%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201443.9%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201443.9%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23134A8E%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23E8291C%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M75%2C7.9v143.5c0%2C26.8-21.8%2C48.6-48.6%2C48.6H7.9c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9v-34.2c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h9.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C7.9-3.5%2C7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2C71.5%2C0.1%2C75%2C3.6%2C75%2C7.9z%20M53.2%2C14.8c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8%0A%09%09c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v136.7c0%2C11.5-9.3%2C20.8-20.8%2C20.8H14.4c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8s1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8h12.4%0A%09%09c14.6%2C0%2C26.4-11.8%2C26.4-26.4V14.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M221.8%2C197.7c-1.2%2C1.5-3%2C2.3-4.9%2C2.3h-36.9c-3.7%2C0-7-2.6-7.7-6.3l-3.3-16.1c-0.4-1.8-2-3.2-3.9-3.2h-26.4%0A%09%09c-1.9%2C0-3.5%2C1.3-3.9%2C3.2l-3.1%2C15.9c-0.7%2C3.7-4%2C6.4-7.7%2C6.4H87.4c-1.9%2C0-3.7-0.8-4.9-2.3c-1.2-1.5-1.7-3.4-1.3-5.2L117.3%2C6.4%0A%09%09c0.7-3.7%2C4-6.4%2C7.7-6.4h52.4c3.7%2C0%2C7%2C2.6%2C7.7%2C6.3l38%2C186.1C223.5%2C194.3%2C223%2C196.2%2C221.8%2C197.7z%20M197.4%2C191.5%0A%09%09c0.5-0.6%2C0.7-1.5%2C0.6-2.3L163.9%2C22.3H135l-32.3%2C166.9c-0.3%2C1.5%2C0.7%2C2.9%2C2.2%2C3.2c1.5%2C0.3%2C2.9-0.7%2C3.2-2.1l7.4-37.9h69.3l7.8%2C37.9%0A%09%09c0.3%2C1.3%2C1.4%2C2.2%2C2.7%2C2.2C196.1%2C192.5%2C196.8%2C192.1%2C197.4%2C191.5z%20M159.3%2C27.9l24.3%2C118.9h-67.1l23.1-118.9H159.3z%20M156.3%2C124.5%0A%09%09c0.5%2C0%2C0.9-0.2%2C1.2-0.6c0.3-0.4%2C0.4-0.8%2C0.3-1.3l-4.6-36.7c-0.2-0.7-0.8-1.3-1.6-1.3c-0.8%2C0-1.4%2C0.5-1.5%2C1.3l-4.4%2C36.7%0A%09%09c-0.1%2C0.5%2C0%2C0.9%2C0.3%2C1.3c0.3%2C0.4%2C0.7%2C0.6%2C1.2%2C0.6L156.3%2C124.5L156.3%2C124.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M335.5%2C2.7c1.2%2C1.7%2C1.5%2C3.9%2C0.7%2C5.8l-43.6%2C118c-0.6%2C1.7-1%2C3.6-1%2C5.5v60c0%2C4.4-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-34.2%0A%09%09c-4.3%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9v-60c0-1.9-0.3-3.7-1-5.5l-43.6-118c-0.7-1.9-0.4-4.1%2C0.7-5.8C199%2C1%2C201%2C0%2C203%2C0h38.8%0A%09%09c3.3%2C0%2C6.2%2C2.1%2C7.4%2C5.1l16%2C57.3c0.2%2C0.6%2C0.8%2C1%2C1.5%2C1c0.7%2C0%2C1.3-0.4%2C1.5-1l16-57.3c1.1-3.1%2C4.1-5.1%2C7.4-5.1h38.8%0A%09%09C332.4%2C0%2C334.4%2C1%2C335.5%2C2.7z%20M310%2C15.7c0.4-0.9%2C0.2-2-0.4-2.8c-0.6-0.8-1.7-1.2-2.6-1c-1%2C0.2-1.8%2C0.9-2.1%2C1.9l-38%2C102.9L228.7%2C13.8%0A%09%09c-0.3-1-1.1-1.7-2.1-1.9c-1-0.2-2%2C0.2-2.7%2C1c-0.6%2C0.8-0.8%2C1.9-0.4%2C2.8l40.5%2C109.5v61.2c0%2C1.5%2C1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8s2.8-1.2%2C2.8-2.8%0A%09%09v-61.2L310%2C15.7L310%2C15.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M460.2%2C134.4V151c0%2C26.8-21.8%2C48.6-48.6%2C48.6h-65c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9v-34.2c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h55.8%0A%09%09c4.3%2C0%2C7.9-3.5%2C7.9-7.9v-2.1c0-2.8-1.5-5.4-3.9-6.8l-45.7-26.7c-14.9-8.7-24-24.7-24.1-42V48.7c0-26.8%2C21.8-48.6%2C48.6-48.6h53.2%0A%09%09c4.3%2C0%2C7.9%2C3.5%2C7.9%2C7.9v34.2c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-44c-4.4%2C0-7.9%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9v1c0%2C2.8%2C1.5%2C5.4%2C3.9%2C6.8l45.6%2C26.7%0A%09%09C451%2C101.2%2C460.2%2C117.1%2C460.2%2C134.4z%20M438.5%2C134.4c0-9.4-5-18-13.1-22.8l-50.2-29.4c-6.4-3.7-10.3-10.6-10.3-18V48.7%0A%09%09c0-11.5%2C9.3-20.8%2C20.8-20.8h43.6c1.5%2C0%2C2.8-1.2%2C2.8-2.8c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8h-43.6c-14.6%2C0-26.4%2C11.8-26.4%2C26.4v15.6%0A%09%09c0%2C9.4%2C5%2C18%2C13.1%2C22.8l50.2%2C29.4c6.4%2C3.7%2C10.3%2C10.6%2C10.3%2C18v16.7c0%2C11.5-9.3%2C20.8-20.8%2C20.8h-60c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8%0A%09%09s1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8h60c14.6%2C0%2C26.4-11.8%2C26.4-26.4V134.4z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M613.7%2C7.9v143.5c0%2C26.8-21.8%2C48.6-48.6%2C48.6h-18.5c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9v-34.2c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h9.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C7.9-3.5%2C7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2C610.2%2C0.1%2C613.7%2C3.6%2C613.7%2C7.9z%20M592%2C14.8c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8%0A%09%09c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v136.7c0%2C11.5-9.3%2C20.8-20.8%2C20.8h-12.4c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8s1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8h12.4%0A%09%09c14.6%2C0%2C26.4-11.8%2C26.4-26.4V14.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M759%2C100c0%2C12.9-0.3%2C26-1%2C38.9c-1.7%2C34.2-30%2C61.1-64.3%2C61.1h-2.2c-34.2%2C0-62.4-26.8-64.3-60.9%0A%09%09c-0.7-12.9-1.1-26.1-1.1-39c0-13%2C0.4-26.1%2C1.1-39.1c1.9-34.1%2C30.1-60.8%2C64.3-60.9h2.2c34.3-0.1%2C62.6%2C26.8%2C64.3%2C61.1%0A%09%09C758.7%2C74%2C759%2C87.1%2C759%2C100z%20M737.7%2C137.8c0.6-12.5%2C0.9-25.2%2C0.9-37.8s-0.3-25.2-0.9-37.8c-1.1-22.4-19.7-40-42.1-40h-2.2%0A%09%09c-22.4%2C0-40.9%2C17.5-42.1%2C39.9c-0.7%2C12.5-1.1%2C25.3-1.1%2C37.8c0%2C12.6%2C0.4%2C25.3%2C1.1%2C37.8c1.2%2C22.4%2C19.7%2C39.9%2C42.1%2C39.9h2.2%0A%09%09C718.1%2C177.8%2C736.6%2C160.2%2C737.7%2C137.8L737.7%2C137.8z%20M732.2%2C62.5c0.6%2C12.4%2C0.9%2C25%2C0.9%2C37.5c0%2C12.4-0.3%2C25.1-0.9%2C37.5%0A%09%09c-1%2C19.5-17.1%2C34.7-36.6%2C34.7h-2.2c-19.4%2C0-35.5-15.2-36.5-34.7c-0.7-12.4-1.1-25-1.1-37.5s0.4-25.1%2C1.1-37.5%0A%09%09c1.1-19.4%2C17.1-34.6%2C36.5-34.7h2.2C715.1%2C27.8%2C731.2%2C43.1%2C732.2%2C62.5z%20M709%2C100c0-12.1-0.3-24.3-0.9-36.4%0A%09%09C707.7%2C56%2C701.4%2C50%2C693.8%2C50h-2.2c-7.7%2C0-14%2C6-14.4%2C13.7c-0.7%2C12-1%2C24.2-1%2C36.3c0%2C12%2C0.3%2C24.2%2C1%2C36.3c0.4%2C7.6%2C6.7%2C13.6%2C14.4%2C13.7%0A%09%09h2.2c7.6%2C0%2C14-5.9%2C14.4-13.6C708.7%2C124.3%2C709%2C112.1%2C709%2C100z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M894.9%2C2.3c1.5%2C1.5%2C2.3%2C3.5%2C2.3%2C5.6v127.8c0%2C34.1-26.5%2C63.1-60.5%2C64.3c-17%2C0.6-33.6-5.7-45.9-17.6%0A%09%09c-12.3-11.8-19.2-28.1-19.3-45.2V7.9c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2c4.3%2C0%2C7.9%2C3.5%2C7.9%2C7.9v128.7c-0.1%2C7.3%2C5.8%2C13.3%2C13.1%2C13.4%0A%09%09c7-0.1%2C12.5-5.8%2C12.6-12.8V7.9c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2C891.4%2C0%2C893.4%2C0.9%2C894.9%2C2.3z%20M874.9%2C14.7c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8%0A%09%09c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v122.5c0%2C9.4-3.8%2C18.4-10.5%2C25c-6.7%2C6.6-15.8%2C10.2-25.2%2C10c-19.4-0.7-34.7-16.8-34.4-36.1V14.7%0A%09%09c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v122.5c0%2C11.1%2C4.6%2C21.7%2C12.6%2C29.4c8%2C7.7%2C18.9%2C11.7%2C29.9%2C11.2%0A%09%09c21.9-1.4%2C38.9-19.7%2C38.7-41.7L874.9%2C14.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1037.3%2C189.3c0.9%2C2.4%2C0.6%2C5.1-0.9%2C7.3c-1.5%2C2.1-3.9%2C3.4-6.5%2C3.4h-36.6c-3.3%2C0-6.2-2-7.4-5.1L970%2C152.5%0A%09%09c-0.6-1.5-2-2.5-3.7-2.5h-2.8c-1%2C0-2.1%2C0.4-2.8%2C1.2c-0.7%2C0.7-1.2%2C1.7-1.2%2C2.8v38.2c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-34.2%0A%09%09c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h71.4C1014-0.1%2C1035%2C19%2C1037.3%2C44c1%2C10.1%2C1.5%2C20.4%2C1.5%2C30.6%0A%09%09c0%2C10.5-0.5%2C21.1-1.5%2C31.5c-1.1%2C12.4-7%2C23.9-16.5%2C32.1c-1.3%2C1.1-1.7%2C2.8-1.2%2C4.4L1037.3%2C189.3z%20M1016.7%2C74.6c0-9.5-0.5-19-1.4-28.5%0A%09%09c-1.3-13.5-12.7-23.9-26.3-23.8H932v162.7c0%2C1.5%2C1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8c1.5%2C0%2C2.8-1.2%2C2.8-2.8v-57.3l47.9%2C0.1l21.9%2C58.3%0A%09%09c0.4%2C1.1%2C1.5%2C1.8%2C2.6%2C1.8c0.9%2C0%2C1.8-0.4%2C2.3-1.2c0.5-0.8%2C0.6-1.7%2C0.3-2.6l-21.2-56.4c12.7-1%2C22.8-11%2C24-23.7%0A%09%09C1016.3%2C94.2%2C1016.7%2C84.4%2C1016.7%2C74.6z%20M1009.8%2C46.6c0.9%2C9.3%2C1.3%2C18.7%2C1.3%2C28c0%2C9.6-0.4%2C19.3-1.3%2C28.8c-1%2C10.6-9.9%2C18.7-20.5%2C18.8%0A%09%09l-0.1-0.1l-0.4%2C0.2l-51.3-0.1V27.9h51.5C999.8%2C27.8%2C1008.8%2C36%2C1009.8%2C46.6z%20M988.2%2C92.5c0.4-6%2C0.6-12%2C0.5-17.9%0A%09%09c0-5.7-0.2-11.4-0.6-17.1c-0.3-4.2-3.7-7.4-7.9-7.4h-16.8c-2.2%2C0-3.9%2C1.8-3.9%2C3.9v42c0%2C2.2%2C1.8%2C3.9%2C3.9%2C3.9l16.8%2C0%0A%09%09C984.5%2C100%2C987.9%2C96.7%2C988.2%2C92.5L988.2%2C92.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1176.9%2C7.9v184.2c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-31.5c-3.1%2C0-5.9-1.8-7.1-4.6l-26.1-56.4c-0.3-0.7-1-1-1.8-0.9%0A%09%09c-0.7%2C0.2-1.2%2C0.8-1.2%2C1.5v52.4c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-34.2c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h30.8%0A%09%09c3.1%2C0%2C5.9%2C1.8%2C7.1%2C4.6l26.8%2C57.9c0.3%2C0.7%2C1.1%2C1%2C1.8%2C0.9c0.7-0.2%2C1.2-0.8%2C1.2-1.5v-54c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2%0A%09%09C1173.3%2C0%2C1176.9%2C3.6%2C1176.9%2C7.9z%20M1153.4%2C14.7c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v155.2l-68.4-147.6h-7.3v165.5%0A%09%09c0%2C1.5%2C1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8c1.5%2C0%2C2.8-1.2%2C2.8-2.8V31.7l67.7%2C146.1h8V14.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1330%2C197.7c-1.2%2C1.5-3%2C2.3-4.9%2C2.3h-36.9c-3.7%2C0-7-2.6-7.7-6.3l-3.3-16.1c-0.4-1.8-2-3.2-3.9-3.2h-26.4%0A%09%09c-1.9%2C0-3.5%2C1.3-3.9%2C3.2l-3.1%2C15.9c-0.7%2C3.7-4%2C6.4-7.7%2C6.4h-36.8c-1.9%2C0-3.7-0.8-4.9-2.3c-1.2-1.5-1.7-3.4-1.3-5.2l36.1-186.1%0A%09%09c0.7-3.7%2C4-6.4%2C7.7-6.4h52.4c3.7%2C0%2C7%2C2.6%2C7.7%2C6.3l38%2C186.1C1331.7%2C194.3%2C1331.2%2C196.2%2C1330%2C197.7z%20M1305.6%2C191.5%0A%09%09c0.5-0.6%2C0.7-1.5%2C0.6-2.3l-34.1-166.8h-28.9l-32.3%2C166.9c-0.3%2C1.5%2C0.7%2C2.9%2C2.2%2C3.2c1.5%2C0.3%2C2.9-0.7%2C3.2-2.1l7.4-37.9h69.3l7.8%2C37.9%0A%09%09c0.3%2C1.3%2C1.4%2C2.2%2C2.7%2C2.2C1304.3%2C192.5%2C1305%2C192.1%2C1305.6%2C191.5z%20M1267.5%2C27.9l24.3%2C118.9h-67.1l23.1-118.9H1267.5z%20M1264.5%2C124.5%0A%09%09c0.5%2C0%2C0.9-0.2%2C1.2-0.6c0.3-0.4%2C0.4-0.8%2C0.3-1.3l-4.6-36.7c-0.2-0.7-0.8-1.3-1.6-1.3c-0.8%2C0-1.4%2C0.5-1.5%2C1.3l-4.4%2C36.7%0A%09%09c-0.1%2C0.5%2C0%2C0.9%2C0.3%2C1.3c0.3%2C0.4%2C0.8%2C0.6%2C1.2%2C0.6L1264.5%2C124.5L1264.5%2C124.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1443.9%2C157.9v34.2c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-84.2c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2%0A%09%09c4.3%2C0%2C7.9%2C3.5%2C7.9%2C7.9v138.2c0%2C2.2%2C1.8%2C3.9%2C3.9%2C3.9h38.2C1440.3%2C150%2C1443.9%2C153.5%2C1443.9%2C157.9z%20M1432.8%2C175%0A%09%09c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8h-57.5v-158c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v163.6h63.1C1431.6%2C177.8%2C1432.8%2C176.6%2C1432.8%2C175%0A%09%09z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22543.5%2C98.3%20550.4%2C79.4%20522.9%2C93.2%20529.8%2C65.7%20516.1%2C72.6%20509.2%2C58.8%20502.3%2C72.6%20488.6%2C65.7%20%0A%09%09495.5%2C93.2%20468%2C79.4%20474.9%2C98.3%20468%2C106.9%20490.6%2C118.2%20485.1%2C134.4%20505.8%2C128.5%20505.8%2C132.8%20505.8%2C141.3%20512.6%2C141.3%20512.6%2C132.8%20%0A%09%09512.6%2C128.5%20533.2%2C134.4%20527.8%2C118.2%20550.4%2C106.9%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
For the 2023 season, the Toronto Blue Jays made various moves over the course of the year that has helped shape their successful season. With the Jays currently on the cusp of clinching a Wild Card playoff spot, we will now take a look back in retrospect at six stellar moves that have turned out better than initially planned in contributing to their winning ways. Without these solid moves, the Jays probably wouldn’t be where they are today and definitely wouldn’t be in it to win it.
The signing of Kevin Kiermaier
When the Jays initially signed Kevin Kiermaier during the 2022-23 offseason, their goal was plain and simple. They needed someone that could take hold of the outfield defence and ensure that they are no longer giving up free runs to their opponents due to miscues by outfielders. Anything else beyond that would be an added bonus for the ballclub.
They certainly chose the right person by bringing Kiermaier aboard as he has been everything the Jays expected him to be. With his dazzling, elite outfield defence, he has compiled 17 DRS along with five outfield assists and only three errors committed all season. However, Kiermaier has been even more than that, as he has provided an unexpected offensive boost to the Jays’ lineup from the bottom of the order throughout the season.
For the 2023 season, Kiermaier has hit a solid .265 with a .742 OPS, 57 runs scored, 21 doubles, six triples, eight home runs, 36 RBI, and 14 stolen bases, matching those similar numbers from earlier on in his career when he shone for the Tampa Bay Rays. Added to the fact that he has become a fan favourite with the Jays’ faithful, his free agency signing during the offseason has definitely been a win-win for the Blue Jays this year.