Blue Jays GDT: Jays vs Minnesota

First regular season start for Francis will be big. We need to see if last year was just a flash in the pan. He has been roughed up this spring. Looks nothing like the guy who pitched so great down the stretch last year.
 
First regular season start for Francis will be big. We need to see if last year was just a flash in the pan. He has been roughed up this spring. Looks nothing like the guy who pitched so great down the stretch last year.
One start won't mean much TBH. He hasn't looked great in the spring but today he was a bit unlucky. A catchable ball was misread on the first play. Another play would have been made as well but can't remember it.
 
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Roden looks like a legit player.
I wonder what type of hype this guy would have had if say he was a Yankees or Red Sox prospect and put up those minor league stats and followed it up with this type of spring training.
 

I think that a deal could be found.

If Vladdy is really looking at escalators, then maybe we offer something like 420/14 as a base where the money changes based on this year. Maybe give another 30 total if he is all-star or we make the playoffs, another 25 if he finishes top 10 in wRC+ and top 10 in MVP voting, another 25 if he finishes top 5 in MVP voting, and maybe a kicker that could raise it to 525/14 in NPV if he wins either MVP or one of ALCS/WS MVP.
 
Roden looks like a legit player.
I wonder what type of hype this guy would have had if say he was a Yankees or Red Sox prospect and put up those minor league stats and followed it up with this type of spring training.
There are some concerns about Roden. His exit velocity doesn't jump off the page, which will likely limit his big league power. There have been anecdotal concerns about well executed breaking balls and well placed fastballs that could change his projected MLB hitting profile (ie more K, less BB).

He's also a solid dude, meaning that any strength gains will likely directly remove athleticism (boxy is the term FG used).

In terms of the Yankees and Red Sox, the only prospects that they have ranked higher among OF are Roman Anthony (#2 prospect in baseball with monster power, more speed and better fielding), Jasson Dominguez (with more power, and better speed but less hit tool), and Spencer Jones (more power, a lot more speed, but questionable hit tool).
 
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I hate the lineup from the 4 spot down. It’s atrocious. The opposing pitcher can just basically relax for 7 straight batters. They are really going to rely on Gimenez, Springer, Varsho, Kirk to be secondary run producers? Bunch of below average hitters.
 
I hate the lineup from the 4 spot down. It’s atrocious. The opposing pitcher can just basically relax for 7 straight batters. They are really going to rely on Gimenez, Springer, Varsho, Kirk to be secondary run producers? Bunch of below average hitters.
Varsho, Kirk, and Clement are all roughly league average hitters with upside for a bit more given their age/experience. Gimenez... I honestly have no idea what to expect, but projections peg him as around average as well. Consider they're all elite defenders at their position, four average bats at the bottom half of the lineup is perfectly fine.

Springer is a concern for me. I don't see a bounceback coming. The plus is that they also have guys like Wagner, Roden, Barger, and Schneider, who are all young enough that they could have a breakout season (and all but Wagner are having fantastic springs).

The Yankees lineup is at least as bad. The bottom half of the Red Sox lineup is, too.
 
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Varsho, Kirk, and Clement are all roughly league average hitters with upside for a bit more given their age/experience. Gimenez... I honestly have no idea what to expect, but projections peg him as around average as well. Consider they're all elite defenders at their position, four average bats at the bottom half of the lineup is perfectly fine.

Springer is a concern for me. I don't see a bounceback coming. The plus is that they also have guys like Wagner, Roden, Barger, and Schneider, who are all young enough that they could have a breakout season (and all but Wagner are having fantastic springs).

The Yankees lineup is at least as bad. The bottom half of the Red Sox lineup is, too.

Springer is the biggest problem with the lineup by far and it's going to be absolutely infuriating when he keeps getting ABs ahead of Roden/Wagner/Barger.
 
Springer is the biggest problem with the lineup by far and it's going to be absolutely infuriating when he keeps getting ABs ahead of Roden/Wagner/Barger.
I supported finding a way to move Springer in the offseason even if they barely saved any money specifically because they have so many guys on the fringes of the active roster who have done enough the last year or two to warrant a real chance to earn playing time, and I feel like it's going to be harder to find just because Springer is a veteran.

In addition to the guys you mentioned, there's Loperfido, Lukes, Clase, and Schneider. Really, every position player on the 40-man is either an established major leaguer or has been excellent in AAA and earned a shot.
 
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