With eight players declaring free agency, the Blue Jays' 40-man roster now sits at 39 names. The crunch is about to begin.

That count includes six players coming off the 60-day IL, who will need to be officially added back in the coming days.

The pitching side is crowded. There are 21 arms, from Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage and José Soriano to Louis Varland, Tyler Rogers and Mason Fluharty.

José Berrios, Bowden Francis and Jake Bloss are among the pitchers coming off the 60-day IL.

Behind the plate, Toronto has three catchers: Alejandro Kirk, Brandon Valenzuela and Shawn Ross.

The infield is thinner, with just six names. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Andrés Giménez, Ernie Clement, Kazuma Okamoto, Charles McAdoo and Josh Smith make up the group.

Myles Straw's option and the Rule 5 Draft will reshape the roster

The outfield includes Brett Bateman, Nathan Lukes, Yohendrick Piñango, Davis Schneider and Myles Straw. Addison Barger, Anthony Santander and Jonatan Clase return from the 60-day IL, with Sean Keys listed at DH.

Straw's $8 million club option is the next domino. The most likely outcome is a decline, with Toronto trying to bring him back cheaper.

Where does the room come from? Some players will be designated for assignment as space is needed.

Prospects like Nolan Perry, Gage Stanifer, Daniel Guerra and Jay Harry also need protection by Nov. 17, assuming there's a Rule 5 Draft.

Options matter, too. Clase, Brendon Little, Bloss and Clement are out of options, while veterans like Guerrero, Kirk, Santander, Giménez, Cease, Berrios, Straw and Rogers can't be sent down.

The list makes the imbalance obvious. Twenty-one pitchers and only six infielders tells you exactly where Ross Atkins needs to spend this winter.

Looking at this roster is like opening a fridge stocked with condiments and no groceries. There's plenty to work with, just not the main course.

By the time baseball returns, presuming it does on time, this list will look very different. The fun part is guessing how many of these 39 are still here on Opening Day.