Blue Jays: 2021 off-season targets and how they’ve fared early this year
![Mar 6, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer against the San Diego Padres during a Spring Training game at Camelback Ranch Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fjaysjournal-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2018-2F08-2F15759938-850x560-2c48859453183ae6a9404890ed83162f.jpg)
This past off-season the Toronto Blue Jays appeared to be interested in almost every high-profile free agent that was available. While the team would walk away with the likes of George Springer, Marcus Semien, Tyler Chatwood, and Kirby Yates, there are a few players that Blue Jays management had their sights on and weren’t able to bring to Toronto.
Not every free agent the Blue Jays express interest in will sign with the team (even though fans may want them to), and this article is going to examine how some of the players who didn’t end up in a Jays uniform are faring early in the 2021 season.
I plan on doing an update on the players mentioned below throughout the season at various intervals, just to see how they are faring and if the Blue Jays might have regretted signing/not signing certain players (I.e. I know it’s early in the season, let’s just call this a baseline).
Kevin Gausman
Even though the Blue Jays reportedly offered the right-hander a three-year deal in the $40 million range, Kevin Gausman decided to return to the San Francisco Giants and accept the $18.9 million qualifying offer. While the Blue Jays deal was for more guaranteed years, Gausman appears to be betting on himself to try and secure a more lucrative payday this upcoming off-season.
Gausman would make the Opening Day start for the Giants against the Seattle Mariners on April 1st, going 6.2 innings. He would finish the day with one earned run, two walks, and six strikeouts, starting the season with a 1.35 ERA and finishing the game with 90 pitches. The Giants would go on to lose the game 8-7, but Gausman did not earn the loss. A good start to trying to earn more money this upcoming off-season.
Trevor Bauer
One of the biggest free-agent pitchers on the market this off-season, Trevor Bauer was linked to the Blue Jays before signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers (the Jays jersey even appeared in his awkward Lebron styled announcement video). The California native did report that he was in talks with the Blue Jays staff throughout the Winter, but there has been no information as to whether the Jays offered the right-hander a contract before he signed with the Dodgers.
https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1378152175826825218
Bauer would pitch against the Colorado Rockies to begin the season, throwing a no-hitter until the seventh inning before surrendering two home runs and finishing his outing with four earned runs on record. The Dodgers would end up winning the game 11-6, with Bauer throwing 96 pitches on route to 6.1 innings of work with two walks and ten strikeouts. His ERA currently stands at 5.68.
Taijuan Walker
Taijuan Walker was one pitcher Blue Jays fans were hopeful to see back with the team (at least on Twitter) but the stars wouldn’t align and the right-hander would go on to sign a multi-year deal with the New York Mets.
https://twitter.com/tai_walker/status/1378030775585673216
The Mets were supposed to begin the season against the Washington Nationals but the MLB has postponed the series due to multiple players on the Nationals being diagnosed with COVID-19. The Mets will now begin the season on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies but manager Luis Rojas has stated that Walker will be getting the home opener on April 8th against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field.
Jake Odorizzi
One of the last free-agent pitchers off the board, Jake Odorizzi would sign a two-year, $20.25 million contract on March 8th with the Houston Astros, two weeks into Spring Training.
For conditioning reasons, Odorizzi is not slated to make a start for the Astros until possibly next week but no firm date has been set for his debut.
Liam Hendriks
A former Blue Jay, right-hander Liam Hendriks was one of the most coveted relievers this off-season. After spending the past five years with the Oakland Athletics, Hendriks was looking to cash in and the Blue Jays were interested in a reunion. While the Australian-born reliever would be seen visiting the Dunedin complex earlier in the year, he would eventually sign a contract with the Chicago White Sox, a three-year deal worth $54 million.
As of the writing of this article, Hendriks has appeared in one game so far for the White Sox, facing the Los Angeles Angels on April 2. The closer would pitch come in during the eighth inning and threw 1.1 innings on route to surrendering one home run and two earned runs while walking one batter and striking out two. He collected the save as the White Sox would go on to win the game and his ERA currently stands at 13.50.
James Paxton
A native of Lander, British Columbia, left-hander James Paxton was on the Blue Jays radar for quite some time this off-season. When the dust settled, Paxton would eventually sign with the Seattle Mariners, the team that drafted him back in 2010. Even though the Jays were interested, there was apparently no formal contract offer for the southpaw’s services.
Paxton has not yet made his 2021 debut and is currently slated to start against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, April 6th in Seattle.
![CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – MARCH 25: DJ LeMahieu #26 of the New York Yankees hits a single off of Matt Moore of the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning of a spring training game on March 25, 2021 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fjaysjournal-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1309171729-850x560-a90c44f0596afd5ccfa46b4414ec2e01.jpg)
D.J. LeMahieu
A player that was high on the Blue Jays list this off-season, D.J. LeMahieu was close to signing with the Jays before deciding to return back to the New York Yankees on a six-year, $90 million dollar deal. The Blue Jays reportedly offered the second baseman a deal around four years and $78 million, but the slugger choose to return to the Yankees, a reunion that many people saw coming.
In three games so far this season, LeMahieu has 11 at-bats and a .273/.429/.273 slash line. Leading the Yankees at the top of the batting order, the Silver Slugger award winner has three hits and three walks with one RBI and no home runs while facing the Blue Jays in the 2021 series opener.
Justin Turner
An option at third base for Toronto, Justin Turner was linked to the Blue Jays as the Los Angeles Dodgers were reaching the luxury tax threshold and the Jays needed a third baseman with Travis Shaw being non-tendered. In the end, Turner would return to the Dodgers on a two-year, $34 million dollar contract, and Cavan Biggio is the go-to guy at the hot corner for the Jays.
Through three games this season, Turner has three starts under his belt and a .364/.429/.455 slash line. In 11 at-bats, the veteran has four hits, four RBI, and two walks while striking out three times. He currently sports a .883 OPS.
Michael Brantley
An outfield option for the Blue Jays, Michael Brantley was reported to have signed a deal with the organization before the news was refuted by the organization and he ended up returning to the Houston Astros on a two-year contract.
Per source, the deal between the Blue Jays and Michael Brantley is not done. The Blue Jays remain very interested and in the mix - along with other clubs - but there has not been an agreement between the two sides.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 20, 2021
In three games against the Oakland Athletics, Brantley had nine at-bats and currently sports a .667/.727/1.44 slash line with six hits and one home run. Brantley currently has two RBI, one walk, and one strikeout early in the season.
Ha-Seong Kim
One of the top international free agents posted this off-season, infielder Ha-Seong Kim was high on the Blue Jays list for potential options up the middle. Ross Atkins and co. reportedly made numerous offers for Kim’s services but he eventually signed with the San Diego Padres.
https://twitter.com/Jasons_JaysHub/status/1343712336582832128
Kim made the Opening Day roster for the Padres and has appeared in three games so far this season, once as a starter and twice as a pinch hitter. His slash line through six at-bats is .333/.333/.333 with two hits, one RBI, and two strikeouts with a .667 OPS.
J.T. Realmuto
The premium catcher on the free-agent market this off-season, the Toronto Blue Jays did express interest in J.T. Realmuto, a righty slugger who had spent the last two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies prior to this past winter. While the interest appears to be no more than tire kicking, Realmuto would eventually re-sign with the Phillies on a five-year, $115.5 million dollar contract.
Next. Extended draft eases pressure on the scouting department. dark
The catcher has played three games so far this season, with two of them being behind the plate and one plate appearance in a pinch-hit scenario. In nine at-bats, Realmuto currently has a .444/.500/.667 line with one RBI and one strikeout.