The 2023 MLB offseason has begun, and seven Toronto Blue Jays players have recently become free agents. Matt Chapman, Whit Merrifield, Brandon Belt, and Kevin Kiermaier are a few examples. The Toronto Blue Jays are in the midst of a frantic offseason in which they are attempting to replace free agents.
In addition, 13 players are eligible for arbitration. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jordan Romano, Cavan Biggio, Danny Jansen, Daulton Varsho, and Erik Swanson are among the notables. MLB Trade Rumours has officially released their annual pay forecasts for players who will be eligible for arbitration this offseason. That being said, let’s take a look at three players and their contracts before the start of the 2024 MLB season.
Three Blue Jays Players That Are Eligible for Arbitration
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is one of the most well-known players in the Blue Jays organisation. Guerrero’s pay for the 2023 season is expected to be around $14.5 million. According to MLB Trade Rumours, his salary in the 2024 season will be $20.4 million.
The 24-year-old first baseman had a.264 batting average and a.788 on-base plus slugging percentage. This season, he hit 26 home runs and drove in 94 runs.
Guerrero has had a number of successes this season. Guerrero hit 25 home runs during the July All-Star Games. This meant he defeated Randy Arozarena, giving him the title of Home Run Derby Champion. Vladimir Guerrero Sr., his father, had already won the Homeb Run Derby in 2007, having Guerrero Jr. continue the legacy.
Guerrero had numerous highs in the 2023 season, but he also endured a lot of lows. He appeared to have hitting troubles at times. His totals are all lower than the previous season, when he had 27 home runs and 97 runs batted in. Furthermore, Guerrero’s numbers have dropped drastically since 2021, when he had 48 home runs and 111 RBI.
Overall, Guerrero has demonstrated that he is deserving of a berth among the Blue Jays’ top players. The only question is if his performance during the 2023 season warrants a $6 million rise.
Jordan Romano
Jordan Romano is a Rule 5 Draught returner for Toronto. He did not appear on the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster in 2019, making him eligible for the Rule 5 Draught. The Chicago White Sox selected him third overall. The White Sox immediately dealt him to the Texas Rangers in exchange for cash. He was then returned to the Blue Jays in March of 2019.
Romano’s salary for the 2023 season was around $4.53. According to MLB Trade Rumours, his salary in the 2024 season will be $7.7 million. Throughout the season, the 30-year-old reliever had an earned run average of 2.90 and 36 saves. Throughout the season, he struck out 72 batters in 59 innings pitched.
In August, Romano was assigned to the AAA Buffalo Bisons for rehab. Romano had been suffering with lower back pain since being forced to withdraw from the All-Star game. Within two weeks, Romano was back on the roster, giving the Blue Jays the option to send Nate Pearson to Buffalo.
Despite the fact that Romano is not as effective as the team requires, he remains one of the top closers in the MLB. With that being said, he will be a key player in helping the Jays get to the playoffs next season.
Romano’s salary for the 2023 season was around $4.53. According to MLB Trade Rumours, his salary in the 2024 season will be $7.7 million. Throughout the season, the 30-year-old reliever had an earned run average of 2.90 and 36 saves. Throughout the season, he struck out 72 batters in 59 innings pitched.
In August, Romano was assigned to the AAA Buffalo Bisons for rehab. Romano had been suffering with lower back pain since being forced to withdraw from the All-Star game. Within two weeks, Romano was back on the roster, giving the Blue Jays the option to send Nate Pearson to Buffalo.
Despite the fact that Romano is not as effective as the team requires, he remains one of the top closers in the MLB. With that being said, he will be a key player in helping the Jays get to the playoffs next season.
Danny Jansen
Danny Jansen is one of numerous Blue Jays players set to become free agents in 2025. Jansen was chosen by the Blue Jays in the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draught. In 2018, he made his MLB debut. Jansen’s compensation for the 2023 season was around $3.5 million. According to MLB Trade Rumours, his compensation in the 2024 season will be around $5.2 million.
The 28-year-old catcher batted.228 and had a.786 on-base plus slugging percentage. Jansen had 17 home runs and 53 runs batted in during the previous season.
Jansen was one of the Blue Jays’ poorest performers this season. Despite being a fantastic catcher, Jansen always seems to get hit by pitches when up at-bat. In September, Jansen was hit by a ball, giving him a fracture on his middle finger. Tyler Heineman was then called up to replace him for the rest of the season.
Jansen has proved multiple times this season that he is worthy of a salary increase. He has been effectively working and communicating with the pitchers to try and produce the best results for the team. Jansen is a player whose level of skill would be hard to replace.
In conclusion, all three players deserve a salary raise, some players are worthy of a larger raise than others. They each have shown their skill and effectiveness in assisting the Blue Jays to a playoff spot. Now, we just wait to see if the players decide if they are going to avoid going into arbitration.
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