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Blue Jays have interest in signing free agent Yoan Moncada: report

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Nov 13 2024, 7:09 pm
Blue Jays have interest in signing free agent Yoan Moncada: report
Peter Aiken/Imagn Images

The Toronto Blue Jays are well aware that they need to improve in several areas in order to compete for a playoff spot in 2025.

Despite many believing their 2024 roster was playoff-worthy, the team fell well short, finishing with a record of 74-88.

The Blue Jays struggles came at nearly every position, meaning that in order to turn things around, there needs to be plenty of change. While the front office is said to be interested in some big-time free agents such as Juan Soto, they are also reportedly eyeing a now ex-Chicago White Sox infielder.

“Yoan Moncada is generating interest in the free-agent market,” MLB insider Francys Romero wrote on X. “More than five MLB teams are interested in Moncada. Among the teams that have monitored him are the Blue Jays, Yankees, and Mariners.”

Though Moncada is primarily a third baseman, he is also capable of playing second should the situation call for it. The 29-year-old, who has struggled to stay healthy in recent years, appeared in just 12 games this past season, hitting .275 with five walks and a stolen base. His best year to date came in 2019, where he hit an impressive .315 with 25 home runs and 75 RBIs in 132 games.

Despite the Blue Jays’ reported interest in Moncada, however, it remains to be seen how much pull their front office actually has. ESPN’s Buster Olney has reported that Ross Atkins and crew are gaining a not-so-great reputation among other front offices across the MLB.

“I had a fascinating conversation with an executive in baseball who was at the general manager’s meetings last week. And before I even got a chance to ask him about specific teams, he goes, ‘Well, I can tell you this. There’s one team that absolutely reeks of desperation, and that’s the Blue Jays,” Olney said to TSN 1050 today.

That desperation does make sense, given that Atkins is undoubtedly on the hot seat. At the very least, it seems as though he’s trying to make some changes, though it remains up in the air whether or not he’ll be able to do so.

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