Blue Jays: Top Unrestricted Free Agents To Address

The Blue Jays postseason run came to a rapid close as they were swept 2-0 by the Tampa Bay Rays. The focus for the Jays now turns towards the offseason where they are faced with many internal decisions about free agents.

2021 Blue Jays Top Unrestricted Free Agents

The Blue Jays head into this offseason with their young stars and many other hitters still under contract. However, they will also have several pitchers that contributed to the teams’ success this past season who are without a deal.

Here are the top three unrestricted free agents that the team should try to resign:

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1. Taijuan Walker, SP

The Blue Jays acquired Taijuan Walker from the Seattle Mariners just ahead of the trade deadline. Walker was already having a good season, but after being sent to the Blue Jays he excelled in the midst of a playoff race.

Walker is a 27-year-old veteran who started six games for the Jays recording a 2-1 record with an outstanding 1.37 earned run average (ERA) in 26.1 innings pitched. Although it was a short sample size, the Blue Jays would benefit from the likes of Walker for years to come. However, this may come at a hefty price.

2. Matt Shoemaker, SP

Matt Shoemaker is another pitcher that exceeded expectations for the Jays since he arrived in 2019. The issue with him has been staying healthy. Before his season-ending injury in 2019, Shoemaker was 3-0 in 28.2 innings pitched with an ERA of 1.57.

This past season, Shoemaker was unable to get going as another injury cut his season short. At 34 years of age, Shoemaker has been one of the leaders in the locker room and would be a good asset to have in the back of the rotation for the upcoming season.

3. Anthony Bass, RP

Anthony Bass was one of the bright spots of a surprisingly effective Jays bullpen. Bass contributed heavily in the late innings and played a significant role in the Jays run to the postseason. Bass appeared in 26 games recording a 3.51 ERA in 25.2 innings. When Giles went down with a season-ending injury there was a lot of concern regarding who was going to come in and close the rest of the season. Bass came in and played well in the closer role, eliminating all concerns.

If Bass is able to pitch at the level he performed during this shortened season, he would be a great addition to the 2021 roster. Still, with much to prove, Bass could be a cheap, but effective option for the Jays.

Overall, most of the Blue Jays young stars are still under their entry-level contracts. This off-season is a spectacular opportunity for the Jays to build off their postseason appearance and spend more then they are accustomed to in this free agency. The 2021 free-agent class is one of the best we have seen in a long time. Bringing these guys back as well as signing a high caliber free agent would go a long way for the Jays hopes of contending in the 2021 season.