News and Notes: Left, right, and centre, the Blue Jays option for outfielders are leaving the market, some Carlos Rodón news, and more!

The Jays’ options for signing a left-handed batting outfielder are dwindling.

Within minutes of each other, two of these options, Joey Gallo and Andrew Benintendi signed for the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox respectively. 
At the start of free agency, those two plus Michael Conforto and Michael Brantley were the four outfielders I saw as replacements for Teoscar Hernández on the free agent market.
Let’s look at the two outfielders that signed on Friday afternoon.
Joey Gallo:
I was most intrigued by Gallo, as he had a 122 wRC+ in 2021. Yes, he has a ton of swing and miss in his game (career 37.3 K%), but he also walks a ton (career 14.8 BB%) and mashes homers (177 home runs in 2811 plate appearances). 
Furthermore, between 2020 and 2021, he had a Defensive Runs Saved of 25 and an Outs Above Average of nine. Would I have wanted the Jays to commit a one-year deal worth $11,000,000 for Gallo? I’m not too sure about that.

Joey Gallo will get $11 million in his deal with the Twins, sources tell ESPN. He’s still just 29. With a solid season this year — remember, he put up 4.7 Wins Above Replacement in 2021 — he’s still primed to do well next year. But no doubt: This is a make-or-break season …

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Author: Brennan Delaney / Blue Jays Nation

Winners and Losers after Raptors sign Juancho Hernangomez

Winners and Losers after Raptors sign Juancho Hernangomez

The Toronto Raptors got in one last free agent signing at the eleventh hour before training camp starts. Juancho Hernangomez, who is known for his role in Adam Sandler’s “Hustle” as Bo Cruz, signed with Toronto on a one-year contract after spending 2021-22 with the Utah Jazz. Hernangomez is likely going to compete for a […]
Winners and Losers after Raptors sign Juancho Hernangomez – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Nicholas Aube-Kubel signs with the Leafs for $1M

The Leafs have made another signing by bringing in Nicholas Aube-Kubel for one year.

#Leafs announce a 1-year deal for Nicolas Aube-Kubel at $1 million.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 13, 2022

Calling Aube-Kubel a bargain might be a bit of a stretch as he is slated for 4th line duty, but he’s certainly priced right for the work he’ll be doing. The recent Stanley Cup Champion obviously brings that experience to the room as well. You just might not want him carrying the cup:

Team
CF/60
CA/60
CF%
GF/60
GA/60
GF%
xGF/60
xGA/60
xG%
HDCF/60
HDCA/60
HDCF%
PDO
PHI
49.9
65.05
43.41
0.89
3.56
20
1.82
3.63
33.35
7.13
19.6
26.67
0.939
COL
53.03
53.95
49.57
2.68
1.29
67.44
2.32
2.31
50.17
9.98
10.62
48.43
1.041
At 26 years old the Leafs are again looking at young guys who can fit in with the age of most of their roster, and while his underlying numbers don’t stand out, he’s really being brought in for the fourth line physical presence.

GP
G
PTS
PIM
S%
TOI
ATOI
BLK
HIT
Total
74
11
23
47
12.6
726
9:49
18
140
PHI
7
0
1
6
0
69
9:49
1
17
COL
67
11
22
41
14.1
658
9:49
17
123
Aube-Kubel will likely be competing with the likes of Wayne Simmonds, Joey Anderson, and players like Curtis Douglas and Bobby McMann for his ice time and even considering him a lock to be in the Leafs lineup is a stretch. At $1M his contract is completely buriable and is just enough that it may deter other teams from claiming him off waivers. He therefore is a great depth option even if he doesn’t grab a spot on the Leafs, though playing in 74 games last year, largely on the cup winning team means he’s likely going to make the cut.
All and all, it’s a depth signing. No need to be excited or upset. He’s a decent enough add.
Data from Evolving Hockey, Hockey Reference, and Natural Stat Trick
More from TheLeafsNation.com
Goaltending is the number one priority heading into free agency by Nick Barden

Reviewing the Leafs’ 2022 Draft Class by Nick Richard

Ondrej Kaše will cost too much to return to the Leafs, most likely by Ryan Hobart

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Leafs sign Dennis Hildeby to his entry level contract

We have our first signing of the day, and it’s one of the Leafs 2022 draft picks, goaltender Dennis Hildeby.
The Leafs press release:

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has signed goaltender Dennis Hildeby to a three-year, entry-level contract. The average annual value of the contract is $843,330.

Hildeby, 20, skated in seven regular season games with Färjestad (SHL) during the 2021-22 season, posting a 1.93 goals against average and a .931 save percentage.
Hildeby was selected by Toronto in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.
The Järfälla, Sweden native will attend this year’s prospect development camp, opening on Sunday, July 17th at the Ford Performance Centre. The full development camp roster and details will be announced soon.
So this is really great news as Hildeby, a draft overager is well on his path to the NHL and has some promising numbers (and height at 6’6) to show for it. He is still under contract with Färjestad for two more seasons, so there aren’t any guarantees on when he’ll come over, but at least there seems to be a commitment that it will happen in a couple of years.

The Hildeby signing also puts the #Leafs up to 42 contracts already. A bit of a strange signing to happen now given the new NHL-SHL transfer agreement states as a non-first round pick under the age of 24, he has to be offered to his SHL club before joining the #Marlies
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) July 13, 2022

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation