Votto spent all of his previous 17 years in MLB with the Cincinnati Reds. He became a free agent after the 2023 campaign when the Reds rejected the club option on his contract that would pay him $20 million next season.

While many believed that the release by the Reds would likely cause him to retire, Votto publicly stated on several occasions that he wanted to play again. He played in 65 games last season, batting a career-low .202 with 14 homers and 38 RBIs.

“I am excited about the opportunity to work my way back to the Major Leagues. It’s even sweeter to attempt this while wearing the uniform of my hometown team, the Toronto Blue Jays,” Votto wrote on social media after the news broke out.

During his 17 years in Cincinnati, Joey Votto became the Reds’ legend. He was the franchise’s best player for years, earning six All-Star nods and being named NL MVP in 2010. However, he was unable to lead the Reds to postseason success, as the franchise is still looking for its first playoff series win since 1995.

The post Ex-NL MVP Joey Votto Agrees to Minor League Contract With the Blue Jays appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Romero was hit in the chest by a ball thrown by Tampa Bay’s Wander Franco, however, he was able to persevere in the contest and went on to grab his league-leading sixth save in seven chances.

“Tough play to make, lot of adrenaline and you get a pretty hard comebacker hit right at you,” Toronto manager John Schneider said of Romero’s injury incident. “But good ol’ Canadian boy, he’s tough. He’s feeling alright, we’ll check him out.”

While Romero’s injury remains a concern for the Blue Jays, Toronto has proven to be in fine form as of late, currently finding themselves in second place in the AL East behind the Rays. The Blue Jays have also proven to be formidable opponents when going head to head with the Blue Jays, winning all of the last four encounters between the two sides.

The post Jordan Romano Suffers Rib Injury in Blue Jays Win appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

At 32 years of age, Kiermaier has won three Gold Glove awards during a successful career with the Tampa Bay Rays. He hit .228 for the Rays last season, including seven home runs and 22 RBIs. Kiermaier headed into free agency upon deciding against activating the $13 million option included in his contract with the Rays.

While a career .248 hitter with 82 homers and 316 RBIs, Kiermaier’s talents don’t only lie in the swing of a bat; he is also a pacy runner, having stolen 112 bases during his nine-season career.

Selected in the 31st round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Rays, Kiermaier remained a key player in the Rays’ roster, despite suffering injury issues that led to him undergoing labrum surgery in August.

Kiermaier will greatly bolster the Blue Jays’ roster following the departure of right fielder Teoscar Hernandez in a trade with the Seattle Mariners last month.

Last season, the Blue Jays finished second in the American League East with a 92-70 mark; six games ahead of the Rays.

The post Kevin Kiermaier Agrees to Deal With Blue Jays, Reports Claim appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Springer suffered the injury while trying to make a catch in a 3-8 loss to the Seattle Mariners over the weekend. The team revealed that Springer has a Grade 1 sprain, which is the least severe one. Still, it is unclear when the 31-year-old might be back on the field.

George Springer joined the Blue Jays as a free agent in the offseason, inking a six-year, $150 million contract. This big commitment has received some criticism, especially due to Springer’s inability to stay on the field. Still, it’s fair to say that the veteran slugger has justified the investment when healthy.

In the 49 games he played with the Blue Jays in 2021, Springer posted a .269 batting average while hitting 16 home runs and adding 35 RBIs.

With Springer out, the Blue Jays will most likely turn to veteran Corey Dickerson, whom they acquired in a trade with the Miami Marlins earlier in the offseason. Dickerson has been solid since arriving in Toronto, batting .270 with one homer and six RBIs in 14 games.

The post Blue Jays All-Star OF George Springer Lands on IL appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While Springer might be the bigger catch for Toronto, Yates has a chance to become the most important member of the team’s bullpen in the 2021 season as they look to compete for a playoff berth.

The Hawaii native has been a staple of the San Diego Padres’ bullpen over the past few seasons and was one of the best relievers in the game in 2018 and 2019. Between those two seasons, Yates used a deadly splitter to compile 53 saves and a sub-2.00 ERA.

Yates battled elbow problems in 2020 and appeared in only 6 games, putting up a 12.46 ERA that was largely a reflection of his arm troubles.

If Yates is healthy, however, he has the potential to be one of the best relievers in the game and will likely take over as Toronto’s new closer if he proves himself to be ready and effective by the time Spring Training rolls around.

Yates will report to Spring Training in Dunedin, Florida, next week as he begins preparation for the upcoming season.

The post Blue Jays and CP Kirby Yates Reach Agreement for One-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Sources say that the Blue Jays will give Springer a six-year deal worth $150 million. The deal is said to be completed and Toronto is expected to announce the signing once Springer passes his physical.

Earlier rumors claimed that the New York Mets were also in the running for Springer. The Mets have a new billionaire owner, Steve Cohen, who is clearly ready to spend big money to build the team after signing former Cleveland Indians superstar Francisco Lindor to a huge contract.

However, the Blue Jays ended up offering Springer a better deal. The 31-year-old outfielder played all seven of his professional seasons with the Houston Astros, winning the World Series with the team in 2017 and the American League pennant in 2019.

A three-time All-Star, Springer had a batting average of .265 last year, with 14 home runs and 32 RBIs during the shortened season.

On paper, Springer is the perfect veteran addition to this young Toronto team that finished last season with a winning record and qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2016. The Blue Jays’ best players outside of Springer, Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., are all under the age of 25.

The post Toronto Blue Jays to Sign Star Outfielder George Springer appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Blue Jays announced over the weekend that Ray, acquired in August in a trade with Arizona Diamondbacks, agreed to a one-year deal with the team.

Although the organization didn’t disclose the financial terms of the agreement, the reports around the league say that the 29-year-old pitcher is set to earn $8 million in 2021.

By getting a contract from Toronto, Ray became the first player in this year’s free agency to get a new deal. There are now 180 free agents left that are looking to do the same.

Playing combined 12 games in the regular season with Diamondbacks and Blue Jays in 2020, Robbie Ray posted a 2-5 record to go with 6.62 ERA and 68 strikeouts. He pitched in one game for Toronto in the playoffs, striking out five batters and having a 3.00 ERA.

Ray made his MLB debut in 2014 and has suited up for Detroit Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Blue Jays so far in his career. He has an All-Star appearance from 2017 and career stats that include 49–51 record, 4.26 ERA, and 1,042 strikeouts.

The post Blue Jays Sign LHP Robbie Ray to a 1-Year, $8 Million Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The bats of the Bronx Bombers went off against Toronto, setting an MLB record with 19 home runs hit in a single series against a team. In the third inning of Game 3 of the set, the Yankees hit not one, not two, not three, not four, but five home runs. That’s right, five home runs in one inning, which ties a major league record that was set by the Washington Nationals in 2017.

Brett Gardner, DJ LeMahieu, Luke Voit, Gleyber Torres, and Giancarlo Stanton all homered against Toronto reliever Chase Anderson.

“Not a pleasurable inning to be a part of, for sure,” Anderson said after the game.

The record-setting 19th home run of the series was hit by Guy Sanchez in the seventh inning of Game 3. This home run set another record, giving the Yankees three consecutive games in which they hit six or more home runs, which is a staggering amount of dingers for anyone.

The Yankees won the game 10-7 and have now won eight straight games after a short skid during which they lost eight of 10.

The post Yankees Set Record for Most HRs in Series Against Blue Jays appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to reports, the Mariners are going to be getting a yet-unnamed minor league prospect in return for Walker.

Walker has been on the move quite a bit, with the Blue Jays being his third team since 2019. Walker had Tommy John surgery in April 2018 and he is still in the process of getting his full arm strength back.

After playing one game with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he signed a one-year $2 million contract with the Mariners in early 2020. The trade is a good move for the Mariners, who are currently in a rebuild and far from contenders at this point.

Walker has been playing well this year. He has an ERA of 4.00 with 25 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched. Even though the 28-year-old pitcher’s fastball is no longer what it once was before the surgery, he still averages a respectable speed of 93 MPH.

The Blue Jays are getting a pitcher that is going to solidify their rotation and potentially help them in the postseason. Toronto is currently ranked third in the American League East, which right now would be good enough for a wild card spot in the postseason.

The post Mariners Trade Pitcher Taijuan Walker to Blue Jays appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Well, after changing his mind a week ago and re-joining the Braves, the 36-year-old outfielder made his first start of the season on Thursday night against the Toronto Blue Jays and returned in a magical fashion, hitting a walk-off solo home run to propel his team to their ninth victory of the season.

Markakis made his first appearance of the season the previous night, making an eighth-inning pinch-hit appearance that ended without a hit.

After starting in left field on Thursday night, Markakis lined out, struck out, and grounded out before stepping up to the plate in a tied 3-3 game with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning against Toronto reliever Wilmer Font.

Font attempted to throw a breaking ball down and in to the veteran hitter, but Markakis was ready for the pitch and golfed it into the empty left field bleacher seats at Truist Park, sending his teammates into a frenzy.

The win moved the Braves’ record to 9-5 and propelled them to a 2 of 3 series win against the Jays.

The post Nick Markakis Returns to Braves, Hits Walk-Off HR in First Start of the Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Votto spent all of his previous 17 years in MLB with the Cincinnati Reds. He became a free agent after the 2023 campaign when the Reds rejected the club option on his contract that would pay him $20 million next season.

While many believed that the release by the Reds would likely cause him to retire, Votto publicly stated on several occasions that he wanted to play again. He played in 65 games last season, batting a career-low .202 with 14 homers and 38 RBIs.

“I am excited about the opportunity to work my way back to the Major Leagues. It’s even sweeter to attempt this while wearing the uniform of my hometown team, the Toronto Blue Jays,” Votto wrote on social media after the news broke out.

During his 17 years in Cincinnati, Joey Votto became the Reds’ legend. He was the franchise’s best player for years, earning six All-Star nods and being named NL MVP in 2010. However, he was unable to lead the Reds to postseason success, as the franchise is still looking for its first playoff series win since 1995.

The post Ex-NL MVP Joey Votto Agrees to Minor League Contract With the Blue Jays appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Romero was hit in the chest by a ball thrown by Tampa Bay’s Wander Franco, however, he was able to persevere in the contest and went on to grab his league-leading sixth save in seven chances.

“Tough play to make, lot of adrenaline and you get a pretty hard comebacker hit right at you,” Toronto manager John Schneider said of Romero’s injury incident. “But good ol’ Canadian boy, he’s tough. He’s feeling alright, we’ll check him out.”

While Romero’s injury remains a concern for the Blue Jays, Toronto has proven to be in fine form as of late, currently finding themselves in second place in the AL East behind the Rays. The Blue Jays have also proven to be formidable opponents when going head to head with the Blue Jays, winning all of the last four encounters between the two sides.

The post Jordan Romano Suffers Rib Injury in Blue Jays Win appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

At 32 years of age, Kiermaier has won three Gold Glove awards during a successful career with the Tampa Bay Rays. He hit .228 for the Rays last season, including seven home runs and 22 RBIs. Kiermaier headed into free agency upon deciding against activating the $13 million option included in his contract with the Rays.

While a career .248 hitter with 82 homers and 316 RBIs, Kiermaier’s talents don’t only lie in the swing of a bat; he is also a pacy runner, having stolen 112 bases during his nine-season career.

Selected in the 31st round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Rays, Kiermaier remained a key player in the Rays’ roster, despite suffering injury issues that led to him undergoing labrum surgery in August.

Kiermaier will greatly bolster the Blue Jays’ roster following the departure of right fielder Teoscar Hernandez in a trade with the Seattle Mariners last month.

Last season, the Blue Jays finished second in the American League East with a 92-70 mark; six games ahead of the Rays.

The post Kevin Kiermaier Agrees to Deal With Blue Jays, Reports Claim appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Springer suffered the injury while trying to make a catch in a 3-8 loss to the Seattle Mariners over the weekend. The team revealed that Springer has a Grade 1 sprain, which is the least severe one. Still, it is unclear when the 31-year-old might be back on the field.

George Springer joined the Blue Jays as a free agent in the offseason, inking a six-year, $150 million contract. This big commitment has received some criticism, especially due to Springer’s inability to stay on the field. Still, it’s fair to say that the veteran slugger has justified the investment when healthy.

In the 49 games he played with the Blue Jays in 2021, Springer posted a .269 batting average while hitting 16 home runs and adding 35 RBIs.

With Springer out, the Blue Jays will most likely turn to veteran Corey Dickerson, whom they acquired in a trade with the Miami Marlins earlier in the offseason. Dickerson has been solid since arriving in Toronto, batting .270 with one homer and six RBIs in 14 games.

The post Blue Jays All-Star OF George Springer Lands on IL appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While Springer might be the bigger catch for Toronto, Yates has a chance to become the most important member of the team’s bullpen in the 2021 season as they look to compete for a playoff berth.

The Hawaii native has been a staple of the San Diego Padres’ bullpen over the past few seasons and was one of the best relievers in the game in 2018 and 2019. Between those two seasons, Yates used a deadly splitter to compile 53 saves and a sub-2.00 ERA.

Yates battled elbow problems in 2020 and appeared in only 6 games, putting up a 12.46 ERA that was largely a reflection of his arm troubles.

If Yates is healthy, however, he has the potential to be one of the best relievers in the game and will likely take over as Toronto’s new closer if he proves himself to be ready and effective by the time Spring Training rolls around.

Yates will report to Spring Training in Dunedin, Florida, next week as he begins preparation for the upcoming season.

The post Blue Jays and CP Kirby Yates Reach Agreement for One-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Sources say that the Blue Jays will give Springer a six-year deal worth $150 million. The deal is said to be completed and Toronto is expected to announce the signing once Springer passes his physical.

Earlier rumors claimed that the New York Mets were also in the running for Springer. The Mets have a new billionaire owner, Steve Cohen, who is clearly ready to spend big money to build the team after signing former Cleveland Indians superstar Francisco Lindor to a huge contract.

However, the Blue Jays ended up offering Springer a better deal. The 31-year-old outfielder played all seven of his professional seasons with the Houston Astros, winning the World Series with the team in 2017 and the American League pennant in 2019.

A three-time All-Star, Springer had a batting average of .265 last year, with 14 home runs and 32 RBIs during the shortened season.

On paper, Springer is the perfect veteran addition to this young Toronto team that finished last season with a winning record and qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2016. The Blue Jays’ best players outside of Springer, Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., are all under the age of 25.

The post Toronto Blue Jays to Sign Star Outfielder George Springer appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Blue Jays announced over the weekend that Ray, acquired in August in a trade with Arizona Diamondbacks, agreed to a one-year deal with the team.

Although the organization didn’t disclose the financial terms of the agreement, the reports around the league say that the 29-year-old pitcher is set to earn $8 million in 2021.

By getting a contract from Toronto, Ray became the first player in this year’s free agency to get a new deal. There are now 180 free agents left that are looking to do the same.

Playing combined 12 games in the regular season with Diamondbacks and Blue Jays in 2020, Robbie Ray posted a 2-5 record to go with 6.62 ERA and 68 strikeouts. He pitched in one game for Toronto in the playoffs, striking out five batters and having a 3.00 ERA.

Ray made his MLB debut in 2014 and has suited up for Detroit Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Blue Jays so far in his career. He has an All-Star appearance from 2017 and career stats that include 49–51 record, 4.26 ERA, and 1,042 strikeouts.

The post Blue Jays Sign LHP Robbie Ray to a 1-Year, $8 Million Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The bats of the Bronx Bombers went off against Toronto, setting an MLB record with 19 home runs hit in a single series against a team. In the third inning of Game 3 of the set, the Yankees hit not one, not two, not three, not four, but five home runs. That’s right, five home runs in one inning, which ties a major league record that was set by the Washington Nationals in 2017.

Brett Gardner, DJ LeMahieu, Luke Voit, Gleyber Torres, and Giancarlo Stanton all homered against Toronto reliever Chase Anderson.

“Not a pleasurable inning to be a part of, for sure,” Anderson said after the game.

The record-setting 19th home run of the series was hit by Guy Sanchez in the seventh inning of Game 3. This home run set another record, giving the Yankees three consecutive games in which they hit six or more home runs, which is a staggering amount of dingers for anyone.

The Yankees won the game 10-7 and have now won eight straight games after a short skid during which they lost eight of 10.

The post Yankees Set Record for Most HRs in Series Against Blue Jays appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to reports, the Mariners are going to be getting a yet-unnamed minor league prospect in return for Walker.

Walker has been on the move quite a bit, with the Blue Jays being his third team since 2019. Walker had Tommy John surgery in April 2018 and he is still in the process of getting his full arm strength back.

After playing one game with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he signed a one-year $2 million contract with the Mariners in early 2020. The trade is a good move for the Mariners, who are currently in a rebuild and far from contenders at this point.

Walker has been playing well this year. He has an ERA of 4.00 with 25 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched. Even though the 28-year-old pitcher’s fastball is no longer what it once was before the surgery, he still averages a respectable speed of 93 MPH.

The Blue Jays are getting a pitcher that is going to solidify their rotation and potentially help them in the postseason. Toronto is currently ranked third in the American League East, which right now would be good enough for a wild card spot in the postseason.

The post Mariners Trade Pitcher Taijuan Walker to Blue Jays appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Well, after changing his mind a week ago and re-joining the Braves, the 36-year-old outfielder made his first start of the season on Thursday night against the Toronto Blue Jays and returned in a magical fashion, hitting a walk-off solo home run to propel his team to their ninth victory of the season.

Markakis made his first appearance of the season the previous night, making an eighth-inning pinch-hit appearance that ended without a hit.

After starting in left field on Thursday night, Markakis lined out, struck out, and grounded out before stepping up to the plate in a tied 3-3 game with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning against Toronto reliever Wilmer Font.

Font attempted to throw a breaking ball down and in to the veteran hitter, but Markakis was ready for the pitch and golfed it into the empty left field bleacher seats at Truist Park, sending his teammates into a frenzy.

The win moved the Braves’ record to 9-5 and propelled them to a 2 of 3 series win against the Jays.

The post Nick Markakis Returns to Braves, Hits Walk-Off HR in First Start of the Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.