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Blue Jays: Former position players who are currently MLB free agents

By Tyson Shushkewich

ST PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 28: Kevin Pillar #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays gets hit by a pitch in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 28, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 28: Kevin Pillar #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays gets hit by a pitch in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 28, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – JULY 21: Eric Sogard #5 of the Toronto Blue Jays puts on his glasses during a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 21, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Eric Sogard

Originally not making the Blue Jays Opening Day roster for the 2019 campaign, Eric Sogard would be called up to the squad a couple of weeks later and was a pleasant surprise for the front office. Through 73 games, Sogard racked up a .300/.363/.477 slash line with 10 home runs while spending most of his time at second base. Sogard would be traded at the deadline to the Tampa Bay Rays for two players to be named later (eventually Curtis Taylor and Edisson Gonzalez).

He would finish the year in Tampa and would spend the 2020 campaign with the Brewers before signing a deal with the Chicago Cubs for 2021. After 78 games where he posted a .597 OPS, Sogard would be DFA’d in late July and later released by the club and did not suit up for any other team to finish the year.

Jonathan Villar

A product of the Dominican Republic, infielder Jonathan Villar was acquired from the Miami Marlins at the 2020 trade deadline in exchange for prospect Griffin Conine.

Next. Blue Jays FanGraphs Steamer Projections Analysis for 2022. dark

Additional veteran depth for the Jays as they tried to make the playoffs and to help replace an injured Bo Bichette, Villar rubbed fans the wrong way with his poor baserunning and apparent walkout after he was pinch-hit for in the playoff Wild Card series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Overall, Villar finished with a .481 OPS and six RBI through 22 games.

The switch-hitting Villar would join the New York Mets for the 2021 campaign and was their primary third baseman, suiting up in 97 games for the Mets squad. Villar regained the bat the Blue Jays fans were hoping to see, earning a .249 batting average with a 102+ OPS through 454 at-bats.

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