Speaking on the "JD Bunkis Podcast" on March 29, Belt revealed that he hasn't received many calls from teams interested in signing him for the 2024 season, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Belt noted that he had a far easier time fielding interest following the 2022 season when he was limited to just 78 games due to issues in his right knee. He signed a one-year, $9.3 million contract with the Blue Jays in January of 2023 and went on to slash .254/.369/.490 with 19 home runs and 43 RBI over 404 plate appearances while appearing in 103 games last season. Baggarly notes that the Mets have been the only team to offer Belt a guaranteed contract -- though it was almost entirely incentive-based -- and that other teams considered him a fallback option.

Belt said he isn't retiring and will "definitely" play in 2024, Alex Pavlovic of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 35-year-old spent last season in Toronto and served as the club's primary designated hitter, and he enjoyed a resurgence in 103 games with an .859 OPS and 19 home runs. Belt made just 29 appearances at first base and isn't likely to play the field much more than that going forward given his age and injury history. There's still some competition in the free-agent DH market with veteran J.D. Martinez also unsigned early in spring training.

Belt is starting at designated hitter and batting second Wednesday in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Twins, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Blue Jays are rolling out the same lineup that they featured in Game 1 as they try to stave off elimination. That includes Belt in the two spot, which is where he hit in his final three starts of the regular season. For what it's worth, Belt is 0-for-8 with a 3:1 K:BB in nine career plate appearances versus Twins starter Sonny Gray.

Belt went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 12-8 loss to the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Belt's eighth inning home run was his third long ball over his last four games. Since May 4, the 35-year-old leads the Blue Jays with a .934 OPS and closes out the regular season with a strong slash line of .254/.369/.490 with 19 homers, 43 RBI, 53 runs and a 61:141 BB:K in 404 plate appearances. He'll figure to be in the lineup Tuesday when the Blue Jays open up the playoffs against Pablo Lopez and the Twins.

Belt will sit Saturday against the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Belt has homered on back-to-back days but will nonetheless head to the bench, potentially because the Blue Jays fear the Rays could turn to a lefty after opener Shawn Armstrong. George Springer will rest his legs as the designated hitter, with Cavan Biggio starting in right field.

Belt went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 11-4 win over the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran first baseman went yard for the second straight game, launching his 18th homer of the year in the fourth inning off Erasmo Ramirez. Belt missed most of September due to a stomach bug and back trouble, but he looks 100 percent as the Jays close in on a wild-card berth, going 4-for-14 in four games since returning to the lineup with three extra-base hits and four RBI.

Belt (back) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran slugger landed on the shelf Sept. 12 with back spasms just after missing the previous eight games due to an illness, but he's now ready to rejoin the Blue Jays for the final stretch of the regular season. Belt had a strong start to the second half with a .971 OPS in his first 30 games coming out of the All-Star break, but he was mired in a 3-for-18 slump prior to his move to the injured list.

Belt (back) began a hitting progression Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager John Schneider noted that Belt may be able to play in a rehab game with Triple-A Buffalo before the minor-league season ends, but it will depend on how quickly Belt is able to recover. The 35-year-old landed on the injured list Sept. 12 due to back spasms and should still be able to make it back to Toronto's lineup before the end of the season.

Toronto placed Belt on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with lumbar spine muscle spasms.

EDGE Analysis

Belt exited Monday's game against the Rangers with back spasms and it's serious enough that the Blue Jays will give him at least 10 days to get right. Spencer Horwitz is essentially taking on all of Belt's duties and is hitting cleanup Tuesday against Max Scherzer.

Belt (back) is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Belt, who left Monday's game early due to lower-back muscle spasms, likely would have been in the lineup Tuesday against righty Max Scherzer if he were able physically. Spencer Horwitz will start at first base and hit cleanup. With the Jays facing lefty Jordan Montgomery on Wednesday, Belt likely will be held out until at least Thursday's matchup against Nathan Eovaldi.