Blue Jays Verify Off a Pair of Gloves on their Winter Buying Record

The greatest protection is an effective offense. As a lot because the pacifist in me hates to confess it, the previous platitude is true. Many have tried to flip this common saying in a sports context, suggesting as an alternative that the very best offense is an effective protection, however that’s simply patently false. No matter how terrific a workforce’s run prevention skills could also be, they’ll’t win a ballgame with out scoring no less than as soon as. Conversely, it doesn’t matter what number of runs a workforce concedes so long as their offense can rating much more. As such, I’d embrace the strategic offensive precept of battle (or ought to I say WAR) extra readily than I’d settle for its antimetabole.

Nevertheless, Kevin Kiermaier and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are the sorts of gamers who make the patently false appear true. Kiermaier is the best middle fielder of the trendy statistical period; no different outfielder comes inside 10 factors of him in both DRS or OAA. His protection makes a convincing argument that gamers ought to earn bonus factors for unattainable catches and spectacular throws.

Kiner-Falefa, in the meantime, is the consummate image of defensive versatility. He’s the primary participant because the flip of the twentieth century to play no less than 50 profession video games at catcher, shortstop, and within the outfield – to not point out 154 video games at third base, 21 appearances at second, and 4 innings pitched because the cherry on high. In 2018, a then-23-year-old Kiner-Falefa turned the primary participant to begin a number of video games at catcher and shortstop in the identical season since Dave Roberts (not that Dave Roberts) and Derrel Thomas in 1980. Add in the truth that he additionally began a number of video games at second and third base the identical yr, and he’s the primary participant to have completed all that since Marty Martinez in 1968.

In reality, the one different lively participant with no less than 40 profession video games performed in middle area and behind the dish is Kiner-Falefa’s new teammate Daulton Varsho. Funnily sufficient, the Blue Jays may area a beginning lineup that includes 4 catchers on any given day subsequent season – all of whom are nonetheless below 30 years previous. And after profitable the Team Gold Glove in 2023, the Blue Jays are emphasizing protection as soon as once more. On December 28, Kiermaier formally re-signed with the membership on a one-year, $10.5 million deal. The following day, Kiner-Falefa’s two-year, $15 million pact turned official as properly. Presumably, Kiermaier will resume his duties as the first middle fielder, whereas Kiner-Falefa will tackle a superutility position, backing up practically each place on the diamond.

Here’s what I needed to say about Kiermaier earlier this winter as a part of our Top 50 Free Agents record:

After a decade with the Rays, Kiermaier signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Blue Jays to be one-third of the workforce’s all-center-fielder outfield plan. The three-time (now four-time) Gold Glove winner was all the things the Jays may have hoped he could be and extra; his protection was nonetheless elite in his age-33 marketing campaign, and he had his greatest season on the plate since 2017.

Kiermaier led AL outfielders in OAA and completed second solely to teammate Daulton Varsho in DRS. On high of that, he posted a 104 wRC+ because of barely above-average numbers in all three triple-slash classes. His 21.1% strikeout price was his lowest in seven years, and he made probably the most of his pace, too, going 14-for-15 when swiping bases, the very best stolen base success price of his profession. Best of all, the oft-injured outfielder largely managed to keep away from the IL, lacking simply 11 days in August with a deep lower in his elbow. He performed 129 video games and 981.1 innings within the outfield, his most since 2019 and solely the third time in his profession he has performed a lot in a single season.

In addition to his $9 million assure, Kiermaier’s final contract included a $750,000 bonus for an undisclosed variety of days spent on the lively roster, an incentive he most probably acquired. Thus, accounting for inflation, his new deal is hardly a increase in any respect, somewhat shocking given his wonderful 2023 marketing campaign. Nonetheless, he appears thrilled to be again in Toronto, and the Blue Jays appear glad to have him – particularly at that worth.

Steamer and ZiPS agree that Kiermaier is due for some regression on the plate, however regardless, an important factor the veteran proved this previous season is that he can keep on the sphere lengthy sufficient to be his workforce’s major middle fielder. As lengthy as he retains himself wholesome, his glove can be an asset in Toronto’s outfield. And if he doesn’t? Well, no less than the Blue Jays simply added one other succesful middle fielder.

Unlike Kiermaier, Kiner-Falefa had a down yr in 2023. After averaging 1.8 WAR per 162 from 2020-22, he was price simply 0.2 WAR in 115 video games this previous season. On the offensive aspect, he added a little bit of energy to his profile however struck out extra typically than he has in years. The finish end result was an 82 wRC+, only a tick above his profession 81 mark. He additionally registered unfavourable baserunning worth for the primary time in three seasons, maybe as a result of his dash pace dropped from the 79th to the 59th percentile.

On the intense aspect, Kiner-Falefa flexed his defensive versatility, taking part in outfield for the primary time in his massive league profession. In reality, he ended up spending extra time in each left and middle area than at every other place. The superior metrics didn’t love his efficiency on the grass – he produced 4 OAA and 4 DRS within the infield in comparison with -2 OAA and -4 DRS within the outfield – however for a participant whose biggest promoting level is his flexibility, there’s little doubt that including a number of new positions to his resume helped him earn his surprisingly profitable deal.

Indeed, if Kiermaier’s contract was a cut price for Toronto, Kiner-Falefa’s looks like an overpay. The 28-year-old, who didn’t even get a poll in our contract crowdsourcing venture, has secured the sixth-highest assure and eighth-highest AAV of any free agent hitter this offseason. The Blue Jays haven’t been crying poor this winter, however that’s nonetheless some huge cash to ensure a participant coming off a 0.2-WAR season.

That stated, with an injury-prone outfield and query marks at second and third base, the Blue Jays may actually use the depth. Breakout sensation Davis Schneider is slated to begin at second base subsequent season, however given his restricted massive league expertise and unexpected emergence in 2023, supervisor John Schneider will want a backup plan. Similarly, the Jays want a fallback in the event that they fail to re-sign Matt Chapman, contemplating the restricted third base choices remaining on the free agent market.

One may argue they already had the mandatory reserves in Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal, the 2 of whom mixed ought to earn lower than Kiner-Falefa in 2024, but Biggio doesn’t play shortstop and Espinal doesn’t play the outfield. Kiner-Falefa might not have a lot offensive upside, however his versatility makes him uniquely useful in a bench position – or, no less than that’s what the Blue Jays are relying on.

There’s nonetheless room for Schneider, Biggio, and Espinal on the roster proper now, but when the Blue Jays proceed so as to add this winter, as they most probably will, roster spots will grow to be an increasing number of valuable. Schneider has the within observe on a beginning job, however he’s additionally more likely to fetch the most important return in a commerce. Meanwhile, Biggio and Espinal are superfluous with Kiner-Falefa round, and if the Jays add a brand new infielder, one or the opposite appears more likely to be dealt.

After a sluggish begin to the offseason, the Blue Jays are lastly on the free agent board. Still, the workforce that fell brief within the AL East, within the playoffs, and in pursuit of a top-flight famous person has but to make an actual improve this winter. Kiermaier fills his personal void, whereas Kiner-Falefa primarily replaces Whit Merrifield, providing extra defensive versatility on the expense of offensive upside. Needless to say, that’s not practically sufficient to make up for the lack of Chapman and Brandon Belt, not to mention to enhance a membership that completed a distant third within the AL East.

Spending upwards of $25 million on Kiermaier and Kiner-Falefa is a positive resolution if possession is prepared to open the purse strings and spend previous the luxurious tax for the second consecutive season. If not, it’s a lot tougher to know both transfer. Both are gifted gamers in their very own particular methods, however they’re redundant on the Blue Jays’ roster; this workforce already had an elite defensive middle fielder and no scarcity of utility gamers with questionable bats. Gold Glove protection and singular versatility are useful expertise, the type that make you want the official scorer may award further factors for run prevention prowess. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, crossing the plate stays the one method to rating. The greatest offense is an effective offense, and that’s the place they’ll must focus their efforts in the event that they’re going to keep away from a fourth Wild Card spherical sweep in 2024.