Blue Jays New Signing Could Give Cubs Boost in Pursuit of Bellinger

The Toronto Blue Jays appear to have addressed their need in center field, leaving Cody Bellinger with one less suitor.

Free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger may have one less suitor — and the Chicago Cubs may have one less competitor in their attempt to retain him.

Per USA Today, the Toronto Blue Jays are close to a one-year, $10.5 million agreement with Kevin Kiermaier, a deal that would keep the center fielder in Toronto for 2024.

It’s a cheaper way for the Blue Jays to address the position. Plus, they know Kiermaier as he played for Toronto last season.

He slashed .265/.322/.419/.741 with eight home runs and 36 RBI. He doesn’t have Bellinger’s power, but he won his fourth career Gold Glove.

Does this take the Blue Jays out of the running? Bellinger’s primary position is center field. But he also has flexibility at both first base and designated hitter.

The Blue Jays have a first baseman in Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is under team control through the 2025 season. So the only place for Bellinger to land in Toronto for consistent at-bats would be as designated hitter.

It’s also possible the Blue Jays are done trying to spend big money this offseason. While they were in on both Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, they were unable to sign either. With those two free agents off the board, the Blue Jays may be working on shoring up remaining roster spots for next season.

The price for Bellinger is “200 million plus” in free agency, per a New York Post report last week. Bellinger is the market’s top remaining free-agent bat, but the suitors for his services are shrinking.

The New York Yankees were thought to be a suitor at one point. But trades for Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo have solved their outfield question.

Now, the Cubs may still have competition from the San Francisco Giants, who have been rumored to be interested in Bellinger but also made their own outfield signing earlier this month in Korean star Jung Hoo Lee, who agreed to a six-year, $113 million deal.

It all leads to the possibility that Bellinger’s best chance at a long-term deal may be where his 2023 season started — in Chicago, where he was the NL Comeback Player of the Year after he slashed .307/.356/.525/.881 in 130 games with 26 home runs and 97 RBI, despite missing a month with an injury.