The road to respectability and perhaps even contention officially began Tuesday morning at the Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Blue Jays pitchers and catchers reported to the club's Spring Training complex for their physicals on Day 1 of Spring Training, and they will be joined by the position players Saturday.

It marks the start of a long journey and one that comes with expectations running high following an offseason in which Toronto boosted its payroll by almost 50 percent.

"I think the optimism is at an all-time high," Blue Jays No. 2 starter Brandon Morrow said. "We were, I think, hopefully optimistic last year, but this year we expect to win."

Those expectations sprouted after general manager Alex Anthopoulos made a series of bold moves during the winter to improve his previously underperforming squad. It started in November with a shocking multi-player deal that sent the core of Miami's roster north of the border.

That move was followed by a pair of free agent signings and yet another blockbuster trade -- this time with the Mets. When the dust had finally settled, Toronto found itself as the new home for the likes of R.A. Dickey, Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle and Melky Cabrera.