The Blue Jays had been one of many kings of the rumor mill this winter, seemingly linked to only about each notable title on the free agent market. Corbin Burnes was a type of targets, and USA At the moment’s Bob Nightengale sheds some mild on the Jays’ pursuit in his notes column as we speak whereas additionally countering his personal previous reporting on the matter.
Again in December, Nightengale wrote that the Jays and Giants supplied Burnes greater than the six-year, $210MM he obtained from the Diamondbacks. Burnes himself described Arizona’s supply as “by far the very best supply that we had,” as Nightengale’s newest report notes that the “Giants’ pursuit of Burnes stopped earlier than it actually obtained began.” As for Toronto, Nightengale now writes that the Jays’ supply “was not solely low, however was 75% deferred.”
Whereas the precise greenback figures aren’t identified, it appears potential that the Blue Jays may need technically supplied greater than $210MM, but the heavy quantity of deferred cash concerned lowered the contract’s present worth to under what Burnes obtained from the D’Backs. It must be famous that Burnes’ Arizona deal additionally entails $64MM in deferrals, and the truth that Burnes can decide out of his deal after the 2026 additionally impacts the monetary construction.
Alex Bregman was one other title reportedly on the Blue Jays’ goal checklist, but Nightengale writes that “they didn’t make a single supply to Bregman, not to mention have interaction with him.” The Jays entered the offseason and not using a clear reply at second or third base, so it made sense on paper that Toronto would not less than test in on Bregman as an answer to the necessity on the scorching nook. As an alternative, the Jays acquired Andres Gimenez to develop into the brand new on a regular basis second baseman, and caught with inner choices (i.e. Will Wagner, Ernie Clement) to separate time at third base.
One free agent Toronto did signal was Max Scherzer, who inked a one-year, $15.5MM contract. Sadly, the longtime star’s Jays debut ended after simply three innings resulting from continued points along with his proper thumb, resulting in a visit to the 15-day injured checklist. The righty obtained a cortisone shot slightly below two weeks in the past, and Jays supervisor John Schneider informed Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith and different reporters {that a} contemporary set of imaging checks taken Friday didn’t reveal any injury.
Whereas this represents some excellent news, each the staff and Scherzer stay in day-to-day mode as they fight to determine the damage that has now bothered Scherzer for the higher a part of a yr. Scherzer is enjoying catch and throwing off of flat floor for now, however has but to bump up his throwing program to organize for a return to motion.
Transferring onto some extra damage updates, Daulton Varsho will begin enjoying in full prolonged Spring Coaching video games this coming week. Varsho underwent rotator cuff surgical procedure final September and commenced the season on the 10-day injured checklist as he continued his rehab work. Throwing stays the ultimate step within the course of, as Varsho has but to begin making full throws from the outfield, however presumably he’ll test that field earlier than returning to correct sport motion.
Regardless of his semi-injured standing, Varsho nonetheless obtained a great deal of work in through the Jays’ precise Spring Coaching, as he had 37 plate appearances as a chosen hitter. The truth that Varsho has been in a position to partake in different baseball actions past throwing may imply that it may not take him lengthy to get absolutely ramped up for his eventual return to the Blue Jays’ energetic roster. He’ll nonetheless certainly want a Triple-A rehab task, but it surely seems as if Varsho is on tempo to fulfill his anticipated timeline of an IL activation earlier than the tip of April.
Erik Swanson can also be on the highway to restoration after a median nerve entrapment in his proper arm led to a season-opening stint on the IL. Swanson will face stay hitters this week and is predicted to then begin a minor league rehab task. Ryan Burr threw a bullpen session yesterday, within the newest step of his rehab after he additionally began the yr on the 15-day IL resulting from shoulder fatigue.
