Blue Jays improve run prevention by bringing back Kiermaier
TORONTO — The Blue Jays made their first free agent transfer of the low season on Boxing Day, agreeing to deliver again centre fielder Kevin Kiermaier on a one-year, $10.5-million contract, in response to two trade sources.
The deal, which continues to be pending a bodily, contains some further incentives for the 33-year-old winner of 4 Gold Gloves.
By bringing Kiermaier again, the Blue Jays enhance their run prevention for 2024. Not solely does he provide elite defence — superior metrics at Baseball Savant positioned him within the 96th percentile of fielders final yr — his presence nudges Daulton Varsho into left discipline, the place his vary performs up as effectively.
Those two are slated to hitch George Springer within the Toronto outfield subsequent yr, which can take the Blue Jays out of the operating for Cody Bellinger and Michael A. Taylor, two free brokers who generate a big a part of their worth as defenders. Now Bellinger could be a clumsy match for the Blue Jays barring a big commerce, leaving the Cubs and Giants as extra possible suitors for the 28-year-old.
On days Kiermaier is out of the lineup, Varsho can transfer over to centre discipline, giving the Blue Jays elite defence at that place on a constant foundation. In 2023, Kiermaier efficiently navigated again points on his strategy to his second-highest games-played whole in 11 big-league seasons. Yet taking part in on turf poses a problem for some gamers, so there’s no assure Kiermaier takes the sphere for one more 129 video games in 2024.
It’s nonetheless possible that the Blue Jays might pursue a bat-first outfielder, as their designated hitter spot isn’t spoken for. The likes of Joc Pederson and Jorge Soler match the outline of gamers who appeared within the outfield final yr, however could also be higher suited to DH roles shifting ahead.
One manner or one other, the Blue Jays will nonetheless be searching for offence after including Kiermaier. Third base seems to be like a necessity, with Matt Chapman and Justin Turner nonetheless of curiosity to the Blue Jays, and there are many DH at-bats to go round as effectively. Plus, underneath the suitable circumstances, the Blue Jays might pursue a utility participant similar to Amed Rosario or Isiah Kiner-Falefa, each of whom are on the workforce’s radar.
In that sense, Kiermaier is one piece of a much bigger puzzle, however he’s an vital one, given his impression on the pitching workers that ranked second within the American League with a 3.78 ERA final yr. And although he’s greatest identified for his glove, Kiermaier additionally helped the Blue Jays offensively final season, batting .265/.322/.419 with eight house runs and 14 stolen bases from the ninth spot within the batting order.
As anybody who watched the 2023 Blue Jays is aware of, Kiermaier’s impression will be important. With 3.9 wins above substitute final yr, the numbers again that story up. At the identical time, there nonetheless heaps extra work forward for a entrance workplace that should add offence, too.
