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The Toronto Blue Jays added another left-handed bat to help balance out their right-handed heavy lineup. Toronto signed longtime San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt to a one-year deal. report San Francisco Chronicle. athletic says The deal is worth $9.3 million. The Blue Jays are expected to announce their signings on Tuesday.
Berto, who turned 35 in April, has already passed a physical after having season-ending surgery on his right knee in September. Belt is the third knee surgery since 2018.
Last season was the worst of Belt’s 12-year career. That said, Berto hit a solid record of .274/.378/.597 in 2021 with 29 home runs in just 97 games. Various injuries have limited Belt to just 598 of his 870 regular-season games since 2017, a dismal 69%.
Berto did not rank among the top 50 free agents. Here’s what RJ Anderson wrote about him in November:
Belt, who hasn’t played since August 20 because of a sore knee, has admitted he could retire this winter if his condition doesn’t improve. Kuiper also counts among those who believe he’s done.) It’s unclear how much he’ll have to offer, even if the belt returns. spent the season of He is completely indifferent to speed. Indeed, Berto ranks him in the second percentile in exit speed for pitches over 95 miles per hour, alongside right-hitting (kind) infielder Nick He Allen and Vidal his bourgeoisie. If this is the end, and somehow it might be, the belt deserves his flower for his good career.
Considering the knee injury and the presence of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base, Belt will step in as Toronto’s DH against right field. The Blue Jays added Dalton Vasho, Kevin Kiermaier and now Belt (all left-handed hitters) to a lineup that was almost entirely right-handed last season. They desperately needed balance in their lineup this offseason, and they created it.
The Blue Jays went 92-70 last season, losing to the Seattle Mariners in the best-of-three wild card series.
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