It wouldn't be wrong to consider the Toronto Blue Jays a botched experiment. General manager Alex Anthopoulos is now attempting to right the mess the Blue Jays have become and rumors spread that he was interested in acquiring Gordon Beckham from the Chicago White Sox. Ken Rosenthal identified the rumor, but stated that it didn't go anywhere. But let's look at what Beckham could do for the Blue Jays and why they would be interested in the 26-year-old infielder.
When the Blue Jays made their blockbuster trade during the offseason with the Miami Marlins, they received Jose Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio, two middle infielders. Reyes was injured after rolling over his ankle early in the season. Bonifacio wasn't expected to be the starting second baseman after the Blue Jays signed Maicer Izturis to a three-year, $10 million contract. However, outside of Reyes, Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind, the entire Blue Jays' infield has been useless. Here are the stats.
Izturis has started 33 games at third base, 29 at second base and 16 at short stop. He's hitting .249 with five home runs and 27 RBI for the season. Not impressive to say the least. Brett Lawrie hasn't been healthy enough to play a big role in the Blue Jays' lineup. In the 46 games he has played this season, Lawrie is hitting .205 with six home runs and 20 RBI. Over at second base, Bonifacio has made 49 starts, while hitting just .211 with two home runs and 15 RBI.
Cue in Beckham. Though he hasn't played third base this year, the White Sox originally brought Beckham up as a third baseman in 2009. Beckham missed the entire month of May, but other than injury, not much has slowed down the White Sox's first round pick in 2008. In 46 games played, Beckham is hitting .325, but lacking in the power department with only two home runs and 13 RBI. However, his .347 on-base percentage is way too impressive to ignore. With the big bats of Jose Bautista and Encarnacion in the Jay's lineup, what Toronto needs is not necessarily another slugger, but players who can get on base like Beckham.
Also, the Blue Jays' payroll could use a guy who is owed arbitration money, as Beckham is making a little less than $3 million this season and is under team control until 2016.
No further news on this rumor has been released, but we'll keep you updated on the latest. Previously, the Blue Jays had just been rumored to dealing Josh Johnson, but that market has diminished as Toronto would probably get more if they keep Johnson and possibly lose him as a free agent during the regular season.
