Ross Atkins appears to have contracted a "baseball mind virus" that fixates on defense-first players, even at the cost of team value. This narrow focus leads to decisions where offensive production and surplus value are unnecessarily sacrificed. The virus drives an overemphasis on defensive metrics, overshadowing the need for well-rounded players. While defense matters, an unbalanced obsession with it hurts the team's ability to score runs!
Blue Jays Discussion: 2024-25 Off-season: The free agent watch begins (and sometimes old baseball radio broadcasts)
- Thread starter The Nemesis
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Even if the players themselves aren't well-rounded, the roster needs to be. Having a handful of elite defenders with mediocre bats is fine if you have a few big bats in the middle of the lineup providing the offense. The problem right now is that they have Varsho, Kirk, Clement, and Gimenez as elite defense/average-at-best bats with only Vlad to balance it out. Throw in Santander or Teo and a bounceback from Bo and it starts to round into form, but I'm not particularly convinced we're going to see enough to balance it out.
*Patiently waiting on edge for a Teo/Santander/big bat signing to see if the prior moves were good moves or literally insane*
Damn, I really wanted Joc. Probably wasn't in the cards for the Jays though.
They need two solid bats but I am expecting one. Expecting a bounceback from Bo is logical but I am thinking Springer declines again. Currently, Kirk would be after Vladdy which is ridiculous.
Supposedly this guy was first to have Joc Pederson to the Rangers last night.
I have to assume they let Alonso go if they bring in Bregman.
I know he’s not an ideal fit (either Vlad moves to 3B or Pete is a primary DH) but it would be pretty fun having him batting behind Vlad and providing a legit power threat.
I have mixed feelings about Alonso. He is probably the best FA hitter left. But he is seeking significant money and term. Also I really worry how his best tool which is power is going to age as he already 30.
The upside is he is running out of potential destinations. A lot of the teams that have money to spend don’t really need a 1B/DH.
trellaine201
Registered User
I am starting to wonder if Rogers has decided to NOT let Atkins etc give out that huge contract to Vlady or Bo. They may go status quo or try and move them.
Dr.Funk
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- Jul 2, 2004
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I mean we do know that an offer well over 300M was recently rejected.
The Iceman
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- Sep 22, 2007
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Did they decide to not let them sign them 2 years ago when they should have signed them or just now?
tmlfan98
No More Excuses #MarnerOut
This is the most in-depth summary I've seen of the recent Vladdy interview so far. A lot of interesting points:
dredeye
BJ Elitist/Hipster
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landy92mack29
Registered User
Face of your franchise and send a assistant lol. It's honestly impressive how they've screwed up the contract situations with Vlad and Bo. Even the Royals were smart enough to lock up Witt
TheMadHatTrick
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- Nov 2, 2008
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Extend Vlad or move him. It's not that complicated.
You can get a Soto-like return for Vlad right now from a number of teams. If you try to get too cute again, and he starts the year cold and/or gets injured then you're relegated to trading him for this year's Julian Merryweather.
You can get a Soto-like return for Vlad right now from a number of teams. If you try to get too cute again, and he starts the year cold and/or gets injured then you're relegated to trading him for this year's Julian Merryweather.
Agreed. You either extend him now or you move him now. If they allow this to drag into spring training and into the season it'll be one of the wort screwups this Franchise will have ever made. There is no benefit for prolonging this. If the team truly wants to extend him than you get it done. If not you move him now while his value is high.
Dr.Funk
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The Turner signing in a vacuum wasn't a bad move. He was old but he was coming off a very solid season.
The problem becomes signing an old, but still solid Turner is the only move you make and trying to sell it as a big add.
Cloned
Begging for Bega
- Aug 25, 2003
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trellaine201
Registered User
Yep do this ASAP if you have to. Before teams have filled out.
dredeye
BJ Elitist/Hipster
- Mar 3, 2008
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he's not signing and if he does it's going to be for money I'm sure he's not worth
Can’t stand this management team. Screwed everything!
howlman
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- Mar 9, 2004
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SHATKINS 
embarrassment to Toronto sports. Miss AA badly
Prove us all wrong and don't botch this with Vladdy and Bo. Make the trades or extend
embarrassment to Toronto sports. Miss AA badlyProve us all wrong and don't botch this with Vladdy and Bo. Make the trades or extend
kb
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- Aug 28, 2009
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The brain trust is not going to make any effort to sign or trade Bo and Vladdy until the trade deadline.....see if they are in the race. If not, they will try to trade them for what will be pennies on the dollar, or let them play out the season and get the draft pick.
If they are in the race, they will keep them and try to sign them as Free Agents and fail miserably.
This is my prediction.
If they are in the race, they will keep them and try to sign them as Free Agents and fail miserably.
This is my prediction.
MLB aggrieved fan index: The 10 most frustrated fan bases of 2024 - ESPN
5. Toronto Blue Jays
It's now been more than 30 years since the Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993, so an entire generation of Jays fans have grown up without memories of those glory days. They went 21 years without making the playoffs before making consecutive ALCS appearances in 2015 and 2016. While that team was quickly torn down, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette soon arrived ready to usher in a new golden era.
But that hasn't quite happened. Yes, the Jays made the playoffs in 2020, 2022 and 2023, so it hasn't been misery, but the Jays fell apart last season, going 74-88. They've been passed in the AL East pecking order by the Orioles and the Red Sox as well. And Guerrero and Bichette? Free agents after 2025. Needing a bat, they pursued Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto the past two offseasons, but after losing out on Soto earlier this month, they adjusted by trading for ... Andres Gimenez, a second baseman with a .298 OBP and nine home runs. He's a lockdown defender, but the offense still needs help.
The Blue Jays have increased payroll the past two seasons, even paying a luxury tax for the first time in 2023, but that was only following years of underspending in their market size. The front office hasn't figured out how to get the team over the hump and now, coming off a losing season and failing to land Soto with Guerrero and Bichette perhaps departing next offseason, Toronto might be staring into the abyss.
5. Toronto Blue Jays
It's now been more than 30 years since the Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993, so an entire generation of Jays fans have grown up without memories of those glory days. They went 21 years without making the playoffs before making consecutive ALCS appearances in 2015 and 2016. While that team was quickly torn down, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette soon arrived ready to usher in a new golden era.
But that hasn't quite happened. Yes, the Jays made the playoffs in 2020, 2022 and 2023, so it hasn't been misery, but the Jays fell apart last season, going 74-88. They've been passed in the AL East pecking order by the Orioles and the Red Sox as well. And Guerrero and Bichette? Free agents after 2025. Needing a bat, they pursued Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto the past two offseasons, but after losing out on Soto earlier this month, they adjusted by trading for ... Andres Gimenez, a second baseman with a .298 OBP and nine home runs. He's a lockdown defender, but the offense still needs help.
The Blue Jays have increased payroll the past two seasons, even paying a luxury tax for the first time in 2023, but that was only following years of underspending in their market size. The front office hasn't figured out how to get the team over the hump and now, coming off a losing season and failing to land Soto with Guerrero and Bichette perhaps departing next offseason, Toronto might be staring into the abyss.
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