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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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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 16: Starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi #12 of the Minnesota Twins throws the baseball in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 16, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 16: Starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi #12 of the Minnesota Twins throws the baseball in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 16, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Jake Odorizzi

Last offseason, the Blue Jays expressed interest in signing Jake Odorizzi but he ultimately accepted the Twins qualifying offer which was valued at $17.8 million.

Odorizzi only made four starts in the shortened 2020 season due to various injuries which were a combination of a blister, back strain and a chest contusion after taking a line drive off his body. He posted a 6.59 ERA with an opponent average of .291 in 13.2 innings pitched.

In 2019, he had a great season going 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA with 178 strikeouts in 159 innings pitched, which got him his first career All-Star berth.

Throughout his career, he’s 62-56 with a 3.92 ERA and an opponent average of .237 over 195 games with all but three of those being starts. While not an ace, Odorizzi has quietly been a very solid major league pitcher in his career that has pitched well as a mid-rotation starter.

Despite his injury riddled down year, Odorizzi is expected to be one of the most in demand pitchers on the free agent market and is sure to get a multi-year deal with a solid average annual value. He will be even more attractive to teams with the fact that he’s not attached to draft pick compensation as he wasn’t eligible for a qualifying offer since he already accepted one for the 2020 season.

As they did so last offseason, the Blue Jays have expressed interest in him this time around but are competing against other teams for his services.

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