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

[WeThreeKings]

You're not confused. That was a request/rule his agent had made for the first round of meetings, but it sounds like that's no longer the case for these final visits.

This is what Rosenthal wrote today, "...the Dodgers’ meeting would give them something not afforded at the Wasserman office meetings (but permitted in his city tours with the Blue Jays and Padres): the presence of players to bolster the team’s pitch, sources said."

Dodgers to get second meeting with Roki Sasaki: Sources

Sasaki has recently completed city tours to both Toronto and San Diego.

www.nytimes.com

I heard the Jays brought all their stars to the first meeting..of course that still fulfilled the promise of not bringing players to the first meeting.

 

[Rude Dog]

You're not confused. That was a request/rule his agent had made for the first round of meetings, but it sounds like that's no longer the case for these final visits.

This is what Rosenthal wrote today, "...the Dodgers’ meeting would give them something not afforded at the Wasserman office meetings (but permitted in his city tours with the Blue Jays and Padres): the presence of players to bolster the team’s pitch, sources said."

Dodgers to get second meeting with Roki Sasaki: Sources

Sasaki has recently completed city tours to both Toronto and San Diego.

www.nytimes.com

I am sure all three cities had similar January vibes

 

[phillipmike]

Seems like it is lining up for the Dodgers.

 

[Discoverer]

Seems like it is lining up for the Dodgers.

It has to, right? It's weird that a bunch of Dodgers guys are withdrawing and no one else.

 

[Amadeus]

Man I’d rather not even be a finalist anymore. Just really annoying!

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[aingefan]

Seems like it is lining up for the Dodgers.

It’s pretty clear that they’re a desirable team and organization. Not sure how much that guy changes their pool, anyway….maybe 1/7th?
Just up to how Sasaki sees it and his fit still, I think.
His real money comes after the IFA signing bonus.

 

[Bjindaho]

It’s pretty clear that they’re a desirable team and organization. Not sure how much that guy changes their pool, anyway….maybe 1/7th?
Just up to how Sasaki sees it and his fit still, I think.
His real money comes after the IFA signing bonus.

The Dodgers are way below SD and Toronto on their ifa pool

 

[matand]

The Dodgers are way below SD and Toronto on their ifa pool

I mean it's not just about the money it's where he wants to play in the next 6 years he has a 10day windows to decide where he wants to play. Again doubt it's the dodgers because uof the media, if he goes 2 - 8 to start it's an issue. Where the jays media fans are more forgiving.
Again this is a 6 year deal for him no matter where he signs

 

[matand]

I still think he signs with the jays by the end of it. But that's just my personal view from reading all. Also the jays have been open about signing him and feel confidence more so then they did with soto or ohtani.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Even if the Jays management was competent and the team had a strong direction, it would be hard to compete with the Dodgers right now in free agency

 

[aingefan]

I still think he signs with the jays by the end of it. But that's just my personal view from reading all. Also the jays have been open about signing him and feel confidence more so then they did with soto or ohtani.

Props to you for feeling hope.

 

[The Iceman]

I don’t mean to be that guy
BUT
The natural disaster going on in California makes Ontario look pretty safe doesn’t it??

 

[phillipmike]

Call me crazy but this seem like a hedge. Ken has killed this front office over the last 2 seasons. I wonder if he is hearing the Jays have a good shot and doesn’t want egg on his face so he says this.

Two things the Jays do well at the major league level;
-Splitter identification and development (Gausman, Francis and Swanson)
-fastball usage (Ray and Kikucki)

And the fastball and splitter are Roki best weapons.

Sasaki could recognize that the Jays do this well at the major league level. That and they have elite defense which is a pitchers best friend

 

[ER89]

Ken is a stupid f***

f*** that guy

 

[dredeye]

Sasaki meeting with the Dodgers one last time. I think that's the last meeting of all three teams. But thinking about the bonus pool scenario I wonder if the jays would trade Basset for bonus pool money as the main return so they can add it to the offer for him. Obviously, they'd need a guarantee but might be the return they seek out for him.

 

[phillipmike]

Sasaki meeting with the Dodgers one last time. I think that's the last meeting of all three teams. But thinking about the bonus pool scenario I wonder if the jays would trade Basset for bonus pool money as the main return so they can add it to the offer for him. Obviously, they'd need a guarantee but might be the return they seek out for him.

I believe you can only trade $250K at a time. So unless they have a backup plan for Bassitt lined up, that would be a huge overpay for an extra $250K.

Edit: it’s increments of $250K. So they could get more. My mistake.

 

[dredeye]

I believe you can only trade $250K at a time. So unless they have a backup plan for Bassitt lined up, that would be a huge overpay for an extra $250K.

Edit: it’s increments of $250K. So they could get more. My mistake.

What would be the max though? That's a good point because I can't really recall seeing a team attach more that 250k international pool money in a deal. I remember the jays getting it a few times. The days when Baltimore refused to spend on international kids.

 

[phillipmike]

What would be the max though? That's a good point because I can't really recall seeing a team attach more that 250k international pool money in a deal. I remember the jays getting it a few times. The days when Baltimore refused to spend on international kids.

Yeah they did back in the day when the rules are the same.

I believe the most the Jays can acquire is $4ish million with the max to Sasaki is $10M in signing bonuses.

 

[phillipmike]

So this is interesting.

At the 2:30 mark Steve Phillips said “they (the Jays) had the most money on the table to Corbin Burnes… they thought they had a deal and his wife sort of changed their mind … wanting to not go to Toronto and living at home in Arizona and playing. So they took less”

That’s news to me.

Also says the driving factors behind Sasaki interested in the Jays is Pete Walker and the Jays state of the art facilities in Dunedin.

Also at the end of this segment, Colaiacovo and Korolnek get into a heated argument about Sasaki. Worth listening to. Last minute.

 

[trellaine201]

Props to you for feeling hope.

Agreed! I can learn from positivity