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

[cyris]

Apparently we signed Amir Garrett to a minor league deal. I like these types of low risk deals, as there is some upside with Garrett. He needs to harness his control, if Walker can help get him there his arm has plenty of juice and he can be a power lefty out of the pen.


Also, all this doom and gloom talk is silly. Atkins tries to say nothing when he talks, it really doesn’t mean anything. I still think we get a Vlad signing in the next 48 hours. It’s too important to the franchise. Can’t see them spending what they’ve spent this offseason only to go cheap on the legit home grown star.

Well if we need anyone to try to fight the entire opposition bench by himself we have the guy to do it now. lol

 

[phillipmike]

https://www.mlb.com/news/ranking-mlb-players-to-change-teams-2024-25-offseason

8. 2B Andrés Giménez, Blue Jays: 3.5 WAR

Giménez’s value is primarily driven by his glove -- but what a glove it is. The slick-fielding second baseman had 2.8 fWAR in 2024 despite a .638 OPS; when he slashed .297/.371/.466 in 2022, he was worth 6.1 fWAR. Giménez will have to improve with his bat in order to play at that All-Star level again, but he could meet this projection on defense alone.

15. OF Anthony Santander, Blue Jays: 2.7 WAR

After ranking third in the Majors with 44 home runs as a member of the Orioles last season, the switch-hitting Santander is set to bring his powerful bat to the Blue Jays’ lineup in 2025, having joined the club on a five-year, $92.5 million deal. Although Santander’s mediocre on-base skills (lifetime .307 OBP) and subpar defense may limit his ceiling from a WAR standpoint, he could be a valuable addition for Toronto nonetheless. Steamer projects him to tie for the team lead in homers (34) while ranking second in wRC+ (122) behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

22-T. SP Max Scherzer, Blue Jays: 2.0 WAR

The 2024 campaign was a lost season for Scherzer, who underwent offseason back surgery and dealt with additional injuries during the year, ultimately throwing just 43 1/3 innings for the Rangers. He finished with a 3.95 ERA and a 22.6% strikeout rate, his worst numbers since 2011. While no one should be counting out the three-time Cy Young Award winner, who signed a one-year, $15.5 million deal with the Blue Jays earlier this month, he’s a tough pitcher to project as he enters his age-40 season.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[trellaine201]

LOL Garrett. It’s either a BB or a K. It’s going to give everyone in here a headache if he takes to the mound.

 

[saska sault]

The same front office that sent Teo and Lourdes packing because they had joy in their game...

No issue bringing him in. Low risk, high reward. Its just interesting at times they have signings that are trash but those guys are veterans and bring something to the locker room, bring leadership, knowledge of the game etc. While others get shipped out for "not taking it serious" or having fun in the dug out... then you bring in the Ron Hextall of relief pitchers. Make it, make sense.

 

[Wry n Ginger]

The same front office that sent Teo and Lourdes packing because they had joy in their game...

No issue bringing him in. Low risk, high reward. Its just interesting at times they have signings that are trash but those guys are veterans and bring something to the locker room, bring leadership, knowledge of the game etc. While others get shipped out for "not taking it serious" or having fun in the dug out... then you bring in the Ron Hextall of relief pitchers. Make it, make sense.

I am not an Atkins fan but where was it stated that Teo and Lourdes were moved because they had "Joy" in their game? That's just a stupid take.

Talk about leadership...all good. Talk about taking the game seriously...all good.

Associating the Garret signing with any of the above doesn't make any sense my man.

 

[Bjindaho]

LOL Garrett. It’s either a BB or a K. It’s going to give everyone in here a headache if he takes to the mound.

Tbf, he made an arm slot change which could make a difference.

Otherwise, this is a lot like Cabrera (still a better lefty option than what we had imo)

 

[Discoverer]

Tbf, he made an arm slot change which could make a difference.

Otherwise, this is a lot like Cabrera (still a better lefty option than what we had imo)

I expect nothing out of Garrett, but if Pete Walker has a type, it's lefties who have had trouble harnessing their electric arm.

 

[howlman]

Tick tock Shatkins...

 

[saska sault]

I am not an Atkins fan but where was it stated that Teo and Lourdes were moved because they had "Joy" in their game? That's just a stupid take.

Talk about leadership...all good. Talk about taking the game seriously...all good.

Associating the Garret signing with any of the above doesn't make any sense my man.

Call it what you want, I was just trying to state that they had moved out talented players because of how the dugout as a whole was maybe viewed to be not taking things serious because of some of their antics. When in reality it seemed like a tight knit group of guys who enjoyed playing together. They went to a more military approach, that's my personal view. I think that set the franchise back a good chunk, killed chemistry and the identity of the ball club they had at the time.

They kind of had to start at square one and start to rebuild that chemistry with a whole new set of personalities. That's my view as a fan. It seemed to suck the joy out of the some of the guys at times, maybe not directly related but that's how I viewed it.

 

[Discoverer]

Call it what you want, I was just trying to state that they had moved out talented players because of how the dugout as a whole was maybe viewed to be not taking things serious because of some of their antics. When in reality it seemed like a tight knit group of guys who enjoyed playing together. They went to a more military approach, that's my personal view. I think that set the franchise back a good chunk, killed chemistry and the identity of the ball club they had at the time.

They kind of had to start at square one and start to rebuild that chemistry with a whole new set of personalities. That's my view as a fan. It seemed to suck the joy out of the some of the guys at times, maybe not directly related but that's how I viewed it.

They moved Teo and Gurriel out because they were poor defenders and they were trying to improve the defense.

 

[saska sault]

They moved Teo and Gurriel out because they were poor defenders and they were trying to improve the defense.

That's what they say. I don't personally believe it. That's the fun thing about being a fan, is the speculation !

In other news... let's hope Family Day is celebrated with a Vladdy signing.

 

[Discoverer]

That's what they say. I don't personally believe it. That's the fun thing about being a fan, is the speculation !

In other news... let's hope Family Day is celebrated with a Vladdy signing.

Why wouldn't you believe it? It's not like this was a one off situation and they brought in shitty defenders later on. They've spend two years since then focusing primarily on defense-first players. It's clearly a priority for them.

 

[Bjindaho]

FWIW, the team panicked when they looked at the ballpark dimensions and Teo/Gurriel Jr. on D.

It may have been an overreaction, but they definitely panicked (of course, Teo would have been fine as a DH, but that's a different problem).

 

[saska sault]

Why wouldn't you believe it? It's not like this was a one off situation and they brought in shitty defenders later on. They've spend two years since then focusing primarily on defense-first players. It's clearly a priority for them.

I think both things can be true at the same time. They definitely have prioritized glove first players, no doubt about that. I also think they thought the clubhouse was not serious enough and they wanted to shake it up.

 

[weems]

Kirk's fall offensively was also a big surprise.
This was a guy who was starting to look like a special hitter at the catching position.
He hit .285, with a .372 OBP and walked more than he struck out in 2022.
It sounds like he's taking things more seriously now, having moved to Florida prior to the season where before he would be living in Mexico.
As it currently stands, our offense is going to need for alot of things to go right and he's at the top of the list.

 

[Anthrax442]

Tick tock Shatkins...

 

[saska sault]

Ross to Vlad's camp

 

[Blitzkrug]

This deadline is relatively important too. If he doesn't sign now, there's a good chance that's it for negotiations and you have to deal with the headache of rolling the dice on keeping him past the deadline and letting him walk for nothing.

 

[saska sault]

This deadline is relatively important too. If he doesn't sign now, there's a good chance that's it for negotiations and you have to deal with the headache of rolling the dice on keeping him past the deadline and letting him walk for nothing.

They will get a compensation pick! That could turn out to be the next Biggio.

 

[GoonieFace]

They will get a compensation pick! That could turn out to be the next Biggio.

Hopefully Craig….

 

[Greek_physique]

They will get a compensation pick! That could turn out to be the next Biggio.

Or Vlad...and you know how much they need a Vlad

 

[Suntouchable13]

Give me a break, they are approaching this like they don't need Vladdy. If you don't pay him the money, then who are you saving the money for? I don't get it. What's the problem here? i am not even gonna be excited for the home opener if there's no extension for Vladdy by then. Why should anyone be?

 

[Killer Orcas]

Give me a break, they are approaching this like they don't need Vladdy. If you don't pay him the money, then who are you saving the money for? I don't get it. What's the problem here? i am not even gonna be excited for the home opener if there's no extension for Vladdy by then. Why should anyone be?

I want to agree but who knows what his ask is 500 plus? He's seen the Soto deal and his numbers are about par what if he's asking over 600 even?? It's sucks it's come to this though they could have had him for 400 max last off season.

 

[Ale Brew]

I want to agree but who knows what his ask is 500 plus? He's seen the Soto deal and his numbers are about par what if he's asking over 600 even?? It's sucks it's come to this though they could have had him for 400 max last off season.

Right! For all we know they’re already offering $500M and Vlad’s camp is posturing until the last minute trying to squeeze every dollar.

For the record I suspect the number is lower than that, but no need to overreact when we know next to nothing. The deadline hasn’t passed YET.