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 trade 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 reduction combine. Now that they’ve made these additions to the bullpen and infield Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet wrote in regards to the membership’s wants going ahead into the remainder of the offseason, noting that the membership is concerned with 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 seeking to improve the roster in these areas given the gamers they’ve been linked to this winter. Within the aftermath of the membership’s failed pursuit of Juan Soto, Toronto has been name-checked as a possible suitor for nook outfield sluggers like Teoscar Hernandez and Anthony Santander. Nicholson-Smith opines that the outfield seems to be the “most reasonable” place for the membership so as to add influence now that the addition of Gimenez has helped to solidify the membership’s infield combine, significantly given the truth that middle fielder Daulton Varsho is predicted to start out the 2025 season on the injured checklist 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 nicely after parting methods with a equally restricted participant in Horwitz opened up further 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 stories 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 instantly linked to Pederson this winter, although it was only one 12 months in the past that the membership was reported to have “sturdy curiosity” within the slugger earlier than he in the end 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 Leo Jimenez and Davis Schneider may very well be a pure match to step into the lineup for him in opposition to powerful lefties.
Naylor, in the meantime, is extra of a real on a regular basis participant who sports activities a much less important platoon break up and extra defensive worth however a much less potent bat general. 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 stable .243/.320/.456 (118 wRC+) that was principally in step with earlier years, as he’s a 121 wRC+ hitter general 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 smart as a commerce candidate for the Guardians given the $12MM wage MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected for the slugger in his last journey by arbitration earlier than he reaches free company subsequent winter. Cleveland has well-regarded teen Kyle Manzardo accessible 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 probably,” the membership pursuing an influence starter can’t be dominated out with left-hander Sean Manaea’s title floated as one attainable possibility. It’s unclear if the membership is concerned with 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. Engaging 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 influence addition each to the rotation and the lineup this winter.
RosterResource places the membership’s luxurious tax quantity at simply over $228MM, that means they’ve round $12MM remaining within the price range earlier than they surpass the primary luxurious tax threshold. Even on influence 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. On condition that, Nicholson-Smith suggests the membership could have to decide on between focusing on an influence slugger and an influence starter earlier than making a lower-level addition to deal with the opposite want. Jesse Winker and J.D. Martinez are among the many veteran sluggers who could also be accessible for comparatively low-cost in free company, whereas back-end beginning choices who wouldn’t break the financial institution embody gamers like Michael Lorenzen and Colin Rea.
