Blue Jays: 2017 Free Agent Bullpen Targets To Consider

RH Options

Joaquin Benoit (40 years old)

2017 Salary: 7.5 million dollars

2017 Stats: 4.65 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 50.1 IP

Avg Fastball Velocity: 95.0 mph

Benoit should be a familiar name for Blue Jays fans as he was great for the team in 2016 (0.38 ERA). He is coming off a down year in the NL which may indicate that father time is catching up with him, but he could also be a great bargain buy if he produces similar numbers to his 2014-2016 stats (2.20 ERA, 167.2 IP).

Brandon Kintzler (33 years old)

2017 Salary: 2.9 million dollars

2017 Stats: 3.03 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 71.1 IP

Avg Fastball Velocity: 93.6 mph

Kintzler is one of the strongest right-handed options in free agency this year. He was the Twins’ closer before he got traded to the Nationals and has been in the upper echelon of relievers in the last couple of years. Signing Kintzler will require a lot more money than the 2.9 million dollars he got this year, but he is also an arm that can set up Roberto Osuna, and provide insurance if Osuna struggles or gets injured.

Brandon Morrow (33 years old)

2017 Salary: 1.25 million dollars

2017 Stats: 2.06 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 43.2 IP

Avg Fastball Velocity: 97.8 mph

Another familiar name that could be an option is Brandon Morrow. He was fantastic out of the bullpen for the Dodgers in 2017 and will likely command a lot more money than his 2017 salary. Signing Morrow always brings concern over his health issues, but if he can pitch around 50-60 innings in 2018, he could be extremely valuable as an elite setup man.

Joe Smith (34 years old)

2017 Salary: 3 million dollars

2017 Stats: 3.33 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 54.0 IP

Avg Fastball Velocity: 89.7 mph

Yet another former Blue Jay that the front office should consider is Joe Smith. Before the trade to Cleveland, Smith was arguably the Blue Jays’ most reliable and consistent reliever. Bringing back Smith will cost the Blue Jays a little more than it did a year ago, but having a good reliever with an unorthodox delivery provides new looks for batters late in games and would add a lot of stability before the ninth inning.

Other Options: Matt Albers, Steve Cishek, Luke Gregerson, Tommy Hunter, Pat Neshek, Addison Reed, Bryan Shaw

LH Options

Jake McGee (31 years old)

2017 Salary: 5.9 million dollars

2017 Stats: 3.61 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 57.1 IP

Avg Fastball Velocity: 95.3 mph

Jake McGee is one of the top left-handed options in this year’s free agency class. McGee has a big fastball and also has American League experience, as he pitched for the Rays from 2010-2015. His overall numbers depict a mid-level reliever, but also remember that he was pitching a large number of games in the very hitter-friendly Coors Field. A switch to the AL could improve McGee’s numbers significantly and he would be a great addition for the Blue Jays as a left-handed setup man for Roberto Osuna.

Tony Watson (32 years old)

2017 Salary: 5.6 million dollars

2017 Stats: 3.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 66.2 IP

Avg Fastball Velocity: 93.8 mph

On paper, Tony Watson is another name that the Blue Jays should pursue. He is an absolute workhorse in the pen and has been one of the better left-handed relievers in all of baseball for the past few years. However, there are significant red flags with Tony Watson.

Firstly, Watson will likely command a big contract in terms of both money and years. He is already 32 and it may not be wise for the Blue Jays to add a declining pitcher with a big contract to the team. Furthermore, Watson’s peripheral numbers should bring significant concern. His K/9 (7.16) and BB/9 (2.70) are not elite and Watson gives up his fair share of home runs (1.22 HR/9). The Blue Jays would have to pay the price of a great reliever but may end up getting an average one on the decline.

Zach Duke (35 years old)

2017 Salary: 5.5 million dollars

2017 Stats: 3.93 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 18.1 IP

Avg Fastball Velocity: 88.1 mph

Zach Duke could be a nice bargain buy for the Blue Jays this offseason. He is coming off a short season because he underwent Tommy John surgery in October of 2016. However, Duke was an elite reliever from 2014-2016 (2.74 ERA, 180.1 IP). Duke will likely not command the same amount of money or years as Tony Watson or Jake McGee, but he could produce better numbers at a far more affordable price.

Why Not Closers?

The discussion of relievers brings up an intriguing topic: should the Blue Jays take a look at closers this offseason? The gut reaction for Blue Jays fans will likely be a strong NO due to the presence of Roberto Osuna. However, upon closer examination, the addition of a closer may actually be a good idea. Consider these three points:

1. Roberto Osuna’s inconsistencies in 2017
2. The Blue Jays rotation filled with question marks
3. Andrew Miller

One reason to add another closer this offseason is to provide insurance for Roberto Osuna. There’s no question that Roberto Osuna is an elite closer. However, Osuna was inconsistent in 2017 due to multiple factors including off-field issues (anxiety) and pitch selection (heavy reliance on the cutter). Adding an established closer like Greg Holland or Wade Davis would give Osuna a valuable mentor and relieve the pressure that comes with closing games at the MLB level.

Another benefit that comes with the addition of another closer is that it significantly relieves the load on the pitching staff. Any elite closer would deepen the bullpen significantly, and starters like Biagini (inconsistency) and Sanchez (blister problems) would only have to pitch 5 or 6 innings, with the rest being covered by a very deep bullpen.

And finally, Blue Jays fans have to look no further than the 2016 ALCS to know the benefits of having two elite options at the back of the pen. The Cleveland Indians shut down the Blue Jays’ offense late in games with just two relievers: Andrew Miller and Cody Allen.

Signing a traditional closer this offseason would allow the Jays to put Osuna in a Miller-esque role. Osuna could become a multi-inning, high-leverage reliever like Miller is today. As fans all around the MLB know, a player like Miller is arguably more valuable than the typical one-inning closer. With the addition of a Greg Holland or a Wade Davis, the Blue Jays could have one of the best bullpens in all of baseball.

Closer Options

Wade Davis (32 years old)

2017 Salary: 10 million dollars

2017 Stats: 2.30 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 58.2 IP

Avg Fastball Velocity: 94.6 mph

Wade Davis is one of the best closers in all of baseball. He has ample experience in both the AL and the postseason and seems like a great candidate to sign. The problem is that the Blue Jays would have to give Davis a lot of money and years to bring him to Toronto. Is it worth the commitment? The 2015 Royals, the 2016 Indians, and the 2017 Yankees sure think so.

Greg Holland (32 years old)

2017 Salary: 13 million dollars

2017 Stats: 3.61 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 57.1 IP

Avg Fastball Velocity: 93.7 mph

While Greg Holland’s 2017 numbers may not be a cause for much excitement, he should still be considered an elite reliever. Much of those numbers are likely inflated from a late-year performance that was affected by fatigue (coming off Tommy John Surgery in 2016). From 2011-2014, Holland had a 1.86 ERA while closing 113 games. Another year from Tommy John surgery could very well bring Holland back to “Top 5 closer” status. However, there is still a lot of risk involved.

Other Options: Seung-hwan Oh

Next: Blue Jays should follow the Yankees’ blueprint to success