MLB insider Bob Nightengale made some interesting comments about the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday stating that they will have to overpay to land top free agents.
Bob Nightengale believes the Blue Jays will have to overpay free agents to get them to come to Toronto
In a recent article, insider Bob Nightengale stated that the Blue Jays have big plans for the off-season but that their only way of landing these big time players is by overpaying.
Multiple reports indicate the Toronto Blue Jays are aiming to do something big this winter, but according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, they might have to overpay to get it done. -TSN
Nightengale believes that because of the Blue Jays possibly having so many changes happen in the next year with CEO Mark Shapiro, Superstars Vladimir Guerrero Jr and Bo Bichette all on expiring deals, the Blue Jays will need to overpay to get top free agents to come to Toronto.
Nightengale wrote in a column posted Monday that he believes the Jays are the most likely to overpay free agents this winter due to a unique set of circumstances. Nightengale notes that with president Mark Shapiro in the final year of his contract and stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette heading into the final years of theirs, Toronto might have no choice but to come in well ahead of other bidders on certain players to convince them to sign north of the border. -TSN
There is also the fact that the Blue Jays ended up last in their division last season which is why free agents that are looking to win will think twice about coming to Toronto including Juan Soto.
"This is why no one believes Soto is coming their way unless they dramatically outbid the Mets," Nightengale wrote, adding there is pressure on them to not only reach the playoffs, but make noise, having not won a playoff game since 2016. -TSN
The Blue Jays clearly have a ton of work to do this off-season and hopefully they will be able to land at least 1 or 2 big time players.