2024 has been a season to forget for the Toronto Blue Jays. After two straight Wild Card berths, the team has sunk to the basement of the American League East.
Any hope of reaching the postseason is essentially lost for the Blue Jays, so they'll have to soon turn their focus to 2025 instead.
But when the offseason gets underway, they may end up going big to try to bounce back into contention in 2025. Zach Rymer of Bleacher Report lists them as a possible fit for former Cy Young Corbin Burnes.
"The subsequent collapse of their starting pitching makes it fair to wonder if they'll make a more aggressive play for an ace this time around," Rymer wrote. "Though whether this is the right moment for a splash is a fair question.
Toronto still has a solid rotation intact heading into 2025. They have Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Chris Bassitt penciled into the rotation. But if they were to add Burnes, they would certainly put a dagger in the hearts of the Baltimore Orioles.
Burnes would give the Blue Jays a true ace to lead their rotation and somebody who can be trusted to start big games, especially in the postseason.
With Baltimore this season, the 29-year-old is 13-7 with a 3.19 ERA in 28 starts. He also has logged 169 1/3 innings, punched out 154 batters, and posted a 1.13 WHIP. Baltimore acquired him from the Milwaukee Brewers prior to spring training.
If the Blue Jays sign Burnes, he could easily help them bounce back into the postseason picture next season and make 2024 a blip on the radar screen.
We'll see if Toronto makes a play for him.
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