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

[dredeye]

With the Dodgers signing Kim we also lose a possible landing spot for Bo. What an embarrassment of riches they have at this point.

 

[Kurtz]

Well there's a reason why the others have signed and these ones haven't yet, they're not the top picks when it comes to free agents, maybe not bottom of the barrel but middle of the pack nothing crazy to be happy about either.

You're right in that the cream of the crop superstar types have already signed - Soto, Burnes, Fried, Adames, Snell.

However, there's still a decent crop of borderline all-stars available: Santander, Alonzo, Bregman, Flaherty...and some top quality relievers like Tanner Scott. If we could get a couple of these guys that would make a difference.

 

[ER89]

Baseball the one sport where I'd like a f***ing cap has none and hockey does.

Smfh.

Also it'd be nice if we got Flaherty Santander AND bregman but there's no chance.

We need a fleece trade.

 

[Blitzkrug]

You're right in that the cream of the crop superstar types have already signed - Soto, Burnes, Fried, Adames, Snell.

However, there's still a decent crop of borderline all-stars available: Santander, Alonzo, Bregman, Flaherty...and some top quality relievers like Tanner Scott. If we could get a couple of these guys that would make a difference.

Realistically none of the cream of the crop were coming here as well. This isn't me running defense for Shatkins either.

Soto: Wanted all of the money and was going to go to whoever offered him the most right down to the dollar. Felt like the Jays were ever really in it compared to Ohtani.

Burnes: Questionable fit from an organizational standpoint, he and his wife welcomed kids into the world recently so his obvious priority is to try and stay as close to home as he could. Ended up actually staying right at home with Arizona. Opt out after year 2 suggests once the kids are a bit older he might be on the move again. No hard feelings.

Adames: Never made sense for team or player.

Snell: Makes even less sense than Burnes.

This offseason has been a bust thus far but with a lot of those guys still out there, this can still easily flip to being a good, perhaps even great one. Preferably needs to happen soon though because eventually even the second tier of guys are going to start to move.

 

[hockeywiz542]

After Astros talks with Bregman ‘stalled,’ 3 teams emerge as serious suitors

The Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays have emerged as three suitors with a “very, very real” possibility of landing Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman, a league source told KPRC 2.

www.click2houston.com

The Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays have emerged as three suitors with a “very, very real” possibility of landing Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman, a league source told KPRC 2.

The Astros repeatedly called re-signing Bregman their top priority this offseason, but had to pivot after it was clear Bregman would not accept Houston’s offer of six years, $156 million.

Sources within the industry question if the Tigers are willing to give out a long-term contract like the one Bregman would want, given the team’s current low payroll and the result of the last long-term contract they gave out: a six-year, $140 million deal with Javier Baez, that has so far been a massive bust. Baez has hit to a 71 OPS+, 29 percent below league average in his three years with the Tigers. Baez was a 104 OPS+ hitter prior to his arrival in Detroit.

The Tigers have given out two one-year, $15 million deals this offseason to starting pitcher Alex Cobb and second baseman Gleyber Torres.

Toronto would be able to financially handle the kind of contract Bregman is said to desire but have yet to land a big free agent this offseason, despite interest in players like Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes.

Both the Tigers and Blue Jays also have interest in outfielder Anthony Santander, with the Blue Jays having an offer in, a league source tells KPRC 2. The Los Angeles Angels are another team with interest in Santander. While Santander is also a fit with the Houston Astros, who could use a high-impact outfielder after trading away Kyle Tucker, a league source tells KPRC 2 that it is unlikely Santander will land in Houston. The switch-hitting outfielder is seeking the type of long-term deal that would put the Astros well into the competitive balance tax for the second consecutive season, something that is very unlikely to be palatable to the Astros.

 

[saska sault]

Santander at 4 years, get it done. The 5th year may be the cost to get him into Canada... Bregman at 6 years? That screams Springer 2.0 and not just because of the Astros connection. Both guys are 30 but Bregman has a lot of miles on him and his power hasnt been at Santanders level for years. If they get one or both, at the end of the day its a win for the fans. Springer's salary is bloated for what he provides now but the last years of these deals is not usually where you get value anyways. Plus, I am not signing the cheques so.. spend away.

 

[Dr.Funk]

With the Dodgers signing Kim we also lose a possible landing spot for Bo. What an embarrassment of riches they have at this point.

 

[Discoverer]

From Kim's perspective, I don't really get this. The Dodgers have established starters and depth. Unless they just offered way more money, why would you sign somewhere to be a utility guy/backup at multiple positions when there certainly would have been teams willing to offer a full-time job?

 

[Ale Brew]

From Kim's perspective, I don't really get this. The Dodgers have established starters and depth. Unless they just offered way more money, why would you sign somewhere to be a utility guy/backup at multiple positions when there certainly would have been teams willing to offer a full-time job?

Maybe he’s confident or had assurances he’ll have the chance to eventually take over SS. They can move Betts back to 2B or OF when they feel confident in Kim.

And of course the Dodgers are not only the defending champs that offer an opportunity to win now and going forward, but they are on the west coast and a shorter flight.

 

[tmlfan98]

Ari Alexander (Houston reporter), who was first on Yimi Garcia returning to the Jays this offseason, says the Tigers, Jays and Red Sox are the finalists for Bregman.

Also says the TIgers, Jays and Angels are in on Santander, while the Astros are an unlikely spot for him.

 

[LeafsNet]

At this point I don’t care who they sign, Atkins and Shapiro both need to be booted out.

They should have been fired after that Wild Card series choke against Seattle. That still hurts my soul to this day.

#AtkinsOut
#ShapiroOut

 

[trellaine201]

He said she said. That’s got us far in free agency.

 

[shaner8989]

Gotta be Bergman, Santander and a higher end starting pitcher plus some pens arms and then MAYBE compete for a WC spot.

Just f***ing rebuild this pos

 

[dubplatepressure]

Gotta be Bergman, Santander and a higher end starting pitcher plus some pens arms and then MAYBE compete for a WC spot.

Just f***ing rebuild this pos

as much as I agree, don't you tire from posting stuff like this constantly?

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

Who thinks they’ll be good? I’m not seeing any of that here. There are wild if we did all these things then maybe we could compete and those maybe require another 70 or 80 million on the payroll. We know it ain’t happening

From reading posts....

Still needs bullpen work, but that lineup/rotation are excellent.

Well. If they made those 3 moves, he's not wrong about the offseason being saved.

Honestly, Alonso, Flaherty, Santander and make a trade for a reliever and this isn't a terrible offseason

That would be a great offseason, I just don’t have faith that we’d spend that much.

That’s $65-75M this season on top of what we already added in Giminez and Garcia.

Then the ones who have replied to me.

Some very good relievers out there and also Santander, Alonso, and Bregman.

That's absolutely not how free agency works. The best players don't all sign first.

However, there's still a decent crop of borderline all-stars available: Santander, Alonzo, Bregman, Flaherty...and some top quality relievers like Tanner Scott. If we could get a couple of these guys that would make a difference.

Do you read what people actually write here? They still have hope for some reason like they think the Jays will be competitive under these clowns 9 years haven't taught them anything,

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

That's absolutely not how free agency works. The best players don't all sign first.

Lol okay there.

You're right in that the cream of the crop superstar types have already signed - Soto, Burnes, Fried, Adames, Snell.

However, there's still a decent crop of borderline all-stars available: Santander, Alonzo, Bregman, Flaherty...and some top quality relievers like Tanner Scott. If we could get a couple of these guys that would make a difference.

One says that's not right and one says that is right which one is it?

 

[DuklaNation]

No big names signing here would be more beneficial to the team in the long run. Makes rebuilding easier. The 2 best hitters could walk after '25 season, what a disaster that would be.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Where will these 5 prominent free agents land? - MLB.com

Jack Flaherty

With Burnes, Fried and Blake Snell all signed to deals with new clubs, Flaherty is the best remaining arm on the free-agent market -- and unlike fellow free agent Nick Pivetta, the 29-year-old didn’t receive a qualifying offer, so any team that signs Flaherty won’t have to give up Draft picks.

The Orioles seem like a logical candidate to sign Flaherty as Baltimore lost its ace to free agency when Burnes agreed to a six-year, $210 million deal with Arizona. Flaherty pitched for the O’s in 2023 after being acquired at the Trade Deadline, and while he went 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in nine outings, his rebound in 2024 has him in line to sign a lucrative multi-year deal.

With few alternatives in free agency, the Orioles could turn to the trade market -- San Diego’s Dylan Cease and Seattle’s Luis Castillo are among potential trade candidates -- to fill the hole atop the rotation, but a reunion with Flaherty would make perfect sense.

A number of other teams also remain in the mix for Flaherty including the Giants, Blue Jays, Tigers and Cubs.

 

[Discoverer]

From reading posts....




Then the ones who have replied to me.




Do you read what people actually write here? They still have hope for some reason like they think the Jays will be competitive under these clowns 9 years haven't taught them anything,

What are you even talking about? The posts you're quoting are referring to how good the team would be if they added three impact players.

No one here thinks the team will be good as is, but "If they add Santander and Bregman and Flaherty they would have a good team" shouldn't be a controversial opinion. No one thinks those things are all going to happen either... it's a silly hypothetical we were discussing.

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

Free agent Alex Bregman takes shot at the Toronto Blue Jays as he want no part in playing for them

Free agent Alex Bregman does not want to sign with the Blue Jays​

The Blue Jays seem to be very interested in Bregman to the point where they have been reports that they have even made him an offer very close to his target of $200 million but it looks like he's not interested.

According to recent reports, Bregman is only interested in signing with the Detroit Tigers as they are among the top two teams interested in him along with the Blue Jays and it seems he has no interest in signing in Toronto.



Fans are not exactly upset to see Bregman sign elsewhere as many believe he is on the decline and signing him to a long term deal means holding onto him for a few years while he is overpaid.

Free agent Alex Bregman takes shot at the Toronto Blue Jays as he want no part in playing for them
​

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

What are you even talking about? The posts you're quoting are referring to how good the team would be if they added three impact players.

No one here thinks the team will be good as is, but "If they add Santander and Bregman and Flaherty they would have a good team" shouldn't be a controversial opinion. No one thinks those things are all going to happen either... it's a silly hypothetical we were discussing.

This was literally your response to if Jays signed Santander and Bregman

Still needs bullpen work, but that lineup/rotation are excellent.

The real question is what are you talking about?

 

[Discoverer]

This was literally your response to if Jays signed Santander and Bregman


The real question is what are you talking about?

Did you read any of those posts? The one I responded to involved signing Santander and Bregman and trading for Luis Castillo.

If you don't think that gives the Jays a good lineup/rotation, I don't know what to tell you.

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

Former Toronto Blue Jays players Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson both won a legal battle against the Canadian Government which might end up helping out the Blue Jays.

Both Martin and Donaldson were able to get money back from the Canadian Government from their playing days as it was made clear that they were taxed way too much money.

In total, Martin's total taxable income in Canada dropped by roughly $4 million for 2015 to 2017, whereas Donaldson's was reduced by a total of roughly $2.6 million for 2016 and 2017. -Nardi

The fact that these two former Blue Jays were able to hold onto so much money after winning this court case might actually help the Blue Jays in the long run when it comes to signing free agents.

This court case has now opened everyone's eyes onto the Canadian Tax Revenue Agency which will not be under the microscope when it comes to taxing athletes playing in Canada.

Hopefully this will help the Blue Jays show potential free agents that they do not have to be taxes as much as many believe and that they will end up with a solid portion of their salary.

Former Toronto Blue Jays star Josh Donaldson's court case win seems to be helping the team​

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

Did you read any of those posts? The one I responded to involved signing Santander and Bregman and trading for Luis Castillo.

If you don't think that gives the Jays a good lineup/rotation, I don't know what to tell you.

No the fact that you think going and getting a Springer 2.0 potential in an aging Bregman and saying the word excellent in the same sentence is laughable. With the fact that Bo and Vlad aren't signed after this year, and you think those moves make this team excellent. Like cool, you like to hope under Shatkins they can be good, but open your eyes to reality those clowns suck at their job, the sooner you stop hoping the sooner you can realize the Jays will never be good or excellent under them.

 

[Discoverer]

No the fact that you think going and getting a Springer 2.0 potential in an aging Bregman and saying the word excellent in the same sentence is laughable. With the fact that Bo and Vlad aren't signed after this year, and you think those moves make this team excellent. Like cool, you like to hope under Shatkins they can be good, but open your eyes to reality those clowns suck at their job, the sooner you stop hoping the sooner you can realize the Jays will never be good or excellent under them.

You really struggle to understand context, don't you?

I didn't say those would be good contracts or that it's all they need to do to fix the entire future of the organization or anything like that. I didn't say they should do those things or I want them to do those things or I think they'll do those things. Those all all part of your imagination.

Hell, I didn't even say they would be an excellent team with those moves... I said the lineup and rotation would be excellent, referring specifically to 2025, but that they would still need to finish fixing the bullpen.

I have no confidence in management to make the right moves. Atkins should be long gone at the point, and while I don't care much about Shapiro one way or another, he should be gone too just for sticking with Atkins so long. You don't have to make up opinions for me.