Jays Journal
FanSided

Every Single 2020 Free Agent the Blue Jays could be Interested in

By Reuben Gasee

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 29: General manager Ross Atkins of the Toronto Blue Jays poses with new manager Charlie Montoyo who was introduced to members of the media and president Mark Shapiro on October 29, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 29: General manager Ross Atkins of the Toronto Blue Jays poses with new manager Charlie Montoyo who was introduced to members of the media and president Mark Shapiro on October 29, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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BUFFALO, NY – SEPTEMBER 24: Jonathan Villar #20 of the Toronto Blue Jays fields the ball and makes the throw to first base fo an out during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Sahlen Field on September 24, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team due to the Canadian government’s policy on COVID-19, which prevents them from playing in their home stadium in Canada. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – SEPTEMBER 24: Jonathan Villar #20 of the Toronto Blue Jays fields the ball and makes the throw to first base fo an out during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Sahlen Field on September 24, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team due to the Canadian government’s policy on COVID-19, which prevents them from playing in their home stadium in Canada. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /

Jonathan Villar

The Blue Jays acquired Jonathan Villar at the trade deadline with the sole purpose of him replacing Bichette at shortstop as he was out a while with a knee injury.

His tenure with the Blue Jays didn’t necessarily go well as he slashed .178/.278/.203 with 22 strikeouts in 69 at-bats although he did steal seven bases over 22 games without getting caught once. On the 2020 season as a whole with the Blue Jays and Marlins, he slashed .232/.301/.292 with 16 stolen bases over 21 attempts, which was good for second most in the league.

Despite his poor showing in the shortened season, Villar at his best, has one of the best hit/speed combinations in the league. In 2016 with the Brewers, he slashed .285/.369/.457 with 168 hits, 19 home runs and a league leading 62 stolen bases. In 2019 with the Orioles, he put up a slash line of .274/.339/.453 with 176 hits, 33 doubles, 24 home runs and 40 stolen bases.

While not the best defender, Villar can play on either side of second base. Although defence is not his calling card, it’s his hitting when he can put everything together and especially his speed which he has 218 career stolen bases. When stealing bases, he is successful 78.7% of the time.

If the Blue Jays can bring back Villar, he can provide the team with a source of speed off the bench and can be a key pinch hitter if he can turn things around.

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