Blue Jays: 2017 Free Agent Bullpen Targets To Consider

The Toronto Blue Jays already have the looks of a formidable bullpen to start the 2018 season. Adding another impact arm or two to that mix would further improve the pitching staff as there would be greater late-inning stability and less pressure on the starting rotation.

Toronto Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins stated in his year-end press conference that the offseason priority would be to add an impact arm and an impact bat. When asked whether that impact arm would be a starter or a reliever, Atkins suggested that there wasn’t a specific role that the front office had in mind.

The Blue Jays enter 2018 in need of a 5th starter and a strong left-handed option for the bullpen. However, adding a starter may not be the best option for the Blue Jays as the 2017 free agent class consists of very few quality options. Instead, the Blue Jays could focus on signing relievers to shorten games and relieve the load on the starting rotation.

Signing relievers to shorten games has been a very successful strategy for the last few years as the Royals of 2015, the Indians of 2016, and the Yankees of 2017 have shown. The Blue Jays would be wise to invest their money on the bullpen if the price of the starting pitching options become too overpriced. With that in mind, here are some of the relief options that the Blue Jays could take a look at.

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.

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