Despite an injury-shortened 2020 season, right-hander Jake Odorizzi is getting a lot of attention on the free agent market. The Giants, Blue Jays, and Mets have all shown interest in Odorizzi, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (subscription required), and the Twins are also keen to re-sign their former All-Star.
Between a back strain, a blister on his throwing hand, and a chest contusion after being struck by an Alex Gordon line drive, Odorizzi ended up pitching only 13 2/3 innings for the Twins last season, and he didn’t see any action in Minnesota’s two games the wild card series. Nonetheless, Odorizzi still ranked 11th on MLBTR’s list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents, due to both the rather minor nature of those 2020 injuries and his overall solid track record. Between 2014-19 with the Rays and Twins, Odorizzi averaged 165 innings per season with a 3.88 ERA, 8.7 K/9, and 2.79 K/BB rate.
This isn’t the first time Odorizzi has been linked to the Jays, and in fact Toronto was Odorizzi’s predicted landing spot on the MLBTR top 50. The Blue Jays have already re-signed Robbie Ray and are known to still be looking for pitching to bolster a rotation that doesn’t offer much certainty beyond Hyun Jin Ryu. San Francisco and New York are also looking to add arms this winter and have also made early pitching moves, both via the qualifying offer — Kevin Gausman and Marcus Stroman each accepted the one-year, $18.9MM deals to remain with their former teams.
Beyond their shared need of pitching, these are also three of the teams thought to have some extra spending capacity this winter. The Giants don’t have much salary committed beyond 2021, the Jays have even lesser salary obligations and corporate ownership, and the Mets are expected to spend big (if not “like drunken sailors“) now that Steve Cohen has bought the team. It wouldn’t be surprising if we hear of these three specific clubs checking in on more or less every available pitcher on the free agent and trade markets as the Giants, Jays, and Mets gauge how to best deploy their financial resources.
Minnesota doesn’t have quite as glaring a pitching need as the other three clubs, since the Twins have Kenta Maeda, Jose Berrios, Randy Dobnak, and a full season of Michael Pineda lined up for their 2020 rotation. Still, retaining Odorizzi would only further strengthen that depth as the Twins continue to look for the right roster mix to finally break their postseason losing streak.
Be a nice addition for the Angels. I could see going with Odorizzi and Tanaka and building a great bullpen instead of just getting Bauer. Would give the team a chance to win multiple nights per week instead of just one.
thank God it’s NOT the White Sox. I believe Odorizzi is a ticking time bomb.
Oh really? I think that any team that couldn’t make it past the first round, would really benefit from a starter like him. Also, they will get a DEAL from him since he was injured this year.
Yeah if the Angels want another #3 pitcher.
The Angels do, in fact, need another #3 pitcher. Ideally a 1 and back end option. And bullpen help.
The cost of the only #1 is likely going to be equal to 2 3’s and a bullpen piece. I like that approach better then just the 1.
Why do they want TJS the moment they sign?
Keep signing those past prime players Angels.
I’m with you. I don’t see that savior ace out there when they have multiple needs and maybe $36 mil to spend. It’s kind of like the 2002 team which had solid SP (Washburn was the ace) but an excellent bullpen and offense. I can see them signing 1 and trading for 1 back-end RP each, signing two solid SP, a high floor 2B, a platoon or cheap RF for Adell, and a placeholder C. It’ll be a depressed market which should help but even this might be too expensive. The trade route would probably bring in less than market-priced players to help with the budget. But that’s tricky when they’re trying to build the farm system. Such a difficult position to be in.
It would be nice. That way the Jays can avoid him.
Would love if the giants could sign him
Somebody is going to get a good deal buying low on odorizzi
I think he would be great for the Cardinals he would be a good reliable player for Hudson’s spot!!
Isn’t he from the STL area too?
Yes, Highland, IL. About 35 minutes east of STL.
A good #3or4, injuries the only concern. I followed the Rays when he pitched there. He was above average when on the field.
He could be an interesting target for the Red Sox too who are in need of a SP or two. Though as a Sox fan I think I’d rather them to after someone else… to me there’s just more risk with Odorizzi than I’d like and the upside isn’t as big as some of the other potential ‘bounce back candidates out there. My guess is Odorizzi comes back healthy and posts a solid, but unspectacular 3.85-4.25 ERA which is good (and certainly could help the Sox) but I think there are a couple guys out there with similar risk profiles who could wind up putting up better numbers next year. And seeing as there is inherent risk in signing him (given the lack of IPs, and results while healthy) last year — I’d prefer them go for someone with more upside at the same risk level.
Would love to see him in a Braves tomahawk. That would be a pleasant addition as a no.4
#4? Wow..
Too expensive for the Braves. I’d rather see the young pitchers have a go at it. They already have Tomlin to mentor them on the big leagues.
He’s not gonna be expensive though. He’ll probably get around 10-12 mil per yr at most.
Right. He won’t be expensive. As for Tomlin being their mentor I don’t know how much I like that. But even overlooking that if last season showed us nothing else, you need 5 starters and then you need more starters for when one..or more..go down.
Also, you may want to reconsider a few spots in the rotation.
Soroka: One ace like season and now returning from a bad injury that will have kept him off the mound for over a year. Just how high should our expectations be?
Fried: He is my second favorite Brave, (second only to Albie’s) but even I have to wonder how much of 2020 is reproducible.
Anderson: I loved what I saw. But it was a small sample size even for 2020. Let’s see him do it a while longer before we get so sure of him.
Wilson. We are excited about him because of two starts.. two.
Wright: If this guy doesn’t scare you everytime he starts you should check your pulse.
This is the most excited I have been about the Braves rotation since Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz but we need to see these guys do it again and for a full season and ALSO bring in injury insurance.
Blue Jays should pass on Odorizzi. Not sold he can survive the AL East at this point in his career. Morton and Tanaka are better options.
Agreed on both counts.
Give me
Degrom
Stroman
Odorizzi
Morton
Peterson
Thor(July)
The offense is more than good enough to win with that and also I’d be very surprised if the Mets don’t add at least 1 of springer, realmuto, and Lindor
I heard the “checked-in” rumors regarding Morton but I have my doubts he’ll sign with a team that plays its home games in a state other than FL. If the Mets land the rotation and one hitter from your list (my preference is Lindor) I think they should be favored to make the playoffs and play deep into them.
Well really, how important would Morton be really anyway? There are more than a few similarly productive pitchers to choose from.
True I just want two pitchers lol.
Yeah Morton might want to be closer to home but anyone close to his skill is fine. Like I would get Walker also. Many options to think about
That would be a Mets birthday card….
He’d be a nice 1 year signing for Oakland.
Let’s go, Giants! ⚾️
I wish MLB teams would get off the pot and do something. Anything.