Blue Jays and MLB Free Agent Season: Top 5 Signings Under Ross Atkins

Article By Mark Keast

Last Updated: 2024 Jan 18

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Blue Jays and MLB Free Agent Season: Top 5 Signings Under Ross Atkins

Oddsmakers certainly aren’t excited about the Toronto Blue Jays’ odds to win the American League East – the New York Yankees are at 2.40, Baltimore Orioles at 3.90, then the Jays are at 4.50, according to BetMGM.

We’re still in the midst of free agent season, with the start of spring training more than a month away. The Yankees have been active – adding to a thin pitching after Gerrit Cole by signing Marcus Stroman to a two-year contract Friday. They have also added OF superstar Juan Soto this off-season. So the Yankees are loading up.

The Orioles? FanNation is reporting they’re interested in lefty James Paxton after striking out on signing Stroman. They have already signed closer Craig Kimbrel to a one-year deal to backstop the team as Felix Bautista recovers from Tommy John surgery. Baltimore has one of the best young lineups in the league.

Reunion with Chapman in the Cards?

The Jays? They’ve brought back CF Kevin Kiermaier – a good move which further solidified their defence. Kiermaier was a Gold Glove winner with the Jays in 2023. They’ve signed infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa. They struck out on signing Shohei Ohtani. And yesterday they signed Cuban pitcher Yariel Rodriguez to a four-year deal.

The big rumor this weekend has them in on OF Jorge Soler, who would add the big bat to their lineup that they are seeking. The 31-year-old made the allstar team in 2023 after hitting .250, with 36 homers and 75 RBIs in 138 games for the Miami Marlins.

Surely with the money the Jays have available to spend they aren’t done shopping. Is a reunion with 3B Matt Chapman back in the cards? Kiner-Falefa, while he’s played some third, isn’t a full-time option there. If they don’t trade him first, Santiago Espinal, as well as utility player Cavan Biggio, are all options for a third platoon scenario.

Other Big Bat Options

If the Jays don’t sign a big bat to play DH, maybe off-set Vladimir Guerrero Jr. a bit at first base, play some outfield, then the off-season will be judged a failure. The story last season was how bad the Jays were with runners left in scoring position per game – 23rd in MLB (3.62). OF George Springer, now 34, is showing signs of regression (.258 batting average, 21 HRs, 72 RBIs in 2023). They caught break with the health of their pitching staff in 2023 – Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, and Yusei Kikuchi all skated around 200 innings pitched. They’ll be lucky if that happens twice in a row.

Currently available on the free agent market, who would fill the DH void: Soler, JD Martinez, Rhys Hoskins, Justin Turner, Joey Votto.

American League East futures according to theScore Bet: Yankees 2.50, O’s 4.00, Jays 4.50, Boston Red Sox 8.00, Tampa Bay Rays 8.00. And at NorthStar Bets: Yankees 2.40, Orioles 3.80, Jays 4.50, Rays 7.50, and Red Sox 12.00.

Top 5 Free Agent Signings in the GM Ross Atkins, Team President Mark Shapiro Era

Kevin Gausman, five years, $110 million, 2021

Tough to argue the value they’ve been getting from the lanky starting pitcher – who’s been in the Cy Young conversation both seasons with the Jays so far.

Chris Bassitt, three years, $63 million, 2022

Steady Eddie last year, after a rough first game against the San Francisco Giants, where he went just 3.1 innings pitched, giving up ten hits, nine earned runs. In the end – 16-8. 3.60 ERA, 186 SOs.

George Springer, six years, $150 million, 2021

Jays’ fans still look at Springer’s 2019 with the Houston Astros – 39 HRs, 96 RBIs, .292 average. Those days are gone, but the Jays will need better numbers than what he produced in 2023.

Marcus Semien, one year, $18 million, 2021

Semien played second base with the Jays, and had a great season – 45 HRs, 102 RBIs, stellar defence. The Jays made a push to bring him back, but Semien of course ended up in Texas, where he won a World Series in 2023.

Hyun Jin Ryu, four years, $80 million, 2019

Ryu was the first, big A-list signing under the Atkins-Shapiro regime. His big season with the Jays was 2021 – 14-10, 4.37, 169 IP, 143 SOs. Tommy John surgery early in 2022 shut Ryu down for a year, but Ryu showed some good signs after his return last summer. Ryu is still available on the market.