Blue Jays: Yangervis Solarte is your first half team MVP

TORONTO, ON - JULY 3: Yangervis Solarte #26 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning during MLB game action against the New York Mets at Rogers Centre on July 3, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JULY 3: Yangervis Solarte #26 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning during MLB game action against the New York Mets at Rogers Centre on July 3, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Toronto Blue Jays utility player Yangervis Solarte has been the teams best player for much of the 2018 campaign leading the Jays in a plethora of offensive categories while playing multiple positions on defence.

The acquisition of Yangervis Solarte from the San Diego Padres for two minor leaguers looks like a steal at this point as the 30-year old has done everything and more his new employer could have hoped for. The energy and zest for life that Solarte brings to the ball diamond are second to none and the flamboyant native of Venezuela does it in a way that does not show up the opposition.

Solarte is currently hitting .250/.307/.451 with 82 hits, 16 rounds trippers and 48 runs batted in. Obviously, in a season where Josh Donaldson is healthy, these numbers may not factor as team leading, however, the former MVP has only seen action in 36 games thus far.

As we near the midsummer classic Solarte leads the team in at-bats (328), hits (82), runs (41), home runs (16), runs batted in (48), and total bases (148). On defence, Solarte has played all four infield positions on the dirt minus pitcher and catcher. Teoscar Hernandez may have surpassed Solarte in a few of those categories has he been with the big club for the entire campaign.

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Solarte has team options for $5.5 million next season and $8 million in 2020 so for that price he should remain in the fold for when the youth movement arrives in Toronto.

Obviously, an argument can be made for J.A. Happ as well for the distinction as the southpaw has been the Jays best hurler all season long and is in all likelihood on the cusp of being traded to a contender. However for me what pushes Solarte to the top is his versatility on defence and what he does for the morale of the team in the dugout especially in a season where things have not gone as planned.

Next: Blue Jays: The rationale behind stockpiling middle infielders

Honorable Mentions: J.A. Happ, Teoscar Hernandez, Kevin Pillar

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