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The sounds of baseball are back. The popping of gloves, the cracking of bats and managers providing injury updates.

As the Toronto Blue Jays officially got their spring training under way Thursday morning with pitchers and catchers reporting, manager John Schneider provided updates on four players to open camp.

Starting with Erik Swanson, Schneider said that the right-handed reliever is "going to be a little bit behind" to start at spring training after experiencing forearm fatigue in January.

According to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi, Swanson has been throwing from 120 feet and may still be ready for Opening Day.

The 31-year-old posted a 5.03 ERA over 39.1 innings for the Blue Jays in 2024, and was demoted to triple-A in late May because of his early-season struggles. Upon his return, however, he posted a 2.55 ERA over his final 24.2 innings.

Schneider also provided an update on outfielder Daulton Varsho, who underwent shoulder surgery in September and is expected to miss to beginning of the year. The reigning Gold Glove winner in centre field is throwing from 90 feet.

Per Davidi, the Blue Jays are still operating as if he'll miss the start of the season, but Schneider said the team isn't "putting anything past him."

Varsho slashed .214/.293/.407 with 18 homers over 136 games in 2024.

Will Wagner, who had surgery on his left knee in September, is doing everything and will get reps at third and first base this spring.

Acquired at last year's trade deadline as part of the package for Yusei Kikuchi, Wagner impressed in his short MLB debut. In 24 games, he hit .305 with two homers and six doubles.

Finally, Schneider updated Bo Bichette's status after the shortstop underwent finger surgery to end his disappointing 2024.

Bichette dealt with various injuries throughout the season as he slumped to a career-worst .598 OPS over 81 games played.

“Bo looks like Bo, which is really, really refreshing,” Schneider said. “We kind of operated without one of [our] best bats last year in Bo. So having him back is going to be big.”

Davidi reported that Bichette had the pin removed from his finger long ago, feels normal and is a full go for spring training.

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DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays hope to reach a long-term contract with star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before he reports to spring training, his deadline to reach a deal.

Guerrero is eligible for free agency after the World Series and says he won’t negotiate after he reports, which is expected to be on Tuesday.

“We’ve worked extremely hard on keeping Vlad here for a long time,” Toronto general manager Ross Atkins said Thursday. “The desire is strong and we will continue to do that. We will never close the door.”

Guerrero has a $28.5 million salary and would be among the top free agents next fall. Juan Soto set a record this offseason when he signed a $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets,

“Everything needs to be factored in, but it needs to be factored in historically and not reactively,” Atkins said. “Being disciplined to our valuations, being disciplined to how we think about building the best possible roster, there’s so many variables.”

A four-time All-Star, Guerrero hit .323 with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs last season, finishing sixth in American League MVP voting.

“We all want Vlad to be here,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “You just keep working toward it and hopefully it happens. He’s got a huge career ahead of him, wherever that may be. We hope it’s here.”

Atkins has said the team has no intention of trading Guerrero.

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette said Friday he and then team have not talked about a contract extension that would keep him in Toronto long-term.

Bichette and star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are each entering their final season of club control and will hit free agency next winter unless extended.

“No, we haven’t had any talks,” Bichette said Friday in Dunedin, Fla., via MLB.com's Keegan Matheson, “but from my perspective, we all grow up wanting to be one of those guys that has an opportunity to stay with an organization for their entire career. I’m just focused on what I’ve got to do this year to help the team win and be the best version of myself. Whatever happens will happen.”

“Vladdy is one of my best friends. We’ve had tons of conversations like that,” Bichette said. “We’ve talked about playing together forever since he was 18 and I was 19. That’s still a goal of ours.”

Bichette had his worst season in 2024, struggling with multiple calf injuries that limited him to just 81 games. He hit a career-low .225 and had a .598 OPS with just four home runs and 31 RBI, a puzzling drop-off from his usual consistent self that had seen him hit at least .290 every year since debuting with Toronto in 2019.

Bichette was an All-Star in 2023 and had reached the 20-homer mark in three consecutive seasons before last year.

“Bo. ... You guys will see Bo,” manager John Schneider told reporters Thursday. “Bo looks like Bo, which is really, really refreshing. We’re talking about adding a bat and adding [another] bat, but we kind of operated without one of our best bats last year in Bo. Having him back is going to be big.”

s e n s i wrote:alejandro kirk looks like he’s in tremendous shape. what a decision to keep him as our catcher.