Blue Jays rumoured to have interest in Dee Gordon

The Toronto Blue Jays will surely have some decisions to make in the coming weeks deciding on the direction of the club moving forward and what they will conjure up to fill the voids in left field and second base.

Jon Heyman of Fan Rag Sports reported yesterday that the Blue Jays are one of three teams who have expressed interest in Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon. The speedy 29-year old Gordon would slot in nicely atop the Jays lineup providing some much-needed speed and table setting for the big boppers.

Gordon is currently slashing .295/.342/.358 while swiping 32 bags in 38 attempts this season for the Marlins. The second baseman would provide some positional depth due to all the uncertainty surrounding Devon Travis and his knee issues. The Marlins season hasn’t gone as they’d hoped, and their owner Jeffrey Loria is trying to sell the franchise, so the rumours are whirling around the league as they try to bring the payroll down.

The former 4th round selection, 127th overall in the 2008 entry draft began his professional career with the Los Angeles Dodgers before being shipped to the Marlins with Dan Haren, and Miguel Rojas in exchange for Andrew Heaney, Austin Barnes, Chris Hatcher and Enrique Hernandez at the end of 2014.

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Gordon is currently earning $7.8 million this season but is still owed approximately $39 million over the next three seasons with a team option for 2021. Gordon is relatively cheap in the $10 million range for the offensive numbers he produces year in and year out.

He missed part of the 2016 season after being suspended for a performance enhancing drug contravention.  Not what you would expect from a guy who weighs 170 lbs.

The acquisition of Gordon would prove the Blue Jays brain trust is serious about staying the course with the current framework and not rebuilding. Gordon would fit the athletic mold the Jays unsuccessfully attempted to fill this past offseason, and of course would help plug the gaping hole at the top of their lineup, and at second base.

The asking price would presumably be high to elicit the services of Gordon from Miami, but the Jays do have the likes of Dalton Pompey, Rowdy Tellez, Conner Greene and Sean Reid-Foley in the minors to dangle as trade bait. If they’re serious about adding Gordon, perhaps they could peddle Devon Travis as a trade option as well, though it’s hard to say how other team’s would view his trade value.

Next: Blue Jays bullpen produces encouraging first half surprises

Tis’ the season for trade rumours, and the Blue Jays should be in the middle of all kinds of them. However, the rule of thumb is usually, if you hear about it then it likely isn’t true so don’t go purchasing your Dee Gordon jerseys just yet Blue Jays fans.