The Toronto Blue Jays had one of baseball’s best offenses in 2022, riding it to a 92-70 record and a playoff appearance. On Monday, Toronto made a move to make the offense even better and certainly deeper.
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Monday that Brandon Belt will be signing a one year deal with Toronto.” The Blue Jays are expected to officially announce the deal on Tuesday.
Brandon Belt will be signing a one year deal with Toronto, I’m told. Deal will be announced tomorrow.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) January 10, 2023
This will be the left-handed slugger’s first time playing for a team other than the San Francisco Giants. The Giants drafted Belt in 2009, he made his MLB debut in 2011 and won the World Series with the Giants in 2012 and 2014.
The move was generally met with positivity, with the general feeling being that it will be a good move for the Blue Jays.
“I love this move for the Jays,” tweeted Matt Williams of The Game Day.
“Another playoff veteran in the #BlueJays clubhouse,” observed Ethan Diamandas, a Blue Jays reporter for SI Now.
“Oh yeah I like this a lot,” said one Blue Jays fan.
“DH when Kirk catches, can spell Vladdy at first on occasion, dangerous lefty bench bat. Solid depth add, if his knee is healthy,” TSN’s Scott Mitchell said, guessing how Belt might fit into the equation in Toronto.
I love this move for the Jays. https://t.co/nf4qHiD79S
— Matt Williams (@MattWi77iams) January 10, 2023
Another playoff veteran in the #BlueJays clubhouse https://t.co/42YDyZjATv
— Ethan Diamandas (@EthanDiamandas) January 10, 2023
Oh yeah I like this a lot https://t.co/zHln58yGSp
— Josh Goldberg (@JGoldberg12) January 10, 2023
DH when Kirk catches, can spell Vladdy at first on occasion, dangerous lefty bench bat. Solid depth add, if his knee is healthy. https://t.co/FnI8PNUe9r
— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) January 10, 2023
Productivity has rarely been an issue for Belt. He does tend to be streaky, but he’s a career .261/.356/.458 hitter and has averaged 22 home runs per 162 games played. Getting onto the field, though, has been more of a question.
Belt played in 51 games during the COVID-19 season in 2020. Since then, he played in 91 games in 2021 and 78 games in 2022. He also suited up only 61 times in 2014, 104 times in 2017 and 112 times in 2018.
In Toronto, though, he’ll have a deeper lineup around him than he had in nearly all of his San Francisco seasons, even the ones that ended with World Series wins. That should help Belt stay healthy throughout the season.
