What is going on with Brandon Belt?
Photo credit: Yahoo Sports
Monday brought some much-needed offensive fireworks for the Toronto Blue Jays, delighting their fanbase.
In a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals, the Blue Jays finally broke the six-run barrier, a feat not achieved since their win against the Yankees on April 6 in New York.
Despite their recent offensive surge, Toronto still ranks 24th in the majors with 109 runs scored, maintaining a .500 record of 15-15. As they aim for a third consecutive postseason berth, ramping up their offensive output will be crucial for securing a playoff spot.
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Brandon Belt, who joined the Blue Jays on a one-year, $9.3 million contract in 2023 after a lengthy tenure with the San Francisco Giants, is currently unsigned by all 30 MLB teams, including Toronto.
Last season, Belt contributed significantly to the Blue Jays' roster, tallying a .254 batting average, 86 hits, 19 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 53 runs scored across 103 games. Despite his impactful performance, he remains without a contract for the current season.
«It's kind of baffled me a little bit,» Belt told Sportsnet's JD Bunkis Podcast in March. «I honestly haven't had hardly any calls at all that have gone past the point of teams saying, Hey, we're interested, that they were just checking in. We haven't even gotten down to talking about money with anybody or anything like that. I wish I had an answer for you. I just don't.»
While the Blue Jays made moves this offseason, including signing former Los Angeles Dodgers standout Justin Turner, who boasts a .311 batting average with 28 hits, four home runs, 15 RBIs, and 15 runs scored in 28 games, questions linger about their offensive depth, especially considering Brandon Belt's availability.
Despite not securing a contract for the current season, the 36-year-old Belt appears to be enjoying his time off, as evidenced by his fishing adventures documented on the @brandonbeltfishing Instagram account.
Previously on Blue Jays Insider
POLL |
30 AVRIL | 158 ANSWERS What is going on with Brandon Belt? Do you think Brandon Belt will sign with an MLB team this year? |
Yes | 62 | 39.2 % |
No | 96 | 60.8 % |
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