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Toronto Blue Jays Looking at Signing Powerful 3B in Case Matt Chapman Leaves

If Matt Chapman leaves via free agency, the Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly interested in signing free agent Jeimer Candelario.
Brady Farkas|
Toronto Blue Jays Looking at Signing Powerful 3B in Case Matt Chapman Leaves
Toronto Blue Jays Looking at Signing Powerful 3B in Case Matt Chapman Leaves

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Toronto Blue Jays

If Matt Chapman leaves via free agency, the Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly interested in signing free agent Jeimer Candelario.

Per Jon Morosi of MLB Network:

The Blue Jays have met with Jeimer Candelario's representatives at the GM Meetings, source confirms @ShiDavidi report. 

The switch-hitting 3B is coming off an .807 OPS and career-high 22 HR in 2023.

@MLBNetwork @MLB

After Chapman, Candelario represents the best third baseman on the market. The soon-to-be 30-year-old played for the Nationals and Cubs this past season, hitting .251 with those 22 homers and 70 RBI. He also stole eight bases.

We heard earlier on Wednesday about the Blue Jays and their quest for offense. They have as many as four starters to replace in 2024 so Candelario is someone who could help fill one of those holes. He just finished his eighth year in the big leagues with the Cubs, Tigers, and Nationals. 

Lifetime, he's a .243 hitter with 88 homers and 318 RBI. He became a solid regular in 2017 when he lead the American League in doubles with 42.

He should also cost less than Chapman, who is likely seeking over $100 million on the market.

The Blue Jays are entering a critical stage in their franchise development. They have top pitching like Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, and Jose Berrios locked up, and also feature top position players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.

That said, they haven't been out of the wild card round of the playoffs since it was implemented in the COVID 2020 season. They lost in 2020, 2022 and 2023 in that round.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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