The Toronto Blue Jays re-signed outfielder Kevin Kiermaier on Tuesday. The 33-year-old centerfielder will remain in the American League East after signing on with Toronto for one more year.
Toronto and Kiermaier reportedly agreed to a one-year contract.
MLB announced the deal on X, the website formerly known as Twitter.
“Blue Jays OF Kevin Kiermaier reportedly agree to one-year deal,” they said. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com received credit for the report.
Blue Jays, OF Kevin Kiermaier reportedly agree to one-year deal, per https://t.co/Z3s2EpgF39's @Feinsand. pic.twitter.com/Q1hQHdCTmA
— MLB (@MLB) December 26, 2023
Kiemaier has enjoyed a 15-year career in Major League Baseball that will extend to a 16-year career in 2024. After spending ten years with the Tampa Bay Rays, Kiermaier joined the Blue Jays before last season. In his first season with the Jays, he enjoyed a bit of an offensive renaissance. He posted career-highs in batting average (.265) and posted his highest slugging percentage (.419) since the 2017 season (.450).
In ten seasons with the Rays, Kiermaier slashed .248/.308/.407, good for an OPS of .715. His OPS after the 2023 season with the Blue Jays was a hearty .741. So he posted numbers above his average, and played even better away from Toronto last season than he did in the iconic Canadian city.
This is a quality move for Toronto to shore up some depth and pack a punch defensively. If Kiermaier has another above-average season offensively, it will only boost the Blue Jays in a competitive AL East Division.
[MLB]
