Blue Jays acquire Gimenez to launch Plan B

Losing out on Soto was a positive in terms of financial flexibility

Blue Jays’ brass quite likely, very early in the process, perhaps even following their initial face-to-face meeting with free-agent Juan Soto and agent Scott Boras, in Los Angeles, realized they were not going to be major players in the Soto sweepstakes. It’s like being a distance runner, using all your best strategies, leading a marathon at the 20 mile mark, then looking over your shoulder and seeing the Kenyans making their move. In this case, that’s the Mets, Yankees and Dodgers. You know you strategized your best race, but “It’s over!” Throwing more money on top of Toronto’s quite legitimate opening bid for Soto was not going to move the needle to point north.

Stay the course, Blue Jays. Maybe the Shohei Ohtani experience a year ago, taught the negotiating group led by GM Ross Atkins how to handle failure and keep moving forward. No, being on your heels in sports is only good in speed-walking.

The Jays, throughout the entire Soto experience, have publicly, seemed quite comfortable being included as finalists by Boras and his emissaries, serious contenders, which, of course, helped drive up the eventual, record-setting total-value contract won by Mets’ owner Steve Cohen, 15 years, $765-million. Even in the wake of the Sunday night announcement, the Jays did not seem devastated and rudderless as they had been the year before, in missing the boat on Ohtani, who, for his part, had missed his flight to Pearson. For the Jays, it is now simply on to Plan B.

How’s that going? By Tuesday night, in the first 48 hours after the Yankees superstar took himself off the market by trading New York City boroughs, the Jays were ready to implement their own change of direction, acquiring a starting second baseman, taking the first steps towards a rapid rebuild.

What is Plan B: The steps to becoming a playoff contender.

How do you arrive at the new formula? Stating the obvious, it can be a combination of educated observation, combined with clues gleaned from the Jays’ unique form of corporate-speak (for which no Rosetta Stone exists). The Jays, emerging from a 74-88 record, now sans-Soto, knew they had to add to their hot-stove shopping list:

*one (1) veteran hitter at either second or third-base;

*one (1) powerful corner outfield bat;

*one (1) mid-rotation starter;

*one (1) veteran catcher capable of 65-90 starts behind the plate

*five (5) relievers, including three capable of late-inning leverage.

Veteran 2B or 3B addition: Done. The addition of Andres Gimenez, a Platinum Glove second-baseman with three straight Gold Gloves to his game and under contract through 2029, with a club option for ’30, easily fills that first requirement for Plan B.

Acquired from the Guardians on Tuesday, along with RH Nick Sandlin for IF Spencer Horwitz and OF Nick Mitchell, the 26-year-old Gimenez has totalled 80 steals in the past three years. He is not Roberto Alomar in terms of five tools, but the skillset and the position of need that he fills are similar and could make one dream. Note that stolen bases and baserunning are areas in which the Jays are below average.

Gimenez began his career with the Mets as a shortstop and was traded to Cleveland in the Francisco Lindor deal. An added positive to his acquisition by the Jays is that he becomes shortstop insurance to the Jays for 2026 and beyond, in the eventuality Bo Bichette leaves via free-agency, or is traded mid-season in 2025.

Don’t be surprised this coming spring, barring further Jays infield moves, to see a rough platoon situation at third base featuring rookie Will Wagner and veteran Ernie Clement, one of the three Gold Glove finalists at third base, in 2024. Wagner has more than 240 games at third base in college and pro ball.

Outfield bat: If they are not successful in acquiring a Plan B corner-power-hitter addition, the Jays 2025 outfield, while solid defensively in centre and right, would be among the worst offensive trios in MLB.

Daulton Varsho (shoulder) is out for at least the first month, rehabbing. George Springer will try his best to bounce back at the plate, while providing solid defence in right. Davis Schneider should now be considered mostly an OF/DH specialist, with very little defensive ability in left. That leaves Joey Loperfido and Nathan Lukes for left field and centre in March/April, as the top opening day possibilities, with Jonatan Clase as a longshot … unless Atkins adds that big bat. They will not contend without it.

Tapping into the resource of MLBTradeRumors.com for 2025 salary estimates, the Jays’ main target should be Anthony Santander (4yr/$80M). The switch-hitting 30-year-old hit 44 homers, with 102 RBIs for the O’s and would fit nicely into the Jays lineup batting cleanup behind Vlad Guerrero Jr. Sure, his walk rate is lower than league average, but you’re not paying the guy to NOT swing the bat.

Other free-agent corner outfielders that could fit Plan B: Teoscar Hernandez (3yr/$60M); DH/1B/OF Joc Pederson (2yr/$24M); Max Kepler; DH/OF J.D. Martinez; Alex Verdugo; Austin Hays. There will, of course, be other trade possibilities being discussed by Atkins, out of the spotlight.

Mid-rotation starter: It wasn’t always as simple and low as a mid-rotation starter for the Jays this winter. With Chris Bassitt in his final year, with Jose Berrios having an opt-out after ‘26, with Yariel Rodriguez still a rotation question mark and with Atkins suggesting any internal help for the rotation was likely a couple of years away, there had always been room for a top of the rotation pitcher. Even now, the Jays are in exploratory discussions with all the top tier starters, but, unfortunately, the recent higher-than-expected free-agent signings of Max Fried (Atl), Blake Snell (LAD), Nate Eovaldi (TX) and Luis Severino (Sac) at inflated prices to what had been predicted, has likely driven the Jays back into the shallower end of the FA pool, now seeking a veteran mid-rotation arm with good health and shorter term. There are multiple candidates and there may be sound reasons for waiting.

Chief among arms fitting that description on the starter FA market are names like RH Cal Quantrill, LH Andrew Heaney, RH Kyle Gibson, LH Jose Quintana, RH Spencer Turnbull, RH Mike Soroka and, dark-horse, RH Justin Verlander.

Of course, there is the speed bump, the coveted 23-year-old Japanese RH Roki Sasaki, who has begun the posting process to enter MLB and will be in negotiations for a 45-day period, able to make a decision, if he so chooses, in mid to late January. The Jays are a team of interest for Sasaki, because his entry deal will involve a reasonable contract, financially, because of his unique status, considered as an international amateur free agent and every team, in that regard, has similar money available. The Jays might, because of that possibility, wait until they see what happens to Sasaki. There will be useful starters still available, at that point.

Catcher: Aside from established No. 1 catcher Alejandro Kirk, the only other receivers on the Jays 40-man roster are Tyler Heineman and Nick Raposo.

But, there are 15 free-agent MLB catchers out there and unsigned, ages 30-38. The Jays need just one, who can effectively handle a pitching staff and provide a little bit of offence, with a history of starting at least 80 games in one season.

Bullpen arms: The signing of RH Yimi Garcia (2yr/$15M) and the trade for RH Nick Sandlin from the Guardians (est. $1.6M) bring the Jays’ slam-dunk-sure-to-be-there bullpen membership to five, joining Chad Green, Erik Swanson and Brendon Little. They will need three more relievers to complete the 8-man bullpen. But, if they were to sign another starter, that would naturally push Y-Rod from rotation to pen as a swing-man. That would then leave two spots.

Don’t forget, there were indications at the end of ’24 that they loved the versatility of LH Ryan Yarbrough, a forgotten free-agent who will likely be available in February.

The revamped bullpen already seems a lot less of a disaster. The high-leverage total now includes the trinity of Garcia, Green and Swanson. All three have had varying degrees of experience as a closer. Meanwhile, the Jays will continue to scour the marketplace for relief names like – LH A.J. Minter, RH Andrew Kittredge, RH Jeff Hoffman, RH Kirby Yates, RH David Robertson or RH Jonathan Loaisaga. Then there’s further possibilities on the trade market.

But, hey, it’s only December 11 and Plan B is a work in progress. Stay tuned. They can’t afford NOT to fill those needs if they want to contend.

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