The Toronto Blue Jays have checked in on free agent Alfonso Soriano to discuss the possibility of a deal, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi confirmed Thursday.
Soriano, who recently became a free agent after being released by the New York Yankees, would be a potential stopgap solution in Toronto, but he appears to be weighing his options for now. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported that the Blue Jays checked in on Soriano.
The 38-year-old Soriano struggled in New York this year, batting just .221/.244/.367 with six home runs in 238 plate appearance. However, he hit 34 home runs in 2013 and 32 home runs in 2012, so his power stroke was recently in fine form.
The Blue Jays have cycled through a number of right-handed hitting outfielders of late, including Brad Glenn, Kevin Pillar, Darin Mastroianni, Cole Gillespie and Nolan Reimold. While Soriano’s days as an impact defender are over, he has played both corner outfield positions in 2014.
If Soriano signs with another team, the signing team would pay a pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum salary with the Yankees paying the remainder of his $18 million salary.