Toronto Blue Jays: Three Moves That Should be Made
The Toronto Blue Jays are ready to spend, it’s just a matter where they decide to improve.
In 2020, the Toronto Blue Jays barely snuck into the playoffs, finishing third in the American League Eastern division at 32-28. They lost in the AL Wild Card Series (2-0) to the eventual American League champion Tampa Bay Rays. They were one of the team’s that benefited from the expanded MLB postseason format of 2020.
This was the first time they were over .500 since 2016. This young squad took a big step in the right direction. With a will to spend money, Toronto has needs to fill, especially if they want to return to the postseason in 2021. They found their ace in last year’s signing of Hyun Jin Ryu.
Their young promising trio of infielders, who are all sons of former major league All-Stars, are their future. However, they need more help. Adding an All-Star to their lineup will definitely create more depth in a young clubhouse. A consistent power bat would transcend this lineup into a real contender’s offense.
Their general manager, Ross Atkins, wants to make a significant move and have Toronto be a significant contender in the AL East.
“I think we are in a position where we could add to this team with talent that is condensed in one player and a super high impact,” he said. “We’re going to continue to think about how we can build upon this group, and hopefully it’s both complimentary as well as making as making a really high impact.”
Here are three moves that the Toronto Blue Jays should make this offseason.
Sign JT Realmuto
The Toronto Blue Jays have hinted at making a big move this offseason and signing J.T. Realmuto would be the biggest splash they could make.
Realmuto, who will not be 30 until the beginning of next season, was All-MLB second team for catchers and is arguably the best in the game.
He is a two-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, and a Gold Glove Award winner in 2019.
Since the beginning of 2018, he has played in 317 games, slugging 57 home runs and driving in 189 runs, scoring 199 runs. He batted .274 and had an OPS. of .825. In addition, he hit 72 doubles as well.
Danny Jansen was their primary catcher in 2020 and was fairly underwhelming.
Putting Realmuto third in the Toronto Blue Jays’ lineup would make it a real threat. They have strong hitters in Bo Bichette, Teoscar Hernandez, and Cavan Biggio. He would fit this lineup greatly, but it would be for a price.
Realmuto is going to be expensive. However, Toronto has a reputation for spending money on catchers, such as Russell Martin in 2015.
Many teams are going after Realmuto and he is a hot commodity. The New York Mets are out of the picture now that they locked up James McCann. The Los Angeles Angels, the Washington Nationals, and even the New York Yankees are all possible suitors for the All-Star.
Toronto is going to have to spend big and commit to Realmuto for the long-term. He could be a staple in their franchise for the next five years if he decided to take his talents to Canada.
Sign James Paxton
The thrifty lefty would add a lot of depth to the Toronto Blue Jays rotation and help them contend better in the postseason if they had Paxton in the middle of their rotation. The Blue Jays should bring the Canadian stud back to his home country and have him help this team go to the next level.
Over eight years, Paxton has started 136 games, 102 for the Seattle Mariners and 34 for the New York Yankees. He is 57-33 with a 3.58 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 753.1 innings, striking out 829.
Paxton, 32, threw a no-hitter in 2018 for Seattle and is a very consistent American League pitcher. However, he only started more than 20 games four times in his career, from 2015 to 2019.
The Toronto Blue Jays have a decent rotation already with Ryu, Tanner Roark, when he decides to throw strikes, and Robbie Ray, who they just brought back on a one-year, $8 million contract.
Ray, Ryu, and Paxton would be three terrific lefties to build a rotation around. This would definitely be a little bit of an unconventional rotation, but it would be very deep and strong for the postseason if they are able to make it that far.
Sign Liam Hendriks
Liam Hendriks would turn this team from a contender to a real threat to win the division. He has shown he is one of the best relief pitchers in the major leagues in 2020, being named American League Reliever of the year and named to the 2020 All-MLB first team. He came in ninth for the 2020 AL Cy Young Award.
He is a hard-throwing, strikeout machine. Since 2019, he has pitched in 99 games and has held a 1.79 ERA, saving 39 games. He struck out 161 batters over 110.1 innings with a 7-5 record.
Putting Hendriks at the back end of this team’s bullpen would make them dominant. He would transcend this bullpen, one which was average at best in 2020.
The Toronto Blue Jays are willing to spend money and spending money on bullpen pitchers has proven to be a successful move for teams in the past. Hendriks would be a financial commitment over the next three or four seasons, but he would be worth it if he remains to play at this level and be as high caliber as a pitchers as he has proven to be.
dark. Next. Blue Jays have advantage to recruiting Ha-Seong Kim
Henriks will be 32 at the beginning of next season and would fit in great because Toronto needs a real difference maker in their bullpen.