The Toronto Blue Jays have been connected to nearly every free agent pitcher this offseason and as spring training gets closer, Ervin Santana is getting closer to signing and he could be an option, as could a trade for Cubs starter along with signing free agent Ubaldo Jimenez and all this comes as the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles also could be interested.
The Blue Jays were mentioned as a team that could trade for David Price earlier in the year, but that talk faded quickly and now the team has been reportedly looking into Santana as well as possible options involving a trade for Samardzija from the Cubs. The Blue Jays did not play up to their expectations last season and this year the team has a tough AL East to get through with the Yankees and Red Sox looking to strike this season.
According to SI.com, the Blue Jays have been interested in signing Santana, but so far nothing is imminent on a deal. Matt Garza signed a deal with the Brewers for over $50 million and Santana clearly is not getting the $100 million that he initially wanted at the start of free agency. The Yankees and some other teams looks like options for Santana, but now that spring training is close and the team signed Masahiro Tanaka, that leaves ones like the Dodgers, Orioles and Mariners as some possibilities, while the Blue Jays remain in the mix as well.
The trade for Samardzija is a long shot at this point, but the team has players it could move to make it happen, but with pitchers and catchers reporting so soon, its unlikely that will be going down.
