Blue Jays Discussion: 2024-25 Off-season: The free agent watch begins (and sometimes old baseball radio broadcasts)

[aingefan]

I'm hopeful that once Tiedemann comes back the injury issues are behind him. He probably should have gotten TJ a while ago. Seems like he had an injury that he didn't properly recover from or aggravated another issue while he was still weakened from the first injury. To me it doesn't feel like Nate where he was hurting a different part of his body every other month. Rather he got injured 2 years ago and just had this same pattern of coming back and either re-injuring or it not being ready only to go on the IL again. I'm hopeful the TJ fixes the issue for once and for all.

I hope so too.
In any event, building hin back up to a starters work load will take time.
I expect him and some of the other injured guys getting some innings in the afl before d-day.

This is an intriguing move. He's only 24 (with 2 options) but struggled in the St. Louis system after being traded for Hicks.

Why wouldn’t StLouis keep him? Weird move….he wasn’t *that* bad.
It’s a nice add.
He joins a nice group of pitchers who could conceivably fight their way onto the 40 man by the end of the year.
Never know with pitchers…a tweak here and there can make all the difference.

 

[Ale Brew]

Heyman now saying Cohen has re-engaged with Boras/Alonso today/tonight.

Either the play was to get Pete back to the Mets all along (most likely) or Boras is trying to use the them to drive up the price for the Jays (much less likely).

 

[MK78]

As long as they get rid of team options, too. (They won't.)

To be fair, team options are usually at the end of a contract, and sometimes they require both the player and team agreement, and there is often a buyout payment to the player if the team option is declined. Also sometimes the team option is vested on performance. I don't find these unreasonable.

I don't think I've seen a team option after every year.

 

[arthurcason]

Heyman now saying Cohen has re-engaged with Boras/Alonso today/tonight.

Either the play was to get Pete back to the Mets all along (most likely) or Boras is trying to use the them to drive up the price for the Jays (much less likely).

Could be leverage to the jays. Heyman is a big Boras guy.

 

[Anthrax442]

Why wouldn’t StLouis keep him? Weird move….he wasn’t *that* bad.
It’s a nice add.

Knowing nothing of their depth... they might have 5 guys who are in the same boat so someone is left with no chair when the music stops.

 

[Bjindaho]

I hope so too.
In any event, building hin back up to a starters work load will take time.
I expect him and some of the other injured guys getting some innings in the afl before d-day.

Why wouldn’t StLouis keep him? Weird move….he wasn’t *that* bad.
It’s a nice add.
He joins a nice group of pitchers who could conceivably fight their way onto the 40 man by the end of the year.
Never know with pitchers…a tweak here and there can make all the difference.

Tendering requires a 40 man spot. He pitched poorly for St. Louis so they did not want him on the 40 man.

The deal with the Jays doesn't require a 40 man spot (Rule 5 is already done), but it's a 1 year deal if they don't put him on the 40 man.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Jeff Blair said it right this morning, it’s fine to stick to your valuations of players but only if you have been winning. They are still sticking to their approach even though they have not won anything. Try something else.

 

[weems]

If you go by what the money is saying, we're still not anywhere near good enough.

 

[Suntouchable13]

If you go by what the money is saying, we're still not anywhere near good enough.

View attachment 968977

We are definitely not. We have a bunch of #7, #8 hitters in a good lineup but for us they are playing more prominent roles. If Shapiro and Atknis think Santander is enough then they are truly delusional.

 

[smitty10]

If you go by what the money is saying, we're still not anywhere near good enough.

View attachment 968977

We still need:

- A 25+ HR bat

- A starting pitcher

- 2 Relievers (lefty + late inning guy)

It's no wonder they don't have us higher. If they can accomplish these 4 acquisitions, we should be seen as a contender. Until then there's no reason for odds makers to believe in the Jays.

Also, what is the plan if Kirk struggles or goes down with an injury? Are we really going to run with Heineman or Bethencourt? That's a very weak spot in our depth.

 

[smitty10]

We are definitely not. We have a bunch of #7, #8 hitters in a good lineup but for us they are playing more prominent roles. If Shapiro and Atknis think Santander is enough then they are truly delusional.

I dont believe they think it's enough, which is why they've been linked to so many FA's + trade speculation.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Suntouchable13]

I dont believe they think it's enough, which is why they've been linked to so many FA's + trade speculation.

Yes, but they have not been aggressive. They are just sticking to their player valuations. They seem to be satisfied starting the season with this team as is.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Surprised those two gave Jeff enough time to get a full sentence in.

 

[Bjindaho]

Surprised those two gave Jeff enough time to get a full sentence in.

I don't think Alonso's situation has changed at any point.

Toronto likely has the best offer, but he'd prefer to play in NY. There will come a point where he has to make a decision, but that's likely either just before spring training begins or just after.

 

[Dr Pepper]

I don't think Alonso's situation has changed at any point.

Toronto likely has the best offer, but he'd prefer to play in NY. There will come a point where he has to make a decision, but that's likely either just before spring training begins or just after.

I'm willing to bet the most obvious reason that this is dragging on, is Scott Boras.

 

[Bjindaho]

I'm willing to bet the most obvious reason that this is dragging on, is Scott Boras.

In this case, I disagree 100%

Cohen is openly stating that he won't give Alonso the kind of deal he wants. At this point, the Jays appear to be the only team near the projected contract.

There's a real chance that the best Mets offer on the table would pay him less next year than what he made this year.

 

[Dr Pepper]

In this case, I disagree 100%

Cohen is openly stating that he won't give Alonso the kind of deal he wants. At this point, the Jays appear to be the only team near the projected contract.

There's a real chance that the best Mets offer on the table would pay him less next year than what he made this year.

And I hope you're right, and the only thing keeping Pete from signing here is Pete himself.

But it seemed fairly imminent last week only to fall apart completely. So hopefully the reported offer of 3years x $25 mil is enough to sway him to commit to Toronto - which in turn might convince Max Scherzer to lock in as well.

 

[The Iceman]

I liked the pick of kloffenstein when drafted. Minor league deal so cant hurt to bring him back

What was the deal. Do you remember?

Both Jordan Groshans our 1st round pick and KLOFF attended the same HS.
I remember it being a package deal type arrangement. Was KLOFF rated much higher. I know there was a draft day story.

I'm truly puzzled about all these opt-outs. Especially after 1 year.

That's like 0 benefit to the team and 100% to the player. "If I'm good i can opt out, but if i suck or get injured I can just stay on it".

The contracts are already guaranteed so why are they allowing this shit. IMO that needs to be changed in the next CBA.

It is almost like a compromise/show me.

OK, I will sign for this amount but if I outperform what you are paying me I will renegotiate the deal.

 

[Discoverer]

To be fair, team options are usually at the end of a contract

So are opt outs. It only seems different because contracts are always viewed from the perspective of the team.

Player A signs for 5/100 with opt outs after years 3 and 4
Player B signs for 3/60 with 2 team options for $20 million each

Those are the same contract, only Player A gets to decide on years 4 and 5 while the team gets to decide for Player B. It only gets reported as a 5 year deal vs a 3 year deal because they're talking about the commitment the team has made.

 

[Blitzkrug]

Two views into the Alonso thing;

1) The Jays were legitimately interested in signing him, which Scott Boras tried to use as leverage to get the deal Pete actually wants from the Mets. Cohen balked which now leaves Pete in a weird spot where the Jays want him, but probably not at what Boras thinks he's worth and the Mets are out of the picture entirely.

2) The above, but a random mystery team swoops in to sign him before Spring Training starts

 

[Discoverer]

That logic continues to make no sense. Honestly, you can make the "if it was going to happen it would have happened by now" argument for any team interested in signing him.

He hasn't signed because he's not getting the kind of offer he wants and he's holding out trying to get better. I don't see how it's any more complicated than that.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Maple Leafs Uncertainty + Alonso's Asking Price - The FAN Morning Show

Later, we turn the page to the Blue Jays with Sportsnet’s Jeff Blair (24:42). He shares the latest on Pete Alonso's free agency, where he’ll end up and why the Jays are a good fit, before delving into the improved roster and the team's path to a Wild Card spot.

 

[phillipmike]

Kiley McDaniel's top 100 MLB prospects for 2025: Which future star is No. 1?

Where do stars of tomorrow like Roki Sasaki and Roman Anthony land as we rank baseball's best young players?

www.espn.com

69. Arjun Nimmala, SS, Toronto Blue Jays​

Age: 19 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Type: A chance to be a shortstop who hits 30 homers, but it's still early

One of the most intriguing prospects in the 2022 draft because of his unique background, Nimmala's blazing-hot second half earned him a spot on this list.

He found his power in games, thanks in large part to his collection of excellent in-game power indicators (barrel rate, air pull percentage, launch angle, contact position, etc.) that should allow him to maximize his power as he develops. That will come with some swing and miss, maybe a .240 batting average and fringe-average on-base percentage, but he'll play the infield and this collection of tools and soft skills as an 18-year-old (he turned 19 after the season ended) puts Nimmala alongside the top prep prospects in the past few drafts, particularly if he can post numbers for all of 2025 like he did in the second half of 2024.

89. Ricky Tiedemann, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays​

Age: 22 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Type: Lower slot lefty with three plus pitches that should return after the 2025 season

Tiedemann took a step forward from high school to junior college, leading to his selection as the 91st pick in the 2021 draft, then he took a giant step forward in his first full year in the minor leagues.

In 2022, he reached Double-A as a teenager with a mid-90s fastball and plus stuff along with starter traits. He was one of the best pitching prospects in baseball before his 2023 and 2024 were derailed by arm soreness and diminished control, punctuated by a Tommy John surgery in July that will also cost him the whole 2025 season.

Tiedemann's career high for innings is 78⅔ (set back in 2022), so he'll still be on an innings count when he gets back on a mound in 2026 and won't see a heavy big league workload until 2027. I'm hoping that in 2026, his stuff, command and health will go back to what they were in 2022.

98. Orelvis Martinez, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays​

Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Type: He has plus raw power, knows how to get to it in games and is ready for the big leagues.

Martinez signed for $3.5 million out of the Dominican Republic as one of the top players in the 2018 international signing class. His scouting report has been similar since then, and he has raked at every level of the minors despite being young at each level. Overall, he has hit 110 homers and posted an .834 OPS in his minor league career.

Martinez is an easy hitter to imagine: He likes the ball inside, he has huge bat speed and plus raw power and is trying to pull and lift the ball, with his weakness being sliders down and away that look like inside fastballs out of the pitcher's hand. He doesn't mind facing velocity because he has the horsepower in his hands to match, so his big league numbers might be able match his Triple-A numbers. His chase and contact rates are a bit below average, but that's to be expected with his approach.

The two main concerns are his 2024 suspension for violating Major League Baseball's performance-enhancing drug policy and his defensive value. Martinez played 11 games in Triple-A after his suspension ended and looked basically the same, so I'm not concerned about that going forward. Defensively, he is an adventure at times at third base, with a varying, stiff delivery to first base. He has a bit more potential at second base, where the time and opportunity for adventures is greatly reduced. He's a 40-grade runner with limited defensive range who is new to the position, but he's serviceable and should improve.

For 2025, Martinez should be a solid platoon partner and rotation player at second base, designated hitter and maybe some of the corner positions while he waits for a regular spot in the lineup. His potential is something like Tony Batista, minus the wacky setup at the plate; Martinez will be streaky and sometimes maddening, but there's 25-30 homer upside and he's playable in the other facets.

3 in the top 100. Still have Bloss and Yesavage plus the 8th pick.

Could be worse. Need our IFA signings to take a step.

 

[Dr.Funk]