Updated Post – Dec. 27 at 11:32 AM
The Toronto Blue Jays continue their post-Christmas activity with the addition of utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Robert Murray of Fansided reports the deal is for two-years, $15 million with incentives that can bring it up to $16 million.
IKF is a career .660 OPS hitter in 647 games between the Texas Rangers and Yankees. His value (10.1 bWAR) comes from his ability to play every position but first base and he even tossed four innings in 2023.
IKF has also stolen 74 bases during his career, including a career-high 22 in 2022 with the Yankees.
Original Post – Dec. 26 at 2:29 PM
Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier will return to the Toronto Blue Jays on a one-year, $10.5 million deal, according to Mark Feinsand and Bob Nightengale.
The 34-year-old is coming off winning his fourth Gold Glove in center last season while posting one of his more consistent offensive stat lines of the last half-decade. He slashed .265/.322/.419/.741 with 14 stolen bases and a 104 OPS+.
The Blue Jays had previously shown interest in Cody Bellinger, who can play center field at a high level. Nightengale says the team still has that interest despite re-signing Kiermaier.
While Kiermaier will likely start the majority of the Blue Jays’ games in center (he played in 129 games and had 409 plate appearances in 2023), his $10 million for one year likely brings up the price of similar defense-first outfielders, which the Mets are looking for.
Michael A. Taylor, who the Mets were reportedly in contact with, posted a similar season at the plate (with a little more power and less contact) while being nearly as strong in the outfield. There’s no word if the Mets are still looking for a fourth outfielder after trading for Tyrone Taylor from the Brewers, though they should still look for depth in the outfield. (They also signed Trayce Thompson to a minor-league deal, but neither Thompson nor Tyrone Taylor give you the confidence that you can take an injury to an outfielder.)
Read our free agent profile of Kevin Kiermaier for a deeper look.
