Blue Jays: What would Jays do with Yoenis Cespedes?

Apparently the Blue Jays sent a representative to watch Yoenis Cespedes‘ recent showcase. Would they actually be interested in signing the veteran slugger?

I’ll be honest, when I came across a few tweets that indicated the Blue Jays had sent scouts to his showcase, I assumed the sources weren’t very good. And yet, I see that according to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, they were in fact one of 11 teams to send a rep to check out what Cespedes might have in the tank. 

My question is pretty simple: What would they even do with the 35-year-old if they signed him?

I’m all for exploring every avenue to make the team better, and there’s a good chance that Cespedes will sign somewhere for cheap and provide a high-upside gamble for his future club. That’s what happens when you only play 48 games over three years, no matter how talented the player might be.

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Cespedes has dealt with his fair share of injuries, and he made some headlines last year when he abruptly opted out of the rest of the season. That said, it’s not surprising that a number of teams are interested in at least checking out what he can do in a showcase. The Blue Jays could have sent a representative for a number of reasons, but I’d be surprised if they’re serious about signing the talented Cuban. Quite simply, it would be hard to find a place for him on the roster.

As it stands the Blue Jays already have four outfielders that are worthy of starting every day in George Springer, Teoscar Hernandez, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Randal Grichuk, as well as Jonathan Davis, and Cavan Biggio’s ability to play fill in. If they’re looking to maybe plug him in as the designated hitter, that’s not going to be easy either. DH at-bats will likely go to Hernandez, Rowdy Tellez, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the most part, with the occasional half-day off for the other regulars.

Maybe they’re interested in Cespedes as a potential bench piece or something, but it’s not like they have a need for platoon bats. Biggio and Tellez project to be the only left-handed hitters to see any regular playing time, and both can handle same-side pitching.

In my eyes, the only way that signing Cespedes would make much sense is if the Blue Jays still had a late-winter trade of an outfielder in mind, and even then it feels like a stretch. Counting on Cespedes for much at this stage of his career would be pretty foolish, even if the upside is there. That roll of the dice is going to make sense for a handful of teams for sure, but after everything else the Jays did this winter, I can’t really see a match here.

Maybe I’ll be wrong, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued, but I just don’t see Yoenis Cespedes being a fit for the Blue Jays.