The Toronto Blue Jays are closing in on two solid pitchers according to reports
Photo credit: USA Today
The rumors continue to swirl around the Toronto Blue Jays organization as fans continue to wait to hear if the team has landed new free agents as two new names have surfaced which include Craig Kimbrel and Kenley Jansen for bullpen help.
Craig Kimbrel and Kenley Jansen have 887 saves between them. Is there a role for them in the Blue Jays bullpen?
The Blue Jays went ahead and signed Jeff Hoffman feeling that he would help their bullpen but it's clear the team seems to be interested in other players as they want to continue to bolster their lineup and make a statement this year in the American League East.
Possible additions that would make sense for the Blue Jays
For Kimbrel who is a nine time All-Star led the Major League Baseball in saves from 2011 to 2014 and also helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2018 many would peg him as a possible closer.
Brandon Hyde on Craig Kimbrel: «He's been magnificent for us. He just kind of had that one 10-day funk and he's come out of it. We gave him a little bit of a reset there with 3 appearances in different spots and he's been really good ever since.»
Kimbrel's recorded a pedestrian 3.90 ERA over the past six seasons, and is coming off two subpar seasons. While Kimbrel was solid for the Phillies in the regular season in 2023 (3.26 ERA, 23 saves), he imploded in the NLCS and gave up walk-off single in Game 3 and a go-head home run in the eighth inning of Game 4. He became the first Phillies pitcher to lose back-to-back postseason appearances since Mitch Williams. - Henry Palattella Jays Journal
With Hoffman in place, it's likely the Blue Jays would want to put Kimbrel into the bullpen rather than a closing position.
As for Jansen, his career is coming to an end but still wants to be in the show and feels that he can still be a closer for a Major League Baseball team.
Kenley Jansen's Cutter could be absolutely Unfair. included an overlay with his Two Seamer from the same at bat.
Jansen has pitched better as of late (he has a 3.44 ERA over the past two seasons and was an All-Star in 2023), which could also lead to him ending up outside of Toronto's price range. While they have some financial flexibility thanks to the deferrals in Anthony Santander's contract, they might choose to spend that money on Pete Alonso or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - Henry Palattella Jays Journal
Blue Jays continue to work phones for help prior to Spring Training
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins continues to work his way through his offseason as he has made some gains after a disastrous start and appears to be on the horizon of landing a few more before spring training begins.
Several prominent free agents including Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman and Nick Pivetta are all still waiting for new contracts and with less than two weeks to go before for spring training starts this could bode well for the Blue Jays.
This season will be a pivotal one for the Atkins-Shapiro administration as this will be their 10th season at the helm and the fan base is starving for prolonged playoff success.
Source: Jays Journal
Should the Blue Jays pursue Craig Kimbrel or Kenley Jansen?
Should the Blue Jays pursue Craig Kimbrel or Kenley Jansen?
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