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

[Rude Dog]

Does this not feel like the Tavares contract? Overpay to bring someone in or even just offering an amount, when you have guys like Vladdy and Bo watching in the wings. A 300 million dollar offer to Vladdy is suddenly chump change

 

[Killer Orcas]

Does this not feel like the Tavares contract? Overpay to bring someone in or even just offering an amount, when you have guys like Vladdy and Bo watching in the wings. A 300 million dollar offer to Vladdy is suddenly chump change

It's in the same regard as to they should sign there own before bringing in another star. Why would Vlad take half of what Soto getting in total dollars? Soto is getting 600 hundred plus and Vlad should have been signed for 300 already but now will he want much much more.

 

[Woodman19]

Still doubt we finish top 10 in the Soto bidding, we are just yet another Boras client leverage play

 

[Discoverer]

Still doubt we finish top 10 in the Soto bidding, we are just yet another Boras client leverage play

There's zero chance that 10 other teams are offering $600+ million.

 

[Woodman19]

There's zero chance that 10 other teams are offering $600+ million.

And the Jays are one of them lol

 

[GoonieFace]

Didn’t catch who was on the radio but the short version:

No way Soto signs with the Jays. Believes he will sign with one of the NY teams

Wonders why Jays would be all in on Soto with so many holes to fill. Mentions multiple free agents instead of just signing Soto

Jays are the most aggressive team on both free agency and trade market. Doesn’t mean anything will get done

Believes Vladdy will not sign an extension and will test free agency. Thinks they should try and move him before the season.

Similar situation with Bo. Blames management for not extending these guys earlier. Perhaps they were afraid of Vladdys body type and didn’t want to lock in long term.

 

[dredeye]

If Bo and Vlad both plan to test free agency we should 100% trade them now. At the very least we should trade Vlad and let Bo rebuild his value for a deadline trade. Make this a one year rebuild year. Move Gausman and Bassitt at the deadline and restart. These clowns destroyed this team and literally did everything wrong. Absolute nightmare awaits us

 

[hockeywiz542]

Blue Jays Free Agent Forecast and What Happens With Vladdy w/ Jim Bowden - The JD Bunkis Podcast

Afterwards, Jim Bowden, MLB analyst and insider for CBS Sports, joins the program to dive into the Winter Meetings, Juan Soto's future, the Jays' free agent strategy, the issues with the team, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s looming free agency, Rōki Sasaki, players linked to Toronto, and Alex Bregman's market (49:28).

 

[Kurtz]

If Bo and Vlad both plan to test free agency we should 100% trade them now. At the very least we should trade Vlad and let Bo rebuild his value for a deadline trade. Make this a one year rebuild year. Move Gausman and Bassitt at the deadline and restart. These clowns destroyed this team and literally did everything wrong. Absolute nightmare awaits us

No such thing as a one-year rebuild in the MLB, especially when the farm is as barren as ours.

We either do a real selloff and rebuild (3-5 years), or we just patch as many of the holes as we can through free agency and keep rolling out a mid team with the hope that maybe they'll get hot at the right time and fluke their way to a World Series kinda like Texas did in '23 or KC when they won.

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins spoke with members of the Toronto chapter of the BBWAA on Tuesday about the biggest questions surrounding his club this offseason ahead of next week's winter meetings.

What can you say about the Blue Jays' meeting with Juan Soto?

I have so much respect for where (Soto) is in the process, what he's accomplished in his career - to be at such a pivotal juncture - and what it means for him and his family. I also have respect for where Scott (Boras) is in this process, (so I'm) not going to comment specifically on pursuit, or lack thereof. The interest is obviously there from all 30 teams.


How do you manage expectations of fans when you're involved in bidding for top-tier free agents?

I just don't know what the alternative is other than to do our best to make this team better. That's what we focus on: to make this team as good as it can possibly be. We understand that certain pursuits may create a level of excitement, and then that may intensify the level of disappointment. But I don't know a better way to pursue it than to do the best possible job we can to improve our team.

What should fans be excited about with this team and in terms of what the front office is trying to accomplish this offseason?

I think just that we're always trying to get better. We're in a position to do so. We've improved our farm system in a significant way at the trade deadline. We have good pieces with real good reasons to believe. The year that Vladdy is coming off of and the emergence of Bowden Francis. Some of the stories from Double- and Triple-A that have come into the fold created depth for us and have created a good starting point for us. We could be in a stronger position but it is, by no means, one that could not build into a contender.

Do you believe an extension for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would change the tone of conversations with prospective free agents?

I don't know - that's hard to project. I think what I can tell you is that we have had a good number of players that like this market, they love this city, they love this country. They've seen the success this group has had. Obviously, they're also aware that we're coming off a disappointing year, but I don't think that's been anything that has been an inhibitor.

Is there anything you learned from the Ohtani negotiations that you're taking into this offseason?

All positive things. We're a very attractive destination, an incredible city, market, (and) country that players are excited about, a team that players are excited about. As we become a group of people working together, we get better at talking about that, get better at presenting that, and get better at trying to execute to the best of our ability.

Do you believe more players/teams are looking to defer money in contract negotiations?

I don't necessarily think there are more players thinking that way. I think it's just more teams, agents, and players being open to different solutions. There's different priorities for every player. In the case of Shohei - I'm not speaking for him - but he was very public in saying that he was attracted to that because it gave the Dodgers more flexibility.

Is signing a top-tier starting pitcher a contingency plan or a priority?

It's more a great outcome. It's not something we can just say we absolutely have to do. We would like to improve our pitching. That would be one way to do it. It doesn't mean if we have an impact (addition) to our position-player group on the offensive side, that we can't impact our pitching as well.

What do you say about the perception that the Blue Jays need to pay extra in order to get players to sign in Toronto?

Winning is the most powerful thing, and the more that we can do that, the better position we will be in. Last year was a disappointment for us, but it does not feel as though it has hurt us in our pursuit of free agents.

I think it just depends on the individual and their personal beliefs. There is some added layer that I think has been broken down over the last five to 15 years. There is somewhat of a perception amongst players that the border could be an issue. During the pandemic, we had a lot more questions around that, but they're quickly answered, they're quickly processed, and if you talk to our players, none of them talk about it as being anything more than 10 more minutes at a line.

Some people don't want to go to Texas either, or they really prefer to be in California, or they really prefer a Florida spring training. I've long said that I feel the Dominican and Venezuelan players transition better through Florida just because of the air, they're used to the tackiness of the ball, they're used to humidity. There's a different Latin American community on the West Coast than there is on the East Coast. It's just so individual and so nuanced. I do not see that as something that we would ever use as an excuse.

Do you expect that you're going to be able to extend your competitive window?

We're certainly going to try to. Nothing's a slam dunk and nothing is guaranteed, but we certainly feel that's possible, and it's definitely our goal.

I would say probably right now, as it stands, we're better situated offensively from the trade pieces we acquired last year. Jake Bloss is a very intriguing piece for us, but we acquired a good number of position players that have impact on both sides of the ball with upside. So I think that group has more depth, and we see a good number of opportunities in both markets via free agency and trade.

To what extent do you think the Soto sweepstakes are slowing down the market for other players?

When someone is near the top of a market, that usually has some impact on others, but that doesn't preclude us or other teams from moving.

When do you anticipate being able to get some things done?

I think there's still a great deal of opportunity for us. We feel confident there are several ways to make our team better. There are aspects in every market, at every tier, that are still available for the organization. We don't have unlimited resources, obviously, but we do have the potential to make our team better via free agency and trade.

As far as timing, it's just hard to say. I think we could do something tomorrow or it could also take more days. It could take weeks before a move actually happens.

With Roki Sasaki set to be posted soon, is signing a player attached to a qualifying offer a deterrent due to the forfeiture of international bonus pool money?

Hypothetically, you have to account for that in every way, (but) then there's also other ways to acquire bonus pool money.

What was the decision behind non-tendering Jordan Romano?

(It was a) very difficult decision on a personal level - how much he's meant to this city, country, team, and what he's accomplished. So, very difficult for us. From a business standpoint, we have to operate as one. So we remain interested in him, and will be heavily pursuing his return, and hope that's a potential reality.

I have no concerns (about his health). I feel like he will be back physically. We have no medical concerns.

Atkins on Blue Jays offseason, Soto pursuit, fan expectations https://thescore.com/mlb/news/3145512

This link is from the score app, so it may not work if you don't have the app.

 

[phillipmike]

Geoff Pontes should write Baseball America’s top 100 list by himself.

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[BertCorbeau]

No such thing as a one-year rebuild in the MLB, especially when the farm is as barren as ours.

We either do a real selloff and rebuild (3-5 years), or we just patch as many of the holes as we can through free agency and keep rolling out a mid team with the hope that maybe they'll get hot at the right time and fluke their way to a World Series kinda like Texas did in '23 or KC when they won.

I suspect ownership is pushing to win now as long as they can instead of rebuilding

 

[Tony Romo]

Blue Jays Free Agent Forecast and What Happens With Vladdy w/ Jim Bowden - The JD Bunkis Podcast

Afterwards, Jim Bowden, MLB analyst and insider for CBS Sports, joins the program to dive into the Winter Meetings, Juan Soto's future, the Jays' free agent strategy, the issues with the team, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s looming free agency, Rōki Sasaki, players linked to Toronto, and Alex Bregman's market (49:28).

That makes sense after seeing who was delivering the radio show!

 

[Kurtz]

Atkins on Blue Jays offseason, Soto pursuit, fan expectations https://thescore.com/mlb/news/3145512

This link is from the score app, so it may not work if you don't have the app.

This interview is a work of art. He said a lot and yet absolutely nothing.

 

[Tony Romo]

If I had to guess, Vladdy is signed early 2025. Bo is probably gone for sure

 

[dredeye]

No such thing as a one-year rebuild in the MLB, especially when the farm is as barren as ours.

We either do a real selloff and rebuild (3-5 years), or we just patch as many of the holes as we can through free agency and keep rolling out a mid team with the hope that maybe they'll get hot at the right time and fluke their way to a World Series kinda like Texas did in '23 or KC when they won.

I more mean that our big trade able assets are expiring this season. That the build back up starts after this year

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

This interview is a work of art. He said a lot and yet absolutely nothing.

Just another regular Atkins interview, speaking like a true politician.

 

[Cloned]

Still impressive how Shatkins turned a close knit offensively gifted roster with the likes of Gurriel, Teo, Vladdy and Bo into a middling Frankenstein of a roster with no real strength and facing the prospect of losing the last two remnants of the previous.

 

[BertCorbeau]

 

[MK78]

If I had to guess, Vladdy is signed early 2025. Bo is probably gone for sure

I dunno. I think the time for Vladdy extension has passed. the team didn't seem to be interested before his arb years started winding down. We'll see what the arb number will be this year anyway and if they challenge it.

I think if he's this close to free agency, he will probably want to test the market, especially if he has a strong season.

 

[trellaine201]

Source: Soto nearing decision on free agency

Juan Soto's free agency is nearing its final stages, with a source saying the star could pick his destination by the end of this week.

www.espn.com