TORONTO -- The past decade of Blue Jays baseball brought a balance of highs and lows, from the electrifying playoff runs of 2015 and 2016 to some difficult seasons on other side, including a 67-win 2019 as the club worked to kickstart its rebuild. As the Blue Jays spread a

TORONTO -- The past decade of Blue Jays baseball brought a balance of highs and lows, from the electrifying playoff runs of 2015 and 2016 to some difficult seasons on other side, including a 67-win 2019 as the club worked to kickstart its rebuild.

As the Blue Jays spread a 794-826 record across 10 seasons, they also experienced the rise -- and sometimes sudden departure -- of several franchise greats.

Here are the 10 best Blue Jays of the decade. Individual performance was prioritized, but major moments and organizational impact were also given value.

1. RF José Bautista (2008-17)

Bautista was better than you and he knew it. That, as much as his on-field excellence, is what makes him this decade’s King of Toronto.

Originally acquired from the Pirates for Minor League catcher Robinzon Diaz in a deal that was never expected to mean much, Bautista went on to claim his spot on the Mount Rushmore of Blue Jays baseball. Long before the playoffs were a reality, Bautista’s 54-homer season in 2010 put Toronto back on the map. Suddenly, the quiet team up in Canada had something the rest of baseball didn’t.

Bautista owns four of the six most valuable seasons (by Fangraphs WAR) among Blue Jays hitters during the decade, while his 272 home runs and 716 RBIs lead the pack. You can debate where he ranks among the club’s all-time list, but the 2010s belonged to Jose Bautista and The Bat Flip.

2. 3B Josh Donaldson (2015-18)

The 2015 American League Most Valuable Player represents two big themes from this decade of Blue Jays baseball as a late-bloomer they landed in a splashy move. Donaldson’s time in Toronto was limited to three full seasons and part of a disappointing fourth -- before he was dealt to Cleveland in 2018 -- but his peak of 8.7 WAR and 7.6 WAR in 2015 and 2016, respectively, are the first- and third-most valuable seasons of the decade for the club.

Donaldson was the heartbeat, always operating at maximum effort and intensity. Those playoff teams had an undeniable edge and swagger, and that was thanks in large part to Donaldson.

3. DH Edwin Encarnación (2009-16)

Encarnación’s career with the Blue Jays nearly ended before it started, as the error-prone third baseman (at the time) was claimed off waivers by Oakland during the 2010-11 offseason before re-signing with Toronto as a free agent a month later. Fast-forward a couple of seasons, and Encarnación was one of the most feared hitters in baseball.

Shifted to first base and designated hitter, Encarnación’s bat came to life. He launched 34 or more home runs over five straight seasons, hitting a total of 239 during his time in Toronto. His 23.1 WAR is the second-highest of any Blue Jays player during the decade and his 11th-inning, walk-off home run against the Orioles in the 2016 AL Wild Card Game stands as one of the club’s greatest moments during this era.

4. RHP Marcus Stroman (2014-19)

Few players have loved the spotlight as much as Stroman, and he had plenty of it over parts of six seasons in Toronto. When he was dealt to the Mets at last year’s Trade Deadline, Stroman left behind a 3.76 ERA over 789 2/3 innings, which the Blue Jays are still working to replace.

The 28-year-old’s 15 WAR lead all Blue Jays for the decade while he trails only R.A. Dickey in innings pitched and Dickey and Happ in wins. Stroman was divisive at times and dominant at times, but one thing is certain -- when he pitched, you watched.

5. C Russell Martin (2015-18)

Then-general manager Alex Anthopoulos made a big splash by signing the Canadian catcher, and Martin’s value was clear. He knew how to get to the playoffs.

That’s exactly what happened, as the Blue Jays reached the postseason in each of Martin’s first two seasons, with the veteran playing a key role. Martin was valued at 11.3 WAR over his three seasons with the Blue Jays, but those first two seasons of 4.5 and 3.6 WAR were particularly impressive. As a Canadian at the heart of the baseball reawakening north of the border, Martin was a marketing dream, helping to shape the attitude of those rosters.

6. CF Kevin Pillar (2013-19)

Pillar’s offensive value and yearly WAR average fall short of some others on this list, but the parts of seven seasons he spent with the Blue Jays represent a tenure that ties the pre- and post-playoff rosters together.

At Pillar’s peak between 2015 and ‘18, he posted a 2.0 WAR or higher each year and submitted a new candidate for defensive play of the year seemingly every week. The Blue Jays dealt him to the Giants just five games into the 2019 season, but if you look at the crowd at Rogers Centre, Pillar’s No. 11 jersey is still one of the most common sights.

7. RHP Marco Estrada (2015-18)

Estrada’s acquisition didn’t raise many heart rates at the time. Acquired from the Brewers for first baseman Adam Lind, Estrada opened the 2015 season as a swingman for the Blue Jays. But it didn’t take him long to weave his name into the fabric of the franchise.

With a fastball that flirted with 90 mph and a changeup that confused baseball’s best when he was on, Estrada’s first two seasons in Toronto were excellent (3.30 ERA over 357 IP). Where he really shined, though, was in the playoffs, where he compiled a 2.16 ERA over six playoff starts. Estrada’s body eventually pushed back against him later in his Blue Jays career, but there’s no taking away his moments on the big stage.

8. LHP J.A. Happ (2012-14, 2016-18)

Happ enjoyed two stints with the Blue Jays over the decade worth 11.1 WAR, but his second stint -- after re-signing as a free agent in ‘16 -- is where he really found his stride.

The big left-hander, who offers a great example of how pitchers can continue to develop through their careers, controlled a heavy, confident fastball when he was at his best. He was eventually traded to the Yankees in ‘18, but his 2016 and 2017 seasons earned the value of his contract, as Happ posted a combined 3.33 ERA over 340 1/3 innings. Respected by his teammates, Happ was a model of consistency and understood his craft like few others.

9. 1B Justin Smoak (2015-19)

The Blue Jays claimed Smoak off waivers from the Mariners during the 2014-15 offseason without any fanfare. The big first baseman was still just 27 and not far removed from being touted as one of the game’s next dominant power hitters with the Rangers, but that shine had worn off quickly with a .689 OPS over his first five seasons.

Smoak found something in Toronto, though. Part of it was opportunity and the trust of his first manager, John Gibbons, and part of it was the influence of the many great players on those ‘15-‘17 rosters. After earning an All-Star nod in 2017 while launching a career-high 38 home runs, Smoak took on more of a mentoring role in recent seasons as the Blue Jays turned to their youth. It’s difficult to overstate the impact that Smoak, now 33 and a free agent, left in Toronto.

10. LHP Mark Buehrle (2013-15)

A crafty veteran lefty and king of the two-hour ballgame, Buehrle gave the Blue Jays three rock-solid seasons after coming over from the Marlins in the 2012 mega-deal. He pitched to a 3.78 ERA over 604 1/3 innings, good for a 7.9 WAR. Picking up an All-Star appearance along the way in 2015, Buehrle’s leadership was praised by many young Blue Jays who started their careers learning from him.

Keegan Matheson is a reporter/editor for MLB.com based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter @KeeganMatheson.