Charlie Montoyo says the same topic keeps coming up whenever the Toronto Blue Jays make a pitch to a free agent.

"The No. 1 question is if we're going to play in Toronto," Montoyo said. "That's rightly so. Our answer is, 'Yeah, we're hoping so.'"

The Blue Jays have yet to receive clearance to host games at Rogers Centre. Although Canadian officials allowed the Blue Jays to host their summer training camp in Toronto this past July, a request to play regular-season games north of the border was denied.

In a Dec. 11 conference call, Mark Shapiro shared Montoyo's optimism about playing games at Rogers Centre in 2021 but said he won't demand a firm answer from Canadian officials before his team meets in Dunedin, Florida, for spring training.

If the Blue Jays don't get permission to play in Toronto, they might choose to start in Dunedin, where the stadium was recently renovated and a brand-new complex just opened its doors.