Blue Jays Morning Brew: Podcast 100, off-season notes
Toronto Blue Jays’ notes and extras for Monday, December 5th
The Blue Jays are kicking off the MLB winter meetings with some early activity, signing free agent Steve Pearce and remaining linked to Mitch Moreland.
This plan of attack mirrors the Blue Jays’ approach to the early days of free agency, where they jumped the market by signing Kendrys Morales and also locked up young Cuban prospect Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Here is some additional Blue Jays content to catch up on this busy Monday:
Jays Nest Podcast, Ep. 100!
To celebrate the 100th episode of the Jays Nest Podcast, Shaun Doyle of Jays From the Couch and I welcomed two special guests to the show.
Ryan Borucki, the Blue Jays’ top left-handed pitching prospect who was just added to the 40-man roster, joins us in the first half of the show to talk about how he’s overcome injuries in his young career, how he found out about his 40-man roster addition, his short-lived career as an off-season basketball coach, and much, much more.
Anthony Alford then joins us later in the show! The Blue Jays’ top outfield prospect gives some very interesting insight into his 2016 season and the value of struggling. The “old soul” Alford also touches on his concussion last year and how he attacks the art of stealing bases.
We hit both Alford and Borucki with some “rapid fire” questions at the end to help you get to know these top prospects a little better. Enjoy the episode and subscribe below to get episode 101 delivered directly to your mobile device next week!
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Encarnacion updates
Edwin Encarnacion‘s free agency is quickly gaining momentum… down a slippery slope. Between the draft pick attached to his name and a shrinking number of teams in need of a 1B/DH type, it’s possible that Encarnacion’s market drags on and comes in at an unexpectedly low number. Ken Rosenthal offered the following thought on Monday morning:
“Will Encarnacion land the four- or five-year contract he is seeking? At this point, it seems doubtful. A shorter term at a high average annual value might be more realistic — and securing even that type of contract won’t be easy.”
Benoit to Philadelphia
Joaquin Benoit is headed to the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Jim Salisbury. The veteran right-hander was a calming presence in the Toronto bullpen last season after coming over from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Drew Storen.
A signing like Benoit fits the Phillies well in that it allows them to solidify their bullpen and gives them a likely trade chip at the 2017 deadline.
WBC
The World Baseball Classic sits on the horizon as a beacon of baseball hope, bringing fans even closer to “meaningful baseball” than opening day.
Over at BP Toronto, Nick Dika looks at which Toronto Blue Jays could be on WBC rosters so that you can chart out your viewing schedules accordingly.
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