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The town of Toronto bought a Boxing Day present from the Blue Jays, as middle fielder Kevin Kiermaier has agreed to a one-year deal (which is pending a bodily). The Fairness Baseball shopper is reportedly assured $10.5MM, whereas the deal comprises extra incentives.
Kiermaier, 34 in April, was a Thirty first-round choose by the Rays within the 2010 draft and shortly proved to be one of many savvier late-round picks in current reminiscence. After making his huge league debut in a one-game cup of espresso in the course of the 2013 season, Kiermaier stepped into the membership’s on a regular basis middle discipline function in early 2014 and remained in that function for 9 seasons the place he established himself as a generational defender whereas slashing a decent .248/.308/.408 throughout his time with the Rays. He departed the membership to affix the Blue Jays on a one-year deal final offseason that went very properly for either side. The veteran posted a 104 wRC+ whereas enjoying in 129 video games, simply the third time in his profession he eclipsed 120 video games in a season.
As a superlative defender in middle who bats left-handed and slashed a decent .260/.321/.431 in opposition to right-handed pitching final 12 months, Kiermaier nonetheless makes some sense for a Jays membership that sports activities few left-handed bats and had a emptiness within the outfield. That being mentioned, the membership has been often tied to Cody Bellinger so far within the offseason and, with a robust middle discipline defender in Daulton Varsho nonetheless on the roster, had usually been anticipated to pursue a extra offensively oriented addition to their lineup this winter. That makes the membership’s reunion with Kiermaier one thing of a shock.
With that mentioned, Kiermaier is actually a top quality participant in his personal proper; his first rate offense and powerful protection earned him the #31 spot on MLBTR’s annual Top 50 MLB free agents record, the place we projected him for a two-year, $26MM deal. That projection ended up coming in excessive by a 12 months and greater than $15MM. If the Blue Jays evaluated Kiermaier equally, they could have felt that reuniting with the veteran at a relative low cost was priceless sufficient to outweigh considerations in regards to the membership’s total offensive manufacturing within the outfield, which mixed to publish a 99 wRC+ final 12 months good for simply twentieth within the majors. Solely the Marlins obtained much less manufacturing from their outfield unit than Toronto amongst playoff groups in 2023.
It should even be famous that the return of Kiermaier needn’t essentially preclude the membership from including Bellinger or one other influence bat to the outfield combine. Proficient as Varsho is, the 27-year-old is coming off an abysmal season on the plate the place he slashed simply .220/.285/.389 in 158 video games, and even his strongest season with Arizona noticed him publish a wRC+ of simply 107. That kind of manufacturing falls in need of the standard on a regular basis left fielder, and it will actually be defensible for the Blue Jays to maneuver Varsho right into a part-time function backing up veterans Kiermaier and George Springer if it meant the addition of an influence bat to the membership’s lineup. If the membership chooses to go that route, the addition of a bat-first participant corresponding to Jorge Soler to the outfield combine might nonetheless make loads of sense.
When discussing Bellinger particularly, the 28-year-old’s expertise at first base each in 2023 and all through his profession might additionally assist the Blue Jays match him into their positional combine in the event that they select to take action. It’s at the very least affordable to think about a state of affairs the place the membership provides Bellinger and makes use of him each within the outfield and in addition at first base, the place he might spell Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and permit the membership’s franchise first baseman to spend extra time at DH. Roster Resource initiatives the Blue Jays for a payroll of $213MM in 2024 following the addition of Kiermaier, a determine that’s primarily similar to their $214MM payroll final season. With that being mentioned, the membership absolutely has room for additional additions given their reported pursuits of expensive superstars corresponding to Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free company in addition to Juan Soto by way of commerce.
Whereas that remaining area within the finances might actually be used to additional shore up the outfield, it’s doable the membership would favor to show its consideration towards the infield. The departures of Matt Chapman and Whit Merrifield in free company depart the Blue Jays with out established, surefire starters at both second or third base. Whereas teenager Davis Schneider has proven promise and the likes of Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal present depth at each positions, including at the very least one infielder to the combo seems to be a possible high precedence for the membership going ahead this offseason.
Within the meantime, the Blue Jays have shored up an space of weak point on the roster by bringing again a four-time Gold Glover at a premium defensive place. Kiermaier’s high quality work in 2023 performed a significant function in Toronto’s 3.8 fWAR in middle discipline tying with Boston for the eight-most manufacturing in baseball on the place, and he ought to present the membership with comparable manufacturing subsequent season if he can stay wholesome headed into his age-34 marketing campaign.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com first reported the Blue Jays and Kiermiaer have been nearing settlement on a one-year deal within the $10MM vary. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reported that the edges had an settlement on a $10.5MM assure with incentives.
Picture courtesy of USA At this time Sports activities.
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