January 6, 2021

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

There have been lots of rumours and very little action during this major league off-season.

The Toronto Blue Jays have been linked to almost every big name free agent – George Springer, D.J. LeMahieu, Trevor Bauer, J.T. Realmuto and Liam Hendriks – but like almost every other major league club, they have been deliberate and methodical in their negotiations. And it’s hard to blame them. With the coronavirus still spreading at a rapid pace in North America, no one is certain what the 2021 season will look like.

But over the past six weeks, some former Blue Jays have quietly signed new deals. Here’s a summary:

–OF Socrates Brito has signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees.

–LHP Matt Dermody has signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs.

–INF Adeiny Hechavarria has signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). It’s a one-year deal worth a reported $970,000.

–RHP Dominic Leone has signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants.

–C Luke Maile has signed a one-year (MLB) deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

–RHP Brandon Morrow has signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

–LHP Thomas Pannone has signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels.

–OF Dwight Smith Jr. has signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds.

–1B Justin Smoak has signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the deal is worth between $6 and $7 million. (I’m assuming it’s a one-year contract).

–OF-1B Eric Thames will join Smoak on the Yomiuri Giants. He has signed a one-year deal worth around $1.2 million.

Today in Blue Jays history . . .

Forty-four years ago today, the Blue Jays signed their first Canadian prospect when they inked Toronto-born right-hander Bob Oravec. The 6-foot-2 righty posted a 5.11 ERA in 43 appearances in three seasons in the Jays' organization. He went 5-1 with a 3.79 ERA with Medicine Hat (Rookie Ball) in 1978.

Today in Blue Jays history Part II . . .

Twenty-four years ago today, Phil Niekro becomes the first former Blue Jays player to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.