3 Blue Jays reunions that need to be explored this offseason in free agency

Teoscar Hernandez

After the Blue Jays' catastrophic collapse in Game 2 of the Wild-Card Series in 2022, the front office decided to dismantle the outfield and dealt away both Teoscar Hernandez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.. Despite hitting two home runs in that game, Hernández was shipped to the Seattle Mariners and Gurriel was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a deal that brought back Daulton Varsho.

The trades may have improved Toronto’s bullpen and outfield defense, but it hurt their lineup and morale. Varsho has been a stud in both left and centerfield but hasn’t come close to matching the production Hernandez put up between 2018-2022. Swanson was a rock for the bullpen in 2023, then had the ramp-up to his season derailed by a family emergency and wasn’t the same pitcher last season.

Hernandez slumped in his lone season playing in Seattle but signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers and has been a catalyst for a team on the cusp of a championship. The 31-year-old hit .272 with a career-high 33 homers, 99 RBI, and a .840 OPS (137 OPS+) while making his second All-Star team. The former Astros prospect may never be a great outfielder, but possesses huge power, something this team needs desperately. He also has an outgoing, fun-loving personality that should help loosen up a team clubhouse that has appeared stiff in recent years.

In 2023, they won 89 games and returned to the postseason, but suffered through a significant power outage and didn’t seem to be having much fun. They were improved defensively, and the bullpen was solid, but they scored fewer runs and hit fewer home runs, and management seemed to take all the joy from the group, including the beloved home run jacket.

Last season, the jacket returned, but the team wasn’t up to snuff and regressed miserably. Bringing back Teo could go a long way towards turning the ship around.