Blue Jays Report: Weren’t serious about Charlie Morton, Lance Lynn

Both Charlie Morton and Lance Lynn recently agreed to contracts with American League teams after a reported sizeable market at the winter meetings.

Previously, Lance Lynn had been suggested as a potential fit for the Toronto Blue Jays as they continue their quest to find serviceable inning eaters for the 2019 season. It was previously reported that the team had been “engaged” with Lynn before he signed with the Texas Rangers.

Now, it is being reported by Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith that the Blue Jays were never really “serious bidders” for Lance Lynn, nor were they serious suitors for the recently signed Charlie Morton. Prior to this, the Jays had not been connected to Morton is any way.

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Though they were never serious about Lynn or Morton, Nicholson-Smith does make sure to make note of the fact that the Blue Jays are still relatively active in the free-agent pitching market. According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the Blue Jays checked in with Mike Fiers and Kendall Graveman, among others. Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins alluded to the fact that many deals were discussed, but nothing is, as of this point, imminent.

Lynn signed with the Texas Rangers for a reported $30 million over three years, while the veteran Morton will reportedly be headed to Tampa Bay to join the Rays on a two-year contract also worth $30 million. Neither deal has been made official by the respective teams, but it is expected that the terms and incentives will be known very soon.

It is, as Nicholson-Smith noted, it is widely assumed that the Blue Jays will make a couple of signings in the pitching department this offseason. Whether those signings are of the major-league variety remains to be seen, but many have pegged Aníbal Sánchez and Trevor Cahill as potential fits. More to come.