Given some of the Toronto Blue Jays rumored targets in free agency, one has to wonder if Rowdy Tellez’s time has already passed.
The Toronto Blue Jays are determined to add to their young core this offseason. Understandably, most of the attention has been on the pitching side, as the Blue Jays front office has sought to upgrade a rotation that ranked 22nd in the game with a 5.25 ERA and ranked 28th with 711.1 innings. However, they have already missed out on two of their primary targets, as Jake Odorizzi signed his Qualifying Offer and Kyle Gibson inked a three year deal with Texas.
With their top pitching targets off the market, the Blue Jays are starting to turn their attention to the lineup. According to reports, Toronto is very interested in Japanese slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, who would add a potential impact bat to the lineup. However, while he has played both corner outfield positions, first, and third, he is limited defensively, and is likely to end up as a first baseman or designated hitter in the majors.
Should the Blue Jays add Tsutsugo, that creates another question for the lineup. As he would likely be ticketed for first, that would push former top prospect Rowdy Tellez off the position. Unlike Tsutsugo, Tellez has never played another position professionally, and would likely be forced into the DH role.
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That is, if the Blue Jays still believe in his bat. In his 409 plate appearances last season, Tellez put together a mediocre .227/.293/.449 batting line, hitting 21 homers and 19 doubles. His respectable batting eye on contact skills that he displayed in the minors did not translate to the majors, as he drew just 29 walks while striking out 119 times.
Tellez did not exactly perform well defensively either, as he was considered to have cost the Blue Jays three runs in his 57 games at first. While Tsutsugo has his own questions defensively, the difference in offensive capability could be enough to push Tellez to the wayside.
Obviously, a lot of moves need to happen. The Blue Jays would need to land Tsutsugo, or another player that could slot in at first, before Tellez’s future truly becomes clouded. Yet, the fact that they are considering such a move may speak volumes as to how they view their former first baseman of the future.
In just two years, Rowdy Tellez has gone from a key part of the Toronto Blue Jays future to having possibly lost his job. His time in Toronto may have already passed him by.