The Toronto Blue Jays reside in arguably the best division in Major League Baseball, the American League East.
After finishing the 2024 season with a 74-88 record, which was last in the AL East, the Blue Jays will need to make some moves this offseason if they want to compete for the division title.
While the Blue Jays have been in the news most often for their interest in top free agent hitter Juan Soto, MLB analyst John Morosi reports that they have also met with a top free agent prospect.
“The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly had an in-person meeting with free agent Corbin Burns,” MLB Network wrote on X .
The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly met in person with free agent Corbin Burns @jonmorosi:. pic.twitter.com/X946T05TTN
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 5, 2024
Burns is a 30-year-old starter who made his debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018.
After playing his first six seasons with the Brewers, Burns pitched to the Baltimore Orioles in 2024, starting 32 games with a 15-9 record, 2.92 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 194.1 innings.
The Blue Jays haven’t won the AL East since 2015 and haven’t advanced past the wild-cart round of the playoffs since 2016.
Burns is arguably the best free agent starting pitcher on the market, and he showed his ability to pitch well in the postseason.
In the one playoff game he started for the Orioles, he threw 8.0 innings and allowed one run, but he ended up losing to the Kansas City Royals.
If the Blue Jays can sign Burns, Soto, or both, it would push them through 2025 and potentially put them back in contention for a division title.
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