The Blue Jays made a significant splash through the Winter Conferences this previous week, swinging a commerce with the Guardians that despatched slugger Spencer Horwitz (very briefly) to Cleveland in change for second baseman Andres Gimenez and right-hander Nick Sandlin. The membership additionally reunited with right-hander Yimi Garcia on a two-year deal through the conferences to bolster their aid combine. Now that they’ve made these additions to the bullpen and infield Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet wrote concerning the membership’s wants going ahead into the remainder of the offseason, noting that the membership is focused on including an impactful slugger to the center of the lineup to pair with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in addition to a beginning pitcher who might push Yariel Rodriguez into the bullpen for the membership.
It’s hardly a shock that the membership is trying to improve the roster in these areas given the gamers they’ve been related to this winter. Within the aftermath of the membership’s failed pursuit of Juan Soto, Toronto has been name-checked as a potential suitor for nook outfield sluggers like Teoscar Hernandez and Anthony Santander. Nicholson-Smith opines that the outfield seems to be the “most rational” place for the membership so as to add affect now that the addition of Gimenez has helped to solidify the membership’s infield combine, significantly given the truth that heart fielder Daulton Varsho is predicted to begin the 2025 season on the injured listing after present process surgical procedure on his rotator cuff again in September.
With that stated, Nicholson-Smith additionally means that the membership might add a extra defensively-limited participant to their lineup as properly after parting methods with a equally restricted participant in Horwitz opened up extra DH reps. To that finish, Nicholson-Smith reiterates the membership’s curiosity in Hernandez whereas additionally floating two different names value mentioning: free agent DH Joc Pederson and Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor. Nicholson-Smith lists Pederson alongside Hernandez and Corbin Burnes amongst free brokers the Jays have spoken to this winter, and he studies that the membership is “believed to have proven some curiosity” in Naylor throughout their negotiations with Cleveland surrounding the Gimenez commerce.
It’s the primary time that Toronto has been straight related to Pederson this winter, although it was only one 12 months in the past that the membership was reported to have “robust curiosity” within the slugger earlier than he finally signed with the Diamondbacks later within the winter. The quickly to be 33-year-old put up a robust season in Arizona in 2024, slashing .275/.393/.515 with a 151 wRC+ in 449 journeys to the plate. Whereas Pederson’s large platoon splits make him a considerably lackluster possibility in opposition to opposing southpaws, the membership’s deep group of younger right-handed hitters like Joey Loperfido and Davis Schneider may very well be a pure match to step into the lineup for him in opposition to robust lefties.
Naylor, in the meantime, is extra of a real on a regular basis participant who sports activities a much less important platoon cut up and extra defensive worth however a much less potent bat total. The 27-year-old has some expertise within the outfield corners however has primarily been a primary baseman for the Guardians in current 12 months. 2024 noticed Naylor slash a strong .243/.320/.456 (118 wRC+) that was largely in keeping with earlier years, as he’s a 121 wRC+ hitter total since changing into a full-time participant in 2022. It’s unclear if the Jays have curiosity in Naylor even after finishing the Gimenez deal, however he actually is sensible as a commerce candidate for the Guardians given the $12MM wage MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected for the slugger in his ultimate journey by way of arbitration earlier than he reaches free company subsequent winter. Cleveland has well-regarded teenager Kyle Manzardo out there to step in because the common first baseman ought to Naylor be dealt in some unspecified time in the future this winter.
As for pitching, Nicholson-Smith means that whereas touchdown Burnes in free company “doesn’t appear particularly seemingly,” the membership pursuing an affect starter can’t be dominated out with left-hander Sean Manaea’s identify floated as one doable possibility. It’s unclear if the membership is focused on Manaea particularly, however a pitcher of that caliber might solidify the membership’s rotation alongside Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Chris Bassitt whereas pushing Rodriguez to the bullpen after he posted a lackluster 90 ERA+ in 21 begins final 12 months. Enticing as which will appear to Blue Jays followers, Nicholson-Smith cautions that it’s unclear whether or not the Jays would have the abdomen to make an affect addition each to the rotation and the lineup this winter.
RosterResource places the membership’s luxurious tax quantity at simply over $228MM, which means they’ve round $12MM remaining within the funds earlier than they surpass the primary luxurious tax threshold. Even on affect addition appears sure to hold them previous that mark, however a second one would run the danger of pushing them into the uncharted territory of surpassing the second threshold, which sits at $261MM in 2025. Provided that, Nicholson-Smith suggests the membership could have to decide on between concentrating on an affect slugger and an affect starter earlier than making a lower-level addition to handle the opposite want. Jesse Winker and J.D. Martinez are among the many veteran sluggers who could also be out there for comparatively low cost in free company, whereas back-end beginning choices who wouldn’t break the financial institution embrace gamers like Michael Lorenzen and Colin Rea.
