Blue Jays: Three free agent relievers the team could pursue this offseason

Mychal Givens – RHP

Unlike the first two pitchers on this list, Mychal Givens is coming off a decent performance in 2022. After going 6-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 40-plus innings with the Cubs, Givens didn’t have as great results in the pressure cooker that is New York.

Givens slipped to a 4.79 ERA in 19 games with the Mets, but his overall numbers were respectable; 120 ERA+, 1.32 WHIP, and 10.4 K’s per nine innings.

Jays fans know Givens well, he spent the first six years of his career coming out of the bullpen for the Baltimore Orioles and had his best season in 2017 when he went 8-1 with a 2.75 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and a 2.3 bWAR.

Givens has shown an ability to close out games throughout his career and has piled up 31 saves in that time, including a high of 11 in 2019. The Blue Jays don’t really need another closer but adding a pitcher who has experience closing out games would be a smart move.

He has a career strikeout percentage of 28.4, well above average, and, during his time with the Mets, also produced a ground ball rate of 46.7% and a low walk rate of just 6.8%. His hard-throwing, submarine-style delivery would allow for just enough contrast from Cimber to really confuse opposing hitters.

All three of these pitchers may benefit from a return to the American League and some more familiar settings and ballparks.

None of these potential signings would create a ton of buzz, but all three could help push the bullpen to the next level.