Non-tenders give Blue Jays new targets to consider
By: Andrew Hendriks
Canadian Baseball Network
With 2016’s non-tender deadline having come and gone, the Toronto Blue Jays may look to supplement their roster with those left exposed following its passing.
In short, Major league clubs had until 8PM on Friday night to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players. If they failed to do so, that player immediately became a free agent, thus rendering himself available on the open market ahead of the upcoming Winter Meetings in Maryland.
Of the many individuals who found themselves eligible for salary arbitration in 2017, 25 were left exposed when the deadline passed on Friday.
Who could Toronto be looking at?
Current areas of need include a backup for Russell Martin behind the dish, additional outfield support, and, following the departure of Brett Cecil earlier this month, further reinforcements in a Blue Jays bullpen that also lost both Joaquin Benoit and Scott Feldman to free agency earlier in the year.
After being claimed on waivers at the beginning of last season, veteran right-hander Vance Worley was non-tendered by the Orioles on Friday. Worley, 29, is two seasons removed from recording an impressive 2014 campaign that saw the former 3rd round pick pitch to an ERA of 2.85 across 110.2 innings with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Used primarily as a reliever in 2016, Worley got into 35 games and struck out 56 batters over 86 and 2/3rd’s innings of work. If there is an area of concern, it would likely come in the form of the long ball as the recently declared free agent allowed 11 in 2016. This was one off his career high in 46 and a third fewer innings.
Having established career highs in starts (33), innings pitched (196) and strikeouts (212) in 2015, San Diego’s Tyson Ross was primed for a big showing last season. Unfortunately, the 29-year-old righty was sidelined with shoulder issues after appearing in only one game with the Padres last April and failing to take the hill for the remainder of the year.
Despite the injury, Ross pocketed $9.625M in 2016 and his shoulder concerns, coupled with a drop in velocity prior to the injury likely played a role in leading to being non-tendered on Friday. Having undergone thoracic outlet surgery in October, Ross, who will be a free agent in 2018, could garner a look as a reliever next season. But at what cost?
When Ben Revere was shipped to the Nationals in exchange for Drew Storen last January, many in Toronto were perplexed by the move as it left the Blue Jays void of a true leadoff hitter. Both Storen and Revere posted less-than-ideal showings for their new clubs. After recording an ERA north of six through 38 games with Toronto, Storen was flipped to the Mariners in exchange for Benoit prior to July’s non-waiver trade deadline.
Meanwhile, Revere stayed in Washington where the 28-year-old struggled en route to posting an overall slash line of .217/.260/.300 over 375 plate appearances with the Nationals.
Having earned $6.25M in 2016, the arbitration eligible Revere was non-tendered by the Nationals on Friday and hits free agency as one of the more interesting leadoff types available this winter. A left-handed swinging leadoff type, to be specific.
As it’s constructed now, Toronto’s lineup is predominately right-handed and would certainly benefit from the addition of a proven leadoff man like Revere.
Other notables that were non-tendered on Friday and could be of interest for the Blue Jays include lefties in Cody Ege and Jacob Lindgren as well as catchers Ramon Cabrera and Wellington Castillo.
On the homefront, Toronto employs a quartet of players who are eligible for arbitration this winter, all of which received new contract offers from the team on Friday.
Headlined by 25-year-old right-handed starter Marcus Stroman, that list also includes utility infielder Darwin Barney, left-handed reliever Aaron Loup and outfielder Ezequiel Carrera.
As for the pitchers, Stroman was a lock to receive a pay increase however given a string of inconsistent play that dates back to the end of the 2014 campaign, Toronto could have rolled the dice on Loup.
Arbitration eligible, the former bullpen stalwart is set to receive a pay raise despite his spotty work over the past two seasons, however, it's worth noting that the Blue Jays in dire need of a reliable southpaw out of the pen and Loup has held left-handed hitters to an OBA of .209 over 339 career at-bats.
With regards to the position players, Barney and Carrera are nice luxuries to have but the pair could be seen as redundant given the fact that Toronto already employs a smooth fielding utility man in Ryan Goins and remains rumored to be in the market for another left-handed swinging outfielder this winter.
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