The Athletic names the Blue Jays as a potential landing spot for 10 free agents

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With the Toronto Blue Jays having a number of players enter free agency, they will be looking to fill multiple holes on their roster in the coming months. Coincidentally, The Athletic (subscription required) has recently named the Blue Jays as a suitable landing spot for many prospective players from the free agent market. Here, we take a look at some of the mentioned available players that were deemed a great fit for the ballclub.

The Crown Jewel of Free Agency

P/DH Shohei Ohtani

Among the highest tier of free agents, the Athletic tabbed the Jays as a fit for two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani. The perennial MVP candidate would instantly transform the Jays into a powerhouse with his ability to make significant contributions as both a hitter and pitcher. Last season, Ohtani hit .304 with a league-leading 1.066 OPS, along with 44 home runs and 95 RBI. As a pitcher, he compiled a 10-5 record with a 3.14 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 167 strikeouts in 132 innings pitched. Despite a recent surgery that will keep him from pitching until the 2025 season, there will still be many suitors competing for his services, as he's projected to be able to hit by Opening Day 2024. But if recent rumours are correct, the Jays will definitely make a strong push for him nonetheless.

The Pitching Options

P Aaron Nola

If the Blue Jays miss out on the Ohtani sweepstakes, the club was also named as a fit for former Phillies ace Aaron Nola. Nola helped led the Phillies to their second consecutive postseason berth, while just missing out on a return to the World Series for the second year in a row. In 2023, he pitched to a 12-9 record and a 4.46 ERA, 1.15 WHIP with 202 strikeouts in 193.2 innings of work. It may have been a slightly down year for Nola, but he has shown quite the consistency over his nine-year MLB career that he could be a reliable, front-end-of-the-rotation starter.

P Lucas Giolito

Lucas Giolito was another name that made the list of possible fits for the Blue Jays. He started off this past year strong, but had a disastrous final couple of months of the season. The former All-Star had a 3.79 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with the Chicago White Sox prior to being traded to the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline. From there, his season completely fell apart, as his performance inadvertently took the Angels out of contention. In the end, he was even waived by the Angels and then picked up by the Cleveland Guardians where he continued his struggles until the end of the season. If the Jays are getting the first-half version of Giolito, which was how he has pitched most of his career, he may be worth a shot at pursuing. Otherwise, they should stay away from him if they believe that his second-half inconsistencies are the new norm.

The Offensive Options

OF Cody Bellinger

With the Jays having a desperate need of a power bat to round out their lineup, they were named as a potential fit for star outfielder Cody Bellinger. After suffering through a power outage in his previous three seasons, Bellinger bounced back in a big way in 2023 with the Chicago Cubs. He reverted back to some of his MVP-like form by belting 26 home runs and driving in 95 runs, along with maintaining a solid .307 batting average and stealing 20 bases in the process. He would be an ideal replacement for Kevin Kiermaier in center field if the Jays manage to reel him in, as recent rumors have shown that the Jays already have a strong interest in signing the former NL MVP.

1B/3B Jeimer Candelario

With the departure of Matt Chapman for the time being, infielder Jeimer Candelario was another candidate mentioned by The Athletic that would fit with the Jays. After all, he had a solid 2023 season in which he hit .251 with an .807 OPS, 22 home runs and 70 RBI. With the ability to play at both first and third base, he would be a suitable replacement for Chapman at third, while occasionally spelling Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first on days when he needed rest.

OF Jung-Hoo Lee

Surprisingly, the Jays were also named as a suitable landing spot for Korean star Jung-Hoo Lee. Lee has played his entire professional baseball career in the KBO League in South Korea where he has hit a stellar .340 with an .898 OPS, with 581 runs scored, 244 doubles, 43 triples, 65 home runs, 515 RBI and 69 stolen bases in 884 career games. He is looking to make the move to bring his game to MLB this season as he is expected to be posted by his KBO team Kiwoon Heroes. Lee is not known for his power, but he definitely knows how to hit, get on base and cash in runs consistently, which is exactly what the Jays need in their lineup. In addition, his career .992 fielding percentage showed that he could hold his own when manning the outfield as an everyday player.

The Potential Returnees

In addition to the aforementioned players, The Athletic also believed that of the Blue Jays that entered free agency this offseason, four of them would be great fits coming back to the team.

These included Matt Chapman, Whit Merrifield, Jordan Hicks, and Hyun Jin Ryu. Chapman has recently received a qualifying offer from the Jays, so they are now just waiting upon his decision. It's worth noting that he is projected to reject the QO. Merrifield doesn’t seem likely to be coming back, especially on how the season ended for both himself and the team. Hicks and Ryu would provide great pitching depth for the team if they could be had with value deals, but most likely Hicks will be looking for a bigger, long-term deal entering his prime.

Nevertheless, it appears that the Jays could be a favourable home for many notable free agents. The key part now is which one(s) will eventually make the team roster for 2024, as now we can only patiently wait and see.

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