This story was excerpted from Keegan Matheson’s Blue Jays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
TORONTO — Looking at a mound of puzzle pieces sprawled out on the table, the Blue Jays still have their entire offseason in front of them.
A slow start to Hot Stove season promises that, when the tap turns on, news will gush out like a fire hose. The Blue Jays have some straightforward needs and grander matters of organizational philosophy to settle before Spring Training opens in February, but regardless of which path this takes, third base needs to come first.
The hot corner is Toronto’s biggest need this offseason, vacated by Matt Chapman after two seasons. Typically, third base is an area of opportunity, particularly for a club looking to add some offense after a season spent veering too far in the opposite direction, but this free-agent market is thin.
With little lining up naturally for the Blue Jays, they may need to get creative and hit the trade market, which should be more unpredictable than usual with some clubs looking to move salary. Looking ahead to the Winter Meetings, which begin next week in Nashville, Tenn., here are the factors Toronto is facing at third.
Internal options … or overlap?
The Blue Jays have a wealth of internal infield options: Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal, Davis Schneider, Orelvis Martinez, Addison Barger, Leo Jimenez, Ernie Clement and Damiano Palmegiani. This group has quickly become a strength of the organization, but none are kicking down the door at third base.
Biggio has value as a utility player, while Espinal will compete for a similar role to 2023. Schneider looks sharper at second base, and Martinez has also started to play there more, including in the Dominican Winter League. Barger has seen more time in right field lately than third. Jimenez is a shortstop and hasn’t touched Triple-A yet. Clement can handle the position, but can he sustain his offensive numbers from ‘23? Can Palmegiani carry over his Arizona Fall League success and emerge as a dark horse in camp?
There’s potential in each, but little certainty.
The important takeaway here? Each of these players has value elsewhere on the diamond, too. Once Toronto addresses third base, each of these puzzle places will fall into place more naturally. The Blue Jays are also positioning themselves to attack the trade market aggressively, making this group of names a likely pool to deal from.
