Latest Blue Jays rumors: Per Jeff Passan, Jon Heyman and Bob Nightingale
Here are the latest Toronto Blue Jays rumors as per ESPN's Jeff Passan, MLB Network's Jon Heyman and USA Today's Bob Nightingale.
The Toronto Blue Jays are apparently intrigued by another notable free agent as they are among "a half dozen teams" showing interest in closing pitcher Carlos Estevez, according to Jon Heyman of the MLB Network.
Jays are among a half dozen teams with interest in closer Carlos Estevez- Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 7, 2025
The 32-year-old right-hander posted a 2.45 ERA with 26 saves and 50 strikeouts over 55 innings with the Los Angeles Angels and Phillies in 2024.
Estevez was acquired by the Phillies in late July before the Trade Deadline.
The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic was an All-Star with the Angels in 2023 when he recorded 31 saves and a 3.90 ERA.
The interest makes perfect sense considering the Blue Jays lost longtime closer Jordan Romano this offseason.
They've brought back Yimi Garcia in free agency and will pair him with Erik Swanson and Chad Green.
Estevez would be a nice piece to help solidify the back-end for John Schneider's team.
Estevez has a career 4.21 ERA over 438 career appearances with the Colorado Rockies, Angels and Phillies dating back to 2016.
According to spanish MLB insider Héctor G�mez, the franchise has expressed interest in free-agent left-hander Jose Quintana.
Quintana is an underrated arm that performed well for the Mets last season: Through 170.1 innings last season, he posted a 3.75 ERA with 135 strikeouts.
At times, Quintana has shown flashes of greatness; it was only two years ago when he pitched to a 2.93 ERA, and in 2023, a rib stress fracture derailed what appeared to be a quality season.
If the Blue Jays were to sign Quintana, he would likely fight into their number five slot in the rotation behind Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios and Bowden Francis.
While fans were hoping for a stronger starting pitcher, Quintana has consistently had an ERA below 4.00 in his last three seasons.
Reports from Jeff Passan of ESPN and Bob Nightengale of USA Today suggest that Pete Alonso is likely to pivot to a short-term deal with one or more opt-outs. Nightengale says eight teams, including the Blue Jays and Red Sox, have at least some level of interest.
The Blue Jays and Red Sox are also fairly inelegant fits. The Jays have Vladimir Guerrero Jr as their everyday first baseman.
He is capable of playing third base but only has 14 appearances there over the past five years, most of those coming as the Jays were playing out the string in 2024.
With Guerrero slated for free agency next winter, perhaps he and Alonso could share first base and DH for a year with Alonso taking over first in 2026, though it would be a clunky fit for the 2025 season.
The Jays also hope to extend Guerrero, which would be complicated by bringing Alonso into the fold.
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