Dec. 29: INF/OF Isiah Kiner-Falefa agrees to two-year, $15 million deal
Kiner-Falefa is known for his versatility, as the 28-year-old played all over the diamond for the Yankees a year ago, adding a steady dose of outfield reps to his experience at second base, third base and shortstop.
That versatility sparks some questions as to where other members of the Blue Jays’ defense may find playing time in 2024 as the club continues to shape a roster it hopes to continue improving before Opening Day.
Dec. 28: Kevin Kiermaier agrees to one-year deal for $10.5 million
Toronto re-signed Kiermaier, who was recognized with his fourth career Gold Glove Award for his defense in center field after a 2023 campaign that also saw him hit .265 with eight home runs and a .741 OPS, comfortably above his career average.
He led all AL center fielders in outs above average this past season with 13, trailing only National League Gold Glove Award winner Brenton Doyle (15) of the Rockies.
Nov. 30: OF Steward Berroa, UTIL Rafael Lantigua, C Max McDowell sign Minors deals with invites to Major League Spring Training
The Blue Jays’ Spring Training picture continued to take shape, as the club announced Minors deals with three non-roster invitees.
Berroa, a 24-year-old Dominican native, was originally signed as an international free agent in 2016. He spent most of 2023 at Double-A New Hampshire before earning a promotion to Triple-A Buffalo in late August. Speed and baserunning skills have been Berroa’s calling card. He stole 47 bases on 57 attempts last season, while batting for a combined .257 average and a .758 OPS with 43 RBIs.
Lantigua’s versatility fits well into the Blue Jays’ recent motto of playing matchups and staying flexible in the field. The 25-year-old started games at six positions in 2023, batting .305 with an .894 OPS and 85 RBIs as a member of the Bisons.
A veteran of eight Minor League seasons, McDowell joined the Blue Jays in September after spending most of 2023 in the Phillies’ system.
Nov. 17: RHP Adam Cimber non-tendered; all other eligible players on 40-man roster tendered contracts for 2024
There were no major surprises ahead of Friday’s non-tender deadline for the Blue Jays. Cimber is the lone player to be non-tendered while all other eligible 40-man roster players were tendered a contract for 2024. That group is led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is projected by Cot’s Contracts to earn $21 million in arbitration.
Cimber missed time with a right shoulder impingement in 2023, limiting him to 20 2/3 innings with a 7.40 ERA. The year prior, Cimber was one of Toronto’s most valuable relievers and a workhorse out of the bullpen, appearing in 77 games (70 2/3) IP) with a 2.80 ERA. Any other year, Cimber may have gotten a shot to bounce back, but the Blue Jays’ impressive bullpen depth leaves little room for that and he’ll hit the open market.
Nov. 14: LHP Adam Macko added to 40-man roster
This move protects Macko from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft, which was a priority for the Blue Jays. The 22-year-old lefty came over from the Mariners alongside Erik Swanson in the Teoscar Hernández trade last winter, a savvy piece of business by this front office. The Blue Jays’ No. 22 prospect per MLB Pipeline, Macko posted a 4.81 ERA with 106 strikeouts over 86 innings last season with High-A Vancouver and seemed to be peaking just as the season ended, which sets him up very well for the challenge of Double-A in 2024.
The Blue Jays are unlikely to make a selection of their own in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 Draft, given that 2024 is a win-now season. Notable Blue Jays prospects still exposed for other teams to select include: OF Will Robertson, C/OF Zach Britton, RHP Dahian Santos (No. 11), RHP C.J. Van Eyk, 1B Rainer Nunez and OF Dasan Brown (No. 29).
Nov. 6: Blue Jays acquire LHP Brendon Little from Cubs for cash considerations; RHP Mitch White added to 40-man roster
Little comes to the Blue Jays as a lefty reliever with options, which is a fine place to start. The 27-year-old was a first-round pick in 2017, just one selection ahead of Nate Pearson (27th) and eventually transitioned to the bullpen. Last year with Triple-A Iowa, Little posted a 4.05 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 38 walks over 73 1/3 innings. Now on the 40-man roster, he represents some depth behind Tim Mayza and Genesis Cabrera.
