The Blue Jays have made a three-year offer to Brett Cecil in an effort to retain the free-agent left-hander, reports Sportsnet’s Jamie Campbell (via Twitter). The average annual value of the offer isn’t known at this time.
Cecil, 30, posted an abnormally high 3.93 ERA in 2016 but turned in excellent strikeout-to-walk numbers, averaging 11 strikeouts and just two walks per nine innings pitched. The primary factor behind his uncharacteristic ERA spike was a spike in his homer-to-flyball rate; Cecil saw 11.6 percent of the fly-balls against him turn into home runs from 2009-15, but that rate jumped to 20.8 percent in 2016. Homer-to-flyball rate is prone to year-to-year fluctuations, however, and it’s never been a significant problem for Cecil before, who has somewhat quietly dominated over the past four seasons, posting a 2.90 ERA with 11.5 K/9, 3.1 BB/9 and a 50.2 percent ground-ball rate in 205 innings for the Jays. He’s held both left-handed hitters and right-handed hitters in check over that time as well, so he shouldn’t be limited to a specialist role like many southpaw relievers.
Outside of Aroldis Chapman, Cecil is very arguably the top free-agent lefty on the market. He ranked 26th on MLBTR’s list of top 50 free agents, where he was projected to land a three-year, $18MM pact. Cecil already been connected to the Mariners in the past week and figures to draw widespread interest, as nearly every team in the league is looking for bullpen pieces early in the offseason, and the supply of quality left-handed arms is slimmer than the supply of quality right-handers. As it stands, Aaron Loup, Chad Girodo and Matt Dermody are the only left-handed relievers on Toronto’s 40-man roster, so their need to add some left-handed stability to the bullpen is evident.
3/18 sounds good to me. We really need him
This would be a huge signing for them. Cecil has been excellent for them and is a massive part of their bullpen going forward. Hopefully the amount is to his liking and Toronto can retain him
I think he could be a great pickup for the Cubs. 3 yrs at 21 million might get it. He could solve several needs..
I agree If we can’t resign wood. Rob z is only lefty in pen if Montgomery becomes starter
if they do sign Cecil they can then resign Beniot and have a pretty solid bullpen to go with a solid rotation……Osuna; Grilli, Biagini, Cecil and Beniot is a pretty good top 5..
No. Don’t resign Cecil. He has been so inconsistent and untrustworthy with the game on the line. Just keep Osuna and Benoit and Grilli and Biagini. That’s a good bullpen.
And before that he was our most reliant reliever for years. 1 year with an unusual spike in homer to fly ball percentage isn’t enough to call him untrustworthy
You obviously don’t know much about bullpens. All of those guys are righties, and Biagini is likely going to be stretched to be a potential starter. Need a lefty and Cecil has been one of the most consistent lefties in baseball over the last four years!
Increased fly balls-Wrigley Field -sounds like a match????????
One year stats. I’d like to see him with a grass field and an outstanding defense behind him. I like his velocity and his willing to challenge batters.
Lol the jays defence is better than the Cubs
Anyone see the Phillies making a push?
I see potential for a 2 year high annual value contract that way he can be the closer and establish himself as a major trade piece for next deadline. We saw how much teams were willing to give up for bullpen pieces last year so I’m sure the Phillies wouldn’t be upset.
Phillies? LOL
I hope the Jays can sign him but they need more than that. Their bullpen was horrible last year and needs to be addressed. Blew a lot of leads getting to Osuna.