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Top Brandon Belt News
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Brandon Belt: Baffled by free agency
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
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
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
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
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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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Goes yard again Friday
Belt went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 11-4 win over the Rays.
The veteran first baseman went yard for the second straight game, launching his 18th homer of the year in the fourth inning off Erasmo Ramirez. Belt missed most of September due to a stomach bug and back trouble, but he looks 100 percent as the Jays close in on a wild-card berth, going 4-for-14 in four games since returning to the lineup with three extra-base hits and four RBI.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Blasts three-run homer
Belt went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Yankees.
After missing two weeks with a back injury, it only took Belt three games to launch a home run, this time plating Daulton Varsho and George Springer on a three-run shot off Zach McAllister in the sixth inning. Through 100 games, Belt is slashing .252/.371/.477 with 17 home runs and an ugly 34.8 percent strikeout rate.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Returns from injured list
Belt (back) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The veteran slugger landed on the shelf Sept. 12 with back spasms just after missing the previous eight games due to an illness, but he's now ready to rejoin the Blue Jays for the final stretch of the regular season. Belt had a strong start to the second half with a .971 OPS in his first 30 games coming out of the All-Star break, but he was mired in a 3-for-18 slump prior to his move to the injured list.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Resumes hitting
Belt (back) began a hitting progression Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Manager John Schneider noted that Belt may be able to play in a rehab game with Triple-A Buffalo before the minor-league season ends, but it will depend on how quickly Belt is able to recover. The 35-year-old landed on the injured list Sept. 12 due to back spasms and should still be able to make it back to Toronto's lineup before the end of the season.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Hits IL with back spasms
Toronto placed Belt on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with lumbar spine muscle spasms.
Belt exited Monday's game against the Rangers with back spasms and it's serious enough that the Blue Jays will give him at least 10 days to get right. Spencer Horwitz is essentially taking on all of Belt's duties and is hitting cleanup Tuesday against Max Scherzer.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Out with back issue Tuesday
Belt (back) is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Rangers.
Belt, who left Monday's game early due to lower-back muscle spasms, likely would have been in the lineup Tuesday against righty Max Scherzer if he were able physically. Spencer Horwitz will start at first base and hit cleanup. With the Jays facing lefty Jordan Montgomery on Wednesday, Belt likely will be held out until at least Thursday's matchup against Nathan Eovaldi.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Exits early Monday
Belt was removed from Monday's game against the Rangers due to lower back muscle spasms.
Belt will be considered day-to-day until further notice. Spencer Horwitz stepped into the DH spot in Belt's place.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Rejoins starting nine
Belt (illness) is in the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers.
A back issue and an illness prevented Belt from starting Toronto's last eight games, but he has recovered from both and is ready to return to action. He will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup for the Blue Jays on Monday night.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Sitting again Sunday
Belt (illness) is out of the lineup again Sunday versus the Royals.
Belt hasn't appeared in a game since Sept. 2, first due to back trouble and then because of an illness. Granted, he probably would have sat Sunday either way with left-hander Cole Ragans toeing the slab for Kansas City. Bo Bichette will take a turn in the DH role as Ernie Clement starts at shortstop.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Sits again Saturday
Belt (illness) remains out of the lineup Saturday against the Royals.
Belt hasn't played in a week, first due to back issues and then due to a stomach virus. It's not clear exactly when he'll return to the field, but the Blue Jays haven't felt the need to place him on the injured list to this point. Spencer Horwitz will be Saturday's designated hitter.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Remains sidelined Friday
Belt (illness) isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup Friday against the Royals.
Friday will mark the fifth straight game Belt has missed, as he continues to fight off a stomach virus. Davis Schneider will replace Belt as Toronto's DH.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Not in Wednesday's lineup
Belt (illness) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Oakland, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Belt probably wouldn't have started this one anyway, with lefty JP Sears taking the ball for the Athletics. Belt has been banged up recently, though, first with a back issue and more recently a stomach virus. Belt is with the team Wednesday but is not expected to be available off the bench, per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca. The Blue Jays are off Thursday, so Belt will aim to to be back in action Friday when Toronto returns home.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Remains out Tuesday
Belt (illness) isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup Tuesday against the Athletics.
A stomach virus kept Belt out of Monday's lineup, and the issue seems to still be bothering him ahead of Tuesday's contest. George Springer will serve as Toronto's DH while Belt recovers, allowing Cavan Biggio to start in right field and bat sixth.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Away with stomach virus
Belt is being kept away from the Blue Jays on Monday because of a stomach virus, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Belt has missed time with a back issue recently, but it would appear the stomach virus is the main reason for his absence from the lineup for a second straight day. Consider him day-to-day. Vladimir Guerrero is at designated hitter and Spencer Horwitz is playing first base Monday.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-3, 230 lbs |
| Birthplace: Nacogodoches, TX |
| Age: 36 |
| School: Texas |
| Experience: 9 |
| Bats/Throws: L, L |