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

[King Mapes]

What free agents are they going to get? Nobody good wants to come here now let alone if they lose Vladdy and Bo.

Well we may be getting Santandar for example.

 

[Ale Brew]

I believe you are correct. It would be a first round pick but top 10 picks are protected.
So it would be our 2nd round pick and after that our 3rd round pick if we sign an additional qualified player

Yeah, if we sign one guy with a QO it costs us our 2nd and $500k in international bonus pool money. If they sign another guy with a QO we give up our 3rd.

Had we not got under the tax threshold it would’ve been $1M from our international bonus pool.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[dredeye]

As an outside fan, I’d be really surprised if your FO lets them walk for nothing. Like shocked.

They’ll get qualifying offers and that’s it. The only way we get anything is if we are far out and they are smart enough to trade them at the deadline

 

[phillipmike]

 

[Fourier]

Do the Jays really have much choice but to give Vladdy what he wants? If they don't will any decent FA sign with them over the next 5 years? Maybe its even too late to change that but at least with Vladdy in tow you have a shot with new management.

IT is so frustrating to think about how badly this management group has handled this roster.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Jays front office on improving the offense:

 

[trellaine201]

Jays have spent this much on FA so far.

18. Toronto Blue Jays

Total guarantees: $15MM

• RHP Yimi García: Two years, $15MM

 

[Cloned]

Knowing Atkins he will surprise everyone and sign Sasaki, but still won’t add a bat.

 

[arthurcason]

Sasaki is not coming here. The Dodgers will sign him.

 

[Woodman19]

the Kim rumours I could see being true, if there is one thing we dont need but would go after its a great infield glove without any power. Would let us field the best defensive team ever without much offense.

 

[Killer Orcas]

the Kim rumours I could see being true, if there is one thing we dont need but would go after its a great infield glove without any power. Would let us field the best defensive team ever without much offense.

You gotta think if they did land him Bo is gone before spring training is over.

 

[aingefan]

You gotta think if they did land him Bo is gone before spring training is over.

I feel like it’s happening either way. Lotsa dudes for up the middle, and despite the lost year, should still have real value, especially given his modest ticket.

I’ve just figured it would happen after FA business is done, to see what they’d target in a deal.

 

[Ale Brew]

You gotta think if they did land him Bo is gone before spring training over.

Yeah, seems likely. Either that or he’s battling for 3B with Clement this year and further SS insurance for when Bo is traded or leaves via FA.

In a vacuum I’m fine with him, it just seems super redundant, especially after the Giminez move. Surely they have to add power at some point.

To be clear I’m good with them adding speed and contact ability, if Kim works out he profiles as a potential lead off hitter. They just NEED some thump, and more than just one power hitter.

 

[dredeye]

In a world where we sign Kim and do move Bo this off season. Where in theory could be reasonable/possible landing spots for him?

 

[Ale Brew]

In a world where we sign Kim and do move Bo this off season. Where in theory could be reasonable/possible landing spots for him?

Both the Braves and Dodgers likely want to upgrade at SS and have solid farm systems to facilitate a trade. I presume they are the most likely suitors but you can’t count out a surprise team.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Blue Jays Vlad Guerrero Jr. controls own destiny and that of franchise

Guerrero has held most of the cards and now the Jays are in serious danger of going bust with their one bonafide home-grown star.

torontosun.com

The Guerrero mess — which is the only way to view it at this point — has not gone unnoticed around the baseball world. Put in the bluntest way possible, why would a free agent with multiple suitors want to go to a team unwilling and/or unable to sign a superstar player that any player would want to have on his team?

It’s not a reach to suggest that massively misplaying the Guerrero situation over the past two years has the potential to ruin the fortunes of not just this season, but well beyond.

It’s completely baffling to surmise exactly what the Jays strategy has been with Guerrero and why they have let it get to the point where the most likely scenario seems to be allowing him to walk into free agency in 11 months.

Maybe the Jays don’t see him as the franchise type player that he was long purported to be and don’t see the value in a long-term deal. Letting walk for next to nothing is lunacy, of course, though a trade is always a possibility.

Perhaps the Jays have misplayed the Guerrero game from the start, eschewing opportunities to lock him up on a multi-year deal because they believed he wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.

Perhaps they were scared off by the uneven 2023 season in which Guerrero battled injuries and poor form and decided to wait to see what unfolded in 2024. Of course, that gamble blew up when Guerrero’s bat caught fire and he looked stronger and more fit than he ever has.

And how about this? Maybe Guerrero’s plan all along was to test free agency, go to a team that truly wanted him and to one with legitimate aspirations of winning a World Series.

 

[phillipmike]

 

[Discoverer]

Yeah, seems likely. Either that or he’s battling for 3B with Clement this year and further SS insurance for when Bo is traded or leaves via FA.

In a vacuum I’m fine with him, it just seems super redundant, especially after the Giminez move. Surely they have to add power at some point.

To be clear I’m good with them adding speed and contact ability, if Kim works out he profiles as a potential lead off hitter. They just NEED some thump, and more than just one power hitter.

Yeah, he seems like a super interesting guy. I actually really like the offensive profile based on what he did in Korea - super high OBP, plenty of SB, a little bit of pop - he offers a little bit of everything. Except, of course, what they need.

I wouldn't complain because it could open up more options, but still... find some damn power already.

 

[dredeye]

Both the Braves and Dodgers likely want to upgrade at SS and have solid farm systems to facilitate a trade. I presume they are the most likely suitors but you can’t count out a surprise team.

Dodgers seem like an of course because it’s the dodgers and I know they have a solid prospect pool. Atlanta is an interesting one for sure

 

[dredeye]

My previous post disappeared lol. I guess the Angels and Tigers are getting some new pieces hahaha. It would be crazy if we locked up both of them and Kim. I don’t see any scenario this happens but it’s fun to play pretend. Then you trade Bo for another starter or prospects for the money savings. Still need some pen pieces and depth. Our plethora of tweener position players should be able to help with that. We’d have Clement as super utility. All of a sudden we look pretty good. Dare to dream kids

 

[shaner8989]

Let’s add another guy in Kim who can’t hit. What a f***ing joke of an organization

 

[habamillions]

Kim i believe as he is a gold glove winner. Shatkins loves that defense

 

[Ale Brew]

Kim i believe as he is a gold glove winner. Shatkins loves that defense

Pretty sure we put an offer in on HyeSung Kim and not HaSung Kim, but yeah their profile is as similar as their names.

 

[phillipmike]