GRAND-ERSON TIMES COMING FOR JAYS?

As a soon-to-be 37-year-old outfielder, Curtis Granderson may not have had the benefit of being picky in deciding where he was going to extend his career.

That being said, the veteran likes his potential fit with the Blue Jays, where he will be part of a platoon in left field.

"I’ve always enjoyed Toronto, in general. It’s just a really cool city,” Granderson said on Tuesday after his one-year, US$5-million deal with the Jays was made official.

“(There is) great potential to win and an opportunity to play. A combination of all the things I was looking for in the 2018 season.”

How much Granderson plays remains to be seen, though it’s expected he will be part of a two- or three-man rotation is in left. But, if he returns some pop to a bat that three times helped him become an all star, the opportunities could increase.

“It’s going to be up to them,” Granderson said. “They run the ship, I get in line.” Granderson hit .212 in 2017 with 26 homers in 147 games split between the NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. He’ll embark on his 15th season in the majors when training camp opens next month in Dunedin, Fla. Granderson has a well-earned reputation as a clubhouse leader, a role that could add further value to his acquisition.

“I think we needed some new faces and we’ve started to do that,” Jays manager John Gibbons said on the weekend. “I’ve always heard good things about him. (Longtime MLB manager Jim Leyland) is a good buddy of mine and he always raved about (Granderson).

“He’ll be a good stabilizer. He might bring some stability to that clubhouse.”