Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautistahas ended the past two seasons on the disabled list. (file photo)
Anthopoulos said an option is to move third baseman Brett Lawrie to second base, though at present call-up Ryan Goins is the leading candidate to man the position in 2014.
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Catcher J.P. Arencibia hit .194, the worst batting average in club history for any player with 450 at-bats or more in a season. Anthopoulos said his throwing also must improve. The GM needs to determine whether 2013 constituted an aberration or to secure a replacement.
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Right fielder Jose Bautista ended the past two seasons on the disabled list but would be a prized commodity on the market with a favourable salary with respect to a potent bat and top-shelf defensive skills. The Jays may need to dangle him if not Edwin Encarnacion.
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The bullpen will be without retired setup lefty Darren Oliver, who received a standing ovation from the crowd, and respect from both teams as players stood in front of their dugouts during a scoreboard tribute. He pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning, with two strikeouts.
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First baseman/DH Adam Lind has a $7-million club option and a $2-million buyout. Going into Sunday, when he hit into an inning ending double play with the bases loaded in the seventh and singled in the ninth, he had an impressive .924 on-base plus slugging percentage against right-handed pitchers. Play at first base was among the defensive vulnerabilities, due to range and positioning on relays.
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There's a potential logjam in the DH slot, with Lind, Encarnacion, Melky Cabrera and Mark DeRosa filling the spot in the batting order this season.
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Cabrera, who had struggled with leg pain in the first of a two-year $16-million deal and ultimately had a benign tumour removed from his spine, is pencilled into left field again. However, the club may need to make room for Moises Sierra, who is out of options. Anthony Gose is also pushing for a spot.
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The Jays have a $750,000 option on DeRosa who hit a two-run double on Sunday, but the infielder hasn't decided whether to return. After Sunday's game, because the team fell far short of its playoff goal, DeRosa declared 2013 a "lost season."