The Toronto Blue Jays have already done extensive work on their pitching this offseason, and they may not be done yet.
After signing Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, as well as Shane Bieber picking up his option, the Blue Jays are already in a position to have a strong pitching staff next season. Many thought that GM Ross Atkins would shift focus to adding some more power to his lineup with both Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker on the team’s radar.
Yet, a new report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale is suggesting that the Jays could look to add yet another top-end free agent pitcher. This time, it would be one of the league’s top closers in Robert Suarez, who captured 40 saves with the San Diego Padres last season.
That was good enough for second in the MLB, behind only Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estévez, who finished with 42 saves.
“The defending American League champions have dominated the winter by locking down three starters with Cease, Shane Bieber, and Cody Ponce, and are hungry for more with outfielder Kyle Tucker and closer Robert Suarez on their radar,” wrote Nightengale.
The 34-year-old Suarez will not come cheap to whoever ends up signing him. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden has pegged his next deal to come in around $80 million on a five-year deal.
This shows the Blue Jays’ willingness to spend this offseason. Toronto has already committed a combined $240 million between Cease and Ponce, and could add another $150 to $450 million if they land one of Bichette or Tucker.
It would be a massive wake-up call for current Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman, who struggled mightily at times last year and gave up the game-tying home run in Game 7 of the World Series. If Suarez comes to Toronto, logic dictates that the team would need to find Hoffman another role.
The right-handed Suarez is one of the hardest-throwing relievers in all of baseball, carrying a 98 MPH fastball and coming off a career-low 5.9 per cent walk rate last season.
The Blue Jays are far from the only team that will be battling for the Venezuelan closer, as the LA Dodgers have also been heavily tied to Suarez this winter.