SCOTTSDALE, AZ. – For months, it’s been clear the Toronto Blue Jays need more from their lineup. At the GM Meetings Tuesday evening, general manager Ross Atkins offered the clearest look yet at how they plan to make sure that happens in 2024.
Partly, it will come down to coaching, with Don Mattingly moving into a newly expanded role as offensive coordinator and bench coach, as long as he doesn’t become the Milwaukee Brewers’ next manager. While hitting coach Guillermo Martinez will be invited back, hitting strategist Dave Hudgens has been reassigned.
Yet those changes are just the beginning for a Blue Jays team whose off-season plan is largely about offence.
“We're in such a strong position, albeit we've got to get better. This is not enough,” Atkins said. “Our focus will be leaning heavily towards position players.”
The Blue Jays anticipate adding between one and four position players this winter, with the likelihood being two or three as opposed to one or four, Atkins said. Considering Brandon Belt, Kevin Kiermaier, Whit Merrifield and Matt Chapman are all free agents, the need for bats is glaringly obvious, not only to the Blue Jays but to the rival teams and agents assembled for MLB’s annual meetings.
Already, some names have begun to emerge as possible Blue Jays targets, most notably Joey Votto, whose time with the Cincinnati Reds is officially over (more on that later). But given the complexion of this year’s free agent class, the Blue Jays will have to be creative.
For teams in need of starting pitching, this free agent class is actually pretty promising.
Atop of the market, Blake Snell, Aaron Nola and Yoshinobu Yamamoto offer front-of-the-rotation ability. The likes of Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez, Marcus Stroman and Tyler Mahle are reliable mid-rotation starters with the upside for even more. And bounce-back candidates like Lucas Giolito, Luis Severino and Lance Lynn could be bargains on short-term, make-good deals.
If only there was as much selection for those seeking bats – like the Blue Jays, for instance. There’s simply not much out there on the position player market, meaning it’s a great time to be Jeimer Candelario and not such a great time to be shopping for offence. This year’s class of free agent position players drops off quickly after headliner Shohei Ohtani and outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger.
"It's a little deeper than two players,” Atkins said. “There are some really compelling players after the two I think you're referring to. We'll obviously be open to both (trade and free agency). We're in a very fortunate position that we have resources, we've always been given support to (spend) from ownership. And then we also have had a system that ... we still have the depth to trade from.”
Also on this year’s free agent list are familiar names like Matt Chapman, who met with teams in person at the GM Meetings Tuesday, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez. All are talented players, and the Blue Jays continue showing interest in Chapman, but it would nonetheless be surprising to see the Blue Jays trade away Hernandez and Gurriel Jr. one winter before building an off-season around them 12 months later.
As for Votto, Atkins made no attempt to hide the Blue Jays’ interest in the Etobicoke, Ont. native.
“Incredible player, remarkable career,” Atkins said. "They're just massive impact in the community if he were to be a Toronto Blue Jay. So definitely something that we would have to consider if that was something he wanted to pursue.”
Now 40, Votto appears likely to land a one-year deal. The Blue Jays have done lots of background work on him, and remain impressed.
“Incredible reputation, really dynamic personality, really bright (person) that I know our team would embrace,” Atkins said. “But I think that's the case for probably 15 teams.”
Regardless, it makes sense for the Blue Jays to get creative. For instance…
• They can pursue players coming back from injuries. After missing the 2023 season with a torn ACL, Rhys Hoskins is available with no ties to draft pick compensation.
• They can pursue players looking to bounce back from down years. Amed Rosario, Gio Urshela and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are free agents who’d fit this description. They’re also considered strong defenders, which is worth remembering as Atkins said “the same players that help you score runs are so significant in helping you prevent runs … you can't lose sight of that and overcompensate.”
• They can explore the trade market. Already, the Blue Jays have been expressing interest in players around the league. Among them: Eugenio Suarez of the Mariners, who hit 22 home runs with 2.2 wins above replacement for Seattle last year and is entering the final year of his contract. Whether there’s traction there is another question, but the example offers a window into the Blue Jays’ thinking. Toronto has also checked on outfielders, with the Reds and Cardinals as teams to watch on that front.
One way or another, the Blue Jays have lots of work still ahead. Their offence wasn’t good enough when the season ended, and with four free agents out the door it’s only taken further hits since.
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