Blue Jays: Are they slow playing the outfield free-agent market?

The Toronto Blue Jays have yet to address their outfield needs this offseason, however, could the brain trust be slow playing the sluggish outfield market.

Spring training is just around the corner and there still remains a number of viable outfield options still seeking contracts. The Blue Jays attacked the offseason in their quest to better the on-field product but the outfield void still looms large.

As it currently stands, the Blue Jays are going into spring training with Randal Grichuk, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez penciled in as the outfield trio. The likes of Billy McKinney, Derek Fisher, Anthony Alford, and Jonathan Davis are all vying for that fourth outfielder bench role.

The plethora of available free agents that remain unsigned include Brock Holt, Yasiel Puig, Kevin Pillar, Domingo Santana, Hunter Pence, Cameron Maybin, Billy Hamilton, Carlos Gonzalez, Juan Lagares, and Jacoby Ellsbury.

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The Blue Jays were reported to have interest in Holt earlier this offseason, however, there has not been much in the way of those rumours for the past few weeks. Puig is an interesting talent who could better the roster but with Puig also comes the sideshow and antics that may not be favourable for a clubhouse full of young players.

Pillar has a history with Toronto but was non-tendered by the Giants due to the nine million and change he was projected to earn through the arbitration parameters this offseason. Santana is just 27 years old and two years removed from a 30-homer season in Milwaukee.

Pence is on the downside of his career but still managed a .910 OPS and 18 home runs in just 83 games with the Rangers last season. Hamilton has game-changing speed but has always struggled to make consistent contact throughout his career.

Maybin hit .285 with 11 homers in a bench role with Yankees last season, however, he also got pinched for DUI last season which could make crossing the border dicey for the veteran outfielder.

Lagares is a Punch and Judy hitter who hit just .213 last season with the Mets, the 30-year-old sports a career .254/.297/.361 slash line in seven seasons with New York.

Gonzalez and Ellsbury are both injury-prone veterans whose better days are behind them at this stage of their career.

As you can see, there is still an insane amount of outfield names who remain unemployed with pitchers and catchers posied to report.

Now the question remains, whether or not the Jays can land one on the cheap.