Kevin Kiermaier Stats

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier said the team didn't talk of a platoon at all when they pitched him to sign with them. He signed to be the team's starting center fielder and expects to play every day. In Kiermaier's mind, the center field job is his to lose, with George Springer set to move to right field. It's a bit of a surprise with the 32-year-old coming off left hip surgery that cut his 2022 season short. Kiermaier is an elite defender when healthy, but his offensive production has really tailed off in the last five years while playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. In that time frame, he hit .232/.296/.382 with a .678 OPS. In 63 games for Tampa in 2022, Kiermaier slashed just .228/.281/.369 with seven home runs, 22 RBI, 28 runs scored and six stolen bases.

over 1 month ago

The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to an undisclosed deal with free-agent outfielder Kevin Kiermaier on Saturday, pending a physical, according to an industry source. Kiermaier will stay in the American League East after spending the last 10 years with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he hit .248/.308/.407 with 82 home runs, 316 RBI, 410 runs scored and 112 stolen bases in 914 regular season games. The 32-year-old became a free agent when the Rays declined his $13 million option for 2023. He played in just 63 games in 2022 before having hip surgery in August. Kiermaier has always been a an excellent center fielder (three Gold Gloves), but he has tailed off offensively in the last five seasons. He should be the starter in center field, which will move George Springer to a corner-outfield spot.

over 1 month ago

The Tampa Bay Rays declined outfielder Kevin Kiermaier's $13 million option for the 2023 season on Thursday, making him a free agent. Kiermaier underwent season-ending hip surgery in August. The 32-year-old center fielder only managed to play in 63 games in 2022 and hit an underwhelming .228/.281/.369 with seven home runs, 22 RBI, 28 runs scored and six stolen bases in his 206 at-bats. He inked a six-year, $50 million extension with Tampa before the 2017 season, but he hasn't lived up to that contract and has dealt with injuries along the way as well. Before any team decides to take a chance on him in free agency, they might want to see how his recovery from hip surgery is going, so it might be a while before we see Kiermaier land on his feet.

over 2 months ago