By any definition, the Toronto Blue Jays are a good baseball team but like every team in baseball they can — and should — look to make further improvements before opening day.

Their post-lockout shopping list will start on the infield and extend to the starting rotation and the bullpen. So in brief: the Blue Jays are a good team that will look to improve by addressing those clear remaining needs. We could leave it there.

Instead, let’s search a little deeper for weaknesses. Not because this Blue Jays’ roster has more issues than most (it doesn’t) but because defining those weak spots more clearly can hint at what’s ahead for the team’s front office. After all, for every shortcoming, there should be a corresponding opportunity to improve.

With that in mind, let’s go beyond the obvious and look for some smaller-scale upgrades the Blue Jays may want to consider …

Late-inning defence: A centre field glove

Back in 2016, George Springer played every single regular season game, mostly as a right fielder. He moved primarily to centre in 2017, but has started fewer games in centre each successive year:

• 2017: 79
• 2018: 73
• 2019: 67
• 2020: 41
• 2021: 40

Now 32, Springer’s still a viable centre fielder when healthy, capable of making the routine plays and even some spectacular ones. But his recent history suggests the Blue Jays also need a reliable alternate on the roster, too.

Not only could that player spell Springer in centre for extended stretches if needed, but his presence would also allow manager Charlie Montoyo to improve defensively late in games by removing Lourdes Gurriel Jr., a tactic the Jays often employed down the stretch in 2021.

For now, Randal Grichuk is that player, yet the way the Blue Jays used him late in 2021 suggests they may prefer him in a part-time role. In September, with the season on the line, Grichuk played only 11 complete games while playing partial games for another 12 as Jarrod Dyson’s presence cut into his playing time (Dyson appeared in 22 September games, compared to Grichuk’s 23).

Beyond Grichuk, the Blue Jays don’t have any sure things internally as Josh Palacios struggled in his initial opportunity at the MLB level, but there’s always the possibility of looking outside the organization.

In fact, the Blue Jays discussed a Jackie Bradley Jr. for Grichuk trade before the lockout, according to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. The Grichuk-for-Bradley discussions suggest the Blue Jays like the idea of upgrading their outfield defence and hint at a willingness to move Grichuk, in which case another centre fielder is a must.

Around that same time, another longtime AL East fixture was reportedly available in trades: Kevin Kiermaier. While the Blue Jays and Rays have made trades before, the Jays were still rebuilding when they sent Eric Sogard to Tampa Bay in 2019. Three years later, trading a franchise icon like Kiermaier to a division rival may be a tough sell. Still, the Rays may be ruthless enough. And if Kiermaier did end up in Toronto, at least he’d already know the Jays’ signs.