The 2013 Toronto Blue Jays season was the 37th season of Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays franchise, and the 24th full season of play (25th overall) at the Rogers Centre. Despite high expectations heading into the season, the Blue Jays finished 74–88, in last place in the American League East.

Offseason

Coaching staff

On October 21, 2012, the Blue Jays officially announced that they had released their manager John Farrell from his contract in the same agreement that sent David Carpenter to the Red Sox in exchange for Mike Avilés.

On November 20, 2012, the Blue Jays announced that former manager John Gibbons would once again manage the Blue Jays, in 2013.

On November 26, 2012, the Blue Jays announced most of the coaching staff that will be working under John Gibbons. Five of its six coaching positions were filled. DeMarlo Hale (bench coach), Chad Mottola (hitting coach), Dwayne Murphy (first base coach) Luis Rivera (third base coach) and Pete Walker (pitching coach) were all signed on. The following month, Pat Hentgen was hired as the bullpen coach.

Departing players

After the end of the 2012 season, the Blue Jays lost a number of players including Carlos Villanueva, Kelly Johnson, Jason Frasor and Brandon Lyon. They also declined the option for Rajai Davis, but instead gave him a $2.5 million one-year contract.

Player signings The Blue Jays started their offseason by signing free agent Maicer Izturis to a three-year $9 million deal with an option year, on November 8. On November 16, they signed free agent Melky Cabrera to a two-year $16 million deal.

Trades On the same day as the Izturis signing, the Blue Jays acquired RHP Jeremy Jeffress from the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations. They then completed a trade with the Cleveland Indians in which they acquired RHP Esmil Rogers in exchange for the newly acquired Mike Avilés and Yan Gomes.

On November 14, Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins completed a blockbuster trade. Toronto acquired pitcher Josh Johnson, pitcher Mark Buehrle, shortstop José Reyes, utility man Emilio Bonifacio, and catcher John Buck. In return, Toronto sent pitcher Henderson Álvarez, pitching prospect Justin Nicolino, outfield prospect Jake Marisnick, infielder Yunel Escobar, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria, catcher Jeff Mathis and pitching prospect Anthony DeSclafani. Toronto also received $8+ million in cash from the Marlins. The mega-trade is described as a fire sale after the Marlins took on huge salaries a year prior, and dumped all of their high-salaried players.

On December 17, 2012, the Blue Jays acquired the 2012 National League Cy Young Award winner R. A. Dickey in a trade with the New York Mets that sent prospects Travis D'Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard, minor leaguer Wuilmer Becerra and catcher John Buck to New York. Toronto also received catcher Josh Thole and minor league catcher Mike Nickeas in the trade. As part of the transaction, the Blue Jays signed Dickey to an extension worth a total of $29 million over 3 years with a $12 million 4th year option.

Opening Day The Blue Jays began their 2013 season on April 2, with a home game against the Cleveland Indians. On February 5, 2013, at the annual state of the franchise address, manager John Gibbons named reigning National League Cy Young Award winner R. A. Dickey as the opening day starter for the Blue Jays.

Standings

American League East

American League Wild Card

Records vs opponents

Record Games Left Opponent Home Road Total Home Road Total AL East Baltimore Orioles 6–4 3–6 9–10 – – – Boston Red Sox 4–5 4–6 8–11 – – – New York Yankees 5–4 0–10 5–14 – – – Tampa Bay Rays 4–5 4–6 8–11 – – –Totals 19–18 11–28 30–46 – – – AL Central Chicago White Sox 2–2 1–2 3–4 – – – Cleveland Indians 1–2 1–2 2–4 – – – Detroit Tigers 1–3 1–2 2–5 – – – Kansas City Royals 2–1 2–1 4–2 – – – Minnesota Twins 2–1 3–0 5–1 – – –Totals 8–9 8–7 16–16 – – – AL West Houston Astros 3–1 1–2 4–3 – – – Los Angeles Angels 0–3 1–3 1–6 – – – Oakland Athletics 1–3 2–1 3–4 – – – Seattle Mariners 1–2 2–1 3–3 – – – Texas Rangers 2–1 4–0 6–1 – – –Totals 7–10 10–7 17–17 – – – National League Arizona Diamondbacks – 2–1 2–1 – – – Atlanta Braves 1–1 1–1 2–2 – – – Colorado Rockies 3–0 – 3–0 – – – Los Angeles Dodgers 0–3 – 0–3 – – – San Diego Padres – 1–2 1–2 – – – San Francisco Giants 2–0 1–1 3–1 – – –Totals 6–4 5–5 11–9 – – – Grand Totals 40–41 34–46 74–88 – – – Month Games Won Lost Pct. April 27 10 17 May 28 13 15 June 26 17 9 July 26 10 16 August 29 12 17 September 26 12 14 Totals 162 74 88

2013 draft

The 2013 Major League Baseball draft was held on June 6–8. Round Pick Player Position College/School Nationality Signed 1 10 Phillip Bickford* RHP Oaks Christian High School (CA) Unsigned 2 47 Clinton Hollon RHP Woodford County High School (KY) 2013–07–06 3 83 Patrick Murphy RHP Hamilton High School (AZ) 2013–06–13 4 115 Evan Smith LHP Mary G. Montgomery High School (AL) 2013–06–13 5 145 Daniel Lietz LHP Heartland CC 2013–06–13 6 175 Matt Boyd LHP Oregon State 2013–07–11 7 205 Conner Greene RHP Santa Monica High School (CA) 2013–06–13 8 235 Kendall Graveman RHP Mississippi State 2013–07–09 9 265 Chad Girodo LHP Mississippi State 2013–07–09 10 295 Garrett Custons C Air Force 2013–06–13

– Bickford did not sign with the Blue Jays by the deadline of July 12. Toronto received the 11th overall draft selection as compensation in the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, with which they drafted Max Pentecost.

Roster 2013 Toronto Blue Jays Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Player stats

Batting Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Walks; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average PlayerGABRH2B3BHRRBISBBBAVGSLGEdwin Encarnación1425309014429136104782.272.534J.P. Arencibia13847445921802155018.194.365Adam Lind143465671342612367151.288.497José Bautista118452821172402873769.259.498Colby Rasmus118417571152612266037.276.501Brett Lawrie107401411021831146930.254.397José Reyes933825811320010371534.296.427Maicer Izturis1073653386120532127.236.310Melky Cabrera883443996152330223.279.360Rajai Davis10833149861626244521.260.375Emilio Bonifácio9426233571613201213.218.321Munenori Kawasaki96240275565124732.229.308Mark DeRosa882042348121736028.235.407Anthony Gose5214715386521245.259.408Josh Thole4512011213118012.175.242Ryan Goins341191130502802.252.345Moisés Sierra351071131131113114.290.458Kevin Pillar3610211214031304.206.333Henry Blanco153837300004.184.263Ryan Langerhans41133000012.273.273Andy LaRoche1400000000.000.000Mike Nickeas1000000000.---.---Pitcher totals1622232100102.091.136Team totals1625537712139827324185669112510.252.411 Source:

Pitching Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts PlayerWLERAGGSSVIPHRERBBSOR.A. Dickey14134.2134340224.220711310571177Mark Buehrle12104.1533300203.22231009451139Esmil Rogers594.7744200137.215276734496J.A. Happ574.561818092.29153474577Josh Johnson286.201616081.110564563083Todd Redmond434.321714077.07038372376Aaron Loup462.47640269.16623191353Brett Cecil512.82600160.24420192370Steve Delabar553.22550158.25025212982Brandon Morrow235.631010054.16339341842Casey Janssen412.565603452.23917151350Darren Oliver343.86500049.04724211540Neil Wagner243.79360038.03917161333Chad Jenkins102.70103033.1311310615Juan Pérez123.69190031.22317131533Brad Lincoln123.98220031.22817142225Chien-Ming Wang127.6766027.0402423914Sergio Santos111.75290125.21155428Dustin McGowan002.45250025.2191171226Ramón Ortiz126.0474025.1341717118Jeremy Jeffress100.87100010.1811512Édgar González007.883008.097753Ricky Romero0211.054207.1119985Thad Weber013.005006.073234Luis Pérez015.406005.043326Mickey Storey006.753004.063316Dave Bush0015.001003.055511Aaron Laffey006.753002.222250Kyle Drabek007.713002.142223Justin Germano009.001002.062201Sean Nolin0140.501101.176610Team totals74884.25162162391452.014517566855001208 Source:

Game log

Legend Blue Jays Win Blue Jays Loss Game postponed

|- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb;" | 1 || April 2 || Indians || 1–4 || Masterson (1–0) || Dickey (0–1) || Perez (1) || 48,847 || 0–1 || 1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 2 || April 3 || Indians || 2–3 (11) || Albers (1–0) || Santos (0–1) || Smith (1) || 24,619 || 0–2 || 2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb" | 3 || April 4 || Indians || 10–8 || Delabar (1–0) || Myers (0–1) || Janssen (1) || 19,515 || 1–2 || 1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 4 || April 5 || Red Sox || 4–6 || Tazawa (1–0) || Rogers (0–1) || Hanrahan (2) || 45,328 || 1–3 || 2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb" | 5 || April 6 || Red Sox || 5–0 || Happ (1–0) || Lackey (0–1) || || 45,797 || 2–3 ||1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 6 || April 7 || Red Sox || 0–13 || Lester (2–0) || Dickey (0–2) || || 41,186 || 2–4 || 2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 7 || April 9 || @ Tigers || 3–7 || Sánchez (1–0) || Morrow (0–1) || || 28,979 || 2–5 || 3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb" | 8 || April 10 || @ Tigers || 8–6 || Loup (1–0) || Villarreal (0–1) || Janssen (2) || 29,631 || 3–5 || 2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 9 || April 11 || @ Tigers || 1–11 || Fister (2–0) || Johnson (0–1) || || 28,781 || 3–6 ||2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb" | 10 || April 12 || @ Royals || 8–4 ||Happ (2–0) || Mendoza (0–1) || Loup (1) || 13,049 || 4–6 || 1½ |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb" | 11 || April 13 || @ Royals || 3–2 || Dickey (1–2) || Shields (1–2) || Janssen (3) || 21,960 || 5–6 || 1½ |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 12 || April 14 || @ Royals || 2–3 || Herrera (1–0) || Oliver (0–1) || || 29,057 || 5–7 || 2½ |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb" | 13 || April 15 || White Sox || 4–3 || Buehrle (1–0) || Floyd (0–3) || Janssen (4) || 15,755 || 6–7 || 2½ |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 14 || April 16 || White Sox || 3–4 || Lindstrom (1–0) || Delabar (1–1) || Reed (5) || 16,131 || 6–8 || 3½ |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 15 || April 17 || White Sox || 0–7 || Quintana (1–0) || Happ (2–1) || || 15,684 || 6–9 || 4½ |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb" | 16 || April 18 || White Sox || 3–1 || Dickey (2–2) || Sale (1–2) || Janssen (5) || 18,015 || 7–9 || 4½ |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 17 || April 19 || Yankees || 4–9 ||Pettitte (3–0) || Morrow (0–2) || || 40,028 || 7–10 || 5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 18 || April 20 || Yankees || 3–5 (11) || Kelley (1–0) || Loup (1–1) || Rivera (5) || 46,095 || 7–11 || 6 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb" | 19 || April 21 || Yankees || 8–4 || Cecil (1–0) || Logan (0–1) || || 45,575 || 8–11 || 4½ |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 20 || April 22 || @ Orioles || 1–2 || Johnson (1–1) || Loup (1–2) || || 11,168 || 8–12 || 5½ |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 21 || April 23 || @ Orioles || 3–4 || González (2–1) || Dickey (2–3) || Johnson (8) || 13,272 || 8–13 || 5½ |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb" | 22 || April 24 || @ Orioles || 6–5 (11) || Rogers (1–1) || Johnson (1–2) || Janssen (6) || 14,981 || 9–13 || 5½ |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 23 || April 25 || @ Yankees || 3–5 || Kuroda (3–1) || Buehrle (1–1) || Rivera (7) || 31,445 || 9–14 || 6½ |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 24 || April 26 || @ Yankees || 4–6 || Phelps (1–1) || Lincoln (0–1) || Rivera (8) || 36,151 || 9–15 || 7½ |- style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb" | 25 || April 27 || @ Yankees || 4–5 || Sabathia (4–2) || Rogers (1–2) || Chamberlain (1) || 40,258 || 9–16 || 8½