The Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners recently pulled off the first blockbuster trade of the offseason.
Toronto sent All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernandez to the Mariners in exchange for right-hander Erik Swanson and lefty pitching prospect Adam Macko.
The Blue Jays have checked one item off of their offseason to-do list, acquiring a reliever to bolster their bullpen.
Now, they turn their attention to other needs.
Blue Jays insider Ben Nicholson-Smith outlined what the Blue Jays still need to accomplish after making the trade, citing starting pitching as a need, as well as another outfield bat to replace Hernandez and to address the catcher situation.
#BlueJays were seen as aggressive in the relief market last week. Speculation, but possible that changes with Swanson in place. Could sit back a bit
But OF is a real need for Jays now, & they still need 1-2 SP. Plus weighing catcher trades. And Jays should def be able to spend.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) November 16, 2022
Blue Jays Remaining Needs
While the Blue Jays got some good pieces in return, they’ll need to fill the hole in the outfield left by Hernandez’s departure.
It’s always possible that Toronto could pivot to Mitch Haniger, who has spent five out of his six seasons in Seattle and is now a free agent.
They could also look to target Andrew Benintendi, Joey Gallo, Brandon Nimmo, or even Trey Mancini.
Starting pitching is a big need for the team as well.
Toronto currently possesses three catchers in All-Star Alejandro Kirk, Danny Jansen, and rookie Gabriel Moreno.
With teams such as the Cleveland Guardians and St. Louis Cardinals in search of a catcher, Toronto could potentially trade away Jansen and get something in return to fill their needs.
Toronto finished the regular season with a 92-70 record and earned the top Wild Card spot in the American League, but were eliminated in the first round by the Mariners.
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Tom Dyson says
Curt, don’t hold your breath about the Cardinals trading for Jansen, Though he had a decent year, repeatability is not high. The Cardinals would want to trade for Kirk or Moreno. Cards may be able to cough up Nootbar, O’Niel or Liberatore. If Moreno, that I can see an added minor league piece.