After Gimenez deal, where do Blue Jays go next?

DALLAS – One day after trading for Andrés Giménez, many members of the Blue Jays organization are asking themselves ‘what’s next.’

The addition of Giménez represents a significant step for the Blue Jays, as rival executives describe him as one of the game’s best defensive infielders, someone who might be worth $20 million per season even if he never bounces back at the plate. Relievers Yimi Garcia and Nick Sandlin nudge things forward, too.

It’s possible the Giménez trade will be the biggest move the Blue Jays make this winter, but it certainly won’t be the last. 

“We’ve addressed some things this week, but we’re not finished by any stretch,” assistant GM Mike Murov said as the Winter Meetings drew to a close Wednesday. “Our young player group has, I think, taken a step forward relative to where it was this time in previous seasons. With that said, that allows us flexibility to add impact and hopefully we can raise the ceiling rather than just the floor.”

At this point, many scenarios remain in play for the Blue Jays, who would benefit from adding a power bat, a starting pitcher and/or further relief help.

"Sounds great,” Murov said. “Sign me up."

Put simply, the Blue Jays are well aware they need more help. They continue talking to prominent free agents, with some appearing more realistic than others (Teoscar Hernandez and Joc Pederson certainly have their supporters within the organization, while Corbin Burnes doesn’t seem especially likely). But at this point in the off-season, there are trade-offs and that’s where things get really interesting for the Blue Jays.

Everyone in the organization agrees this lineup would look a lot better with a legitimate slugger behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who’s described as motivated and in good spirits by those close to him.

"Someone that can do damage,” as manager John Schneider put it earlier this week. “Having a threat. You want that around Vlad. We make a lot of contact. We want a guy making a lot of good-quality contact, too. That would stand out to me."

Outfield now looks like the most logical place to upgrade the Blue Jays’ lineup, especially considering that Daulton Varsho will likely spend the beginning of the season on the injured list as he recovers from shoulder surgery. The DH spot is also relatively open for the Blue Jays, and Pederson’s likely more intriguing now that the Blue Jays have traded Spencer Horwitz, a similar player type. Along those lines, they’re believed to have shown some interest in Josh Naylor in the talks leading up to Tuesday’s trade.

Either way, the addition of Giménez makes the Blue Jays more left-handed, so a right-handed bat might now create more balance but Blue Jays people say impact matters more than handedness.

Of course, there’s no escaping the question of resources. If they were to sign Hernandez or Pederson, that would likely eat up much of the payroll room they have remaining (their projected payroll sits at $228 million, according to Roster Resource, giving them $13 million before they hit the first competitive balance tax threshold). In that scenario, they might be looking at bounce-back starting pitchers.

Not impressed? The Blue Jays could also flip it and pursue an impact starter like Sean Manaea to push Yariel Rodriguez to the bullpen – a role change the Cuban right-hander would accept, according to people in the know. Now the pitching staff's better, but it's possible the Blue Jays are priced out of the market for the best power bats. 

These trade-offs aren’t fun, especially after the excitement of a Juan Soto pursuit that rival teams perceived as serious, but it’s the reality for anyone this side of the Mets and Dodgers. Ideally, the Blue Jays would find a way to add both a power bat and a starting pitcher, but they may have to remain patient to do so, trusting that better deals will emerge in the new year.

There’s also the remote but tantalizing idea that Roki Sasaki would entertain the idea of playing in Toronto – a possibility the front office can be expected to push for in the coming weeks. With Soto off the board, that’s one home run outcome for the Blue Jays with the other being a Guerrero Jr. extension. On that front, there’s no concrete news, only word that Guerrero Jr. remains legitimately open to the possibility of bypassing the open market for the right deal.

“I’ve known Vlad for a long time, and I want him to be here for a long time,” Schneider said. “I think things will work out for him obviously, but we want it to be here.”

Add it all together and the Blue Jays are still juggling a lot, even after their busiest day since the trade deadline. The roster still needs work and they will likely begin the season as a flawed team but there’s hope internally that a pathway exists to meaningful upgrades.

While optimism alone doesn’t change anything, it’s worth remembering that baseball tends to be unpredictable. Anyone who thinks they have this sport figured out is likely in for a reality check sooner rather than later. 

“Baseball is awful,” said one executive at the Hilton Anatole. And while they appeared to be joking, it was impossible to tell for sure.