If there is one team in MLB working hard to return to relevancy and make a deep playoff run, it’s the Toronto Blue Jays.
Yes, they lost two very important contributors in Marcus Semien and Robbie Ray (an MVP candidate and the AL Cy Young, respectively), but they have also made some notable additions.
On Wednesday morning, the Blue Jays acquired third baseman Matt Chapman from the Oakland Athletics for right-hander Gunnar Hoglund, shortstop Kevin Smith, and left-handed pitchers Zach Logue, and Kirby Snead.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network is very impressed with the deal, and Toronto’s offseason as a whole.
“Today the Blue Jays look like the class of the AL East. Very tough division but Yankees and Red Sox look like 3rd/4th place teams at the moment,” Heyman tweeted.
Today the Blue Jays look like the class of the AL East. Very tough division but Yankees and Red Sox look like 3rd/4th place teams at the moment.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 16, 2022
Chapman didn’t have an explosive season in 2021, hitting .210 with 27 home runs, 75 runs, 72 RBI and a .717 OPS.
However, he remains in his prime, at 28, and had three straight seasons of at least a .800 OPS before 2021.
He should rebound in a much, much better lineup, surrounded by stars such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer, Teoscar Hernandez, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and others.
Chapman Is Just One Of Several Upgrades
The best thing of all, for the Blue Jays, is that Chapman is a very strong defensive player, one who will give a boost to the rest of the infield and to the pitching staff.
Chapman isn’t the only addition Toronto has made in the 2021-22 offseason.
They also brought in ace Kevin Gausman to replace Ray, and Yusei Kikuchi to give the rotation more depth.
Reliever Yimi Garcia will also help the bullpen.
All in all, the Jays appear to have leapfrogged the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees, and the Red Sox, and are looking like the favorites in the AL East.
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