Report: Blue Jays targeting Brantley after Springer deal
The Toronto Blue Jays finally landed their big fish on Tuesday after reportedly agreeing to a six-year, $150-million deal with All-Star outfielder George Springer - and they may not be done yet.
Toronto is now trying to lure free-agent outfielder Michael Brantley, Springer's close friend and teammate in Houston for the last two seasons, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Brantley and Springer are not only friends, but also share an agent. The two sluggers are represented by Excel Sports Management. Springer has been selling the Blue Jays on the idea of a tandem deal, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Brantley's presence would create a logjam in an already crowded Blue Jays outfield that now includes Springer, Teoscar Hernandez, Randal Grichuk, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., among others. He'd also have to play a corner outfield spot. However, Brantley could fit by slotting in at DH, adding a new dimension to a potentially deep and dangerous lineup.
Potential 2021 Blue Jays lineup
| Player | Pos. | Bats | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Springer | CF | R | .899 |
| Cavan Biggio | 2B | L | .807 |
| Bo Bichette | SS | R | .840 |
| Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | 3B | R | .791 |
| Michael Brantley | DH | L | .840 |
| Teoscar Hernandez | RF | R | .919 |
| Rowdy Tellez | 1B | L | .886 |
| Lourdes Gurriel Jr. | LF | R | .882 |
| Danny Jansen | C | R | .671 |
Despite some injury troubles during his career, Brantley has been one of the most consistent contact hitters in baseball. The 33-year-old slashed .309/.370/.497 with 27 homers, 112 RBIs, and 68 walks over his two seasons with the Astros. A four-time All-Star, Brantley's best season came in 2014 with the Cleveland Indians, when he finished third in AL MVP voting.