DUNEDIN, FLA.—There were several adjustments that Lourdes Gurriel Jr. wanted to make to his defensive game after last season, so he turned to experts in the field.

The Blue Jays’ 25-year-old utility player watched clips of New York Mets second baseman and two-time Gold Glove winner Robinson Cano — because, he says, “everybody watches” Cano. He trained with brother Yuli Gurriel of the Houston Astros, who has played every infield position as well as left field in three years in the big leagues.

And he studied Freddy Galvis, the defence-first shortstop who just so happened to sign a one-year, $4-million deal (all dollars U.S.) with the Jays at the end of January, with a $5.5-million club option for 2020.

Galvis and Gurriel met two off-seasons ago in Miami, where they hit and practised along with Jays DH Kendrys Morales. Galvis, 29, offered advice back then — tips that Gurriel immediately put to use. More ideas were shared this past off-season, and Gurriel can only imagine what a year alongside Galvis will do for his game.

“He does so much on the field, but also having him in the locker room,” Gurriel said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to learn from him, from his experience and just having him around … I look forward to continuing learning from him and having him by my side.”

The Jays have a choice to make at short, where Gurriel played 44 of his 65 games last season. Galvis, one of the most durable players in the majors, has played all 162 games in each of the past two seasons — with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017 and the San Diego Padres in 2018.

Do they go with Galvis, a plus defender who had a 1.2 WAR last season, but has never hit better than .263 in seven seasons in the big leagues? Or do they continue with Gurriel, a .281 hitter in his rookie year who committed nine errors — tied for the team high in limited duty — and struggled with awkward footwork in the field?

Galvis says he arrived at spring training expecting to play shortstop every day, though he has also seen time at second base, third base, left field and centre field.

Gurriel, meanwhile, says he has no preference — short, second or the outfield, where he got some reps when he was still playing in his native Cuba — as long as he’s in the lineup.

What’s clear is that the Jays have more options. Galvis has received rave reviews from former teammates, and Blue Jays pitchers are looking forward to having him on their side — a point of pride of the versatile Venezuelan.

“I think the pitchers, they do really hard work every single day to get ready, and then when they go to the game they want to make the pitches where they want and just to get a grounder or something like that,” he said. “For me, I will always give 150 per cent to make the routine plays for those guys, and try to help those guys to get really quick innings.”

Galvis also has a reputation for leadership in the clubhouse, a trait that manager Charlie Montoyo plans to take advantage of. Gurriel and top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have lockers side-by-side — bookended by Galvis and Morales. Montoyo says that wasn’t by design, but likes how it worked out.

“Galvis is one of those guys that, when we signed him, five or six coaches called me and said, ‘That’s a good signing. That’s a great team guy. Not only a great shortstop but he’s going to be a good team guy,’” Montoyo said.

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Communication is a big part of Galvis’ game. Whether he is battling Gurriel for a job or playing alongside him, Galvis said he is keen to help his teammate wherever he can.

“I think he has a really good game,” Galvis said. “What I see especially in the videos, he can hit. He knows how to hit and he knows how to play defence, too. I think for me if I can help him a little bit on the defence side, on the mentality side, I think it’s going to be good.”