4 spots the Blue Jays still need to address after re-signing Kevin Kiermaier

The Toronto Blue Jays gave their fans some holiday cheer on Tuesday afternoon when reports surfaced of free agent outfielder Kevin Kiermaier signing a one-year deal. The contract, which was first reported by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, will be for $10.5M with incentives.

It was the team’s first dip into the free agent pool and should start to clear up an outfield that requires depth. Bringing back Kiermaier, who is coming off a resurgent 2023 campaign with the Jays, means the primary trio will again be Kiermaier, Daulton Varsho and George Springer. This move is hardly the final piece of the puzzle, with several needs still on the roster. 

The Blue Jays reportedly are interested in former Dodgers and Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger, and while bringing back KK doesn’t eliminate that possibility, it’s less of a natural fit. Still, his defensive versatility and lefty thump make him an attractive potential target.   

With Matt Chapman on the open market, securing the third base position is another priority this winter. There is a possibility of bringing the four-time Gold Glove Award Winner back on a long-term deal. There remains a chance for the position earned as part of a competition among several internal candidates. 

Filling out the roster with a power-hitting designated hitter is still needed. Four-fifths of the starting rotation is locked in heading into 2024. With Alek Manaoh’s tailspin last calendar year, no one knows what to expect of the 2022 All-Star, so acquiring the services of a veteran to compete for a spot would be fruitful, as would filling out the bullpen.

Designated hitter

Brandon Belt played a crucial role for the Jays in 2023. He was the team’s primary designated hitter and backup first baseman. The 35-year-old has hinted hard at retirement but has not filed any papers and is an obvious choice for another reunion. 

Jorge Soler is another intriguing option at this spot. The Cuba native possesses tremendous power and is coming off one of his best seasons, blasting 36 home runs with the Miami Marlins. The 31-year-old isn’t known for his defense and only played 32 games in the outfield in 2023, so it would take some flexibility away from the DH slot, but Soler has the kind of slugging ability this team needs. 

If the organization pursues someone to fill the Brandon Belt role but can’t convince Belt to return, they could consider Rhys Hoskins. The longtime Philadelphia Phillies slugger is a free agent after an injury in the 2022 postseason that caused him to miss the entire 2023 season. 

For that reason, Hoskins is a prime candidate for a “pillow contract” or one with options. The 30-year-old has averaged 30 homers a season in each 162-game season since 2018 and crushed 18 in a 50-game “cameo” rookie season in 2017. Whether the veteran, who’s used to playing first base every day, is willing to accept a reduced part is a conversation worth having.    

Another name that could be a wildcard in this market is Joc Pederson. He played DH in 79 of his 121 appearances in 2023 but can play either corner outfield position and features a sweet southpaw swing.

Starting pitcher

Before the start of the 2023 season, there were some questions about the Jays starting rotation. José Berríos and Yusei Kikuchi were the source of most of the uncertainties.

Both pitchers rebounded with rock-solid performances in 2023 to give the unit one of the most stable quartets of starters in the majors. However, Alek Manoah stumbled badly, was demoted twice, and appeared to be at odds with the organization. 

The 25-year-old was married recently and seems poised to attempt to return to his old self. Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins recently remarked that Manaoah at least deserves to be part of the competition for a rotation spot.

That’s fine, but they should bring in some arms to give him a bit of stiff competition. Marcus Stroman spent half a decade in Toronto and enjoyed some of his best successes there. He’s previously commented that he’d be open to a reunion in the right situation. 

If Stroman signed a contract with the Jays, it would push Manaoh to a depth piece or inspire the team to trade the fallen star. Another arm who could be brought in is James Paxton. The 35-year-old is coming off-season with the Red Sox be looked at as a step in the right direction. 

The lefty pitched to a 4.50 ERA over 96 innings of work, the most time he’s spent on a mound since 2019. He’d be an immediate fan favorite as a native Canadian and was first drafted by the franchise in 2009, although he did not sign.

Relief help

Building up the strength of the relief corps has been a constant endeavor of Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro and the rest of the front office for the past few years. Erik Swanson was acquired last offseason, and Génesis Cabrera and Jordan Hicks were in-season trade acquisitions that helped down the stretch run a year ago. 

Cabrera is under team control for the next two seasons, but Hicks is a free agent and has seemingly been linked to every team besides the Jays. With the fruitless pursuit of Shohei Ohtani behind them and the decreased possibility of a Cody Bellinger signing, the brain trust could consider spending big bucks investing in the back end of their bullpen. 

Josh Hader is the highest-profile free agent reliever on the board and will almost certainly command a salary of over $100M. If that sounds like a lot for a relief pitcher, it is, but there’s no one in the sport like Hader.

The 29-year-old lefty has averaged 15 strikeouts per nine innings for his career and has been named an All-Star in the last five seasons. Investing in Hader would come at a steep price, but he would give John Schneider three effective lefties and three legitimate arms that could close out games.