O Blue Jays continue to be interested in Michael Brantley, writes Ken Rosenthal of Atlético. Toronto’s main free-field target remains George Springer, and Rosenthal suggests the possibility that the Jays will sign the two players. Springer and Brantley have spent the past two seasons as Astros’ teammates, and Brantley is very familiar with Jays President / CEO Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins of his time in Cleveland. Signing Springer and Brantley would be a little awkward on paper, since Toronto already has an abundance of designated / outfield hitting options. However, this could free the Jays to exchange one of their young internal outfielders for rotating aid, believes Rosenthal.
A little more about the sport:
- Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks It’s “ready to go“For the next season, bullpen coach Bryan Eversgerd told reporters (including Anne Rogers of MLB.com) This is good news after a setback in Hicks’ recovery from Tommy John’s surgery contributed to his choice to leave the 2020 season. The 24-year-old suffers from type 1 diabetes, who undoubtedly also played a role in that decision. . At 106.2 career entries between 2018-19, the fireballer pitched for an ERA of 3.47 behind an elite football rate of 62.3%.
- O Astros signed Ryne Stanek and Pedro Báez this winter. Even so, they would like to continue to increase their bullpen, ideally acquiring a closer traditional one, writes Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. “It’s something that I think we would all like to have, and it can certainly make you feel better about your bullpen than if you didn’t have someone who may have done it in the past, ”General manager James Click said of a definite ninth inning option. “However, there are always guys who take on this role every year. There are new closers every year, and our young talent on this list did an impressive job last season in taking on some roles that, if we’re being honest, I don’t think we thought they could be ready for, and our hand was forced by a series for different reasons.As Click alluded to, Houston’s bullpen was wiped out by injuries in 2020 and ranked just 24 in the league with a SIERA 4.55. One potential option is Brad Hand, with whom the club maintains contact, tweets Jon Morosi of MLB.com.