08:36: The Jays are a finalist for Yates, but have no agreement yet, tweets The athletic Ken Rosenthal. Heyman further tweets that Yates “leans” toward the Blue Jays, but has yet to formally agree to anything.
08:28: Free Agent Illuminator Kirby Yates He is said to be approaching a decision earlier this week, and Scott Mitchell of TSN reports this morning, Yates is’ solid ‘on the Blue Jays’ radar. Yates is expected to meet with team officials at the organization’s Spring Training complex in Dunedin, Florida, per Mitchell, adding that he said Yates was not just “visiting.” Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets that Yates and the Jays are close to an agreement.
Yates played in just six games last season before undergoing surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow – a procedure that put an end to the already truncated 2020 season for the former All-Star. The 33-year-old Yates (in March 34) similarly meteorically transitioned from relinquishment to dominant enlightenment as the former Padres teammate. Brad Hand and new White Sox approaching Liam Hendriks.
After a strong first season in 2017 in San Diego, Yates added a splinter to his arsenal and watched his career begin; in 2018-19, Yates led all qualified relief with a 1.67 ERA and finished third with a 2.14 SIERA over the life of 123 2/3 overs. Along the way, he hit a whopping 38.7 percent of the hits he faced, while running just 6.1 percent of the opponents. Only among qualified MLB lighters Josh Hader and Edwin Diaz did him above K-BB% above at that time.
The Blue Jays got the results of their bullpen in the middle of the pack in 2020, but quietly enjoyed strong performances from unexplained members of the auxiliary corps. Rookie Jordan Romano, returned after not keeping up with the Rangers after the Rule 5 draft, but allowed just two runs in 14 2/3 overs while hitting 21 of the 57 batsmen he faced. Former puppies right Rafael DolisMeanwhile, he joined the Jays after an impressive run in Japan and yielded only four earnings in 24 overs while hitting 31 of the 100 hits he encountered. Tom Hatch and Julian Merryweather, obtained in various industries of David Phelps and Josh Donaldson, gave both the Jays reason for optimism, as also in their MLB debuts.
Encouraging as some of these performances were possible, the Jays did not have experienced arms at the back of their bullpen. Ken Giles, who entered the 2020 season as the closest to Toronto, missed almost the entire year due to the Tommy John operation and is now a free agent. Veteran law Anthony Bass, one of the team’s most reliable options in 2020, is currently also a free agent.
Toronto reportedly agreed with the right-hand man Tyler Chatwood, another bull candidate, just last night. It still looks likely that the Jays, who have been linked with countless free agents this winter as one of the few clubs actually willing to spend significant money, will make further additions to the Bulls, even if an agreement is reached with Yates in the end. together. These are especially beginner turn-lighters Anthony Kay and Ryan Borucki is the only leftist in the Toronto bullpen. While Borucki is likely to make the club due to a lack of small league options, Kay has struggled to get an ERA north of 5.00 due to an inflated rate of 14 percent in 2020 and there are still small league options left.