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

[Woodman19]

Has the Media signed Soto for us yet? Still all BS

 

[MK78]

Wonder why they don’t want him, or him not wanting to play there

Im sure they want him but the Steinbrenner kids aren't nuts as the old man was. Old man won world series though.

 

[Nineteen67]

If it's him it's because he probably realized that roster has no actual hopes of winning a world series.

Look at it this past season; it was basically Judge, Soto and an above average but not what he used to be Stanton powering that offense. Come the postseason, Judge disappeared off the face of the earth and was only saved from scorn by the fact Stanton decided to turn back the clock 10 years and retook his once MVP form. Without that, there's a good chance the Yankees don't even get past Kansas City in the ALDS.

The sons don't like to spend their money like daddy did. If Soto signs, who says they go out and grab anyone else? It would probably be on him, Judge and a declining Cole to win it on their own.

Now, the teams in pursuit of Soto aren't exactly guarantees either but a team like the Mets will absolutely throw money around to put a team capable of winning it all around him. Uncle Steve wants his world series, no matter the price.

If it's the Yankees the answer is simple; The Steinbrenner sons aren't like his dad and are cheapasses. Sure they paid Judge, but if they didn't, the fans likely burn down Yankee stadium and come looking for him. Soto not so much.

If the Yankees were in the ALCS , as you stated, wouldn’t that be a selling point despite them losing?

I don’t really care where he plays or how much some fools pay him, but I’d rather he not play home games in Dunedin this spring.

 

[Nineteen67]

Im sure they want him but the Steinbrenner kids aren't nuts as the old man was. Old man won world series though.

They’re probably not playing the BS game. They offered him something and he can take it or go to the state of Texas or worse, the Mets.

 

[Discoverer]

They’re probably not playing the BS game. They offered him something and he can take it or go to the state of Texas or worse, the Mets.

We just saw them play that game with Judge where they upped their offer at the last second to outbid someone.

 

[phillipmike]

 

[Dr.Funk]

Has anyone talked about how the Red Sox were Soto’s favourite team growing up?

Yeah plenty have. Some Sox fans I've seen believe that John Henry not attending the meeting doesn't bode well for their chances

 

[Puckstuff]

I'd be pretty happy with Santander as a consolation prize for Soto. Santander + some decent pitching would be a good outcome given our options.

 

[canucksfan]

Dodgers signed Snell

 

[Brock Boeser Laser Show]

Dodgers signed Snell

MLB needed a better salary cap system a long time ago. They f***ed up and now the dodgers will continue to game the system without anything stopping them.

 

[Dr.Funk]

Dodgers signed Snell

 

[Blitzkrug]

Pffff lmao. Dustin May can't stay healthy? No problem! We'll just grab a former 2 time Cy Young winner to replace him.

Thankfully positional constraints will likely keep them out on Soto but they could totally sign him if they wanted to as well.

 

[canucksfan]

MLB needed a better salary cap system a long time ago. They f***ed up and now the dodgers will continue to game the system without anything stopping them.

Ya it’s ridiculous.

 

[Brock Boeser Laser Show]

Ya it’s ridiculous.

Dodgers and Yankees are pretty much guaranteed playoffs every year. When you can spend way more than anybody else it basically elevates your floor to 85-90 wins. Every NL west or AL east team is basically fighting an uphill battle since one playoff spot is already accounted for before the season even starts.

The fact MLB let's the dodgers defer money is even more ridiculous. Dodgers basically own MLB at this point and the only thing preventing the dodgers from winning every year is the dodgers pitching lab destroying arms.

 

[Dr.Funk]

Pffff lmao. Dustin May can't stay healthy? No problem! We'll just grab a former 2 time Cy Young winner to replace him.

Thankfully positional constraints will likely keep them out on Soto but they could totally sign him if they wanted to as well.

They could do Snell, Teocar and Willy Adames for less than Soto and be a better overall team.

 

[Killer Orcas]

We just saw them play that game with Judge where they upped their offer at the last second to outbid someone.

Pretty sure Giants offered Judge more then Yanks.

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[Zero1]

Is it just me or is that a lot for Snell?

Please go hard after Adames + Fried, Ross!

 

[Blitzkrug]

The Dodgers roster is comical at this point. It's basically somebody's Diamond Dynasty squad come to life. A not so friendly reminder LA is also in on Roki Sasaki. There's a non-zero chance the Dodgers have something like this going into spring training;

Ohtani
Glasnow
Yamamoto
Snell
Kershaw
Sasaki

And then May and Gonsolin coming out of the bullpen on top of still having team control on Gavin Stone, who's expected to miss all of 2025 with a shoulder injury on top of a shitload of pitching prospects they also now don't have room for.

There was questions last year. Glasnow and May being made of glass (which was proven correct), questions on if Yamamoto would be able to adapt to the US game, Kershaw and his durability as he gets older. Those questions kinda don't exist now outside of Glasnow. There's also chatter that if they miss out on Sasaki, expect them to kick tires on Corbin Burnes and Max Fried.

I fully expect them to land one of those three, plus Adames plus probably hanging on to Teo.

 

[Nineteen67]

We just saw them play that game with Judge where they upped their offer at the last second to outbid someone.

Good. Maybe they’ll do the same and overpay for Soto.

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[GoonieFace]

The Dodgers are building an all IR pitching staff, good for them

 

[GreytWun]

MLB needed a better salary cap system a long time ago. They f***ed up and now the dodgers will continue to game the system without anything stopping them.

MLBPA will never agree to this though.

 

[saska sault]

It sucks as a fan of a team that doesn't have the same chances.... Dodgers play in a different world. They have something like an extra 10k seats they can charge anything they want. Have the entire country of Japan as supporters. They make so much money from Ohtani, no doubt they would sign 2 or 3 more of him if they could clone.

On the other side... if management can get their heads out of each other's rear ends and put together a off season, I'll still be happy. Having a good team, winning a championship feels better when your team "earns it".. just like the Raptors.

Santander, Fried, bullpen arms, sign Vlad.. figure out if Bo is staying, if not trade him. I don't think they move Vlad back to 3rd but if he is open to it, and we can sign a big bat first base, why not.

See you at spring training.

 

[Nineteen67]

It sucks as a fan of a team that doesn't have the same chances.... Dodgers play in a different world. They have something like an extra 10k seats they can charge anything they want. Have the entire country of Japan as supporters. They make so much money from Ohtani, no doubt they would sign 2 or 3 more of him if they could clone.

On the other side... if management can get their heads out of each other's rear ends and put together a off season, I'll still be happy. Having a good team, winning a championship feels better when your team "earns it".. just like the Raptors.

Santander, Fried, bullpen arms, sign Vlad.. figure out if Bo is staying, if not trade him. I don't think they move Vlad back to 3rd but if he is open to it, and we can sign a big bat first base, why not.

See you at spring training.

Sign a few guys, field a team that is competitive to get through the summer, but not good enough to win and draw too many fans to Dunedin and I’d be happy.