounders. “It’s about his footwork and stretching out his arm. And his arm looked really good.”

Wise to keep the brakes on there being anything more to Sunday’s activity. The Jays have no plans to have Guerrero switch positions but this is a front office that places a high value on defensive versatility and there could come a time where Vlad is needed at the hot corner, a spot currently up for grabs.

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Of course, with the restart of free agency triggered by the end of the lockout last week, whispers of the Jays interest in Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman have accelerated.

If the Jays were to land a first baseman, they’d have to look at options for Guerrero given that neither the player nor the team see the soon to be 23-year-old as an every day DH.

As for Sunday’s work, it should be noted that Guerrero spent time doing the same during the 2020 season.

BUCK UP

With COVID restrictions easing across North America, the Rogers Sportsnet broadcasts will be back to a more complete look this season with plans for the full commentary crew to be in attendance for all 162 games.

And by a full crew, that includes the return of long-time analyst Buck Martinez to games at the Rogers Centre. Martinez, the former Jays catcher and manager did not work Toronto games on site in 2021 because of his vaccination status.

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When we caught up with him on Sunday, Martinez didn’t want to elaborate on his status, only that he was thrilled to be back in the booth, alternating work with partners Dan Shulman and Pat Tabler.

“It’s going to be great to be back,” Martinez said. “I’ve spent a large part of my life in Toronto.”

COACH ‘EM UP

With camp officially underway, the Jays announced some changes to manager Charlie Montoyo’s coaching staff.

John Schneider, who spent the past three seasons as a major league coach has been shifted to bench coach, a role he transitioned to during the 2021 season. Dave Hudgens, the previous bench coach now has the noble title of major league hitting strategist.

Hunter Mense, who spent the past three seasons as minor league hitting coordinator will retain that title but also work as the assistant hitting coach with the big league team under Guillermo Martinez.

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Meanwhile, Gil Kim will focus exclusively on major league coaching role and has dropped his duties as director of player development.

Two newcomers to the staff are David Howell, whose title is major league pitching strategist and Adam Yudelman as major league coach.

QUICK CAMP

With the lockout ending abruptly and necessitating an abbreviated spring training, does it bring back memories of the short summer camp to prepare for the abbreviated 2020 season?

Not really, says catcher Danny Jansen.

“I feel more ready now,” Jansen said on Sunday. “For that camp, it was a brand new pandemic for everybody and we had no idea what was really going on.

“But this time (with the lockout) we had a good idea to just stay ready. It wasn’t like 2020 when we didn’t even know if we were going to play a season.”

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GAMES ON

The Jays 17-game pre-season schedule will begin with a pair of “road” games – Friday against the Orioles in Sarasota and Saturday in Clearwater against the Phillies, at a stadium almost as close as their own.

On Sunday, the Jays will re-acquaint themselves with TD Ballpark by facing the Pirates.

There will be games on 12 consecutive days, with March 29 slated as the only off-day on the pre-season calendar.

AROUND THE BASES

As deep as the Jays rotation appears with the team coming to terms with Yusei Kikuchi on the weekend, Montoyo and pitching coach Pete Walker want more. With that in mind, Nate Pearson, Ross Stripling and Thomas Hatch will all be groomed as starters creating depth beyond the first five… There was a Joe Biagini sighting at the training complex on Sunday as the former Jay has returned to the organization on a minor-league contract. True to character, the 31-year-old jokingly announced that he also had plans to be a Sportsnet insider … The Jays added two more players on minor league deals with invite to big league camp: 29-year-old first baseman Greg Bird, who played parts of four seasons with the Yankees and catcher Tyler Heineman, who has seen action with the Miami Marlins and San Francisco Giants … It’s easier for some players to report than others and given that he had to travel from his home in Korea, Hyun -Jin Ryu isn’t expected in camp until Tuesday.