Toronto Blue Jays: Analyzing the recent flurry of off-season moves

The Toronto Blue Jays have recently made some moves, both internally and through the trade market, in order to improve the team and try and move forward.

Well, let’s dive right into the Toronto Blue Jays free-agency transactions.

First off, veteran players Justin Smoak and Clay Buchholz were granted free agency. This comes as a surprise to nobody, as both players are unlikely to return to a team that is currently in the midst of a rebuild.

Smoak has been a potential candidate to resign with the squad, but the jury is still out on this decision, and with each passing day, it seems like the two sides will probably not reunite.

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The next big splash the Toronto Blue Jays made was to acquire Chase Anderson from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for prospect first baseman/outfielder Chad Spanberger.

Spanberger had spent last season with the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats, where he slashed a respectable .237/.308/.399 with 13 home runs, 29 doubles and 59 RBI’s. He was acquired last year from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for reliever Seunghwan Oh.

In exchange, the Toronto Blue Jays receive starter Chase Anderson, who will slot in as one of the more experienced arms in the rotation. His career ERA is 3.94, which will put him around the 2-3 spot to begin the 2020 season given the inexperienced rotation, but will move further down the rotation over time with the emergence of prospect Nate Pearson at some point next season.

Anderson is a solid acquisition for the Toronto Blue Jays, and at almost 32 years old, will be on the hook for $8.5 million in 2020, and $9.5 million in 2021, which is not a bad value given his statistical rap sheet. With this contract, the Blue Jays do have a club option on the right-hander after the 2020 season, should they look to move on from the right-hander.

With this addition, the Blue Jays will most likely not be looking to add a back end free-agent starter like Tanner Roark and may focus their attention on a higher-end free agent pitcher like Zack Wheeler or Jake Odorizzi this offseason (keyword being may).

Last but not least, the Toronto Blue Jays designated reliever Ryan Tepera for assignment, while also out-righting injury-stricken infielder Devon Travis to AAA, as well as pitchers Buddy Boshers, Brock Stewart, and Ryan Dull.

All of these moves have to deal with roster spots and arbitration (both Travis and Tepera were eligible this off-season). By completing these two actions, the Toronto Blue Jays will essentially be trying to free up some roster space for some other players, whether it be Rule 5 protection for young prospects or just future planning for potential free-agent acquisitions.

Boshers has already elected for free agency, with Stewart and Dull most likely following suit. These relievers could return back the Blue Jays this off-season, but they are not key pieces to the bullpen if they walk away this Winter.

For Tepera, the Toronto Blue Jays have 7 days to trade, release or outright the right-hander, which could see a potential release and re-sign deal in the works (for less money he would have received through arbitration), or a full release with the intention of freeing up his roster spot. His DFA does come at a bit of surprise, but he did have an injury-riddled year in 2019, amounting to just 21.2 innings for the season. This is why the release and re-sign deal may come into effect, signing Tepera to something a little less than what he could have potentially received through arbitration.

For Devon Travis, this move does not come as a surprise. The second baseman has just not been healthy over the past few seasons, and a change of scenery may be good for both the club and the player. With the outright assignment to AAA, Travis has the option of either accepting the move to the minors or choose free agency.

I personally think Travis will elect free agency and look for a bounce-back minor league contract with another team, but regardless, the writing seems to be on the wall for this infielder’s time in Toronto.

The Toronto Blue Jays are just a few days into the free-agent timeframe and have already begun to make moves that are looking to support the rebuild for the future. These will surely not be the last moves the Blue Jays make this off-season, but if the early transactions are an early indicator, it appears to be the Ross Atkins and co. are starting off on the right foot this winter.