Blue Jays need to keep Freddy Galvis in the fold for 2020

The Toronto Blue Jays would be wise to exercise their team option on Freddy Galvis and keep him in the fold during the continued youth movement in 2020.

The Blue Jays would ideally want Bo Bichette to occupy the lions share of the work at shortstop moving forward, however, Freddy Galvis has also played second and third base at the major league level. Galvis could spell off Cavan Biggio and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. defensively in 2020 when Bichette is manning short.

The youth movement needs a veteran voice to lean on and Galvis seems to have embraced that role thus far this season. Galvis also on the surface seems to have a closer bond with the kids than the likes of Randal Grichuk or Justin Smoak.

The 29-year old has a $5.5 million team option with a one-million-dollar buyout should the Jays want to go in another direction. Galvis is a steal on and off the field for $4.5 million next season. The shortstop sports a .267 average with 18 home runs and a 2.0 WAR in 115 games this season.

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

• Blue Jays: Alek Manoah on pace to succeed in possible postseason
• Blue Jays: Bradley Zimmer has carved himself a valuable role
• Anthony Bass has been the shutdown reliever the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. open to a long-term contract
• Blue Jays: Snapping cold streaks at the right time

Over the course of his eight-year career, Galvis has played 761 games at shortstop, 98 at second base, 27 at third base and 12 in the outfield so he does possess some positional flexibility should the need arise to move him around the diamond. Galvis is a plus defender and athletic enough to play multiple positions.

Next season will be crucial in the development of the young superstars and the Blue Jays desperately need a positive influence to lay the foundation and steer the kids in the right direction. It seems that Galvis can relate to the young core and they flock to him on the bench for guidance.

It is expected that Smoak will leave via free agency this offseason and even so he is a different type of leader than the Venezuala native. Galvis is an important cog in the machine and should be retained in 2020.