Toronto Blue Jays targeting high-leverage relievers

According to Mitch Bannon of the Athletic, the Blue Jays are targeting high-leverage relievers.

Free agent Edwin Diaz appears to be one possibility, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Rosenthal frames Toronto as the main threat to poach Diaz from the Mets, and also reported that the Blue Jays recently met with Diaz's representatives.

The Blue Jays had «at least preliminary interest» in Ryan Helsley before the right-hander signed with the Orioles.

Toronto has shown past interest (both last offseason and at the trade deadline) in trading for Helsley when he was still a member of the Cardinals, so it tracks that the Jays would've again considered Helsley in free agency.

The Jays have seemingly been casting a wide net early in the offseason, having been connected to all kinds of different pursuits.

Such pitchers as Helsley, Raisel Iglesias, Phil Maton, Edwin Diaz, and Pete Fairbanks have been linked to the Jays thus far, and the first three of those names have already come off the board.

Given how Ross Atkins' front office is known for casting a wide berth in its free agent explorations, it's probably safe to guess that the Jays have called about most or all of the top relievers on the market, ranging from set-up men to proven closers like Diaz.

Atkins said after the season that the team was open to the possibility of moving Jeff Hoffman into a set-up role, thus opening the door for Toronto to seek out another top saves candidate.