The Blue Jays hope to solve their defensive problems by signing four-time Gold Glover Andrelton Simmons, a Los Angeles Angels free agent.

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Francisco Lindor’s hasn’t been mentioned this often north of the border since he hit .368 in the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Cleveland Indians shortstop is the “hot name” to be the next shortstop of your Toronto Blue Jays. Lindor is under control for one more year before he hitting free agency.

The current free agent market is where the Jays should look. There are options at short in former Oakland A’s Marcus Semien, smooth fielding Andrelton Simmons, late of the Los Angeles Angels and former Cincinnati Red Freddie Galvis.

Semien, who hit 33 homers in 2019, is 29, while Simmons and Galvis, who made 103 starts at short for the Jays in 2019, are both 31.

Simmons is the best fit for the Jays and the Rogers Centre turf. Lindor would cost prospect capital and money -- to keep him here long term. Simmons will cost money. Period.

No one knows for sure the date that the ball park will re-open. Yet, the Blue Jays are planning for a 2021 season, as they should. There is no sense in sprucing up the building, as they could be in Buffalo again. Yet this off season is rolling along like any other, as president Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins try to upgrade their team’s ability to field the ball.

Simmons, who was making the prorated portion of $15 million US in 2020, opted out of his contract on Sept. 22, due to the COVID-19 virus concerns, missing the final four games of the season. He’s ready to play in 2021.

The four-time, Gold Glove winner with the Atlanta Braves and the Angels, hit .297 with seven doubles, 10 RBIs and an OPS .702 in 30 games this season. He had an early-season injury (left ankle) which cost him time as well.

He was an acrobat with the Braves, although we did not see much of him this season. Not familiar with his glove? Crank up the Google machine. I did. Think there were only about 15 links to You Tube for you to take a look at the native of Curacao’s range.

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Throw it around: When the Blue Jays placed steady Galvis on waivers in early August of 2019, the infield looked like this:

_ 1B Justin Smoak.

_ 2B Cavan Biggio.

_ 3B Vladimir Guerrero and

_ SS Bo Bichette.

A week later a scout asked if I wanted to know the Jays infield for 2020.

Sure.

He said “Guerrero at first,” (which happened), Bichette at second, (which hasn’t happened. but could) and Biggio at third (where he has spent some time).”

“And the shortstop is ...?” I asked.

“The guy they got rid of ... Glavis would have been a perfect fit,” the evaluator said.

Well, it appears as if the Jays deep thinkers think the best way to improve their defence is to add a former Gold Glover. So the new infield could look like this:

_ Guerrero, who moved to first where he made 34 starts in the 60-game schedule and had 23 starts at DH.

_ Bichette at second, where Biggio started 32 games in 2020.

_ Either Travis Shaw or Biggio at third. Biggio started 10 games at third, while Shaw led the way with 32 starts.

_ And probably Simmons at short. Simmons won a National League Platinum Glove (2013) as well as the 2015 Wilson over-all defensive player (2015), plus five Wilson defensive player honours.

The Braves dealt Simmons and minor leaguer Jose Briceno in November of 2015, to the Angels for Erick Aybar plus top prospects Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis.

Elliott: Jays interested in free agent shortstop Andrelton Simmons