MLB Rumors: Blue Jays Outfielder "Available For The Right Price"

The Toronto Blue Jays are expected to be a busy team this winter, perhaps more so on the trade front than in free agency. We've heard plenty about the likely trade of one of their catchers, and now, according to MLB Insider Jon Morosi at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, he's hearing that outfielder Teoscar Hernandez could very well be on the move this offseason. 

I do think Teoscar is among the position players that's getting the most traction. I've heard his name out here multiple times from agents and executives. They believe he's available for the right price. And that's because his salary is getting up there to a high enough level where you have to think about the longterm fit. 

Hernandez made $10.65M this past season and has one year left of arbitration before he hits the free agent market in 2024. 

The thinking being batted around at the meetings is that the Jays could use the slugger as trade bait to acquire a solid starting pitcher, someone along the lines, speculates Morosi, as Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox, or Pablo Lopez of the Miami Marlins (a team, by the way, that is desperate for another power bat in their lineup). 

Hernandez, 30, hit .267 this season, down from the near-.300 he'd batted the previous two seasons, but he was also coming off an injury which limited him to 131 games. He launched 25 HR to go with 77 RBIs and an .807 OPS, also down a tick from 2020/2021. 

The other Jays outfielder that's been mentioned in trade talks over the past year is Lourdes Gurriel Jr., but his value is significantly down from where it was a year ago as he hit just five homers in 121 games, down from 21 HR the year before. 

Photo; Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports