Under-the-radar free agents the Blue Jays should look into

Tim Locastro

Probably best known from the Foolish Baseball video about him “being able to steal first”, outfielder Tim Locastro is without a doubt, one of baseball’s most unique players. Since his rookie season in 2019, Locastro has been in the 100th percentile for sprint speed per baseball savant which does, in fact, mean that he is the fastest man in baseball. He also excels on the base paths, because like the aforementioned video highlights, not only can he steal second, but he can pretty much steal first.

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Most HBP in MLB history amongst hitter with less than 600 career plate appearances.

He holds the MLB record for most successful consecutive stolen base attempts to start a career with 29, finally getting caught for the first time this past season. As for stealing first, in 2019, Locastro reached base on 17 of his 70 infield ground balls, giving him a .243 batting average on balls that are usually a guaranteed out. He also gets on base via the hit by pitch an unusual amount, having been hit 35 times in the last three seasons over just 488 plate appearances.

Locastro was actually originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the 13th round of the 2013 draft but was traded to the Dodgers along with Chase De Jong in 2015 for two international signing slots. The Jays ended up signing international free agent Vladimir Guerrero Jr that offseason, so I doubt they regret that trade, but now that he’s on the open market, they should absolutely be looking into him.

He could fill the Blue Jays late-game defensive sub role that Jarrod Dyson filled last season, but could also pose a serious threat as a pinch-runner. He could likely be signed to a relatively cheap deal, and could even go down to the minor leagues if he doesn’t make the team, so he’d be worth an invite to spring training at the least.