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

[Bjindaho]

At this point I don't see investing half a billion dollars in a 1B is the way to go on the heals of a rebuild that's inevitable. By the time we come out of it he's going to be entering his decline.

I have two problems with this comment.

1) He's still quite young and the Jays are spending the kind of money where there will never be a rebuild.

2) He's only a 1B right now because that's the box he's been forced into. In his disastrous full year at 3B (largely limited by his weight), he was only slight worse than a Devers level defender. If he played 3B more, he could be average to slightly below average defensively if not better.

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[Folignos Helmet]

I have two problems with this comment.

1) He's still quite young and the Jays are spending the kind of money where there will never be a rebuild.

2) He's only a 1B right now because that's the box he's been forced into. In his disastrous full year at 3B (largely limited by his weight), he was only slight worse than a Devers level defender. If he played 3B more, he could be average to slightly below average defensively if not better.

i dont think either his past or his likely future (body type) would present any evidence that he can have a long career at 3rd base. On a 15 year deal he is a 1B, transitioning to DH. I wouldnt go anywhere near that contract he requested.

 

[Bjindaho]

i dont think either his past or his likely future (body type) would present any evidence that he can have a long career at 3rd base. On a 15 year deal he is a 1B, transitioning to DH. I wouldnt go anywhere near that contract he requested.

He's almost exactly the same size as Devers.

 

[Folignos Helmet]

He's almost exactly the same size as Devers.

He's almost exactly the same size as Devers.

Devers who has led the AL in errors every year and plays for the team that just signed Bregman to likely take 3b away from him.
He has DH written all over him too.

 

[Suntouchable13]

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is concerned about right elbow soreness | TSN

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole had imaging on his right elbow, and he expects to know more about the situation in the next couple of days.

www.tsn.ca

Maybe some of these Yankee injuries can open the door a little bit for us?

 

[Discoverer]

He's almost exactly the same size as Devers.

Devers is a terrible defensive 3B and should be viewed as a 1B/DH for the vast majority of his contract.

 

[Bjindaho]

Devers is a terrible defensive 3B and should be viewed as a 1B/DH for the vast majority of his contract.

He's a 1B/DH on a team choosing between say Clement and Wagner/Schneider.

A poor defensive 3B isn't a problem on a team with a quality 1B. (Of course, Boston has Bregman, who is a better 3B).

Devers could play 3B for a team like LA and be a huge positive.

Taking this one step further, if the Jays had Devers and Vlad, I would play Devers primarily at 3B, but still use Vlad there to maintain as much 1B/DH flexibility as possible.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Francis getting lit up in Spring.

 

[horner]

Really like Ernie Clements

 

[Discoverer]

Really like Ernie Clements

I don't think a ~110 wRC+ is out of the question for him this year. I doubt the walks will change much, but I think he could hit 15-20 HR.

They have a few interesting options at 3B, but Clement is the reason I'm glad they didn't give Bregman something like what he got from Boston.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[dredeye]

Anyone consider that it's only the Jays price? I feel like he wants out and will only stay if we overpay like that.

I don’t know. I don’t think he cares either way but it’s always been the same story with them that they are far apart on a contract. It always seemed to be 100 million apart

 

[jetsforever]

So Roden is making the team right?

 

[arthurcason]

So Roden is making the team right?

He is sure making it tough for the Blue Jays. He's getting hits and he's hitting major leaguers. I would love to see him make this team.

 

[Discoverer]

Based on track record and performance this spring, as of now I would want to see:

C Kirk
1B Vlad
2B Gimenez
3B Clement
SS Bo
LF Santander
CF Varsho
RF Springer
DH Roden

Bench Heineman, Schneider, Wagner, Loperfido

I could see Berroa in that last spot to give Loperfido full time at bats in AAA, but something like that.

Edit: Forgot Lukes. He should be in the last spot instead of Loperfido. Too bad there isn't room for Barger too because he's having an excellent spring.

 

[canucksfan]

Based on track record and performance this spring, as of now I would want to see:

C Kirk
1B Vlad
2B Gimenez
3B Clement
SS Bo
LF Santander
CF Varsho
RF Springer
DH Roden

Bench Heineman, Schneider, Wagner, Loperfido

I could see Berroa in that last spot to give Loperfido full time at bats in AAA, but something like that.

Edit: Forgot Lukes. He should be in the last spot instead of Loperfido. Too bad there isn't room for Barger too because he's having an excellent spring.

A lot of players have hit well this spring. I agree with the choices. Lukes best as a fourth outfielder as Loperfido gets more at bats in AAA.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Based on track record and performance this spring, as of now I would want to see:

C Kirk
1B Vlad
2B Gimenez
3B Clement
SS Bo
LF Santander
CF Varsho
RF Springer
DH Roden

Bench Heineman, Schneider, Wagner, Loperfido

I could see Berroa in that last spot to give Loperfido full time at bats in AAA, but something like that.

Edit: Forgot Lukes. He should be in the last spot instead of Loperfido. Too bad there isn't room for Barger too because he's having an excellent spring.

Actually, I'd replace Wagner with Barger. Or at least see if Wagner gets off to a good start in the regular season. His spot is far from guaranteed. I like Barger's profile better. We need more pop off the bench. Wagner doesn't do it for me, sorry. I don't see why they are so high on him.

 

[Discoverer]

Actually, I'd replace Wagner with Barger. Or at least see if Wagner gets off to a good start in the regular season. His spot is far from guaranteed. I like Barger's profile better. We need more pop off the bench. Wagner doesn't do it for me, sorry. I don't see why they are so high on him.

Wagner's minor league numbers the last two years have been fantastic: he's hit .300 plus at every level with more walks than strikeouts. He looked every bit the player we hoped for in his debut last year. He has limited power, but he's always been an on-base machine.

I don't think it's unreasonable to give Barger a spot and start Wagner in Buffalo depending how they do the next couple weeks, but I would still rather see Wagner on opening day.

 

[shaner8989]

Barger and Roden are hitting extremely well.