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

[habamillions]

Genesis cabrera to the mets on a minor league deal. A little surprised he couldnt get a major league deal. He was one the jays best relievers but that goes to show how bad the pen was

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Suntouchable13]

Genesis cabrera to the mets on a minor league deal. A little surprised he couldnt get a major league deal. He was one the jays best relievers but that goes to show how bad the pen was

Why didn't the Jays retain him?

Isn't it a little early for a minor league deal? Couldn't he have waited a little longer?

 

[phillipmike]

 

[GoonieFace]

Why didn't the Jays retain him?



Isn't it a little early for a minor league deal? Couldn't he have waited a little longer?

I would assume they contacted teams and there was no interest, no other reason to sign so early

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

If the MLB continues letting the Dodgers do this kind of stuff without rules being changed, there's probably going to be a strike/lockout then soon, because people are going to stop watching, what's the point in watching if you know your team has absolutely no chance of competing.

 

[Discoverer]

If the MLB continues letting the Dodgers do this kind of stuff without rules being changed, there's probably going to be a strike/lockout then soon, because people are going to stop watching, what's the point in watching if you know your team has absolutely no chance of competing.

Eh.... I don't think the league has any problem with this. They didn't in the late 90's/early 2000's when the Yankees were doing it.

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

Eh.... I don't think the league has any problem with this. They didn't in the late 90's/early 2000's when the Yankees were doing it.

I guess time will tell how the viewership goes, but I'm sure you'll come up with something to dispute it.

 

[Discoverer]

I guess time will tell how the viewership goes, but I'm sure you'll come up with something to dispute it.

What? I'm not even disagreeing with you. I think something absolutely should be done about it.

I'm saying the league will likely be fine with it because they want to cater to the big markets (specifically New York and LA).

 

[Ale Brew]

I guess time will tell how the viewership goes, but I'm sure you'll come up with something to dispute it.

Do you have any data to suggest viewership is down?

Unfortunately LA is the 2nd biggest market in the US and they just played NY in the WS (biggest market). The league is probably thrilled that these markets are thriving.

Even more sadly, Canadian viewership doesn’t even factor in the MLB network deal. Like we don’t even matter.

 

[shaner8989]

Big off season add. Management is awesome

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

What? I'm not even disagreeing with you. I think something absolutely should be done about it.

I'm saying the league will likely be fine with it because they want to cater to the big markets (specifically New York and LA).

So claiming you think the league has no problem with it, I'm sure they will when viewership continues to be one of the lowest it's ever been. Viewership is already bothering them hence rule changes they've been doing the last couple years to try and get more viewership.

Just look at the viewership stats at world series the last 56 years, yes it went up last year from the previous year, but the numbers are so low compared to back in the 90's even.

World Series Television Ratings (1968-2024) | Baseball Almanac

 

[GoonieFace]

So claiming you think the league has no problem with it, I'm sure they will when viewership continues to be one of the lowest it's ever been. Viewership is already bothering them hence rule changes they've been doing the last couple years to try and get more viewership.

Just look at the viewership stats at world series the last 56 years, yes it went up last year from the previous year, but the numbers are so low compared to back in the 90's even.

World Series Television Ratings (1968-2024) | Baseball Almanac

Maybe I’m wrong, but people watching on formats other than cable probably has a lot to do with that

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

Do you have any data to suggest viewership is down?

Unfortunately LA is the 2nd biggest market in the US and they just played NY in the WS (biggest market). The league is probably thrilled that these markets are thriving.

Even more sadly, Canadian viewership doesn’t even factor in the MLB network deal. Like we don’t even matter.

Can people not Google search information anymore or something....

The 2023 World Series was the least watched on record, with viewership under 10 million, a staggering 23 percent drop from the prior season. In stark contrast, the NCAA Women's March Madness final captured an audience topping 15 million.

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

And for the record the highest attendance stats were in 2007 incase anyone wants some more stats. 2024 attendance was ranked #14 overall since 1890.

 

[dredeye]

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.

I'm very warry of Santander and not sure I'm excited about him long term. I think it'll age like Springer.

 

[dredeye]

I'm very curious if this differed money will ever affect them in the future.

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

I'm very curious if this differed money will ever affect them in the future.

Yes and no, yes if MLB puts in an actually hard salary cap where teams need to obey by, not just being fined with a slap on the wrist instead(luxury tax). Then no if the MLB doesn't implement a hard salary cap, and as economy and wages grow, this will be nothing for them down the road, especially if they keep winning World Series.

 

[Discoverer]

So claiming you think the league has no problem with it, I'm sure they will when viewership continues to be one of the lowest it's ever been. Viewership is already bothering them hence rule changes they've been doing the last couple years to try and get more viewership.

Just look at the viewership stats at world series the last 56 years, yes it went up last year from the previous year, but the numbers are so low compared to back in the 90's even.

World Series Television Ratings (1968-2024) | Baseball Almanac

It went up this year specifically because it was the Dodgers and Yankees. If anything, they'll use that as evidence that they're doing it right.

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

It went up this year specifically because it was the Dodgers and Yankees. If anything, they'll use that as evidence that they're doing it right.

They probably will, and probably hope those two teams are in the World Series for the next 4-5 years thinking they're doing something right. While watching other franchises fold and move because they can't compete.

 

[Avilaj07]

Ideally we move on from Bichette asap and get some top prospects in return to help our depleted farm system. Also, we need to move on from Springer, even if it means adding some decent prospects to rid ourselves of that contract. With the savings in cap. We can sign the players below and have one hell of a core to build around and win with.

Resign Guerrero 10 yrs x $320 million
Sign Soto 15 yrs x $650 million
Sign Adames 7 yrs x $170 million

 

[phillipmike]

30 MLB teams, one big move: What your favorite squad should do to win the winter

How can a trade or free agent signing change your team's trajectory this offseason? Let's make some moves.

www.espn.com.au

Toronto Blue Jays sign RHP Corbin Burnes (7 years, $225 million)

The Blue Jays are in a precarious position as a franchise. They swung and missed on Shohei Ohtani last offseason and then went on to lose 88 games. This winter, they're going after Soto, but if they fail to land him and then watch Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette depart as free agents after next season, it could be an ugly rebuilding period. So, they need to have a backup plan this time to be all-in for 2025. That means going after Burnes, the No. 2 player on our free agent board (or No. 3, if you include Roki Sasaki). Chris Bassitt is a free agent after 2025 and Kevin Gausman is too after 2026, so they'll need a long-term reinforcement for the rotation. Sign Burnes, get a bounce-back season from Bichette, strengthen the bullpen and the Jays could jump back into playoff contention. And they should sign Guerrero while they're at it.

They have Fried getting $175M over 6 years from Boston and Santader getting $69M over 3 years from Houston. I rather sign both of them to those deals at $244M instead of Burned at $225M.

 

[Blitzkrug]

i"m going to be pissed if they sign Burnes. Shatkins loves their analytics yet their numbers wouldn't be able to tell that it's probably not wise to give him 225 million? Fried is the much safer option and would probably you a better run for your money as he ages.

His cutter is cooked. He tried to pivot to throwing his curveball with less than ideal results.

 

[kb]

Always good to spend on logjammed positions where you lower the floor.

They aren't even trying. 100 L season coming up.

 

[Kurtz]

i"m going to be pissed if they sign Burnes. Shatkins loves their analytics yet their numbers wouldn't be able to tell that it's probably not wise to give him 225 million? Fried is the much safer option and would probably you a better run for your money as he ages.

View attachment 936920
His cutter is cooked. He tried to pivot to throwing his curveball with less than ideal results.

From the chart, it looks like his velocity and spin rate on the cutter improved last year, but he had less success with it. Perhaps that's simply owing to facing stronger competition?