Blue Jays Predicted To Be 'Mystery Team' In Sweepstakes For Rumored Yankees Target
Could the Toronto Blue Jays make one more major splash before Opening Day?
Toronto finished in third place in the American League East last season and won 89 games. The Blue Jays have been looking to improve the club this offseason and signed two-time All-Star Justin Turner and have attempted to make other additions.
The Blue Jays landed Yariel Rodríguez but also have been linked to other hurlers as possible options.
At this point, the Blue Jays likely won't make any other major additions before Opening Day but that hasn't stopped speculation. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and veteran lefty Jordan Montgomery surprisingly still are available in free agency.
Snell has been mentioned as an option for the New York Yankees on multiple occasions and still is seen as a possibility, although unlikely. It sounds like there is starting to be more competition for their services.
Agent Scott Boras claimed four mystery teams have reached out to him since Spring Training started about the duo although it's unclear who has. Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter attempted to predict the mystery teams and floated the Blue Jays as a possible option.
"Alek Manoah went from young ace on the rise in 2022 to a complete non-factor in 2023 when he struggled to a 5.87 ERA in 87.1 innings and was briefly demoted all the way back to rookie ball," Reuter said. "The Blue Jays entered spring training hoping Manoah would rebound and left him with a clear path to the No. 5 starter job, but he allowed three hits, one walk, and hit three batters in 1.2 innings in his spring debut, and he has been dealing with shoulder soreness since.
"Meanwhile, ace Kevin Gausman is dealing with a shoulder issue of his own, and after doing little to bridge the gap in the (American League) East race during the offseason, the Blue Jays could still make a splash before the season starts with a major addition to the rotation."
Toronto is loaded with talent and could make sense for either Snell or Montgomery. If New York wants to land Snell, it sounds like there will be plenty of competition for his services.
