Blue Jays: Free agents slowly falling off the board

As the MLB offseason slowly gains steam, free agents are beginning to fall off the board as they sign with new teams, the Toronto Blue Jays have yet to dive into the market.

The Blue Jays were rumoured to have met with representatives for pitcher Jake Odorizzi and catcher Yasmani Grandal, however, that may have been more of a case of the team doing their due diligence leaving no stone unturned as neither came to fruition.

Grandal inked a four-year, $73 million dollar pact with the Chicago White Sox setting the pace for the free-agent catcher landscape. It was interesting that the Blue Jays would be interested considering their current catching depth although Grandal would have instantly made them a better team.

The White Sox also just extended slugger Jose Abreu for another three seasons after he had previously accepted the qualifying offer.

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Speaking of the qualifying offer, it appeared that Jake Odorizzi was set to test the free-agent waters and seemed like a logical fit for the Blue Jays. At the last minute, the hurler accepted his one-year qualifying offer from the Twins foregoing his attempt at free agency for another season.

The Braves wasted no time improving their bullpen for 2020 and beyond signing Will Smith to a 3-year, $39 million dollar deal. Smith was the first of the free agent to come off the board as Alex Anthopoulos nabbed him early.

Atlanta also re-signed reliever Chris Martin to 2-year, $14 million dollar deal as well as Darren O’Day as they bolster the backend of their bullpen.

Veteran pitcher Adam Wainwright also re-upped with the Cardinals for another season at $5 million. The 38-year old has spent his entire 14-year career in St. Louis so that move was not surprising.

No doubt, many of the free-agent starters are waiting for the likes of Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg to sign and set the tone before agreeing to any terms with new teams.

We will remain in a holding pattern north of the border as we wait for Ross Atkins to make his first free-agent splash of the offseason.