Say hey, baseball: More 2015 impact prospects

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We’re in those quiet days before spring training officially kicks off, so it’s another opportunity to familiarize ourselves with some potential impact prospects of 2015. The Blue Jays have a significant portion of their season riding on their kids, as their rotation has two old reliable pieces in R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle, but that reliability mostly extends to their throwing a lot of innings at this stage of their career. The performances of Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris could help the Blue Jays’ to the top of the AL East, or delay their quest for a playoff spot for yet another season.

Sanchez could be the fifth starter, or he could head right back to the bullpen where he was used for 33 innings in 2014. He has a chance to be the Blue Jays’ closer, but his long-term future is likely as a mid-rotation arm, or, if things break right, a number two starter. He’ll be just 22 years old in 2015, however, so the rush to start him isn’t necessarily there: he could learn a few things about major-league hitters while also anchoring Toronto’s bullpen in a season where they need that.

As for Norris, if Sanchez is in the pen, there is a space in the rotation for him. He spent just 22 innings at Triple-A last season as a 21-year-old, and finished his season with a start and a few appearances out of the Jays’ pen. He doesn’t quite have Sanchez’s ceiling, but he’s also in line to be a mid-rotation arm: the Jays might not have a true number one starter, but if they can round up five number three starters, they’ll be in a good place considering their powerful lineup. Norris might not get a chance out of the gate, but he has the potential to change the course of Toronto’s season.

The Dodgers felt comfortable moving Matt Kemp because Joc Pederson exists. The 23-year-old gives the Dodgers a true center fielder, one with the potential to be an all-star player someday. If he doesn’t hit that ceiling, however, he’s still in line to be an above-average contributor thanks to his defense and a bat that’s shown promise, even if the hitter-friendly PCL might be overstating that a bit. He might even be that kind of player in his rookie season, and in a division with the upstart Padres and your reigning and defending World Series champion Giants, even the Dodgers and their deep pockets could use an inexpensive edge like that.