The Toronto Blue Jays registered interest in veteran righty Yovani Gallardo back in December, and it appears things may be ramping up a bit with just over a month until pitchers and catchers report.
According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca, the Blue Jays have been in contact with Gallardo's representation this week:
#BlueJays have shown interest in Yovani Gallardo throughout free agency per source. Sides in contact this week.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 14, 2016
Far from snuffing out the Gallardo rumors, GM Mark Shapiro told Bob McCown and Arash Madani of 590 The Fan that the 29-year-old is the "kind of guy" who could be of big help to the Blue Jays:
“He’s the kind of guy that would make us better. He’s the kind of guy you’d like to have. Whether or not, from a resource perspective, we still have enough to make a move like that — that’s still a variable that exists, but we do have some flexibility still. Thinking about how we use those resources is still a question.”
With a projected $132 million in salary for 2016 after arbitration factors in, the Blue Jays may not have a whole lot of wiggle room to outspend other suitors for Gallardo up front. However, a back-loaded deal could do the trick.
Gallardo was solid in 2015 with the Texas Rangers, posting a 3.42/1.42 ERA/WHIP combo with 121 strikeout and 68 walks in 184.1 innings pitched (33 starts).
Back to the Toronto Blue Jays Newsfeed