The Toronto Blue Jays have failed to add an impact starter through free agency. With options dwindling, they could be desperate enough to overpay for a star.
While making predictions for the top remaining free agents, Just Baseball’s Ryan Finkelstein predicted that Nick Pivetta would leave the Boston Red Sox to join the Blue Jays. He predicted that Pivetta would sign a two-year, $40 million deal with an opt-out
“The downside to Pivetta is the fact that he has not finished any of the last four seasons with an ERA under 4.00, and teams will have to forfeit draft capital to sign him,” wrote Finkelstein. “If there is one team that might be desperate enough to not care about the draft capital at this stage of the offseason, it’s the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays have struck out on most major free agents, with a lot of their pursued targets having been attached to the QO.”
Pivetta has been with the Red Sox for just over four seasons. The Red Sox have added Garret Crochet this offseason and may not feel any urgency to re-sign Pivetta. Last season he had a 4.14 ERA in 26 starts. He struck out 172 batters.
The Blue Jays have continued to strike out with star free agents. They whiffed on Juan Soto this offseason and Shohei Ohtani in 2023. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette set to be free agents next year, the Blue Jays need to show they can commit to being competitive by signing free agents.