Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly agreed with free-agent outfielder George Springer on a six-year, $150 million deal, per Jon Heyman of WFAN Sports Radio and MLB Network.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported earlier Tuesday that Springer and the Jays were in agreement as well.

Brendon Kuhn of Blue Jays Nation was first to report that a deal between Springer and the Jays was done pending a physical, and Joey Vendetta of Sportsne confirmed that news.

The multiple Jays connections come amid rumors linking Springer and the Mets, who Heyman previously reported were "still in" the race for the outfielder's services.

New York has apparently lost the race for the 31-year-old Springer, who has played all seven of his MLB seasons with the Astros, winning the 2017 World Series and the 2019 American League pennant with the team. The three-time All-Star had 14 home runs, 32 RBI and a .265 batting average (.899 OPS) last year.

He's an excellent addition to a 32-28 team that made the playoffs this season for the first time since 2016. The young Jays feature some potential 25-and-under superstars in Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio.

The farm system also has one of baseball's top right-handed pitching prospects in Nate Pearson, who is ranked No. 6 overall on MLB Pipeline's prospect list.

The future is bright in Toronto, and adding Springer will only make it better.

Veteran closer Kirby Yates reportedly agreed to a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Rosenthal added the contract is expected to be for one-year and worth $5-5.5 million.

The 33-year-old enjoyed a career year in 2019, earning his first trip to the All-Star Game. He finished with an MLB-best 41 saves, 101 strikeouts and a 1.30 FIP over 60.2 innings. His 3.4 WAR were second among all relief pitchers.

In 2018, the San Diego Padres cashed in on Brad Hand's trade value and shipped him to the Cleveland Indians, receiving highly touted catching prospect Francisco Mejia.

San Diego didn't take the same approach with Yates, which was likely due to the fact the franchise wanted to contend.

First came Eric Hosmer, and then Manny Machado arrived on a franchise-record 10-year, $300 million contract. Promoting Fernando Tatis Jr. and Chris Paddack ahead of 2019 Opening Day—rather than manipulating their service time—showed the front office wasn't content to be a doormat anymore.

In retrospect, the team might have been wise to cash out on Yates' value when it had the chance.

The right-hander allowed six earned runs over 4.1 innings to open 2020. An elbow injury forced him onto the injured list and eventually required season-ending surgery.

A decline can come rapidly for relievers, even those who fit into the elite category. Craig Kimbrel was an All-Star in 2018 but has looked a shadow of his old self since joining the Chicago Cubs.

Unlike Kimbrel, Yates doesn't rely on overpowering stuff to stymie opposing hitters. His fastball has averaged between 93 and 94 mph throughout his career, per Brooks Baseball, which no longer qualifies as top-end velocity.

Perhaps that will allow Yates to age more gracefully, but it's also worth remembering he turns 34 in March. The Hawaii native didn't make his debut until he was 27, and his breakout with the Padres didn't arrive until he was into his 30s.

When it comes to projecting how Yates will perform post-elbow surgery, there isn't a long track record for fans to utilize.

In general, closers may not be a prized commodity anymore. The Tampa Bay Rays reached the World Series with a bullpen made up of relievers largely anonymous to casual followers. Cleveland declined Hand's 2021 option when nobody else wanted to pick up his $10 million salary.

Perhaps Toronto pulled off a shrewd piece of business, buying low on Yates before he returns to his All-Star form of 2019. Equally plausible is a scenario in which he ultimately doesn't do enough to improve the team's bullpen, making the signing a wash.

Stats are courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted

The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly zeroing in on free-agent center fielder George Springer.

According to Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi of Sportsnet, the American League East team is "making a push" to sign Springer. The report called the 31-year-old Toronto's "top free-agent target" as it looks to improve after reaching the playoffs in 2020 for the first time since 2016.

The report suggested the Blue Jays could improve on the five-year deal worth more than $100 million that they offered the former Houston Astros star, per Jim Duquette of SNY.

Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com wrote the Jays and New York Mets have shown the most interest in Springer and that he would like to play close to his native Connecticut.

While that suggests the Mets have an advantage, they could have financial hesitation after they already added shortstop Francisco Lindor, pitcher Carlos Carrasco and catcher James McCann this offseason.

It is no surprise Toronto is interested in Springer. He is a two-time Silver Slugger and three-time All-Star who is also a proven postseason contributor, as evidenced by his 2017 World Series MVP.

He is the type of player who can anchor a lineup, and throwing him into the mix with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Co. would create a nightmare for opposing pitching staffs even in a strong division that also features the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays.

If the Blue Jays don't win the Springer sweepstakes, Nicholson-Smith and Davidi pointed to center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. as another option.

The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly opened their checkbook for one of the league's top available free agents.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Blue Jays offered former Houston Astros star George Springer a five-year deal worth more than $100 million. 

The Blue Jays join the New York Mets as the two teams who have "drawn the most significant interest" in the 31-year-old, who is entering his eighth year in the league, according to MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi.  

A three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner, Springer had a career year in 2019, when he hit .292 with 39 home runs and 96 RBI. In a pandemic-shortened season, he dipped slightly, with a .265 average, 14 home runs and 32 RBI through 51 outings.

He can perform in the postseason, as demonstrated by his 2017 World Series MVP nod that awarded his .379 average, five home runs and seven RBI en route to the title, but he's also consistently an offensive powerhouse. He has scored 100 runs and tacked on at least 80 RBI in three different seasons.

The Mets have already done some work during the offseason, adding shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitcher Carlos Carrasco in a trade with Cleveland and signing catcher James McCann, but New York could have the edge in the Springer sweepstakes. A Connecticut native, Springer reportedly is interested in returning back home, per Morosi.

A youthful Blue Jays team would benefit from Springer's veteran leadership, in addition to his bat, and it's apparent that they've already imagined how he could fit into their system by offering him a three-digit deal. 

But any team that is looking to land Springer this offseason should reportedly expect to lay out all the financial stops for him, with ESPN's Jeff Passan reporting that the star could sign a "bonanza deal." 

The Toronto Blue Jays have yet to make a big splash in free agency, but they are reportedly keeping a close eye on the top three players still available. 

Per MLB.com's Jon Morosi, the Blue Jays are still in contact with the representatives for Trevor Bauer, J.T. Realmuto and George Springer. 

Toronto has been linked to a number of players, both free agents and trade candidates, this offseason.

MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince noted Toronto finished second in the Francisco Lindor trade sweepstakes. The four-time All-Star was dealt to the New York Mets last week. 

MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported the Blue Jays made a four-year, $78 million offer to DJ LeMahieu before the All-Star second baseman re-signed with the New York Yankees. 

Bauer is the top pitcher on the free-agent market after winning the 2020 National League Cy Young Award with the Cincinnati Reds. He led the NL with a 1.73 ERA and had 100 strikeouts in 73.1 innings over 11 starts. 

Springer and Realmuto are the best position players still available after LeMahieu chose to stay with the Yankees. Springer, 31, is a three-time All-Star who owns a .270/.361/.491 career slash line in seven seasons with the Houston Astros. 

Realmuto spent the past two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. He made back-to-back All-Star teams in 2018 and 2019 as well as won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards in 2019. 

Last season, the 29-year-old posted a career-high .840 OPS in 47 games.

The Blue Jays' postseason window opened in 2020 with the development of young players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Teoscar Hernandez and Rowdy Tellez. 

Adding a prolific veteran to that core would help Toronto close the gap on the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. 

The Toronto Blue Jays reportedly attempted to sign George Springer to a contract that was "well under" the $150 million the free-agent outfielder is looking for this offseason.

Jim Duquette of SNY reported the news Monday, noting Toronto's offer was still "aggressive" and in the five-year range.

The same report noted SNY's Andy Martino previously reported the New York Mets and Springer weren't particularly close on a deal with the outfielder looking for more than $150 million.

Springer is 31 years old and figures to remain in his prime for the immediate future.

He is a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger who won the 2017 World Series MVP with the Houston Astros, the only major league team he has ever played for during his career. He was at his best in 2019, the last full season, when he slashed .292/.383/.591 with 39 home runs and 96 RBI.

Those are the types of numbers that would work in any lineup, so it is not particularly surprising multiple teams are interested in Springer at this point.

Still, more than $150 million is quite the ask given some of the financial uncertainty teams say they are facing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He may need to accept a lower figure at some point, although he could at least chase another World Series ring in Toronto.

Toronto made the playoffs last season and has promising sluggers in place with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, and adding someone like Springer would make the lineup all the more formidable.

He could also be a veteran leader with postseason experience for a team looking to challenge the New York Yankees in the American League East.

Reigning National League Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer confirmed he's had talks with the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Bauer said on Twitter he had a call with the team to "talk to their pitching coach and high-performance coach and see what they have to offer. So that's moving forward."

The Blue Jays are rumored to be looking at several marquee free agents this offseason as they try to build off last season's playoff appearance. 

Andy Martino of SNY.tv reported Wednesday that Toronto and the New York Mets are "seriously interested" in George Springer and remain "engaged with his representatives."

MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported the 29-year-old Bauer wants a deal of five or six years worth between $36 million and $40 million annually, though he refuted that on Twitter. 

"Jon thank god for you. I'm learning so much about my free agency from your tweets! Keep em coming! Also @AgentRachelLuba is her twitter tag in case you want to tag her next time," he wrote.

Starting pitching is a need for the Blue Jays. Their rotation finished last season ranked 17th in ERA (4.55) and 23rd in FanGraphs wins above replacement (2.6). 

Despite those holes in the pitching staff, Toronto finished third in the AL East with a 32-28 record. It made the postseason for the first time since 2016 but was swept in the Wild Card Round by the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Bauer won the 2020 NL Cy Young Award with the Cincinnati Reds. The right-hander led the NL with a 1.73 ERA and finished second with 100 strikeouts in 73 innings. 

Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins confirmed the organization's interest in free-agent outfielder George Springer on Thursday.

According to Arash Madani of Sportsnet, Atkins said he has connected with Springer's representation on a weekly basis.

Springer, arguably the best player on the market, is a three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, World Series winner and World Series MVP.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported the Jays also have interest in outfielder Marcell Ozuna, who played for the Atlanta Braves last season, but Toronto appears to have Springer higher on its list.

The 31-year-old Springer enjoyed a dominant four-year stretch from 2016-19 that yielded three All-Star nods and three seasons with at least 29 home runs. During that stint, he averaged a .274 batting average, 31 home runs, 84 RBI and 107 runs scored per season.

He got off to a slow start to the shortened 2020 season, but he ended up with some solid numbers, hitting .265 with 14 homers, 32 RBI and 37 runs scored in 51 games.

One thing that makes Springer's production so impressive is that the Astros have used him in the leadoff spot in recent years. He isn't a prototypical leadoff hitter, but he made it work and still put up great power numbers.

Springer is perhaps best known for coming through when the games matter most, evidenced by his 19 home runs, 38 RBI and 43 runs scored in 63 career postseason games. His best performance came in the 2017 World Series when he hit .379 with five homers and seven RBI en route to being named World Series MVP.

He was also great during Houston's surprising run to the American League Championship Series last season with four home runs and nine RBI between the ALDS and ALCS.

The Jays reached the playoffs for the first time since 2016 last season. Although they were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Wild Card Series, they have some momentum entering 2021.

Toronto already has a nice collection of young offensive talent, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio, but Springer would give the Jays some much-needed experience and a player who knows how to produce and win in the postseason.

The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly among the teams expected to pursue catcher J.T. Realmuto in free agency this winter.

Craig Mish of SportsGrid reported the Blue Jays will be "involved throughout the process" for the game's best catcher.

Realmuto hit .266/.349/.491 with 11 home runs and 47 runs batted in last season, finishing second behind Salvador Perez for the highest wins above replacement among catchers, per FanGraphs. Yasmani Grandal is the only catcher to outperform Realmuto by FanGraphs' WAR formula over the last five seasons.

The free-agency process for Realmuto will likely be interesting, given the increased platooning of the catcher position around baseball. The 29-year-old has been a relative ironman in that regard, missing no more than 37 games in a season.

Analytics overwhelmingly caution against giving catchers long-term contracts that take them deep into their 30s. The San Francisco Giants (Buster Posey) and Minnesota Twins (Joe Mauer) serve as recent cautionary tales in that regard. Despite both remaining solid players, their production as they aged did not justify the length and scale of their deals.

Aside from Posey, no catcher in baseball has a contract worth more than $73 million in total. Grandal and Posey are the only catchers who currently have deals with average annual values of more than $10 million per season. 

Coming off a surprise playoff appearance in 2020, the Toronto Blue Jays could be looking to make a big splash in free agency.

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Blue Jays are pursuing free agents at a "breakneck pace," with DJ LeMahieu, Justin Turner, George Springer and Michael Brantley among the players they have interest in.

The Blue Jays are in a prime position to sign at least one marquee free agent, as their core is built around young players coming off mostly strong seasons and under team control for multiple years.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Rowdy Tellez and Teoscar Hernandez are all going to be 28 or younger at the start of next season and posted an OPS+ of at least 115 in 2020.

It's not surprising to see Toronto's front office looking at third basemen, as the Blue Jays only got a .210/.281/.347 slash line from the hot corner.

LeMahieu is the best hitter from that group of free agents, as he led MLB with a .364 batting average and had an AL-high .421 on-base percentage for the New York Yankees. It could be difficult for the Blue Jays to lure him away, though, as Ken Davidoff of the New York Post noted the 32-year-old "prefers to remain in the New York area."

Turner could come with a lower price tag than LeMahieu or Springer as a 36-year-old free agent, and he posted an excellent .307/.400/.460 line in 42 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season.

Springer is arguably the best free agent available, as he's a capable defensive center fielder who has hit .270/.361/.491 with an average of 25 homers per season since 2014. 

Brantley continues to quietly put up great numbers no matter where he plays, as the four-time All-Star hit .300/.364/.476 in 46 games for the Houston Astros last season.

The Blue Jays made the playoffs in 2020 with a 32-28 record but finished behind the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees in the AL East. Since both teams figure to remain contenders next season, Toronto knows it can't coast in the offseason.