Town of Toronto received 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 consumer is reportedly assured $10.5MM, whereas the deal accommodates extra incentives.
Kiermaier, 34 in April, was a Thirty first-round decide by the Rays within the 2010 draft and rapidly proved to be one of many savvier late-round picks in latest reminiscence. After making his large league debut in a one-game cup of espresso throughout the 2013 season, Kiermaier stepped into the membership’s on a regular basis middle subject function in early 2014 and remained in that function for 9 seasons the place he established himself as a generational defender whereas slashing a good .248/.308/.408 throughout his time with the Rays. He departed the membership to hitch the Blue Jays on a one-year deal final offseason that went very effectively 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 good .260/.321/.431 towards 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 stated, the membership has been regularly tied to Cody Bellinger up to now within the offseason and, with a robust middle subject 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 stated, Kiermaier is definitely a top quality participant in his personal proper; his first rate offense and robust protection earned him the #31 spot on MLBTR’s annual High 50 MLB free brokers listing, 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 submit a 99 wRC+ final 12 months good for simply twentieth within the majors. Solely the Marlins acquired 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. Gifted 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 submit a wRC+ of simply 107. That kind of manufacturing falls wanting the standard on a regular basis left fielder, and it might definitely 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 comparable to Jorge Soler to the outfield combine may 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 may additionally assist the Blue Jays match him into their positional combine in the event that they select to take action. It’s at the least affordable to think about a situation the place the membership provides Bellinger and makes use of him each within the outfield and likewise at first base, the place he may spell Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and permit the membership’s franchise first baseman to spend extra time at DH. Roster Useful resource initiatives the Blue Jays for a payroll of $213MM in 2024 following the addition of Kiermaier, a determine that’s primarily equivalent to their $214MM payroll final season. With that being stated, the membership absolutely has room for additional additions given their reported pursuits of expensive superstars comparable to Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free company in addition to Juan Soto through commerce.
Whereas that remaining area within the finances may definitely be used to additional shore up the outfield, it’s attainable the membership would like 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 teen Davis Schneider has proven promise and the likes of Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal present depth at each positions, including at the least one infielder to the combo seems to be a possible prime precedence for the membership going ahead this offseason.
Within the meantime, the Blue Jays have shored up an space of weak spot 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 subject tying with Boston for the eight-most manufacturing in baseball on the place, and he ought to present the membership with related 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 Right this moment Sports activities.
