Belt 'baffled' by lack of offers in free agency

Free-agent designated hitter Brandon Belt doesn't understand why he's still unemployed after Opening Day.

"It's kind of baffled me a little bit," Belt said Friday on the "JD Bunkis Podcast."

"I honestly haven't had hardly any calls at all that have gone past the point of teams saying, 'Hey, we're interested,' that they were just checking in. We haven't even gotten down to talking about money with anybody or anything like that. I wish I had an answer for you."

The 35-year-old remains a free agent after spending the 2023 campaign with the Toronto Blue Jays. Belt posted a .369 on-base percentage and an .858 OPS with 19 home runs in 103 games last year.

The 13-year veteran initially hinted at retirement following last season but decided he'd keep playing because he felt like he had something left in the tank. The two-time World Series champion poured cold water on a rumor claiming he only wanted to play for his former manager Bruce Bochy and the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers.

"I was open to pretty much any team," Belt said. "I definitely wanted to go to somebody that had a chance to win something, but that was about it. There was no narrowing the teams down to who I absolutely wanted to go play for. I just wanted to play baseball, so we'll wait to see who comes forward and decide then. But it's just that nobody's come forward."

MLB's offseason wasn't kind to several free agents, including two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, former NL MVP Cody Bellinger, and multiple Gold Glove winner Matt Chapman, who all signed short-term deals far below what their camps expected. Additionally, 2023 postseason hero Jordan Montgomery and slugger J.D. Martinez signed so late that they weren't ready to suit up for their new teams on Opening Day.

Belt said he received "basically zero" offers because he wasn't willing to accept a spring-training invite to make a team out of camp. He added that he had conversations with Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins about a return.

The Texan is one of the top free agents without a job, along with outfielder Tommy Pham and starting pitcher Mike Clevinger.