Toronto has already been a major player in free agency this season, although the additions have come on the pitching side. The club picked up one of the best starters on the market in right-handed Dylan stops. They shut down the reliever Tyler Rogers on a three-year contract. In a year that saw the arrival of several intriguing weapons from abroad, the Blue Jays landed one of the top upside options Cody Ponce. Toronto is bound to have some of the largest bats on the market, including Kyle Tucker, Cody BellingerAnd Bo Bichette. Bregman now joins that esteemed group.
Boston is reportedly pushing for a Bregman reunion. The third baseman signed a three-year, $120 million contract with the club after one season. He had a strong campaign with the Red Sox, providing mediocre punch paired with steady glovework. Chicago is back in the mix after falling short last year. The Cubs reportedly offered Bregman a four-year contract last offseason, although the overall value fell short of his deal with the Red Sox. The Diamondbacks recently entered the race for Bregman. Arizona seems like a long shot to land the Stallion free agent, but the club does have an opening after the trade Eugenio Suarez on the deadline.
Toronto’s current plan at third base appears to be a combination of Addison Barger, Ernie ClemensAnd Davis Schneider. Clement is placed at second base while Bichette hits the market. Barger is the best option for third base duties, at least against righties. Schneider could pick up reps at second base against lefties, while Clement slid to third base. Infielders JoJo Parker And Arjun Nimmala are among Toronto’s top players, although they are unlikely to contribute at the big league level for a few more years.
The Blue Jays’ third basemen ranked 10th in OPS last season. Clement and Barger split the role fairly evenly Will Wagner And Isiah Kiner Fear occasionally he got involved. Barger emerged as a crucial cog in the middle of the lineup, launching 21 home runs in his first extended stint at the major league level. Clement bounced around the infield and saw time in all four spots. He played in a career-high 157 games and posted league-average numbers at the plate. Clement also set a postseason record with 30 hits. Third base isn’t a position that looks like a glaring weakness, but taking a longer-term view of the roster makes Bregman a wiser choice. George Springer And Daulton Varsho are both free agents after 2026. Their potential departures would open up outfield and DH opportunities for Barger, Schneider and company.
While Clement and Barger are solid players, Toronto would have no problem reshuffling the lineup to make room for an addition like Bregman. The 31-year-old has a career high of 133 wRC+. After three consecutive seasons with at least 23 home runs, Bregman hit 18 in 114 games in his lone season in Boston. A quad strain took him a month and a half, but he was on track to maintain his stock power numbers. Bregman was worth +3 outs above average last year. He now stands at +18 over the past five seasons.
The additions of Cease and Rogers, among others, pushed Toronto’s estimated salary to about $272 million per month. Grid source. That’s already $14 million above the club’s 2025 cap. It’s far more than the Blue Jays’ 2024 payroll of $217 million. It’s a new level of spending for a team that just missed out on winning big last year.
Photo courtesy of Brad Penner, Imagn Images
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