The Toronto Blue Jays reside in arguably the best division in Major League Baseball in the American League East.
After finishing the 2024 season with a record of 74-88, last in the AL East, the Blue Jays need to make some moves this offseason if they want to compete for a division title.
While the Blue Jays have been most commonly in the news regarding their interest in top free agent hitter Juan Soto, MLB analyst Jon Morosi reports they also have met with the top free agent pitcher.
“The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly had an in-person meeting with free agent Corbin Burnes,” MLB Network wrote on X.
The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly had an in-person meeting with free agent Corbin Burnes, per @jonmorosi. pic.twitter.com/X946T05TTN
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 5, 2024
Burnes is a 30-year-old starting pitcher who debuted with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018.
After playing his first six seasons for the Brewers, Burnes pitched for the Baltimore Orioles in 2024, starting 32 games with a record of 15-9, a 2.92 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 194.1 innings pitched.
The Blue Jays haven’t won the AL East since 2015 and haven’t advanced past the wild-card round in the playoffs since 2016.
Burnes is arguably the best free agent starting pitcher on the market, and he showed his ability to pitch well in the postseason.
In the one playoff game he started for the Orioles, he threw 8.0 innings and allowed one run, but he ended up taking the loss to the Kansas City Royals.
If the Blue Jays can sign Burnes, Soto, or both, it would give them a boost into 2025 and potentially get them back to being competitive for a division title.
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