Blue Jays’ Atkins explains decision to keep Davis Schneider over Leo Jimenez

Trimming down a big-league roster to 26 players is no simple task, particularly when dealing with a squad that advanced to the World Series the year before.

Such was the dilemma Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins ran into when cutting down the team’s roster for Opening Day (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, Friday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT), forcing him to make tough decisions such as cutting infielder Leo Jimenez and pitcher Angel Bastardo.

The decision to cut Jimenez was a particularly tough one, as, according to Atkins, it came down to a battle between Jimenez and fan favourite Davis Schneider.

“The decision to DFA Leo is a very difficult one because he’s a very good player that provided another layer for us. Not just depth, he can make an impact on a major-league team. So that’s a very difficult one for us,” Atkins said on Thursday at the Blue Jays’ media day availabilities before Opening Day.

“But Davis has proven that he belongs here and was integral to last year’s success. Felt like he was too important to not have in an everyday lineup at this point, or just a part of every day’s game, at this point.”

Jimenez, who the Blue Jays signed as a free agent back in 2017, was designated for assignment when the team released its official opening-day roster on Wednesday.

In sporadic appearances across two major-league seasons, the Panamanian middle infielder batted .207 with a .635 OPS and five home runs in 81 games.

While he continued to play solid defence for the Blue Jays at spring training, the 25-year-old batted .231 with a .541 OPS in 14 games.

Schneider, meanwhile, has a .217 batting average and a .736 OPS with 32 home runs over three seasons with the Blue Jays — enough for Atkins to feel he had “earned this right.”

Also factoring into the choice to keep Schneider was the team’s organizational depth in the minors in the infield, with Atkins feeling as though the team was covered enough across the positions to prioritize the outfield depth Schneider can provide.

“Fortunately, we do have some players in triple-A. Kasevich performed very well in spring training; we do have some confidence in him,” Atkins said. “We will be active in trying to acquire depth in that area as well. We also have versatility in our current roster. We feel that we’re covered, but we’re never gonna stop working and trying to have a little bit more depth there.”

Atkins also touched on the choice to roll with righty Spencer Miles — a recent Rule 5 Draft pick — calling the decision “pretty straightforward.”

“He earned it. We’re gonna give him some runway and see how he does,” Atkins said of the 25-year-old. “Excited about the stuff, the power, the ability to spin the ball, the ability to attack both sides of the plate. … Looking forward to seeing how that goes.”

The Blue Jays selected the reliever from the San Francisco Giants in December’s Rule 5 Draft, and he had been competing with fellow righty Chase Lee for the final bullpen spot throughout spring training. Lee was optioned to triple-A on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old Miles was sidelined in 2025 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.

He spent the 2024 season in the Arizona Complex League, pitching to a 4.91 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings.

Through 9.2 spring-training innings with the Blue Jays, Miles has a 3.72 ERA with 11 strikeouts and five walks.

The Blue Jays kick off their season on Friday with a showdown against the Athletics.