The Toronto Blue Jays endured a rough season in 2024. Instead of reaching the postseason for a third consecutive year, they ultimately posted a 74-88 record and finished at the bottom of the American League East.
The team has plans to contend in 2025, however, and make one last run with both Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. under contract for only one more year.
If they want to contend, they’ll need to add some pieces to their mix. Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report suggests that right-hander and former Cy Young Corbin Burnes would be a perfect fit for them.
“With Kevin Gausman and José Berríos already in their rotation, the Blue Jays arguably don’t need another top-of-the-rotation starter. Not as much as they need a star batsman, anyway, and it’s hard to ignore how perfect Bregman would be for them,” Rymer wrote.
“Yet whereas one hitter would only do so much to transform their offense, another ace-type starter would make Toronto’s rotation into a juggernaut. To this end, [Mark] Feinsand’s report claims that the Blue Jays are considered the favorite to sign Burnes.
Burnes went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA during the regular season with the Baltimore Orioles. He made 32 starts and pitched 194 1/3 innings, striking out 181 batters and posting a 1.10 WHIP.
The former Cy Young winner’s price tag is certainly going to be high, but Toronto needs to take a big swing if they want to be back in the postseason after their last place finish in 2024.
Toronto could then ride a powerful rotation and hope that it can carry them in 2025. We’ll see if Burnes ends up North of the border this winter.
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