According to a source familiar with the Toronto Blue Jays’ thinking, their front office is not overly optimistic that they will be able to sign free-agent center fielder George Springer over the Mets.
While the source believes the Blue Jays will prepare a formidable offer to present to Springer, the organization is apparently not too confident he will choose them over New York. Keep in mind, Springer is a Connecticut native and played college baseball for the University of Connecticut. It has also been rumored that Springer wants to be closer to his family, which would make him and the Mets a match made in heaven.
But that’s not all; ESPN’s Jesse Rogers polled 20 executives around MLB earlier this week and 13 of them believe Springer will be a Met if they want him. “It comes to this, if the Mets want him they’re going to get him,” said one voter.
On Monday, ESPN insider Jeff Passan reported that league executives think it’s a two-team race between the Mets and Blue Jays for Springer’s services.
Toronto has been one of the most aggressive teams on a slow moving free-agent market as they’ve been linked to several other top names available including infielder DJ LeMahieu. If they are unable to land Springer, they could fall back on LeMahieu, who they’ve emerged as “significant players,” for as Passan noted. They could also add another star free-agent in a year where most clubs are cutting costs due to the financial fallout of COVID-19.
The 31-year-old Springer is coming off a stellar season in a shortened 2020 where he posted a 2.2 bWAR while slashing .265/.359/.540 with 14 home runs and 32 RBIs. Springer is a three time All-Star, MVP of the 2017 World Series, and finished seventh in the MVP voting in 2019.
Springer would be an immediate upgrade defensively for the Mets in center field over Brandon Nimmo, who was one of league’s worst with -5 defensive runs saved last season.
