Blue Jays Discussion: New Contract offer to Vladdy? Berrios opening Day pitcher

[dangomon]

I don't feel a connection with him, because he doesn't speak to the fans. He's 26 years old and has never put in the effort to learn the language to be comfortable to speak freely. Hes been in the organization for 10 years, he's Canadian born.

He doesn't seem to care, and hides behind his translator.

This contract will age horribly for whoever signs him.

He absolutely speaks English, as you'll hear in spurts all throughout the season.

He's made a conscious decision to use a translator in interviews to ensure he gets his point across and nothing is misconstrued. With the amount of media scrutiny professional athletes face for every quote and tidbit, I really don't blame him.

If you can't make a connection to the best player this team has developed, maybe ever, because he's latino, then that's a personal you issue, and has nothing to do with baseball and his desired contract.

 

[Anthrax442]

 

[Blitzkrug]

Barger, Schneider pushing hard for Blue Jays' final roster spots

Barger i think should be a lock to play in the outfield to start anyways. He's been fantastic this spring and we saw some potential last season given he adjusted after a brutal start to his major league career.

Schneider i'm not so sure. He's also had a solid spring, especially in learning to adjust to pitches that gave him trouble compared to last season. Could see him as a utility man but idk if i would start him anywhere. My ideal lineup would probably look something like this;

1. Gimenez (2B)
2. Bichette (SS)
3. Vlad (1B)
4. Santander (LF)
5. Kirk (C)
6. Clement (3B)
7. Barger (RF)
8. Wagner/Martinez (DH)(gut says Wagner but at some point you gotta figure out if Orelvis can hang)
9. Varsho (CF)

Bench: Schneider, Loperfido, Heineman, Straw

Springer should be DFA'd because it's clear he's fried. He's putting up Cody Bellinger before he left LA type numbers in spring training. If he can't hack it there then that just confirms what we learned last year; he can't hit major league pitching anymore. If this team is serious about competing then he absolutely should not be just slotted into the leadoff spot. He realistically shouldn't play at all.

Edit: Should be clear i THINK he should be DFA'd, but what the organization decides will likely be a very different story.

 

[Discoverer]

Why would that be a surprise to anyone? He seems like exactly the kind of guy who gets a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training.

 

[Discoverer]

Barger, Schneider pushing hard for Blue Jays' final roster spots

Barger i think should be a lock to play in the outfield to start anyways. He's been fantastic this spring and we saw some potential last season given he adjusted after a brutal start to his major league career.

Schneider i'm not so sure. He's also had a solid spring, especially in learning to adjust to pitches that gave him trouble compared to last season. Could see him as a utility man but idk if i would start him anywhere. My ideal lineup would probably look something like this;

1. Gimenez (2B)
2. Bichette (SS)
3. Vlad (1B)
4. Santander (LF)
5. Kirk (C)
6. Clement (3B)
7. Barger (RF)
8. Wagner/Martinez (DH)(gut says Wagner but at some point you gotta figure out if Orelvis can hang)
9. Varsho (CF)

Bench: Schneider, Loperfido, Heineman, Straw

Springer should be DFA'd because it's clear he's fried. He's putting up Cody Bellinger before he left LA type numbers in spring training. If he can't hack it there then that just confirms what we learned last year; he can't hit major league pitching anymore. If this team is serious about competing then he absolutely should not be just slotted into the leadoff spot. He realistically shouldn't play at all.

Edit: Should be clear i THINK he should be DFA'd, but what the organization decides will likely be a very different story.

I'm good with everything there except Straw. I don't want him to make the team regardless based on the other options the Jays have, but if Varsho is able to play CF and you already have Loperfido on the roster, Straw provides nothing.

Bump Straw off that roster and keep both Wagner (or Roden) and Orelvis. They need offensive options off the bench a lot more than they need a pinch-runner/defensive replacement.

 

[Anthrax442]

Barger, Schneider pushing hard for Blue Jays' final roster spots

Barger i think should be a lock to play in the outfield to start anyways. He's been fantastic this spring and we saw some potential last season given he adjusted after a brutal start to his major league career.

Schneider i'm not so sure. He's also had a solid spring, especially in learning to adjust to pitches that gave him trouble compared to last season. Could see him as a utility man but idk if i would start him anywhere. My ideal lineup would probably look something like this;

1. Gimenez (2B)
2. Bichette (SS)
3. Vlad (1B)
4. Santander (LF)
5. Kirk (C)
6. Clement (3B)
7. Barger (RF)
8. Wagner/Martinez (DH)(gut says Wagner but at some point you gotta figure out if Orelvis can hang)
9. Varsho (CF)

Bench: Schneider, Loperfido, Heineman, Straw

Springer should be DFA'd because it's clear he's fried. He's putting up Cody Bellinger before he left LA type numbers in spring training. If he can't hack it there then that just confirms what we learned last year; he can't hit major league pitching anymore. If this team is serious about competing then he absolutely should not be just slotted into the leadoff spot. He realistically shouldn't play at all.

Edit: Should be clear i THINK he should be DFA'd, but what the organization decides will likely be a very different story.

It's good to see some competition in these spots. Martinez should get a good look too, hopefully.

 

[Blitzkrug]

Bump Straw off that roster and keep both Wagner (or Roden) and Orelvis. They need offensive options off the bench a lot more than they need a pinch-runner/defensive replacement.

100% agreed on this as well but this was a "well i know the org is probably going to put him there so i may as well" decision.

I saw somebody suggest that platooning Wagner/Orelvis at DH could be an option and i kinda dig it. Much more so that keeping a black hole like Straw on the bench. I don't think they took on his contract just to dump him in the minors sadly.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Barger, Schneider pushing hard for Blue Jays' final roster spots

Barger i think should be a lock to play in the outfield to start anyways. He's been fantastic this spring and we saw some potential last season given he adjusted after a brutal start to his major league career.

Schneider i'm not so sure. He's also had a solid spring, especially in learning to adjust to pitches that gave him trouble compared to last season. Could see him as a utility man but idk if i would start him anywhere. My ideal lineup would probably look something like this;

1. Gimenez (2B)
2. Bichette (SS)
3. Vlad (1B)
4. Santander (LF)
5. Kirk (C)
6. Clement (3B)
7. Barger (RF)
8. Wagner/Martinez (DH)(gut says Wagner but at some point you gotta figure out if Orelvis can hang)
9. Varsho (CF)

Bench: Schneider, Loperfido, Heineman, Straw

Springer should be DFA'd because it's clear he's fried. He's putting up Cody Bellinger before he left LA type numbers in spring training. If he can't hack it there then that just confirms what we learned last year; he can't hit major league pitching anymore. If this team is serious about competing then he absolutely should not be just slotted into the leadoff spot. He realistically shouldn't play at all.

Edit: Should be clear i THINK he should be DFA'd, but what the organization decides will likely be a very different story.

The reality is we don’t have a leadoff hitter. I think that if you turn the lineup over and it is Gimenez, that doesn’t concern any pitcher. When the lineup turns over and you have to face Bo, that’s a problem for the opposing pitcher. I’d start with Bo, Vlad, Santander for now and see if anyone emerges.

 

[phillipmike]

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/ranking-mlbs-top-100-players-in-2025-shohei-ohtani-is-no-1-but-how-do-baseballs-other-stars-stack-up/'

MLB top 100 players by team​

• 9 players: Dodgers
• 7 players: Braves, Cubs
• 6 players: Blue Jays, Phillies
• 5 players: Astros, Diamondbacks, Mariners, Padres
• 4 players: Giants, Orioles, Mets, Red Sox, Yankees
• 3 players: Guardians, Rangers
• 2 players: Angels, Cardinals, Pirates, Reds, Royals, Tigers, Twins
• 1 player: Athletics, Brewers, Marlins, Nationals, Rockies
• 0 players: Rays, White Sox

29. Vladimir Guerrero
36. Andres Gimenez
78. Anthony Satander
79. Bo Bichette
84. Daulton Varhso
88, Alejandro Kirk

Surprised Vladdy is so low and Gausman or Berrio didnt make the list when guys like Pablo Lopez, Taylor Bibee, Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray.

Also seeing Bellinger and Nimmo is surprising. And if guys like Swanson and Hoerner make then Clement shouldnt be too far off the top 100 as strong glove average bat guys.

 

[MK78]

He absolutely speaks English, as you'll hear in spurts all throughout the season.

He's made a conscious decision to use a translator in interviews to ensure he gets his point across and nothing is misconstrued. With the amount of media scrutiny professional athletes face for every quote and tidbit, I really don't blame him.

If you can't make a connection to the best player this team has developed, maybe ever, because he's latino, then that's a personal you issue, and has nothing to do with baseball and his desired contract.

Pardon me he's not a politician or a doctor, he's a flippin baseball player.

Besides, there are plenty of latino players that speak to the media with very broken English, but they do it. There are others like Vladdy that hide behind the translators. Edwin Encarnacion was another guy like that. He played in the majors for 15 years, he never gave a single media interview in English.

I guess you haven't heard of Munenori Kawasaki. Here was a guy that gave it his all trying to talk to the fans, and while he was a mediocre baseball player, the fans loved him.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Pardon me he's not a politician or a doctor, he's a flippin baseball player.

Besides, there are plenty of latino players that speak to the media with very broken English, but they do it. There are others like Vladdy that hide behind the translators. Edwin Encarnacion was another guy like that. He played in the majors for 15 years, he never gave a single media interview in English.

I guess you haven't heard of Munenori Kawasaki. Here was a guy that gave it his all trying to talk to the fans, and while he was a mediocre baseball player, the fans loved him.

Edwin Encranacion we can lay off of. He did his talking with the bat, and he was a shy guy in general. Never really was that concerned with him speaking English. He is/was a fan favourite for a reason.

 

[Discoverer]

Pardon me he's not a politician or a doctor, he's a flippin baseball player.

I agree. Who gives a shit what language he speaks? He's here to play baseball.

 

[Stringer Bell]

How many hockey players use translators?

 

[tmlfan98]

Barger, Schneider pushing hard for Blue Jays' final roster spots

Barger i think should be a lock to play in the outfield to start anyways. He's been fantastic this spring and we saw some potential last season given he adjusted after a brutal start to his major league career.

Schneider i'm not so sure. He's also had a solid spring, especially in learning to adjust to pitches that gave him trouble compared to last season. Could see him as a utility man but idk if i would start him anywhere. My ideal lineup would probably look something like this;

1. Gimenez (2B)
2. Bichette (SS)
3. Vlad (1B)
4. Santander (LF)
5. Kirk (C)
6. Clement (3B)
7. Barger (RF)
8. Wagner/Martinez (DH)(gut says Wagner but at some point you gotta figure out if Orelvis can hang)
9. Varsho (CF)

Bench: Schneider, Loperfido, Heineman, Straw

Springer should be DFA'd because it's clear he's fried. He's putting up Cody Bellinger before he left LA type numbers in spring training. If he can't hack it there then that just confirms what we learned last year; he can't hit major league pitching anymore. If this team is serious about competing then he absolutely should not be just slotted into the leadoff spot. He realistically shouldn't play at all.

Edit: Should be clear i THINK he should be DFA'd, but what the organization decides will likely be a very different story.

Based on Shi's updates in this article you posted, this seems to be what we're getting on opening day for the position player group:

1. Bichette SS
2. Vlad 1B
3. Santander LF
4. Gimenez 2B
5. Springer RF
6. Wagner DH platoon
7. Kirk
8. Barger 3B platoon
9. Loperfido CF platoon

Bench: Heineman backup C, Clement 3B, Schneider DH, Straw CF

Varsho 10 day IL to start the season.

 

[Anthrax442]

We shoukd just get Bauer

 

[francis246]

Based on Shi's updates in this article you posted, this seems to be what we're getting on opening day for the position player group:

1. Bichette SS
2. Vlad 1B
3. Santander LF
4. Gimenez 2B
5. Springer RF
6. Wagner DH platoon
7. Kirk
8. Barger 3B platoon
9. Loperfido CF platoon

Bench: Heineman backup C, Clement 3B, Schneider DH, Straw CF

Varsho 10 day IL to start the season.

Where do you think Varsho is gonna play upon return?

 

[Bjindaho]

We shoukd just get Bauer

NEVER!

 

[Anthrax442]

NEVER!

Why not?

 

[canucksfan]

Based on Shi's updates in this article you posted, this seems to be what we're getting on opening day for the position player group:

1. Bichette SS
2. Vlad 1B
3. Santander LF
4. Gimenez 2B
5. Springer RF
6. Wagner DH platoon
7. Kirk
8. Barger 3B platoon
9. Loperfido CF platoon

Bench: Heineman backup C, Clement 3B, Schneider DH, Straw CF

Varsho 10 day IL to start the season.

Springer is too high up in this lineup. I get giving him a long leash but he should be batting at the bottom of the lineup. Not a fan of Straw making the team. Roden would be a much better option.

 

[tmlfan98]

Where do you think Varsho is gonna play upon return?

He'll be the everyday CF. He's healthy enough to hit already but they already said they're only going to play him when he's ready to resume everyday CF duties.

 

[tmlfan98]

Springer is too high up in this lineup. I get giving him a long leash but he should be batting at the bottom of the lineup. Not a fan of Straw making the team. Roden would be a much better option.

Agreed on both of your points, but my previous post was just what I'm guessing is going to happen, not what I want.

 

[Nineteen67]

Based on Shi's updates in this article you posted, this seems to be what we're getting on opening day for the position player group:

1. Bichette SS
2. Vlad 1B
3. Santander LF
4. Gimenez 2B
5. Springer RF
6. Wagner DH platoon
7. Kirk
8. Barger 3B platoon
9. Loperfido CF platoon

Bench: Heineman backup C, Clement 3B, Schneider DH, Straw CF

Varsho 10 day IL to start the season.

They can’t build a lineup. It’s incredible how poor this management group is.

 

[Puckstuff]

Gomez followed up on his first tweet saying the range on the new offer is 14-15 years at between 550 to 600 million.

Ay caramba!
View attachment 994352

I was looking at Vlad Sr.'s and Vlad Jr.'s careers today to check how correlated they are and see what insights they might offer about Vladdy's future performance. It's not fair to compare Vlad Jr. to his dad; they are different players, but screw it, I'm going to anyways.

Vlad Sr. first 6 seasons: 24.4 BWAR
Vlad Jr. first 6 seasons: 21.3 BWAR

Note*: Vlad Jr. started his career 1 year younger, but Vlad Sr. played 88 less games over his first 6 seasons.

Vlad Sr: Seasons aged 27–36 accumulated: 34.4 bWAR

So Vlad Sr. was elite, post 27, but I don't know about 450 million present day value elite. 34.4 b war would be worth somewhere around $340–350 million in today's dollars if we value 1 WAR at $10 million. And again, obviously, he's not his dad, and I'm probably being unfair to even compare them, and they didn't even play the same position, but both of their values come from the bat, and in theory, they could age similarly given they have similar DNA. So it's just interesting to look it.

 

[Blitzkrug]

I was looking at Vlad Sr.'s and Vlad Jr.'s careers today to check how correlated they are and see what insights they might offer about Vladdy's future performance. It's not fair to compare Vlad Jr. to his dad; they are different players, but screw it, I'm going to anyways.

Vlad Sr. first 6 seasons: 24.4 BWAR
Vlad Jr. first 6 seasons: 21.3 BWAR

Note*: Vlad Jr. started his career 1 year younger, but Vlad Sr. played 88 less games over his first 6 seasons.

Vlad Sr: Seasons aged 27–36 accumulated: 34.4 bWAR

So Vlad Sr. was elite, post 27, but I don't know about 450 million present day value elite. 34.4 b war would be worth somewhere around $340–350 million in today's dollars if we value 1 WAR at $10 million. And again, obviously, he's not his dad, and I'm probably being unfair to even compare them, and they didn't even play the same position, but both of their values come from the bat, and in theory, they could age similarly given they have similar DNA. So it's just interesting to look it.

At this point i'm wondering if he's even his actual son because Jr is way, way too patient at the plate lmao. Compared to his dad who would see a pitch at his shoelaces and go "yo watch this."

Joking, obviously but the difference between the two is stark.

 

[Kurtz]

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/ranking-mlbs-top-100-players-in-2025-shohei-ohtani-is-no-1-but-how-do-baseballs-other-stars-stack-up/'

MLB top 100 players by team​

• 9 players: Dodgers
• 7 players: Braves, Cubs
• 6 players: Blue Jays, Phillies
• 5 players: Astros, Diamondbacks, Mariners, Padres
• 4 players: Giants, Orioles, Mets, Red Sox, Yankees
• 3 players: Guardians, Rangers
• 2 players: Angels, Cardinals, Pirates, Reds, Royals, Tigers, Twins
• 1 player: Athletics, Brewers, Marlins, Nationals, Rockies
• 0 players: Rays, White Sox

29. Vladimir Guerrero
36. Andres Gimenez
78. Anthony Satander
79. Bo Bichette
84. Daulton Varhso
88, Alejandro Kirk

Surprised Vladdy is so low and Gausman or Berrio didnt make the list when guys like Pablo Lopez, Taylor Bibee, Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray.

Also seeing Bellinger and Nimmo is surprising. And if guys like Swanson and Hoerner make then Clement shouldnt be too far off the top 100 as strong glove average bat guys.

I wonder what kind of money the 28 guys ranked above Vlad are asking for.