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Jays Journal

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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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – AUGUST 24: Daniel Murphy #9 of the Colorado Rockies reacts while batting against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on August 24, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – AUGUST 24: Daniel Murphy #9 of the Colorado Rockies reacts while batting against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on August 24, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Daniel Murphy

Daniel Murphy has always had excellent contact hitting abilities with his career batting average being .296. Guys like Murphy are almost non-existent these days, as it seems like most of the league has shifted to all or nothing hitting, which are power hitters that either crush the ball or strikeout.

Of 12 years spent in the big leagues, a quarter of those have seen him hit over .300. The highest he’s ever hit in one year was .347 in 2016 with the Nationals, which saw him get an All-Star appearance, a Silver Slugger award and a second place finish in MVP voting. That season, he also posted an on-base percentage of .390 and a slugging percentage of .595 for an OPS of .985.

Prior to the 2019 season, he signed with the Colorado Rockies, and many thought would elevate his game even more due to the high altitude of Coors Field. Although it didn’t necessarily elevate his game to another level, in two seasons in Colorado, he still slashed a respectable .269/.316/.426 with 151 hits.

In 2020, he played in 40 games slashing .236/.275/.333 with 29 hits. That was his lowest batting average he’s ever posted in a season with his previous career low mark being .266 in 2009. His on base and slugging percentage were also career low marks too.

These days, at the age of 35, in which he’ll be 36 on Opening Day next season, he’s primarily a first baseman but can also play second base and has experience playing third, although he hasn’t appeared at the hot corner since playing one game there in 2016.

His versatility is what could entice the Blue Jays to offer him a contract, but it would likely come as a MiLB deal.

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