MLB free agency: What’s shaking with Brad Hand?
By Phil Watson
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays didn’t really have a closer in 2020, as journeymen Anthony Bass and Rafael Dolis combined for 12 saves.
Bass, claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners in October 2019, made the Blue Jays his fourth team in as many seasons in 2020 and wasn’t dazzling. He was 7-for-9 in save chances, appearing in 26 games and finishing 14, with a 3.51 ERA and 1.013 WHIP in 25.2 innings. Bass struck out 21 batters and walked nine, two intentionally, while giving up two home runs.
Dolis. meanwhile, hadn’t appeared in an MLB game since May 26, 2013, spending all of 2014 and 2015 in the minors before heading to Japan for four seasons with the Hanshin Tigers. Toronto signed Dolis as a free agent last February and picked up his $1.5 million option for 2021.
Dolis appeared in 24 games and notched five saves in six chances, working 24 innings and fanning 31 while walking 14. He had a 1.50 ERA and 1.250 WHIP while surrendering one home run.
But Dolis seems more well-suited for a setup role, particularly because he can struggle at times to locate the strike zone.
The Bass-Dolis pairing was taking the place of veteran Ken Giles, who saved 23 games for the Jays in 2019 before falling off dramatically last season. While he converted his only save chance, Giles was rocked for four runs on four hits with four walks and six strikeouts in just 3.2 innings over four appearances before going down with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery.
Much like the Astros previously, Toronto would benefit by adding Brad Hand to the mix because it would allow Dolis to move back a slot into a seventh- or eighth-inning role.
Ben Nicholson-Smith reported Saturday for Sportsnet that the Blue Jays remained interested in Hand. Toronto hasn’t made a lot of bullpen-related moves this offseason other than to let Giles and Bass walk in MLB free agency and bringing back A.J. Cole after non-tendering him in December.
Toronto, however, has also shown interest in both former Padres closer Kirby Yates, who is returning from having bone chips removed from his elbow, and former Oakland A’s reliever Joakim Soria.