{"id":375871,"date":"2025-12-29T21:08:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T21:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/375871\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T21:08:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T21:08:09","slug":"blue-jays-biggest-threat-to-landing-any-star-infielders-remains-in-hated-rival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/375871\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Jays Biggest Threat to Landing Any Star Infielders Remains In Hated Rival"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6f\">The Toronto Blue Jays entered the offseason ready to spend and spend big in order to get back to the World Series and hopefully finish this job this time around following the heartbreaking Game 7 defeat.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6i\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/bluejays\/onsi\/news\/blue-jays-best-possible-move-stealing-free-agent-star-from-yankees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">General manager Ross Atkins<\/a> and Toronto ownership did just that by spending huge amounts of money to rebuild the pitching staff, handing out hundreds of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/bluejays\/onsi\/news\/why-dylan-cease-viewed-blue-jays-perfect-pitching-fit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">millions to Dylan Cease<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/bluejays\/onsi\/news\/kbo-teammate-knows-why-blue-jays-cody-ponce-got-huge-deal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Cody Ponce<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/bluejays\/onsi\/news\/inside-tyler-rogers-37m-contract-toronto-blue-jays\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tyler Rogers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6l\">Now, the focus turns from arms to bats, and the Blue Jays have been linked to just about every star free agent and trade target out there. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/bluejays\/onsi\/news\/blue-jays-among-group-final-suitors-kyle-tucker-nl-big-spenders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">From Kyle Tucker<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/bluejays\/onsi\/news\/mlb-insider-surprise-destination-blue-jays-free-agent-bo-bichette\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Bo Bichette<\/a>, now <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/bluejays\/onsi\/news\/blue-jays-most-likely-to-steal-free-agent-star-red-sox\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">to Alex Bregman<\/a> or even a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/bluejays\/onsi\/news\/blue-jays-discussing-blockbuster-trade\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">trade for Ketel Marte<\/a>, Atkins is going to swing big for his next star.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6o\">Interestingly, though, the biggest threat for any of them &#8212; especially if Toronto is fixated on the infield &#8212; looks to be the division rival Boston Red Sox. In a recent article over the weekend, team insider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonglobe.com\/2025\/12\/27\/sports\/sunday-baseball-notes-red-sox-craig-breslow-trades\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alex Speier of the Boston Globe<\/a> (subscription required) wrote how Boston is still targeting all of the top infielders available.<\/p>\n<p>Blue Jays Facing Stiff Competition from Red Sox for Available Infielders<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/01kdn81dxhfcd2n670fb.jpg\" alt=\"Alex Bregman of Boston Red Sox hits ball against Toronto Blue Jays.\" title=\"Alex Bregman of Boston Red Sox hits ball against Toronto Blue Jays.\" width=\"5488\" height=\"3087\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"70\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Sep 24, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Alex Bregman hits against Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"74\">&#8220;According to major league sources, the team&#8217;s primary targets remain fairly consistent: Free agent infielders Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette, as well as trade candidates Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks) and Isaac Paredes (Astros), and Brendan Donovan (Cardinals),&#8221; Speier wrote.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"77\">Of course, neither team is going to land all &#8212; or likely even multiple &#8212; of these top stars on the market, but it seems more clear than ever that if Toronto is determined to land an infield upgrade, they are going to have to fend off the needier Boston.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7a\">The most likely direct competition here is for two stars who spent last year with each team in Bichette and Bregman, and it&#8217;s not out of the realm of possibility for a swap to be in the cards here. Where things get very interesting is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/bluejays\/onsi\/news\/blue-jays-get-green-light-ketel-marte-pursuit-full-no-trade-list-revealed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">possible trade market for Marte<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Blue Jays and Red Sox Both Make a Ton of Sense in Marte Trade<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/01kdn8kq424ay1wwcaxr.jpg\" alt=\"Ketel Marte of Arizona Diamondbacks swings bat against Toronto Blue Jays.\" title=\"Ketel Marte of Arizona Diamondbacks swings bat against Toronto Blue Jays.\" width=\"2617\" height=\"1472\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"7m\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Jun 17, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Ketel Marte hits against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.  | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7q\">In reality, every team in baseball would love to have a player like Marte, and though he obviously would cost prospects in a trade that the likes of Bregman and Bichette would not, he also has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/bluejays\/onsi\/news\/blue-jays-abandon-free-agent-chase-focus-blockbuster-trade-star\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">arguably the best contract in baseball<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7t\">Building an infield around the 32-year-old would allow either Toronto or Boston the financial flexibility to spend elsewhere while still getting elite production from the second base position. By all accounts, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/bluejays\/onsi\/news\/blue-jays-not-likely-land-blockbuster-trade-star-infielder-insider\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Blue Jays are less likely than the Red Sox<\/a> to land him, but Atkins is absolutely still lurking here.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7w\">No matter whether it&#8217;s Marte, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/bluejays\/onsi\/news\/blue-jays-star-free-agent-seems-overwhelmingly-expected-by-insiders-to-return\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">reunion with Bichette<\/a> or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/bluejays\/onsi\/news\/blue-jays-should-pursue-free-agent-alex-bregman-three-reasons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">heist of Bregman<\/a> Toronto is determined to acquire a big-name bat to add to a lineup that just came within the brink of glory.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-14\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7z\">While they will have to fend off Boston to get it done, this fact alone should be extremely exciting for Blue Jays fans who hope to see a happier ending next October.<\/p>\n<p>Recommended Articles<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Toronto Blue Jays entered the offseason ready to spend and spend big in order to get back&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":375872,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[435],"tags":[49,48,462,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-375871","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-mlb","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=375871"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375871\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/375872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=375871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=375871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=375871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}