The Blue Jays made a big splash during the Winter Meetings this past week, swapping out a trade with the pitchers that sent the slugger. Spencer Horwitz (very briefly) to Cleveland in exchange for a second coach Andres Gimenez and the right hand Nick Sandlin. The team reunited with the right fielder I’m Garcia with a two-year agreement between the meetings to strengthen their mutual aid. Now that they’ve added that to the bullpen and infield Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith wrote about the club’s needs after the offseason, noting that the club is interested in adding a slugger in the middle of the lineup. to pair with it Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a starting pitcher who can pitch Yariel Rodriguez we entered the bullpen.
It is not surprising that this team is looking to increase the quality of players in these areas considering the players they have been linked with this winter. After the team failed to pursue Juan SotoToronto has been name-checked as a potential suitor for corner outfield sluggers like him Teoscar Hernandez again Anthony Santander. Nicholson-Smith decides that the outfield seems the “most logical place” for the club to add impact now that the addition of Gimenez has helped strengthen the club’s midfield mix, especially given the fact that he is a central midfielder. Daulton Varsho is expected to begin the 2025 season on the injured list after having surgery on his rotator cuff in September.
With that, Nicholson-Smith also suggested the club could add a limited defensive player to their roster and after parting with a similarly limited player in Horwitz open up more DH reps. To that end, Nicholson-Smith reiterates the club’s interest in Hernandez while floating two other names worth mentioning: free agent DH. Joc Pederson and the Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor. Nicholson-Smith lists Pederson alongside Hernandez once Corbin Burns among the free agents the Jays have talked about this winter, and reports that the club “is believed to have shown interest” in Naylor during their discussions with Cleveland surrounding the Gimenez trade.
This is the first time Toronto has been directly linked to Pederson this winter, although it was just one year ago that the club was reported to have “significant interest” in the slugger before he signed with the Diamondbacks later this winter. The soon-to-be 33-year-old put together a solid season in Arizona in 2024, hitting .275/.393/.515 with a 151 wRC+ in 449 trips to the plate. While Pederson’s big league splits make him an attractive option against southpaws, the club’s deep group of right-handed hitters Joey Loperfido again Davis Schneider it would be natural to enter his ranks against the hard left.
Naylor, on the other hand, is a true everyday player with significant team splits and defensive value but is an overall less powerful bat. The 27-year-old has some experience in the outside corners but has been the Guardians’ first choice this year. 2024 saw Naylor slash a solid .243/.320/.456 (118 wRC+) which was very much in line with previous years, as he has posted a 121 wRC+ since becoming a full-time player in 2022. It’s unclear if the Jays have one. interest in Naylor even after completing the Gimenez deal, but he certainly makes sense as someone to trade for a given Guardian. MLBTR’s $12MM salary contributor Matt Swartz proposed the slugger in his final trip to arbitration before he hits free agency next winter. Cleveland has a well-regarded young man Kyle Manzardo available to step in as the regular first baseman should Naylor be dealt at some point this winter.
As for pitching, Nicholson-Smith suggests that while Burnes’ arrival in free agency “doesn’t seem very likely,” a club pursuing an impact starter won’t be left out. Sean ManaeaThe name is being floated as one possible option. It’s unclear if the club wants Manaea, but a pitcher of that caliber could strengthen the club’s rotation on the sidelines. Kevin Gausman, Jose Berriosagain Chris Bassitt while pushing Rodriguez to the bullpen after posting a lackluster 90 ERA+ in 21 starts last year. As attractive as that may seem to Blue Jays fans, Nicholson-Smith cautions that it’s unclear whether the Jays will have the guts to make more additions to the rotation and roster this winter.
RosterResource puts the club’s luxury tax number at just over $228MM, meaning they still have $12MM left in the budget before going over the initial luxury tax threshold. Even the addition of an impact seems certain to push them past that mark, but the secondary would risk pushing them into the unknown of exceeding the secondary limit, which sits at $261MM in 2025. Given that, Nicholson-Smith suggests the club may have to choose between targeting a passive and an impact starter before making a low-level addition to address another need. Jesse Winker again JD Martinez they’re among the veterans who can be had on the cheap in free agency, while the starting backfield options that won’t break the bank include young players. Michael Lorenzen again Colin Rea.
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