For now, any news about Brandon's belt isn't bad news for the two-time former World Series champion. A month into the 2024 MLB season, Belt remains a free agent despite his plans to play this year.
So what's holding up Brandon Belt's free agency and why is a player who posted an OPS of .859 last year still unsigned?
Reasons why Brandon's belt remains unsigned
To be fair, there hasn't been a lot of Brandon Belt news lately because he's probably not among the greatest first basemen of all time. He's certainly never going to be the best starter in 2024 either.
His days as an elite first baseman are over. But Belt proved last year with the Blue Jays that his career is far from over. Let's take a look at why he is still without a team this season.
The second choice for everyone
The problem with Belt's signing before the season wasn't that he wasn't on anyone's radar. There were at least six teams under contract with him. However, the belt seems to be a fallback option for most of these teams.
For example, the Giants ended up with Jorge Soler instead of returning the belt to the Bay Area. The Blue Jays, instead of re-signing Belt, signed veterans Justin Turner and Daniel Vogelbach. Likewise, the Mets signed J.D. Martinez, the Diamondbacks added Joc Pederson, and the Angels signed Miguel Sano, all of them taking spots that could have been filled by Belt.
Lack of diversity
Why did those teams choose someone else for the belt? Perhaps his lack of diversity was part of the problem.
While Belt has some experience in left field, he has spent nearly 10,000 innings at first base, his primary position. He doesn't offer a lot of defensive flexibility outside of playing first base or being a DH. Belt has also had disappointing numbers in recent years against left-handed pitching, making him mostly a platoon player at first base or the DH position. This somewhat limits the role he can play in the team.
Age and injuries
Although the 2023 season is productive, Belt being 36 years old is definitely a concern for teams. His recent injury history doesn't help him either. Since the start of the 2021 season, Belt has made eight trips to the IL.
While not all of these injuries are a result of Belt getting older, having eight stints on the IL in three years is a sign of an injury-prone player. Why would a team want to pay a part-time player when that player is vulnerable to missing significant portions of the season? Unfortunately, being plagued by injuries in recent years is a mark that will be difficult for Belt to overcome.
Contract demands
Belt's pre-season contract requirements could also have played a role in him remaining unemployed. The Blue Jays paid him $9.3 million in 2023, and since he produced an OPS of .859 for them, they figured he wouldn't need to take a pay cut. He was also not interested in signing to a minor league contract, which is common for veterans on the back side of their careers who remain unsigned after the start of spring training.
An unwillingness to settle has also played a role in Belt remaining unsigned, as he is believed to be worth more than the market says he is worth.
Is there still hope for the belt?
As long as Belt wants to play, there is a chance he will join a team at some point in 2024. However, the deeper we get into the season, the less likely it is that someone will sign him.
At this point, Belt will undoubtedly need to spend a significant amount of time in the minors after signing with the team. This also hurts his chances of being a viable option if the team needs a first baseman or DH compared to the in-house option. In short, the longer the season lasts, the less likely the belt will find a home in 2024.
