Toronto Blue Jays Had Interest in Rougned Odor
By David Hill
Rougned Odor is very well known to fans of the Toronto Blue Jays. Interestingly, the Blue Jays have attempted to acquire the Texas Rangers second baseman in the past.
One of the more enduring images in baseball from the past few seasons came in May of last year. During a game between the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays, Rougned Odor took exception to a hard slide by Jose Bautista. Odor punched Bautista in the face, earning himself a place in the hearts of virtually every non-Blue Jays fan.
Now, over a year later, the Blue Jays find themselves in the market for a second baseman. They have been linked to Dee Gordon recently, and, as they look to retool, would certainly be interested in a young, controllable second baseman. In fact, someone like Odor would be the type of player that the Blue Jays could be interested in.
As it turns out, the Blue Jays, at least at some point, had interest in acquiring Odor from the Rangers. While it is likely that the interest has waned since that infamous fist to Bautista’s jaw, it is notable that Jon Heyman did not specify the timing of that interest.
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While the rift between Odor and Bautista, at least one that is expected to exist betwixt the two, would cause the clubhouse to be a must watch scenario, the move would make sense for Toronto. For as much as Bautista may be loved by Blue Jays fans, the fact remains that he is still a short term asset. Bautista is signed through this year with two mutual options, which the Blue jays may not be that interested in picking up.
The bigger question is why the Rangers would want to trade Odor. While he has struggled, compared to his breakout campaign last year, Odor is still just 23 years old and locked in to a six year, $49.5 Million extension. Odor is also reportedly loved by the Rangers, making such a move highly unlikely.
The Toronto Blue Jays, at least at some point in time, had interest in Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor. That would lead to quite the interesting clubhouse should the Blue Jays pry him from Texas.