Player News

• Brandon Belt: Baffled by free agency

  04/06/2024 • By RotoWire

  Speaking on the "JD Bunkis Podcast" on March 29, Belt revealed that he hasn't received many calls from teams interested in signing him for the 2024 season, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports. Belt noted that he had a far easier time fielding interest following the 2022 season when he was limited to just 78 games due to issues in his right knee. He signed a one-year, $9.3 million contract with the Blue Jays in January of 2023 and went on to slash .254/.369/.490 with 19 home runs and 43 RBI over 404 plate appearances while appearing in 103 games last season. Baggarly notes that the Mets have been the only team to offer Belt a guaranteed contract -- though it was almost entirely incentive-based -- and that other teams considered him a fallback option.

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• Brandon Belt: Plans to play in 2024

  02/27/2024 • By RotoWire

  Belt said he isn't retiring and will "definitely" play in 2024, Alex Pavlovic of The Athletic reports. The 35-year-old spent last season in Toronto and served as the club's primary designated hitter, and he enjoyed a resurgence in 103 games with an .859 OPS and 19 home runs. Belt made just 29 appearances at first base and isn't likely to play the field much more than that going forward given his age and injury history. There's still some competition in the free-agent DH market with veteran J.D. Martinez also unsigned early in spring training.

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• Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: In two hole again Wednesday

  10/04/2023 • By RotoWire

  Belt is starting at designated hitter and batting second Wednesday in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Twins, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. The Blue Jays are rolling out the same lineup that they featured in Game 1 as they try to stave off elimination. That includes Belt in the two spot, which is where he hit in his final three starts of the regular season. For what it's worth, Belt is 0-for-8 with a 3:1 K:BB in nine career plate appearances versus Twins starter Sonny Gray.

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• Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Homers again Sunday

  10/02/2023 • By RotoWire

  Belt went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 12-8 loss to the Rays. Belt's eighth inning home run was his third long ball over his last four games. Since May 4, the 35-year-old leads the Blue Jays with a .934 OPS and closes out the regular season with a strong slash line of .254/.369/.490 with 19 homers, 43 RBI, 53 runs and a 61:141 BB:K in 404 plate appearances. He'll figure to be in the lineup Tuesday when the Blue Jays open up the playoffs against Pablo Lopez and the Twins.

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• Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Not in Saturday's lineup

  09/30/2023 • By RotoWire

  Belt will sit Saturday against the Rays. Belt has homered on back-to-back days but will nonetheless head to the bench, potentially because the Blue Jays fear the Rays could turn to a lefty after opener Shawn Armstrong. George Springer will rest his legs as the designated hitter, with Cavan Biggio starting in right field.

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