Breaking News: A free agent leftfilder is about to be signed by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Urgent Update: The Toronto Blue Jays are on the verge of signing a free-agent left fielder. Reports indicate that Tony Kemp, a former utility player for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, and Oakland Athletics, is attracting interest from multiple teams in free agency, including the Toronto Blue Jays, according to information from Robert Murray of Fansided.
According to Murray’s sources, the 32-year-old free agent, who has experience as a second baseman and left fielder, is being pursued by the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cincinnati Reds.
Throughout his eight-season career spanning 734 games, Kemp has posted a batting line of .238/.325/.352 with a .677 OPS, 35 home runs, and 184 RBI. Notably, he stands among the five players with over 2,000 plate appearances since 2016 who have not spent any days on the Injured List. The others in this category are Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Paul Goldschmidt, Nathaniel Lowe, and Whit Merrifield.
Despite a challenging 2023 season in which Kemp hit just .209, his performance in 2021 with Oakland, where he batted .279 in 131 games, highlights his potential contribution. The role Kemp would play with each team remains uncertain. In the case of the Yankees and the Red Sox, where they already have established players in Gleyber Torres and Vaughn Grissom, respectively, Kemp might serve as a backup. The Reds also boast a surplus of position players, leaving room for speculation about the potential role Kemp might play with the Pirates or the Blue Jays.
Considering Toronto’s recent losses in free agency, with both Merrifield and Matt Chapman departing, there are openings in the infield. While Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have secured positions, there could be opportunities for Kemp, along with Santiago Espinal and Davis Schneider, to fill crucial roles on the team.
