Toronto Blue Jays

As the Toronto Blue Jays continue to scour the free-agent market for power hitters, one potential option for them could be a reunion with Edwin Encarnacion.  

Per SportsNet.ca's Ben Nicholson-Smith, the Blue Jays and Encarnacion have "mutual interest" in getting back together. 

Encarnacion has drawn interest from a number of teams thus far, but he has yet to work out an agreement with anyone. 

Per MLB Network's Jon Heyman, the Milwaukee Brewers pursued the three-time All-Star before they signed Avisail Garcia. 

Heyman noted Encarnacion still has five teams interested and he prefers the American League because it will allow him to be in the lineup as a designated hitter without having to play in the field. 

Last season saw Encarnacion move around multiple times. He was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Seattle Mariners during the offseason. Seattle shipped him to the New York Yankees, whose roster was decimated by injuries, in June. 

In 109 games between the Mariners and Yankees, Encarnacion hit .244/.344/.531 with 34 homers and 86 RBI. He's hit at least 30 home runs in each of the past eight seasons. 

The Blue Jays lost first baseman Justin Smoak as a free agent when he agreed to a one-year deal with the Brewers, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. 

In addition to needing a replacement at first base next season, Toronto's designated hitters hit a collective .228/.302/.417 with 26 homers in 2019. 

Japanese pitcher Shun Yamaguchi agreed to terms on a two-year, $6 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

The 32-year-old appeared in 28 games for the Yomiuri Giants in 2019. He finished 16-4 with a 2.78 ERA and averaged 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings.

The right-hander began his career in 2006 as a starter before moving to the bullpen full-time in 2008. He assumed a starting role again in 2014. Over 14 seasons in Japan, he's 65-58 with 112 saves and a 3.33 ERA.

Yamaguchi announced in November in intended to make the jump to MLB.

"I will take a shot at my dream of playing in the majors," he said, per the Japan Times. "I'd like to express my appreciation to Yomiuri Giants officials, manager Mr. [Tatsunori] Hara, my coaches, teammates and fans for the past three years. I will work even harder as I pursue a new challenge."

MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi noted Yamaguchi was one of several Japanese players who'd be available to sign this offseason:

Because of his age, Yamaguchi wasn't going to set off a frenzied bidding war similar to that of Masahiro Tanaka and Shohei Ohtani. Tanaka was 25 when he was posted in December 2013; Ohtani was 23 when he left Japan in November 2017.

But interested suitors had a large body of work from which they could project Yamaguchi's value.

According to Japanese baseball writer Jim Allen, Yamaguchi threw his fastball 43.7 percent of the time last year and averaged a little over 90.1 mph. Allen also provided some takeaways from his 2019 performance:

"On a pitch-per-pitch basis, his splitter, again according to Delta Graphs, was the most effective in NPB among pitchers with 80-plus innings. Although his fastball is not an out pitch for him, Yamaguchi's success with his splitter this season and to a lesser extent his slider is probably related to an uptick in his four-seam fastball velocity."

Allen projected Yamaguchi could operate as a back-of-the-rotation starter or a reliever in MLB. 

Not every Japanese pitcher can immediately make the transition to the majors. 

The Seattle Mariners gave Yusei Kikuchi $43 million guaranteed over three years with club options through 2025. Kikuchi had a 5.46 ERA in 32 starts with Seattle in 2019.

Yamaguchi's inexperience in the States obviously brings a level of risk, but the Blue Jays aren't bringing him in to be the ace of the staff. As long as he can perform like a mid-rotation starter, he'll justify their investment.

Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle in Tuesday night's 8-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, which matched a feat accomplished by his dad, Houston Astros legend Craig Biggio, and made them the second father-son duo in MLB history to each record a cycle.

The Biggios joined Gary Ward (1980) and Daryle Ward (2004) in the exclusive club, per ESPN.

"I did know my dad had one," Cavan said. "I have a ticket to the game he got it in in my room my whole life. I didn't think I was going to get up there for the opportunity."

The younger Biggio has overcome a sluggish start to his MLB career to put together a strong rookie campaign for the Jays, who also feature Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the son of Craig's Hall of Fame cohort Vladimir Guerrero, and Bo Bichette, the son of four-time All-Star Dante Bichette.

Cavan's posted a .230/.361/.425 slash line with 14 home runs and 13 stolen bases. He also has a 1.136 OPS in 39 September at-bats.

The 24-year-old Houston native completed his cycle with a triple in the ninth inning.

"That was a crazy scene," Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said, per ESPN. "The whole dugout was cheering for him. A triple is hard to get in this ballpark. He was really going all-out rounding second. He's aggressive at the plate, and he's really doing better."

Toronto and Baltimore will face off in the second tilt of their three-game series Wednesday night at Camden Yards.     

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Tim Mayza will have Tommy John Surgery after leaving Friday's game against the New York Yankees in the top of the 10th inning when he grabbed his elbow. 

Per ESPN.com, Mayza was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

The injury occurred when Mayza threw an 0-2 pitch to Didi Gregorius that completely missed the left-handed batter's box. The southpaw took a few steps off the mound before dropping to his knees and grabbing his arm. 

Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo and several teammates met at the mound to console Mayza. 

"I love Tim Mayza," Montoyo told MLB.com's Keegan Matheson following Toronto's 6-5 win. "He pitches every day. He's done a great job and he's part of our future. He felt it and it was emotional. Everybody was, because everybody loves Timmy Mayza."

A 12th-round pick by the Blue Jays in 2013, Mayza is in his third MLB season. The 27-year-old had more appearances in 2019 (68) than in the previous two seasons combined (56). He ranks fourth among American League relievers in appearances. 

Mayza will finish this season with a 4.91 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 51.1 innings. 

Game recognize game. 

A fan at Rogers Centre pulled off one of the most impressive grabs of the 2019 MLB season Sunday when he caught a foul ball barehanded while holding a beer in his other hand in the first inning of the Houston Astros' 2-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays:

The fan even received a shoutout from The Rock because of his T-shirt choice:

The shirt features the phrase "Thug life" over what became a viral image of the Hollywood star after he shared it on Instagram in 2014. In the picture, which was taken in 1996, The Rock is wearing a turtleneck, gold chain, jeans and a fanny pack.

His fashion sense has obviously improved since then.

Let this be a lesson to all sports fans: The People's Champion is always watching.

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is day-to-day after leaving Saturday's game against the Seattle Mariners with left knee discomfort.

Hazel Mae of Sportsnet shared the news, noting an MRI showed inflammation but "nothing major."

This is not the first time the rookie has had an injury this year. He missed time in spring training with a strained oblique muscle, which ended any opportunity he had to start the season in the big leagues.

After playing 13 minor league games, he was promoted to the majors April 26.

Guerrero has been one of the bright spots in what has been a disappointing season for Toronto. The 20-year-old entered Saturday hitting .275/.345/.465 with an .811 OPS through his first 92 games, adding 14 home runs and 54 RBI.

Though he fell short in the finals, the 6'2", 250-pound slugger captivated the baseball world with his power during the 2019 Home Run Derby, mashing 91 long balls in three rounds:

Toronto (52-74) has long been out of playoff contention, and it faces an elimination number of seven with two weeks remaining in August. The Blue Jays will surely take a cautious approach with Guerrero as they look to protect his long-term health.

Five days after he was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the New York Mets, Marcus Stroman vented some frustrations about his old team.

Speaking to Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun, Stroman said the Blue Jays front office had a plan to get rid of everyone.

"Nobody's left," he said. "It seems like [management] wanted to get rid of some people, get everybody out and just start their own regime. So ... it's a business. It is what it is."

General manager Ross Atkins, who took over after the 2015 season, was a particular source of frustration for Stroman, per Longley:

"I've made the All-Star Game. I had a Gold Glove. I threw back-to-back [seasons] of 200 innings and I never heard a word from any of those guys [in the front office]. ... There was nothing offered ever from their perspective. If they do say that, it's a complete lie. I'm not going to beat around that. I've been waiting to take some type of deal since I've been there. I've been offered nothing."

Stroman was also critical of Atkins' post-trade deadline comments about Toronto turning "14 years of control into 42 years of control."

"I don't think [we as players] are about saving wins for four or five years from now," Stroman said, per Longley. "I don't think fans like that either."

The Blue Jays have been at the center of some recent service-time manipulation shenanigans, though they are hardly the only team to do so.

Atkins told MLB Network Radio in February that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was not a major league player yet.

Guerrero then spent just 13 games in the minors before he was called up April 26. By delaying the 20-year-old phenom's arrival, the Blue Jays were seeking an additional year of team control before he will be eligible for free agency.

Stroman was drafted in 2012 and developed under Toronto's previous front-office regime led by general manager Alex Anthopoulos. He made his MLB debut in 2014 and was part of the franchise's resurgence that included consecutive trips to the American League Championship Series in 2015 and 2016.

The Blue Jays have undergone significant changes over the past two seasons. Stroman, Aaron Sanchez, Russell Martin, Josh Donaldson, Aledmys Diaz, Kevin Pillar, Kendrys Morales, Roberto Osuna and J.A. Happ are among the notable players who were with the organization at the start of 2018 but have since been traded.

Stroman has one more year of team control remaining and is only 28 years old. He seemed like a candidate for a long-term extension but instead has a chance to help the Mets turn things around.

He is in the midst of his best season with a 2.96 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 124.2 innings.

The Toronto Blue Jays are continuing their youth movement by adding top prospect Bo Bichette to their 25-man roster. 

Per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, Bichette is being called up from Triple-A Buffalo to join the team for its series against the Kansas City Royals starting Monday. 

The Blue Jays have an open spot on their roster after MLB.com's Jon Morosi reported the team agreed to a deal with the New York Mets for All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman. 

When Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was called up in April, Bichette took over as Toronto's best minor leaguer. The 21-year-old ranks No. 8 on MLB.com's Top 100 prospects list with this scouting report about his offense:

"Bichette has a violent swing but controls it well, generating an abundance of hard, line-drive contact across the field through a combination of bat speed, bat-to-ball skills and a clean path through the zone. He does overswing sometimes, which leads to some off-balance whiffs, but the overall approach is mature, and he's comfortable shortening his swing with two strikes. Bichette is physically strong for his size, possessing plus raw power that should translate to above-average game power in the future."

MLB.com does note Bichette has worked to improve his footwork at shortstop, but he could end up at second base in the long run. 

Regardless of his position, Bichette should have no problem making an impact at the plate. The son of former MLB All-Star Dante Bichette hit .277/.336/.477 as the youngest player (21 years old) in the International League. 

The pairing of Guerrero and Bichette is the start of a nucleus that the Blue Jays have every reason to expect will bring them back to playoff contention in the future. 

Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman responded to a report Friday that the Toronto Blue Jays may re-sign him rather than trade him ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

SNY's Andy Martino reported Thursday that the Blue Jays have told interested teams they may extend Stroman, but he noted it could be a negotiating tactic.

Stroman tweeted the following in reference to the report:

The 28-year-old Stroman, who is in the midst of his best statistical season, is arbitration eligible at the conclusion of the 2019 campaign.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported Thursday that Stroman is viewed as the "most likely top starter" to be traded prior to the July 31 deadline.

There isn't a ton of incentive for Toronto to keep Stroman since he is only under team control through next season, and the Jays seem unlikely to contend any time soon. They are fourth in the American League East at 39-65 and are tied for the AL's third-worst record.

After struggling to a 5.54 ERA over 19 starts last season, Stroman has bounced back in a big way in 2019. Although his record is only 6-11, he owns a 2.96 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 99 strikeouts in 124.2 innings.

Stroman was named an All-Star for the first time this season, and based on the way he has pitched, he could potentially be an ace down the stretch for a playoff-contending team.

The Medford, New York, native has been linked to the New York Yankees, who are in desperate need of starting pitching help. None of the Yanks' top five starters have an ERA better than 4.03 this season.

New York's starting pitching woes have been masked by a dominant offensive attack and bullpen, but it is difficult for a team to make a World Series run without at least one top-end starter.

Perhaps the Blue Jays will be reluctant to move him to a division rival like the Yankees, but if they can secure a couple high-end prospects from the Yanks or any other team, it could go a long way toward accelerating a rebuild that is led by third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and second baseman Cavan Biggio.

The Toronto Blue Jays have thrown a curveball to teams pursuing a trade for Marcus Stroman. 

According to SNY's Andy Martino, the Jays have told teams interested in trading for the starting pitcher that the team might decide to extend Stroman rather than trade him. 

"Unclear if this is a [real] possibility or a negotiating tactic," Martino added. 

Clarity on where Toronto stands will have to come on or before MLB's July 31 trade deadline.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post shed more light on the situation earlier Thursday: 

"Stroman, an All-Star for the first time, is generally viewed within the industry as the most likely top starter to be traded before Wednesday's deadline. The 28-year-old does not become a free agent until after the 2020 season. But the Blue Jays recognize his value may never be higher: He is having his best season (2.96 ERA) at a time when the field of high-end available starters is small and many contenders are searching for rotation help—hence, it is a seller's market."

Sherman listed the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies and "several other contenders" as teams looking to upgrade their rotations before the deadline. 

For what it's worth, Stroman has made no secret of liking the idea that he could play for his hometown Yankees—he grew up on Long Island—telling reporters ahead of a Jays-Yankees series in June, "I'm built for this."

More recently, Stroman "liked" a tweet of MLB Network's Jon Heyman Thursday that outlined the Yankees' "exchanging names" in talks for him.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported the Yankees had a "significant scouting presence" at Stroman's start against the Detroit Tigers on July 19 as did the Boston Red Sox. That night, Stroman tossed seven scoreless innings with five strikeouts. 

Stroman has spent all five of his major league seasons in Toronto. This season aside, he has been most impressive in 2017 when he posted a 13-9 record to go with a 3.09 ERA, 164 strikeouts and a 1.308 WHIP.

Overall as a Blue Jay, Stroman has gone 47-45 with a 3.76 ERA and 1.278 WHIP across 789.2 innings pitched.