Blue Jays’ Brandon Belt Feeling Healthy, Refreshed For 2023 Season
For much of this off-season, the Toronto Blue Jays have worked diligently to improve their run prevention, particularly in the outfield, acquiring Kevin Kiermaier and Daulton Varsho. But that meant sacrificing some of their offensive firepower.
Moving on from fan favourites Teoscar Hernández and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. wasn’t easy to swallow, nor was having to replace their respective offensive outputs. Less than two weeks into 2023, however, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins has beefed up his team’s lineup by signing left-hander Brandon Belt.
The 34-year-old, whose one-year deal worth $9.3 million became official on Tuesday, is leaving San Francisco following 12 seasons in which he captured two World Series titles in 2012 and ‘14 with the Giants.
Belt was a core member of the franchise’s position player group – both on and off the field – establishing himself as a well-known leader across the sport. But he didn’t reach that status overnight. It took time and dedication to learn how to play the right way.
And the 2016 All-Star wouldn’t be the player he is today if not for the lessons he learned as a youngster from veterans like Buster Posey, Tim Hudson, Jake Peavy and Matt Cain.
The Blue Jays’ clubhouse already consists of multiple veteran leaders, including George Springer, Matt Chapman, Danny Jansen, Whit Merrifield and even Bo Bichette. And with Kiermaier and Belt joining the mix, there’ll be plenty of voices to carry the load throughout the grind of a 162-game schedule.
In the end, there were three to four teams interested in Belt’s services, including Toronto, but his decision to sign with a team that’s won at least 90 games in two consecutive seasons wasn’t all that difficult.
“We felt like this was the best situation and best baseball decision for us,” Belt said Wednesday on a Zoom call. “When I thought about the teams I had to choose from, I just got really excited about the thought of going to play for Toronto.
“It’s a great roster, a great, young group of guys, and they were a good baseball team last year that got better this offseason. That’s what gets me excited about playing baseball next year.”
The 6-foot-3 lefty is coming off a disappointing 2022 season – slashing .213/.326/.350 with a career-worst 96 wRC+ over 78 games – which ended prematurely with right knee surgery last September. And it was an injury that had plagued him for several years.
Belt’s knee troubles first arose in 2015, eventually leading to meniscus surgery before undergoing another operation in ‘18. His issues continued popping up, though, with the pain affecting his everyday lifestyle outside of baseball over the last few years.
It reached the point where he couldn’t run around the backyard with his young sons, causing him to contemplate his future playing career. But with his latest surgery behind him, he feels great about his body and his chances of bouncing back in 2023.
“I didn’t know if I was done playing baseball,” Belt said, “but the recovery from it and me being able to know my body and feel my body, I felt great. Right away, I knew there was reason for optimism. That’s why I’m just so happy to get out there right now.”
A rejuvenated Belt should be a great addition to the Blue Jays’ offence, especially considering the veteran lefty hit .285/.393/.595 with 38 home runs and a 162 wRC+ across 148 games from 2020-21. He was also worth 5.4 fWAR during that span.
Toronto’s front office has taken a clear stance on altering its lineup’s offensive balance, with Kiermaier, Varsho and Belt all left-handed. In doing so, that philosophical change will make maneuvering through their deep and talented offence even tougher.
With Belt, in particular, the former Giant packs a powerful punch versus right-handed pitching, as he owns a career .268/.363/.477 slash line with a 130 wRC+ over 1,404 plate appearances.
And if he recaptures his 2020/21 form, the Blue Jays may have just landed one of the best under-the-radar acquisitions of the off-season.
“I’m so optimistic about this year,” Belt said. “I feel great. There should be no excuses for me; I’ll say it right now. I feel like I’m going to be who I was in 2020 and ’21. If it doesn’t end up like that, it’s not because of something physical.”
Most of Belt’s opportunities will likely come as a designated hitter, particularly against right-handers. He will also serve as Vladimir Gurrero Jr.’s primary backup at first base, spelling the All-Star slugger during his off days.
It’s also reasonable to assume that Belt isn’t Toronto’s final significant move this winter, with a right-handed outfielder – who excels versus lefties – and another pitcher or two atop management’s wish list.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
Photo: Don DeBold. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.