Fansided

One offseason move each MLB team needs to make

By Joshua Sadlock

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 01: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park on October 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Miami Marlins via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 01: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park on October 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Miami Marlins via Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 24: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks at bat against the Miami Marlins during the MLB game at Chase Field on September 24, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Marlins 3-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 24: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks at bat against the Miami Marlins during the MLB game at Chase Field on September 24, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Marlins 3-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Toronto Blue Jays: Replace Joey Bats

The Blue Jays found out the hard way this year that replacing Edwin Encarnacion with Kendrys Morales and Steve Pearce is not the way to keep a team in contention. Whether or not Encarnacion should have accepted the club’s initial offer is another topic for debate. Regardless, the Jays tried to move on quickly after EE turned them down, and their rush left them with two below-average replacements for a huge power threat.

Jose Bautista was also brought back on a pillow deal that will not see the option for 2018 picked up. Joey Bats looked done as a useful MLB player this year and hit .203/.308/.366 with 170 strikeouts. That will leave another large hole in the Blue Jays lineup that can only boast Josh Donaldson as an above-average offensive threat. Sorry, Troy Tulowitzki, we’re not in Denver anymore.

Toronto can still contend next year with a solid starting rotation that should get Aaron Sanchez back after a year off dealing with blister issues (seriously @MLB fix the seams on the baseballs, please). They aren’t getting any younger as a team, unfortunately, and Donaldson will be a free agent after 2018. The Jays must win in 2018 to convince him to stay.

The Blue Jays need to replace Bautista in right field with a formidable presence that teams will actually be afraid to pitch to. The Jays were at their best in 2015 with three big power threats in Donaldson, Encarnacion and Bautista. They are set with Donaldson and Justin Smoak, but need the third running mate. Hello, J.D. Martinez or Justin Upton. Upton and Martinez both fill a need in one of the corner outfield spots as well.

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