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

[phillipmike]

I know its unpopular but last deadline and this off-season would have been a perfect time for a retool/rebuild like the Mets did.

You could have done both, get prospects and cleared money off of guys like Gausman, Bassitt, Green, Bichette, and maybe even Vladdy. Then use those funds to throw money at guys like Burnes, Fried, etc. to rebuild the rotation with younger better players.

And then next off-season if Bo and Vladdy are available you have money to go after them and you probably have 6-10 legit prospects. Some you can trade for controllable talent. But better spent of a $250M payroll, younger pitching core to extend your window and probably got 2-3 blue chip prospects on the verge of making an impact.

But with the renos, i assume ownership wants to make that splash. I think it is short sighted because you arent getting Soto and you can make that splash in years to come.

 

[Discoverer]

I know its unpopular but last deadline and this off-season would have been a perfect time for a retool/rebuild like the Mets did.

You could have done both, get prospects and cleared money off of guys like Gausman, Bassitt, Green, Bichette, and maybe even Vladdy. Then use those funds to throw money at guys like Burnes, Fried, etc. to rebuild the rotation with younger better players.

And then next off-season if Bo and Vladdy are available you have money to go after them and you probably have 6-10 legit prospects. Some you can trade for controllable talent. But better spent of a $250M payroll, younger pitching core to extend your window and probably got 2-3 blue chip prospects on the verge of making an impact.

But with the renos, i assume ownership wants to make that splash. I think it is short sighted because you arent getting Soto and you can make that splash in years to come.

That plan seems awfully... video-gamey.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

That plan seems awfully... video-gamey.

In theory the first part made sense. Clear out vets for youngsters/prospects. But expecting Vlad and/or Bo to re-sign here after being dealt seems far-fetched.

 

[Lightsol]

MLB GM states to insider Jim Bowden that the Toronto Blue Jays will be trading Vladimir Guerrero Jr

MLB GM states to insider Jim Bowden that the Toronto Blue Jays will be trading Vladimir Guerrero Jr for a franchise changing return

www.bluejaysinsider.com

Jays leaking this to get Vladdy to take less? NL GM (Cherrington) doing us favors?

'Cause, you know, Jim isn't totally attempting to will "Vlad to the Yankees" into existence by himself with anonymous rumors...

 

[Dr.Funk]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859338862935355603

 

[dredeye]

We were never in

I think they made a solid offer but they aren’t going to keep going up. He’s gonna get more than he’s worth so I’m fine staying away

Just like with Ohtani, the Sota money was from a different budget. If we don't land Soto that money is not available to spread to others.

I’m well aware that they aren’t taking that and spending an extra 50 million per on other players. I want them to actually address needs with the money we have left.

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

Don't worry Shatkins believes they have 10 hidden wins with the guys they have now, no need for any new players

 

[Bjindaho]

Tomorrow is the tender deadline for all arbitration eligible players.

There could be a few deals made around baseball

Some guys who could potentially be acquired on the cheap include:
Alzalay (DFA'd and undergoing TJ but has back end of the BP ability)
Hunter Harvey
Gregory Soto
Mike Yastrzemski
Anthony Banda

 

[Tony Romo]

I know its unpopular but last deadline and this off-season would have been a perfect time for a retool/rebuild like the Mets did.

You could have done both, get prospects and cleared money off of guys like Gausman, Bassitt, Green, Bichette, and maybe even Vladdy. Then use those funds to throw money at guys like Burnes, Fried, etc. to rebuild the rotation with younger better players.

And then next off-season if Bo and Vladdy are available you have money to go after them and you probably have 6-10 legit prospects. Some you can trade for controllable talent. But better spent of a $250M payroll, younger pitching core to extend your window and probably got 2-3 blue chip prospects on the verge of making an impact.

But with the renos, i assume ownership wants to make that splash. I think it is short sighted because you arent getting Soto and you can make that splash in years to come.

It's a bit video gamey, but they probably could've moved a Bassitt, and maybe Bo, because Bo seems to want nothing to do with staying here.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Come on A's, make Rooker available!

 

[Kurtz]

It's a bit video gamey, but they probably could've moved a Bassitt, and maybe Bo, because Bo seems to want nothing to do with staying here.

With the way Bo was hitting at the time, I don't think we'd get much of a return tbh. If he plays like himself next season we can probably get similar or better value at next year's deadline.

I agree on Bassitt, we should have moved him. Apparently we're shopping for an ace right now (Fried), and I can't see any possible way we can afford that while still having enough left for a bat without moving one of Bassitt/Gaus/Berrios.

 

[Tony Romo]

With the way Bo was hitting at the time, I don't think we'd get much of a return tbh. If he plays like himself next season we can probably get similar or better value at next year's deadline.

I agree on Bassitt, we should have moved him. Apparently we're shopping for an ace right now (Fried), and I can't see any possible way we can afford that while still having enough left for a bat without moving one of Bassitt/Gaus/Berrios.

Yeah! I understand them not wanting to move Bo, especially with the season he was having.

 

[Blitzkrug]

Cubs apparently looking to trade Cody Bellinger.

Unsurprisingly a buyer's remorse type story. Belli's 2024 was not great after everyone was screaming from the rooftops that his 2023 was just a result of him getting really lucky. I suspect he'll have some interest as a consolation prize type get but another good season means he probably opts out again anyways.

 

[Tony Romo]

Come on A's, make Rooker available!

Think we gotta kidnap the A’s GM and make it happen ourselves.

(I’d settle for Lu Bob though)

 

[dredeye]

My first thought of that is -- it's already been 12 years since that trade happened?!

That caught me off guard as well lol

 

[hockeywiz542]

Are Toronto Blue Jays really going to risk letting Jordan Romano walk to free agency?

After elbow surgery, the Canadian closer is a prime candidate to be non tendered prior to Friday's MLB deadline.

torontosun.com

In his most recent seasons with the Blue Jays, Jordan Romano has been a fan favourite, a popular teammate and, as the closer, a critical part to the team’s bullpen.

For much of it, he was the star of the show as well, thanks to the loud music and strobing light show intro when he entered a Rogers Centre contest in a save situation.

Romano is also one of the few remaining developmental success stories on the Jays roster making the uncertainty of his immediate future all the more intriguing.

Multiple sources have told the Toronto Sun that the Canadian closer is a strong candidate to be non-tendered at Friday’s Major League Baseball deadline, which could spring Romano into free agency a year early and into a state of uncertainty regarding his future.

Where he goes from there remains to be seen, but if the Jays veer in that direction, it could end the Toronto tenure of one of the most successful relievers in franchise history. And all of it done as a means for the front office to save some money for a team in desperate need of bullpen arms.

If Jays management opts to go down that path, it will be yet another move that riles up a fan base already steaming about the club’s last-place finish in 2024 and one-and-done playoff debacles the previous two seasons.

It would certainly be a kick to Romano, who admittedly is coming off an injury-riddled season that both limited his time on the mound and his effectiveness, but has been a rock in the bullpen for a number of seasons.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[trellaine201]

Looking forward in adding Snell, Soto, Bellinger, and everyone else. Hopefully this will be enough to catapult us into the a playoff position.

 

[Bjindaho]

Here is MLBTR's list of non-tender candidates (all likely available for very cheap):

2024 Non-Tender Candidates

The non-tender deadline is tomorrow evening. Teams need to decide whether they want to offer contracts to their arbitration-eligible (and …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[Discoverer]

Here is MLBTR's list of non-tender candidates (all likely available for very cheap):

2024 Non-Tender Candidates

The non-tender deadline is tomorrow evening. Teams need to decide whether they want to offer contracts to their arbitration-eligible (and …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

I would be all for picking up a couple non-tendered guys as part of the bullpen rebuild, with the understanding that they also need a couple impact arms.

Unfortunately, the Jays themselves have a bunch of guys on that list.

 

[tmlfan98]

BNS says Romano, Swanson, Tate and Pop are all non-tender candidates for the Jays. Tate and Pop seem like obvious non-tenders to me

 

[Tony Romo]

Here is MLBTR's list of non-tender candidates (all likely available for very cheap):

2024 Non-Tender Candidates

The non-tender deadline is tomorrow evening. Teams need to decide whether they want to offer contracts to their arbitration-eligible (and …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

I'd pick up Mckenzie and see if you can do some voodoo there for a SP

 

[tmlfan98]

Passan: 12 teams to watch this MLB offseason -- and the perfect move for each

What should the Yankees and Mets focus on? What about the Cubs and ... the A's? Jeff Passan shares this winter's most fascinating clubs.

www.espn.com

Passan with an interesting trade idea for the Cardinals:

The perfect transaction: Trade closer Ryan Helsley to Toronto.

 

[Tony Romo]

Passan: 12 teams to watch this MLB offseason -- and the perfect move for each

What should the Yankees and Mets focus on? What about the Cubs and ... the A's? Jeff Passan shares this winter's most fascinating clubs.

www.espn.com

Passan with an interesting trade idea for the Cardinals:

I think he also gave us signing Fried in that same article

 

[Ale Brew]

I'd pick up Mckenzie and see if you can do some voodoo there for a SP

I think I saw on the MLB network ticker that he agreed to a new deal with Cleveland last night.

Too bad, because I agree there’s still plenty of potential in his arm.