MLB Insider Speculates Toronto Blue Jays Could Pursue Free Agents JD Martinez, Justin Turner
The Toronto Blue Jays may be pivoting in their pursuit of free agent sluggers, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
So far this offseason, the Blue Jays were unable to get Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto or Joc Pederson, all of whom are all left-handed hitters. Brandon Belt, who was Toronto's primary designated hitter in 2023 before entering free agency in November, is also a lefty.
Rosenthal posited that, rather than go after some of the lower-tier, aging left-handed free agents – Eddie Rosario, Mike Moustakas, Joey Votto or switch-hitter Aaron Hicks – the Blue Jays could instead look to add a righty.
The right-handed hitters Rosenthal listed as potential options for the Blue Jays are JD Martinez, Justin Turner, Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, Tommy Pham and Adam Duvall.
Chapman is most familiar to Toronto, given he has acted as the team's everyday third baseman the past two years. Martinez, Turner, Pham and Duvall, meanwhile, have all suited up for the Blue Jays' AL East rival Boston Red Sox the last two seasons.
Martinez is coming off an All-Star campaign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, finishing 2023 with 33 home runs, 103 RBI, a .893 OPS and a 1.9 WAR. The 36-year-old slugger could be in line for a $15 million salary in 2024, per Spotrac.
Turner had a resurgent year replacing Martinez in Boston's lineup, as the 39-year-old hit .276 with 23 home runs, 96 RBI, an .800 OPS and a 2.1 WAR. Soon-to-be 32-year-old slugger Jorge Soler made his first career All-Star appearance with the Miami Marlins last summer after hitting .250 with 36 home runs, 75 RBI, an .853 OPS and a 1.8 WAR.
Depending on if their new bat slots in at designated hitter or in the field, the Blue Jays' lineup could still come together in any number of ways in 2024.
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