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

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Vlad before Dumb and Dumber (Shatkins)
Something similar came to my mind that Vlad is trying to force Rogers to fire Lloyd and Harry. Maybe he holds a grudge from some of the shit management ahs said about him.

If Vlad stays and if that means the idiot twins get fired, I will personally build a Vlad statue in front of the Skydome.
 
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My question for the thread is who would prefer to trade Vlad now or at the deadline than to see him get to free agency in the hopes we can re sign him. I'm of the mindset his value is very high right now and this is the ideal time to move him. Bo you have to hold and let him rebuild his value for the deadline regardless

I would do a poll but have no idea how to.
 
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My question for the thread is who would prefer to trade Vlad now or at the deadline than to see him get to free agency in the hopes we can re sign him. I'm of the mindset his value is very high right now and this is the ideal time to move him. Bo you have to hold and let him rebuild his value for the deadline regardless

I would do a poll but have no idea how to.

If someone blows you out of the water with an offer now, you take it.

But this is a team that can get a playoff spot, so without a great offer, you play it out until the deadline. You are still playing for a shot at a WS and/or seeing Vlad’s true intentions of wanting to stay or not. It’s possible no one offers the money he wants, has an off year and re-ups or is just leveraging other teams to get the best offer to stay in Toronto (Judge and Alonso).
 
Here's the other problem I have with the market argument.

The Jays were actively bidding on Soto (and may have had the highest bid) when they made the December offer to Vlad. They were also reportedly the highest bidder on Ohtani. That means that they directly raised the price for both.

The Soto contract changed the narrative from SN is trying to excuse Toronto not signing Vlad because he got too expensive when they had sn active role in reshaping prices.
Soto got at least 10% more than what the Jays were offering (he got $765 million and the Jays never got to the $700 million mark).

They tried to sign him, but if you get outbid by that much by multiple teams, then you didn't set the market. If they weren't involved, Soto would have gotten exactly what he got.

The Ohtani one is different, and they played a huge role in Ohtani getting what he got. But between deferrals and the unique nature of Ohtani as a player and marketing opportunity, I'm not convinced he sets a precedent for anyone else anyway.
 
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Soto got at least 10% more than what the Jays were offering (he got $765 million and the Jays never got to the $700 million mark).

They tried to sign him, but if you get outbid by that much by multiple teams, then you didn't set the market. If they weren't involved, Soto would have gotten exactly what he got.

The Ohtani one is different, and they played a huge role in Ohtani getting what he got. But between deferrals and the unique nature of Ohtani as a player and marketing opportunity, I'm not convinced he sets a precedent for anyone else anyway.
But at the time of their winter offer, the Jays were still actively bidding on Soto.

The Jays didnt talk to Vlad from that point until 2 weeks ago.

What Vlad's number is or was 2 weeks ago doesn't change the fact that the Jays put crazy money out for both guys BEFORE offering to Vlad.
 
On the prospect side, nice oppo power from OMart, double from JLo and nice energy from Steward Berroa.
I really hope they don’t burn a 40 mam spot and lose a guy for Straw. Maybe if someone hits the long term IL or something.
Berroa’s the perfect 5th OF on this team. Home grown. Speed to burn so can pinch run, and be a defensive replacement late. Can leadoff reasonably well to give guys a day off from either side of the plate with good on base numbers. Enough upside to maybe steal some at bats, but also importantly, leaves the three guys who should be playing everyday to play every day in Buffalo.
Plus, loving the idea of the team loosening the reins and getting a lil more aggressive on the base paths.
 
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But at the time of their winter offer, the Jays were still actively bidding on Soto.

The Jays didnt talk to Vlad from that point until 2 weeks ago.

What Vlad's number is or was 2 weeks ago doesn't change the fact that the Jays put crazy money out for both guys BEFORE offering to Vlad.

They offered $340M to Vlad before Soto. $340M is more than fair for a guy who only lived up to expectations for 2 of his 5 seasons.

$340M is the 4th biggest deal in MLB history.

That’s more than fair and probably an overpayment in my eyes but Vlad said no, which is fair but I’m not feeling sorry for him or jumping to offer more.
 
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Ideally you'd just pay Vlad but if you're not doing that, you should trade now because this team has shown no signs that they are just one run away.

But there's no way in hell Shatkins should handle that trade. They shouldn't have even handled his negotiations.

When you think you have to fire a GM, you do it, nothing good has ever come from retaining someone a little longer that has you questioning their competence.
 




Hal Steinbrenner & Brian Cashman Press Conference

YESNetwork

February 21, 2025

After the Yankees altered their facial hair policy, Steinbrenner & Cashman took questions from the media.
 
If someone blows you out of the water with an offer now, you take it.

But this is a team that can get a playoff spot, so without a great offer, you play it out until the deadline. You are still playing for a shot at a WS and/or seeing Vlad’s true intentions of wanting to stay or not. It’s possible no one offers the money he wants, has an off year and re-ups or is just leveraging other teams to get the best offer to stay in Toronto (Judge and Alonso).
This team as currently constructed is a pretender at best. The last thing I want is them wasting more prospect depth to add to this at the deadline and losing both for comp picks. Bo we ride out Vlad should be moved. He's getting vocal about his willingness to leave but isn't willing to discuss an extension. Sell high and move on.
 

I wouldn't say similar since you can already a difference in tone. Vladdy is more open to the idea of New York where Griffey would likely start frothing at the mouth if you even insinuated the possibility. No amount of money could convince him otherwise. He f***ing HAAAAAAAAATED the Yankees. To a level of pettiness mere mortals could only hope to achieve and it showed in his play;

Screenshot 2025-02-23 130452.png


Most obvious example is when he donkey dicked them in the 1995 ALDS. Slashed .391/.444/1.043 with 5 bombs in a single 5 game series. Probably his best work in his career.
 
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I wouldn't say similar since you can already a difference in tone. Vladdy is more open to the idea of New York where Griffey would likely start frothing at the mouth if you even insinuated the possibility. No amount of money could convince him otherwise. He f***ing HAAAAAAAAATED the Yankees. To a level of pettiness mere mortals could only hope to achieve and it showed in his play;

View attachment 981481

Most obvious example is when he donkey dicked them in the 1995 ALDS. Slashed .391/.444/1.043 with 5 bombs in a single 5 game series. Probably his best work in his career.

Man, I miss seeing that guy's swing.
 

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