On this day in 2021: Blue Jays make two signings to solidify themselves as contenders

Three years ago on this day, the Toronto Blue Jays made the huge decision in adding two game-changing pieces to their roster to help elevate the club into legitimate contenders. Those two prominent free agents that the Jays officially signed on December 1, 2021 that helped alter the pitching landscape in Toronto were Kevin Gausman and Yimi García.

At the time, the Jays had already built up a solid core of players, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Teoscar Hernández, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and George Springer to help lead the offensive attack. However, with the departure of reigning Cy Young winner Robbie Ray, the team lacked a true No. 1 starter to anchor the rotation ahead of the 2022 season. That was quickly resolved when the Jays landed Gausman on a five-year, $110 million contract.

OTD 2021: Blue Jays make signings to solidify themselves as contenders

Since joining Toronto, Gausman has provided full value to the team in leading them to sustained success. Over his three seasons to date, he has posted a 38-30 record with a 3.45 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, along with 604 strikeouts in 540.2 innings pitched in 93 starts. More importantly, Gausman has helped stabilize their starting five with his pronounced consistency and reliability, recording double-digit wins and at least 174 innings pitched in each of those three years. His strongest season came in 2023 when he led the American League in strikeouts with 237, became an All-Star for the second time in his career and finishing third in AL Cy Young voting to Gerrit Cole. 

Despite some unexpected struggles during the first half of the 2024 season, Gausman finished off strong with a 5-3 record, 2.22 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and giving up just two home runs in 56.2 innings in his final nine starts. That proved that given his veteran experience, he could fight through adversity and overcome any obstacles to become a dominant force once again.

In addition to solidifying the rotation, the Jays needed a battery mate to help out closer Jordan Romano in the bullpen. The inking of García to a two-year, $11 million deal (which ultimately became a three-year, $17-million contract after reaching a vesting option) has turned out to be one of the best value signings made by Jays’ GM Ross Atkins in recent years. That was because García evolved into the rock as the setup man in the bullpen that Toronto had been looking for all these years. Over his two and a half year tenure with the Jays, he had compiled a 10-9 record with nine saves, 52 holds, a 3.44 ERA, 1.08 WHIP with 179 strikeouts in just 157 innings of work over 163 relief appearances. 

More significantly, during the past season when practically the entire bullpen was bending, García remained the only member that didn’t break. He managed to post a solid 3-0 record with a 2.70 ERA, 0.80 WHIP with 42 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched. With that performance, he was eventually dealt at the trade deadline to net the Jays some valuable future pieces in Jonatan Clase and Jacob Sharp. But by becoming a free agent once again this offseason, the Jays have the enticing opportunity to bring him back for the 2025 season.

There was no doubt that the impact of both Gausman and García were significant, as their valuable contributions helped the Jays reach the postseason in two of the past three years. Who knows how things would have turned out without the presence of these two elite arms. But one thing is for sure, without the brilliant signings of these two stalwarts, we likely would not have witnessed as much excitement, winning and success that they brought to the Jays so far this decade.