The Blue Jays would love to add an infielder to complement their current mix of young gloves in the dirt, but it’s not a necessity, says GM Ross Atkins, per Scott Mitchell of TSN. That includes, of course, a potential reunion with Marcus Semien, though having a versatile defensive player like Cavan Biggio on the roster gives Atkins some flexibility. Filling Semien’s spot at the keystone is the natural place to add an infielder, but Biggio could slide to second, opening the hot corner for a bigger fish like Matt Chapman of the A’s, whom Mitchell speculates could be a target.
Of course, injuries limited the 26-year-old Biggio to just 79 games last season and a .224/.322/.356 batting line, so an argument could be made to look for an upgrade at third base regardless of what happens at second. Wherever they make additions, for the second consecutive winter, the Blue Jays are no doubt buyers in this free agent market. If not another infielder, Toronto will surely explore rotation and bullpen upgrades, notes Mitchell.
Specifically, Atkins did not rule out getting a more established closer that might bump Jordan Romano from the role that he stepped into last season. Romano notched 23 games for the Jays last season, but he also picked up a handful of holds while only recording a single blown save. Steady as he was, there is no such thing as too many high leverage arms.
I just would stay away from any free agent and trade for Ramirez or Chapman.
Just a thought.. Maybe they do something crazy like add Javy Baez who has been solid at 2nd, short and third. No QO and wouldn’t cost them the prospect haul they’d have to give up in one of those trades.
Rondon, if they go that route, why not just re-sign Semien?
Joe… True, Semien is awesome but is gonna cost a lot more than Baez. I’m thinking they’re gonna need the extra payroll to cover additional pitching.
Agree !
But Semien also had up and down tears as well !
I say if they’re going to trade, Trade with Cleveland for Ramirez and one if their SP or just haul in a whole combo with the A’s by trading for Olson, Chapman and Montas.
That will allow the Jays to alternate Vlad and Olson between DH/1B, play Chapman at 3B who can DH as well on a day off for either 1B, move Biggio to 2B, and add Montas to the rotation who’s a solid Stud. All they would have to do after that is, add a CL and bring back Ray !
Javy is hit or miss type. I’d rather see obviously Semien back but given the $s someone who is a contact type with a high OBP.
I don’t get the fascination with Biggio. Mediocre defense at best and he gives away a lot of at bats. Granted he was expected to play out of position which wasn’t fair, but hey life isn’t fair
To be fair, Biggio has really only played two years in the majors. One at second, one at third. He may not be the real deal but I saw enough good in year 1 to want to see more from him. He’s a better second baseman than third baseman.
So is Semien. There’s no guarantees he’ll repeat this production after signing his contract !
Rondon:
I have thought the same thing.
Joe Says:
Cause Baez would cost less, and that money could be used on a pitcher
Using the MLBTR predictions, Semien is only valued at 3 million more AAV than Baez. Seems negligible to me but you probably have a better handle on the Jays payroll than I do.
Ramirez isn’t going anywhere without the Jays giving up a huge package of players
Koreaboy, is that you? Remember the Pedro trade?
Ramirez has some of the highest trade value in the whole league. You’re talking losing a big leaguer (Lourdes, Biggio) and 2 top prospects (Groshans, Pearson) and maybe more
Their farm would be depleted and they would still need to patch holes in their rotation.
Smart move – especially given the number of good, and possibly exposed Rule-5 candidates, that we may not be able to protect. We have trade bait thete, plus others on the 40-man that would free up space for new signees .
Actually they don’t have any issues with the rule five this year. They are at 34 spots with six spots left. Of the list of players that need to be added six spots will cover anyone good enough to take and cover players that have no chance of sticking on a ML next year. When I saw the article I was surprised also.
futurebluejays.com/2021/11/05/first-look-at-the-ru…
You realize that “trading” involves giving up really good prospects, right? Whereas signing free agents doesn’t?
I would love to see both Seagers, don’t know which of Bo or Cory would move to 2nd
Would also love Marcus on a 3 year deal with a deal for Ramirez and Biggio as the roving player spelling guys with the Dh spot.
I don’t think Cleveland’s asking price for Ramirez will be reasonable though. We’ll see but I think they are going to “Cleveland” the situation.
I can’t see Seager shifting to 2nd. Bo should be a 2nd baseman but he did improve a bit as the year went on but don’t think he has the arm strength for SS. Seager does have an injury history but nice to have the LH bat in the order
3 year deal is not happening for Semien. He’s getting 4 or 5.
Nothing “Cleveland” about it. JRam is among the most valuable assets in the sport.
From 2013 – 2020, Cleveland won more games than every other MLB team except the Dodgers and did that on a small market budget. Cleveland has done very well with their recent trades of the last 6-7 years. Cleveland will do what is best for Cleveland.
He may not be the solution at 2nd/3rd, but I really feel an article on the infield of the Jays should at least mention Espinal. He played pretty well last year and may be the better player than Biggio on both sides of the ball. 2.5 WAR on baseball reference (2.2 Fangraphs) is pretty decent in 92 games? Of course, on a good team both may be more reserve types — just not sure you can ignore what he did.
I do like Espinal, but I wouldnt lock him in to start if you don’t have to. great insurance policy though.
Agreed. I don’t think you lock him in…but he’s useful.
He’s not locked in but he has definitely passed Biggio on the depth chart, he’s superior defensively and shown he can hold his own at the plate.
keep biggio, sign bellinger and move him to second
create an entire infield of players whose fathers i watched play
Bellinger’s property of the Dodgers.
@down with OBP
I was thinking the exact same thing, Hard to believe Espinal still getting snubbed after coming in as an injury back up for Biggio then surpassing him on the depth chart. Solid defence and .311/.376/.405 over 246 PA should have earned him some more acknowledgement.
Always thought the Jays could play him as a righty/lefty tandem at third with Biggio, then just have someone play second every day…. someone like Semien
What does “Romano notched 23 games for the Jays last season” even mean?
saves
“Romano notched 23 SAVES for the Jays last season”
lolZencka
Yeah let’s not have Romano be the closer bc he excelled at it
Well bringing in a closer could just mean you could use Romano in critical situations, the jays blew lots of games in the 6-8th innings last year, having Romano come in to put out fires or go through the meat of the order would be a huge gain
Thing is, an equally effective setup guy usually signs for cheaper than a closer. Not as much cheaper as in the past though.
It would be nice to have two trustworthy closers to avoid having to use either of them 3 days in a row, I suppose.
I think it’s better to use Romano in any inning, in any critical situation(where maybe we’re facing the top of a teams order with runners on) rather than trying to lock him in at closer. He’s mentally tough at grinding through those tough situations that could be a turning point in a game.
Keep the team young. No vet additions like Semien. Try to get Iglesias and a starter. A couple other pitchers
You’re already in a great position offensively. Don’t mess it up by adding veteran bats. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it
Just add some pitching and try to get Iglesias
Iglesias is about to turn 32.
Off season should be to spend just money. No trading prospects till trade deadline. Money on a starter and the BP.
No so at all … We have way too many studs that will be exposed in the Rule-5 Draft that we won’t be able to protect ! Now would be the time to possibly trade some of them for pitching and get something for them, rather than just losing them and getting nothing in return
Which studs?
The race is long. Too many teams blow their rebuild making trades and signing free agents
8 years into the rebuild when the team has been winning for 3 years is the time to maybe make small calculated moves, not in year 5 when it is just starting. The only time to go for huge free agents and trades and unload is at the end of the empire
But if they go out and add Semien, make trades for other vets, it’s not going to be good
Always be a team on the rise. If you add too many free agents and make trades, then you become an established win-now team
Look at the final four this year, just for an example. All of them were built through trades.
Bring back Cito Gaston! Oh wait
i have no idea who biggio is as a hitter. is 2019-2020 or 2021 the likeliest baseline? would appreciate hearing from blue jay fans
Hard to say since he was so injured last year and never really got any momentum.
No one will no until we see another 300-400 ABs, only thing is I don’t think he can handle the hot corner.
Biggio is better then what we have seen. He has a potential 40hr Bat, 25 steal 800ops+, with average defense…..just not at 3rd. I like him in rf or 2b
Just a random thought here: What if the jays bring back Donaldson? I bet that Minnesota will try to get rid of him this off-season. Of course, pending a decision on what to do the franchise… retool or rebuild
Too big of a contract
That ship has sailed, he was an AA guy, not a Shapiro kid.
I don’t think the Jays are that interested in Matt Chapman. For one, in the last two seasons his batting average has tanked and his strikeouts have skyrocketed. That is very concerning. Second, Chapman is a right-handed hitter, and the Jays already have too many of those. The real gem on the A’s roster I would have interest in is Tony Kemp. He’s a left handed hitter who plays second base and left field. Sounds like a perfect fit for Toronto.
Here’s a name the Jays should be calling about: Ryan McMahon. Lefty hitting 3rd and 2nd baseman, one of the best defensive infielders in the game, lots of power (but also K’s a fair bit). Rockies have two 3rd base prospects they want to play, so he might be available. Cheap, too.
That’s a really interesting one. There are things to like: glove, hits the ball hard to all fields, takes his walks. Lots of swing and miss in the zone though. Seems kind of like Kyle Seager except better and with potential for more upside.
@seamaholic
Mcmahon is the perfect fit for toronto!! but I just don’t see the rox moving him. He may move to short when story leaves and they think highly of him.
They should be looking for a new manager.
They should be looking for a new manager.
Long time reader… rare commenter here…
Out of all the FA names out there, I would prioritize Kendall Graveman (3/36) and Chris Taylor (4/68) above everyone else. Taylor becomes the everyday second baseman allowing Espinal and Biggio to platoon at 3B.
Next, I’d try real hard to extend Berrios. Not sure if this is possible but I’d pay the man in the 22-25 AAV range.
Then, I’d focus on moving Kirk and Groshans for another controllable starter— Luis Castillo, Alcantra, Pablo Lopez type tier.
Only Untouchables at this point are Nate Pearson, Lourdes Gurriel, and Gabriel Moreno.
Thoughts?
@jal179
I like the plan although I feel the untouchables list is a little short amd I would like to keep groshans around. I see him as a future 3b and unless we have a upgrade I feel it’s a position that could use some stability. We do have a lot of infield options though so likely someone will go.
I like Pablo Lopez or Frankie Montas and I don’t think they would cost us a ton. We need a solid veteran in the back end of the pen (graveman would be great or kenley jansen) , and a solid left hander hitter to offset the heavy right handed lineup. Those I think should be our main goals this offseason.