I don’t know how much the Blue Jays want to spend this winter. I don’t know how much money spent will be on youngsters like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Alek Manoah.
I don’t know how much money will be invested on the mound, which must be a priority in the Queen City.
But what I do know is that if I was in the shoes of the Toronto administration, I would keep an eye on free agent Brandon Nimmo. Why?
Because Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez will be free in a year and because George Springer’s multiple injuries force the Blue Jays to be cautious in his case.
The way I see it, Springer will one day have to play on the right to be “saved” physically and on the left, the Jays could keep either Teoscar or Lourdes.
I would keep Teoscar and I would exchange Lourdes before losing it for nothing, but that’s another debate for another moment.
In short. My point is that sooner or later the Blue Jays will have to organize themselves to get a center fielder for the future.
And Brandon Nimmo, he ticks a lot of boxes.
Scott Boras’ client, who could earn a good amount ($100 million), knows he will be a coveted man. Will not seeing the Mets negotiate with him last winter cause him to leave? I do not know.
But what I do know is that Nimmo is one of the few good center fielders out there. In addition :
- He hits from the left.
- He can play in the center, but also in the corners.
- He remained healthy in 2022.
- He is a first hitter.
He posted a .274/.367/.433 batting line last year and drove in 64 runs as a first batter. He is also seen as a guy who helps the Mets’ team culture.
Seems to me like that would be a good catch to make sure you keep a nice balance in the outfield for the long haul, right? Being proactive couldn’t hurt.
