Previewing the Free-Agent Names the Blue Jays Should Be Chasing This Offseason

After dropping their last two series, the Toronto Blue Jays have all but faded out of playoff contention. Entering play on Thursday, the Blue Jays were six games out of the second wild-card spot in the American League with just 11 left games left to play. Adding salt to the wound, Toronto’s loss on Tuesday allowed the Baltimore Orioles to clinch the AL East.

With that being said, let’s fast-forward to the offseason and take a look at some of the free agents the Blue Jays should pursue in order to have a better chance of contending next season.

Keep in mind that Toronto has a club policy that prohibits the team from offering free agents a contract exceeding five years. This means that the Blue Jays are highly unlikely to land any of the top free agents available this winter, such as Max Scherzer, Hanley Ramirez and Jon Lester.

During his tenure as general manager of the Blue Jays, some of the notable free agents that Alex Anthopoulos has signed have been Melky Cabrera (two years, $16 million), Dioner Navarro (two years, $8 million) and Maicer Izturis (three years, $9 million). So it’s unrealistic to expect Anthopoulos to suddenly start signing big-name free agents to huge contracts.

Here is a quick preview of some affordable free agents Toronto needs to be chasing in the offseason.

Michael Cuddyer, Infielder/Outfielder

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Michael Cuddyer would be an interesting addition for the Blue Jays.

The right-handed batter has an overall slash line of .304/.359/.515 since the 2012 season. Although, it’s worth keeping in mind that he’s played at the hitter-friendly Coors Field during that span.

Defensively, the 35-year-old Cuddyer can play first base and in one of the corner outfield spots. Playing in the AL would also allow him to get some at-bats in the designated hitter spot.

It shouldn’t take more than a two-year deal to sign Cuddyer. Due to his age and injury history (only 271 games played since 2012), Cuddyer likely won’t be an everyday player in the future. But his bat and versatility still make him a valuable piece.

If the Blue Jays decide to bring back Adam Lind in a platoon role next season, Cuddyer—a .290 career-hitter against lefty pitching—could be a perfect complement to that platoon.

Andrew Miller, LHP

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Andrew Miller would likely be one of the more expensive players on this list, but the Blue Jays need to spend the money after getting a mediocre performance from their bullpen throughout the 2014 season.

Toronto’s relief corps posted a combined ERA of 4.15 this year, ranking 24th in the major leagues. The 29-year-old Miller, meanwhile, had a terrific season and posted a 1.96 ERA in 59.2 innings pitched. The left-handed pitcher also averaged a whopping 14.9 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, showing just how dominant he was.

The Blue Jays will have to rebuild a significant portion of their bullpen this offseason. Sergio Santos and Dustin McGowan both have options that might not be picked up. Casey Janssen will be a free agent. Aaron Sanchez will likely be shifted to the starting rotation next season. Signing Miller will go a long way toward ensuring that the team’s bullpen will be much better in 2015.

While he’ll be looking for a multi-year deal, Miller’s lack of closing experience could end up lowering his value, making him an affordable option for Toronto.

Alberto Callaspo, Infielder

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The Blue Jays need a lot of infield help, especially at second base, where the team has had a revolving door all season long. While Alberto Callaspo isn’t a star player by any means, he would still be an upgrade over some of the players who manned the infield for Toronto in 2014.

The 31-year-old Callaspo had a down year with the bat this season, hitting just .228. But he’s a career .267/.331/.371 hitter. Callaspo also has a knack for making contact and struck out just 49 times in 394 at-bats this year.

Defensively, Callaspo has seen time at first base, second base and third base this season. This flexibility would serve the Blue Jays well, especially during late-game situations where substitutions are required. The fact that Callaspo is a switch-hitter only adds to his versatility.

Like with Michael Cuddyer, a two-year deal should be enough to sign Callaspo to a contract.

Pat Neshek, RHP

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Signing a veteran reliever like Pat Neshek would provide a huge boost to the Blue Jays' bullpen in 2015.

The right-handed Neshek had a minuscule 1.41 ERA in 63.2 innings pitched this season. He also racked up 25 holds and six saves while mostly pitching in a setup role.

The 34-year-old Neshek also has previous experience pitching in the AL, spending time with the Minnesota Twins and the Oakland A’s in the past.

Toronto began the 2014 season relying on Steve Delabar and Sergio Santos to pitch during high-leverage situations. That arrangement didn’t work out, as Delabar was demoted to the minors after posting a 4.91 ERA. Santos was designated for assignment after he posted an 8.57 ERA in 21 innings. Having Neshek in their bullpen will give the Blue Jays a reliable arm to pitch in late-game situations during the 2015 season.

Neshek’s age and lack of closing experience will certainly drop his value compared to some of the other relievers on the free-agent market. This might allow the Blue Jays to fit him in their budget.

All stats are from Baseball-Reference.com. Stats are current entering play on September 17, 2014.