The Blue Jays are identified to be within the Juan Soto bidding, however like all groups, they’ve to contemplate backup plans. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet takes a take a look at their Soto pursuit and notes that in addition they have curiosity in Max Fried, Luis Severino, Anthony Santander and Alex Bregman. MLBTR has beforehand coated their curiosity in Fried and Santander.
Bregman, 31, is likely one of the high free brokers out there this winter. He has a profession batting line of .272/.366/.483, which interprets to a 135 wRC+, indicating he’s been 35% higher than league common on the plate total. His strikeout price hasn’t been greater than 13.6% in any of the previous six full seasons, barely half of league common. His stroll price dipped a bit in 2024 however has been above par for many of his profession.
He additionally will get robust grades for his third base protection and is prepared to maneuver to second if he indicators with a membership that has a larger want there. His clubhouse and management qualities are sometimes lauded by those that have performed with him. MLBTR predicted Bregman for a seven-year deal value $182MM in the beginning of the offseason. It’s effectively established that the Astros need him again, however he’s additionally been linked to the Tigers, Crimson Sox, Phillies and now Blue Jays.
For the Jays, third base and second base are each pretty unsettled. Ernie Clement was the first possibility on the scorching nook in 2024 and he had a serviceable season. His .263/.284/.408 batting line was barely beneath common, translating to a 94 wRC+. However he additionally stole 12 bases and received robust grades for his glovework at third and shortstop, in addition to temporary appears to be like at second base and left discipline.
The entire package deal added as much as 2.2 wins above substitute within the eyes of FanGraphs and Clement remains to be on the roster, however he shouldn’t stand in the way in which of somebody like Bregman coming aboard. If Bregman took over because the on a regular basis man on the scorching nook, it may transfer Clement right into a utility function, which may nonetheless permit him to contribute pretty commonly.
At second base, Spencer Horwitz and Davis Schneider received respectable chunks of the taking part in time, alongside the now-departed Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Horwitz has hit effectively in his main league profession thus far however shouldn’t be a pure second baseman, solely shifting there since his first base spot is taken by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. A number of the designated hitter plate appearances went to Justin Turner in 2024, who’s now not with the crew. Maybe that frees up Horwitz and Guerrero to share that spot and first base in 2025, relying on what different strikes the Jays make this winter. Schneider is coming off a down season and may play left discipline.
The Jays have another gamers on the roster able to taking part in both third or second base, together with Addison Barger, Orelvis MartÃnez, Will Wagner and Leo Jiménez, however nobody in that group has even 70 video games of main league expertise. With the Jays seeking to rapidly bounce again from a poor 2024 marketing campaign, there’s logic in going for a longtime main leaguer like Bregman versus hoping that somebody in that group takes a step ahead. The Jays have additionally been tied to shortstop Willy Adames, who’s reportedly prepared to maneuver to 3rd base together with his new membership in the event that they have already got a shortstop. The Jays have Bo Bichette at brief however he’s just one 12 months from free company, in order that’s a transfer that would doubtlessly assist in the brief and long run.
The curiosity in Severino aligns with the membership’s different rotation pursuits. As talked about, they’ve been tied to Fried in addition to Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell, although Snell is now off the board as a result of his settlement with the Dodgers. Severino as soon as appeared like a budding ace with the Yankees however he didn’t pitch a lot from 2019 to 2021 as a result of accidents. He was in a position to pitch partial seasons in 2022 and 2023 however with inconsistent outcomes.
He’s coming off a stable bounceback 12 months with the Mets. He made 32 begins and tossed 182 innings, his first time throwing greater than 102 innings since 2018. On high of the amount, there was additionally some high quality, as Severino allowed 3.91 earned runs per innings. His 21.2% strikeout price, 7.9% stroll price and 46% floor ball price had been all fairly near league common.
Severino isn’t as thrilling as Burnes or Fried however he additionally gained’t price as a lot. MLBTR predicted Burnes for a $200MM assure and Fried a bit behind at $156MM. Severino, then again, was projected for a three-year deal value $51MM.
The Jays have a veteran rotation nucleus consisting of José BerrÃos, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt. One other spot is probably going ticketed to Bowden Francis after his robust second half. Choices for the fifth spot embrace Yariel RodrÃguez and Jake Bloss however there’s sense within the Jays including. RodrÃguez has loads of aid expertise and the Jays want assist in the bullpen, so he may very well be pushed there, a minimum of till an harm opens up a necessity within the rotation. Bloss has lower than 12 massive league innings and solely 112 within the minors, so he may get some extra seasoning in Triple-A till an enormous league alternative arises.
On the monetary aspect of issues, RosterResource initiatives the Jays for a payroll of $189MM subsequent 12 months. President Mark Shapiro has steered the membership will find yourself with a roughly related payroll as they did in 2024. Cot’s Baseball Contracts pegged their Opening Day determine at $225MM final 12 months, so that would go away them with about $35MM of wiggle room.
Including considered one of these notable free brokers may actually match into that window, although Soto can be a singular case. The common annual worth of his contract will definitely eclipse that quantity however it’s been reported by Nicholson-Smith that the Jays would make an exception for Soto, prepared to stretch the funds additional than they’d in any other case.
Every of Soto, Bregman, Severino, Fried, Burnes, Santander and Adames rejected a qualifying provide, so the related penalties may also need to be a consideration. The Jays seemingly ducked below the aggressive steadiness tax in 2024 with their midseason selloff, although it’s not but official. If that proves to be the case, the Jays must give up their second-best choose within the upcoming draft in addition to $500K of worldwide bonus pool area for signing considered one of these gamers.
