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Toronto Blue Jays Offseason: Team Takes Home Surprising Award
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- Toronto Blue Jays Offseason: Team Takes Home Surprising Award
(Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images)
The Toronto Blue Jays were named the best defensive team in the American League on Friday night, taking home the American League Team Gold Glove Award. It's the third time in the last four years that the Blue Jays have won the team award, though this one comes as a rather big surprise.
For starters, the Blue Jays had five individuals up for Gold Glove Awards, but none of them won. And secondly, the Jays actually led the American League in errors with 99. Now, it's all about errors, as things like range matter as well, but it's still surprising.
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Brandon Valenzuela (catcher), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (first base), Andres Gimenez (shortstop), Nathan Lukes (right field) and Jose Soriano (pitcher) were all up for the individual awards.
Regardless of whether the decision was surprising or not, this is a solid accolade for the Blue Jays, who didn't have a lot of positives in a very disappointing year that saw them go 79-83 and finish last in the American League East.
Toronto is now in the throws of a very important, yet challenging, offseason that is likely to be impacted by a lockout that will grip the sport beginning on Dec. 2. And since no one knows how long it will last, no one knows exactly how to handle it from a team-building perspective.
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Cedric Mullins (31) slides past Toronto Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela (59) to score a run in the fourth inning at Tropicana Field. Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Elsewhere in Blue Jays news...
Speaking of the offseason, the Blue Jays will arrive in Las Vegas next week for the general managers meetings (Nov. 9-12). That will be the first chance this offseason for teams to really engage with each other meaningfully about trades, and it will also be the first chance for teams and agents to engage with each other.
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The Blue Jays enter the offseason with a need for a power bat, particularly in the outfield, which is why you hear so much connection to Randy Arozarena and Seiya Suzuki.
Beyond that, Toronto could look to fill a spot in the starting rotation and everyone is always on the lookout for bullpen help.
The Blue Jays have also said that Ernie Clement is not guaranteed a starting job at second base in 2027, so the team could be in the market for one of the second baseman in free agency. Brandon Lowe and Jazz Chisholm Jr. stand out as the best options on that front should the Jays really want to upgrade from Clement.
