Blue Jays: Marcus Stroman makes plea for Carlos Gomez to join team

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman took to Twitter yesterday in an attempt to lure free agent outfielder Carlos Gomez north of the border.

Marcus Stroman fired a tweet to Carlos Gomez asking the free agent outfielder “Where you at my bro!” and “Could use you and your clubhouse presence in Toronto!” Gomez has yet to respond but interestingly enough did play last season with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Blue Jays new skipper Charlie Montoyo would have spent last season with Gomez in Tampa, so perhaps where there is smoke, there is fire. Gomez is hardly the offensive threat he once was but could serve the Blue Jays well as a fourth outfielder and veteran presence for the young Dominican players.

The Blue Jays currently have Kevin Pillar, Randal Grichuk and one of Teoscar Hernandez or Billy McKinney tabbed to start in the outfield. Gomez could slide into a bench role allowing McKinney to return to Buffalo to begin the season. A demotion for McKinney would afford him consistent at-bats in Triple-A until his services are required with the big club.

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

The 33-year old wears his emotion on his sleeve and is no stranger to pimping home runs much like a former Blue Jays slugger. Gomez had a dismal campaign in 2018 hitting .208/.298/.336 with nine home runs and 12 stolen bases in 118 games.

Gomez sports a career .253/.313/.412 slash line with 142 home runs and 264 stolen bases over the course of his 12-year career. The tweet may be nothing more than Stroman appealing for his buddy to join the squad, however, the connection to Montoyo adds another layer to the tweet.

With camp officially slated to kick off on Monday for position players, we should learn sooner than later if the Blue Jays plan on plucking any more talent out of free agent purgatory. Chances are, it is just Stroman being Stroman. Don’t ever change, Marcus.