Tag: Toronto Blue Jays

The Year in Strange But True: Judge! Ohtani! And MLB’s 20 most mind-blowing hitting, pitching feats

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Hey! I know you’re about to join your friends and loved ones to sing a Champagne-drenched chorus of “Auld Lang Syne.” But first, did you know that the definition of Auld Lang Syne has something to do with “fondly remembering old times”? No kidding. So here’s an idea. Let’s all fondly remember the Strange But True baseball season of 2022. In which … A guy taking his first swing in the big leagues hit a foul ball to his mother. … And another guy got called up and then debuted before he…

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LO: When the Blue Jays sent Moreno and Gurel to the Diamondbacks for Farshaw, did both teams win?

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That may not be warm enough for a hot stove, but the trade that sent Daulton Varsho from Arizona to Toronto for Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel could be good for both sides. Varshaw had a quiet breakout in 2022, hitting . 235/. 302/. 443 in hitter-friendly Phoenix, but he played outstanding outfield defense while also being behind the plate in 31 games. He’s not a good defensive player but he’s a plus runner and athlete who was well above the league average in both quarterback and right field last…

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The Blue Jays are now on a winning streak, getting Daulton Varsho in place of Gabriel Moreno, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

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Months ago, sales season for the Blue Jays kicked off with a series of questions. Every team always faces them. Some of the big ones in Toronto included: 1. Will this off-season be transformative? 2. Can a team remedy its lineup imbalance by getting left-handed hitters? 3. Will the Blue Jays have to trade from their healthy stock of MLB-caliber catchers to meet the need? And if so, which of the three? About six weeks ago, the Blue Jays answered the first question with a resounding yes with their first…

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Law: The White Sox select an outsider target for the biggest trade in franchise history

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I wrote in my free agent rankings that I thought Andrew Benintendi would get the biggest contract ever for a player who didn’t hit 10 batters or steal 10 bases in the year of his walk. I didn’t think it would be (waving hands around frantically) this big. The White Sox just gave Benintendi five years and $75 million worth of podium season this season, and while I think there’s still more humiliation here for a new team to open, this contract assumes Chicago will find him. The 2022 Nintendo…

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Top 25 remaining MLB free agents: Which teams will land Correa, Rodón, Swanson?

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MLB teams have already spent more than $2.5 billion on free agents, but some clubs are just getting started. Nineteen of the top 25 free agents from my original ranking in early November have signed, but the new top 25 of remaining free agents will likely receive another billion dollars in this hot market. Two of the elite free-agent shortstops have signed, but Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson are still on the board. Two of the top-tier starting pitchers have inked new deals, but Carlos Rodón is still available. Where will…

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With Chris Bassett, the Blue Jays relied on reliability to boost the turnover

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The Blue Jays have been among the most active teams in free agency over the past three seasons, transforming themselves from a bottom player into a contender and shaking up their reputation as a team that never expends – or attracts – free agents. This trend continued this year. After staying quiet in the early weeks of this year’s free-agent frenzy, the Blue Jays are finally getting in on the action, signing right fielder Chris Bassett to a three-year, $63 million deal, a big league source confirmed. Toronto’s first major…

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Toronto Blue Jays sign RHP Chris Bassett to a 3-year, $63 million deal: Source

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Right Agent Chris Bassett signs a three-year, $63 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, a major league source said. the athlete. Here’s what you need to know: Bassett, 33, struck out a career-high 181 2/3 innings pitched in 2022 with the Mets (his previous high was 157 1/3 in 2021 with Oakland). The shooter ranks seventh in the Athletic Aaron Jaliman’s list of novice pitchers. Bassett was a rock of the rotation all season—until two poor starts in his two biggest starts, the shortstop start against the Braves in…

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MLB Hot Stove matchmaking: A free-agent fit for all 30 teams ahead of the Winter Meetings

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Happy week before the Winter Meetings! It’s been a slow free-agent signing season so far, with only six players from my top 25 list off the board. José Abreu and Tyler Anderson landed three-year deals with the Astros and Angels, respectively, while Edwin Díaz, Anthony Rizzo, Clayton Kershaw and Martín Pérez (accepted the qualifying offer) re-signed with their teams. Now, as people around baseball pack their bags and get ready to fly to San Diego for the meetings, we’re all eagerly waiting for the next free-agent shoe to drop, which…

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The Blue Jays pave the way for Luvson’s turnaround by trading Teoscar Hernandez

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If there was any doubt that this offseason could be transformative for the Blue Jays, it has confirmed the team’s first major move. In trading beloved right-hander Teoscar Hernandez to the Seattle Mariners, recent Wild Card Series foes, the Blue Jays replaced a central member of the core they’ve been building over the past four years, suggesting the front office is intent on trying a different winning formula. Furthermore, this trade appears to set the stage for future deals that address the shortcomings of the Blue Jays in their quest…

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MLB Free Agency and Commercial Mailbag: Bowden’s Shortstop Market, Contingency Plans, and More

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On Tuesday, three free agents ranked on my top 25 list — Anthony Rizzo, Martin Perez and Tyler Anderson — as they agreed deals with the Yankees, Rangers and Angels, respectively. So who will sign next? What do I hear about the trading market? And what can some teams do, as they look to meet their biggest needs, if they can’t make a top priority? Thanks to all subscribers who submitted questions. In this mailbag, I’ve answered 19 of them, starting with a bunch of inquiries about the free proxy…

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