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

[Puckstuff]

I would move them up to the 2-3-4 spot, but I'm good with running Vlad/Santander/Bo in that order.

I get if, say, Wagner breaks out and Gimenez bounces back to his 2022 numbers. Otherwise, you're forcing a couple inferior hitters to come to the plate more often and in more important situations. Unless a couple guys force their way up, the offense just doesn't have the depth to have multiple hitters ahead of the core.

I feel like Bo tries to become too much of an old-fashioned cleanup hitter when he's hits 4th and he starts swinging out of his shoes. His numbers take a bit of a dip when hitting 4th.

Ideally, two of Gimenez, Wagner, Roden, Springer, Clement, or even Varsho break out during the season, and we can go with Vlad, Santander, and Bo 3, 4, 5.

1. Gimenez/Wagner/Roden/Springer/Clement
2. Wagner/Roden/Springer/Varsho
3. Vlad
4. Santander
5. Bichette
6. Kirk

 

[Suntouchable13]

I feel like Bo tries to become too much of an old-fashioned cleanup hitter when he's hits 4th and he starts swinging out of his shoes. His numbers take a bit of a dip when hitting 4th.

View attachment 987038

Ideally, two of Gimenez, Wagner, Roden, Springer, Clement, or even Varsho break out during the season, and we can go with Vlad, Santander, and Bo 3, 4, 5.

1. Gimenez/Wagner/Roden/Springer/Clement
2. Wagner/Roden/Springer/Varsho
3. Vlad
4. Santander
5. Bichette
6. Kirk

I am still unhappy they did not get another hitter. Now they are hoping way too much that someone breaks out. How can you build a competitive team on hope? You have to go all in. They needed to go above and beyond on their valuations for Alonso or Bregman, imo. You have to win this year. Who cares about their "discipline"? When they have not accomplished anything with that approach.

 

[Discoverer]

Bo and Vladdy are the two best overall hitters in the lineup. Santander isn't as good of a hitter, but his power improves sequencing (sometimes a more all or nothing approach is good). The issue is that Springer or Kirk would be the Jays' 4th best hitter if we don't see the changes noted for Gimenez/Clement and if Wagner doesn't hit the ground running.


Bo has made significant strides defensively at SS. Part of keeping him there is leaving the door open to potentially sign him.

Santander has a better wRC+ over the last three years and was miles better last year, obviously. In terms of offensive production, Santander is ahead of Bo.

 

[habamillions]

I really hope we don't bat Bo leadoff when the real season starts.

I always get push back for this and I don't know who the Jays can put at 1 and 2 in the batting order—maybe Giménez and Wagner—but I feel like the Jays will score WAY more runs if they put Vlad, Santander, and Bichette at 3-4-5 in those prime RBI spots.

Bichette is a hyper-aggressive, free-swinging contact hitter who excels at putting the ball in play, hitting doubles, and driving balls into the gaps. We can easily expect another 190-hit season from him, with 60 of those going for extra bases. A player like that, who can drive the ball deep, needs to be hitting with runners on base—he’s almost tailor-made for the fifth spot in the lineup. Conversely, his lack of plate discipline, tendency to swing early and aggressively, reluctance to take pitches, and relatively low walk rate make it frustrating when he's batting first or second. He just seems built to be an RBI guy, not a table setter with the XBH power and the ability to put the ball in play.

Jays need a luis arraez type player to lead off. Not much power but gets on base a lot. Gimenez is playing really well in spring. But it is spring

 

[Puckstuff]

Jays need a luis arraez type player to lead off. Not much power but gets on base a lot. Gimenez is playing really well in spring. But it is spring

Honestly, if Gimmy gets back to around a .720ish OPS with 30 stolen bases, that’s roughly equivalent to a .750 OPS player anyway, considering how often he’ll turn walks and singles into standing on second. That's good enough for the leadoff spot for me. Gimenez bouncing back is critical af.

 

[weems]

We need to rotation to have a big year if we're going to make the playoffs again but the upside is definitely there.

 

[dredeye]

I feel like Bo tries to become too much of an old-fashioned cleanup hitter when he's hits 4th and he starts swinging out of his shoes. His numbers take a bit of a dip when hitting 4th.

View attachment 987038

Ideally, two of Gimenez, Wagner, Roden, Springer, Clement, or even Varsho break out during the season, and we can go with Vlad, Santander, and Bo 3, 4, 5.

1. Gimenez/Wagner/Roden/Springer/Clement
2. Wagner/Roden/Springer/Varsho
3. Vlad
4. Santander
5. Bichette
6. Kirk

If Bo gets back to his old form he's hitting 2nd all day long.