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Brandon Eisert Brandon Eisert DFA'd by Toronto
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 6:20 PM
Eisert was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Monday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Eisert was booted from the 40-man roster to make room for the signing of Anthony Santander. Eisert made three appearances in the big leagues a season ago and figures to compete for an Opening Day roster spot in camp. |
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Anthony Santander Anthony Santander Agrees to deal with Toronto
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 11:29 AM
The Blue Jays have agreed to a five-year, $92.5 million contract with Santander, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: The deal includes an opt-out after 2027 season that can be voided if a 2030 club option is exercised. If the latter occurs, the total value of the contract would reach $110 million. It's a much-needed "win" for Toronto, as it has been in the running to sign numerous big free agents the last couple years but routinely has come up short. Santander is coming off a 2024 season which saw him slash .235/.308/.506 with 44 home runs, 91 runs and 102 RBI in 155 regular-season games with the Orioles. He will likely see plenty of starts both in left field and in the designated hitter slot. |
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Myles Straw Myles Straw Traded to Toronto
Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 10:51 AM
The Blue Jays acquired Straw, cash considerations and international bonus pool space from the Guardians on Friday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Analysis: The Guardians will be covering $3.75 million of the $15.5 million Straw is still owed on his contract and will send $2 million in bonus pool money to Toronto, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. While the club hopes to put the pool money toward a contract for Roki Sasaki, Davidi says Sasaki has not given the Blue Jays any indication that he's made a decision. Straw spent nearly all of the 2024 season in the minors and was removed from Cleveland's 40-man roster earlier this offseason. |
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Jeff Hoffman Jeff Hoffman Confirms failed physicals
Wed, Jan 15, 2025, 12:52 PM
Hoffman on Wednesday confirmed that Baltimore and Atlanta backed away from pursuing him over concerns about his physical, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Speaking to reporters following his signing with the Blue Jays, Hoffman said he was surprised his physicals raised red flags about his right shoulder, adding that he feels healthy and the shoulder is a "non-issue." Based on the size of his contract, Hoffman should head into spring training as the favorite to be Toronto's closer after posting a 2.28 ERA and 158:35 K:BB over 118.2 regular-season innings across the last two seasons. If healthy, the righty has elite potential as a fantasy closer. |
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Jeff Hoffman Jeff Hoffman Physical concerns nixed two deals
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 11:15 AM
Atlanta had a contract in place with Hoffman that fell apart after he failed a physical, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Robert Murray of FanSided.com also reported previously that the Orioles had a three-year, $40 million deal in place with Hoffman that was nixed due to concerns over his right shoulder. It's not clear whether it was the shoulder which caused Hoffman's potential contract with Atlanta to fall apart, but it's a safe assumption. The righty has had two shoulder-related injured list stints during his career but has not experienced any known shoulder problems since 2021. Hoffman ultimately reached a three-year, $33 million deal with the Blue Jays which could get up to $39 million through incentives. He's slated to serve as Toronto's closer, but with Hoffman having a health red flag, fantasy managers might want to consider Yimi Garcia and/or Chad Green as a handcuff. |
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Brett de Geus Brett de Geus Booted from 40-man
Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 6:58 PM
The Blue Jays designated de Geus for assignment Friday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Kicking de Geus off the 40-man roster creates space for Jeff Hoffman, who agreed to a three-year deal with the Blue Jays on Friday. De Geus owns a 7.48 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 61.1 career big-league innings and finished 2024 with a 5.31 ERA in Triple-A. |
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Jeff Hoffman Jeff Hoffman Inks three-year pact with Toronto
Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 6:48 PM
Hoffman signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Blue Jays on Friday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: After bouncing between Colorado, Cincinnati and Philadelphia over his first nine years in the majors, Hoffman will reunite with the organization that originally drafted him back in 2014. The 32-year-old reliever is coming off the best statistical season of his career, as he reached the 10-save mark for the first time and finished the year with a 2.17 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over 66.1 innings. Now in Toronto, it's likely he receives a chance to unseat Chad Green as the team's go-to closer. |
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Avoids arbitration with Blue Jays
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 6:30 PM
Guerrero agreed to a one-year, $28.5 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Guerrero will return to Toronto in 2025 with a well-deserved $8.6 million raise. The 25-year-old produced a career-high .323 average last season while adding 30 home runs, 103 RBI, 98 runs scored and two stolen bases over 616 at-bats in 159 games. Guerrero finished sixth in the AL MVP voting in 2024, while his 5.5 WAR ranked 11th in the AL amongst hitters. The team has been open to potentially moving Guerrero to third base in 2025, but regardless of position, he remains one of the best players in baseball. |
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Alejandro Kirk Alejandro Kirk Avoids arbitration with Toronto
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 6:22 PM
Kirk agreed to a one-year, $4.6 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Kirk will get a $1.8 million raise ahead of the 2025 campaign, which will be his sixth with Toronto. The catcher produced a .253 average with five home runs, 54 RBI and 23 runs scored over 103 games in 2024. Kirk will likely operate as the team's primary catcher again in 2025 with Tyler Heineman likely set to serve as his primary backup. |
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Ernie Clement Ernie Clement Gets $1.975 million from Toronto
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 2:36 PM
Clement agreed to a one-year, $1.975 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: In his first full major-league season, Clement slashed .263/.284/.408 with 12 home runs and 51 RBI over 452 plate appearances while also swiping 12 bags. The 28-year-old doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, so he remains in a good position to open the season as the Jays' primary third baseman. |
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Alek Manoah Alek Manoah Reaches deal with Toronto
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 2:05 PM
Manoah (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $2.2 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Following a delayed start to the season, Manoah was able to turn in a 3.70 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 24.1 innings before a sprained UCL ended his campaign early in late May. The 27-year-old underwent a hybrid internal brace procedure to address the issue in June and is targeting August for his return to a big-league mound. |
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Daulton Varsho Daulton Varsho Settles at $8.2 million
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 1:02 PM
Varsho (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $8.2 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Varsho is still recovering from the right rotator cuff surgery he underwent in late September, and while he hasn't fallen behind in his recovery process, there's still a good chance he will miss the first portion of the new season. The 28-year-old slashed .214/.293/.407 with 18 home runs, 50 RBI and 10 stolen bases over 136 games in 2024 and still has one more year of arbitration eligibility. |
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Nick Sandlin Nick Sandlin Avoids arbitration with Toronto
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 12:46 PM
The Blue Jays and Sandlin avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.63 million contract Thursday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca report.
Analysis: Acquired from the Guardians via trade in December, Sandlin was eligible for arbitration for the first time. He held a 3.75 ERA and 68:27 K:BB across 57.2 innings with Cleveland in 2024. |
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Zach Pop Zach Pop Avoids arbitration
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 11:41 AM
The Blue Jays and Pop avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $900,000 contract Thursday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca report.
Analysis: Pop will avoid a hearing in what was his first year of arbitration eligibility. He's struggled during his time in Toronto, collecting a 4.89 ERA and 58:27 K:BB over 81 innings across the past two-plus seasons. |
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Alek Manoah Alek Manoah Aiming to return in August
Fri, Jan 3, 2025, 3:30 PM
Manoah (elbow) hopes to be ready to pitch for the Blue Jays in August, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.
Analysis: Manoah underwent a hybrid internal brace procedure to repair the UCL in his right elbow last June. The plan calls for Manoah to throw bullpen sessions in March, face hitters in June and go out on a rehab assignment in July before rejoining the Blue Jays in August. If the righty is able to hit those markers, he could spend most of the final two months of the 2025 campaign in Toronto's rotation. |
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Hagen Danner Hagen Danner DFA'd by Torotno
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 4:03 PM
The Blue Jays designated Danner for assignment Friday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: The move makes room on the 40-man roster for left-hander Josh Walker, who signed with the Blue Jays in a corresponding move. Danner spent the entire 2024 regular season with Triple-A Buffalo, and across 33 appearances he posted a 3.15 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 34.1 innings. |
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Josh Walker Josh Walker MLB deal with Toronto
Fri, Dec 20, 2024, 4:00 PM
The Blue Jays signed Walker to a one-year, $760,000 contract, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Walker, 30, has put up a 6.45 ERA and 23:12 K:BB over 22.1 innings at the major-league level the last two seasons. The lefty will compete for a spot in the Toronto bullpen. |
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Ali Sanchez Ali Sanchez Inks minor-league deal with Toronto
Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 4:55 PM
The Blue Jays signed Sanchez to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Analysis: Sanchez began the 2024 regular season with the Cubs in Triple-A, but he was dealt to the Marlins in mid-June in exchange for cash considerations. He ended up appearing in 31 games for Miami and posted a slash line of .167/.211/.190 with two stolen bases and four RBI across 96 plate appearances. Sanchez will have an opportunity in Toronto to compete for a major-league roster spot for the 2025 campaign. |
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Eric Lauer Eric Lauer Gets NRI with Toronto
Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3:10 PM
The Blue Jays signed Lauer to a minor-league contract on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Lauer split the 2024 season between the Triple-A level (where he had a 5.26 ERA in 75.1 innings) and the Korea Baseball Organization (where he held a 4.93 ERA in 34.2 frames). The 29-year-old lefty will likely begin the 2025 season as rotation depth at Triple-A Buffalo. |
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Nick Sandlin Nick Sandlin Dealt to Blue Jays
Tue, Dec 10, 2024, 5:55 PM
The Guardians traded Sandlin to the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell were sent to the Guardians in return for Sandlin and Andres Gimenez. Sandlin departs Cleveland after playing for the Guardians for the first four seasons of his career, finishing his tenure with a 3.27 ERA across 195.1 innings, including a 3.75 ERA across 68 appearances in 2024. |
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