Blue Jays Discussion: Off-season discussion: Two signings. Rinse, Repeat add 1.

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Woodman19]

I think for me, I'm not so much upset that we missed out on that Ohtani contract, I'm disappointed we missed out on Soto while we were being led on by Ohtani.

The market that's left is kinda ass and the only way to acquire an impact bat is through emptying out the farm in a trade. It's frustrating having the 2 baseball empires basically colluding to keep us out of the game.

 

[Amadeus]

There is really not many players I've seen our names attached to. Difficult to say how these guys can actually make the team better. The Free Agency cohort is also pretty bare right now.

 

[weems]

What is extremely important for the Jays right now is that they need to get VLAD, MANOAH AND KIRK fit and ready to fulfill their potential.

Last season all three of them didn't come anywhere close to their best case scenario and these are extremely crucial players when talking about our teams ceiling.

We still need to make some things happen thru free agency and trade but getting those players back on track is vital.

 

[Suntouchable13]

There is really not many players I've seen our names attached to. Difficult to say how these guys can actually make the team better. The Free Agency cohort is also pretty bare right now.

Make sure to do what you can to re-sign Chapman, and run it back? Hope the team can put it all together. They underachieved last season and still won 89 games. This is a good team. The only thing is can we expect same health/durability from our starters?

 

[Discoverer]

What is extremely important for the Jays right now is that they need to get VLAD, MANOAH AND KIRK fit and ready to fulfill their potential.

Last season all three of them didn't come anywhere close to their best case scenario and these are extremely crucial players when talking about our teams ceiling.

We still need to make some things happen thru free agency and trade but getting those players back on track is vital.

They need Vlad to be better, but I don't believe for a second his struggles last year had anything to do with fitness. He was clearly in better shape than he's been in previous years.

 

[LaP]

What is extremely important for the Jays right now is that they need to get VLAD, MANOAH AND KIRK fit and ready to fulfill their potential.

Last season all three of them didn't come anywhere close to their best case scenario and these are extremely crucial players when talking about our teams ceiling.

We still need to make some things happen thru free agency and trade but getting those players back on track is vital.

That wont be enough.

Springer is 34 now and he'll not get better. Can't have just two guys able to run batters in. Vlad and Bo wont be enough. Jays have to add a guy able to run batters in on a consistent basis.

 

[weems]

They need Vlad to be better, but I don't believe for a second his struggles last year had anything to do with fitness. He was clearly in better shape than he's been in previous years.

That's true but it really shouldn't even be an argument that the better the shape you're in, the more likely you are to reach your full potential.

I mean even that video from Berrios's charity game you can see Vladdy is currently in great shape (lighter than usual) which isn't suprising because he needs to rebound strong and is going to be a FA soon and he will want to get paid alot.

 

[LaP]

Make sure to do what you can to re-sign Chapman, and run it back? Hope the team can put it all together. They underachieved last season and still won 89 games. This is a good team. The only thing is can we expect same health/durability from our starters?

The offense underachieved not the pitchers. If the offense do better it's more than very possible the pitchers do slightly worse. It's a good team but it's not an extraordinary team. Personally i'm 100% positive this offense is lacking a legit guys to bat behind Bo and vlad. The options the Jays had to bat there last season were not sexy at all and not even close to it.

 

[weems]

That wont be enough.

Springer is 34 now and he'll not get better. Can't have just two guys able to run batters in. Vlad and Bo wont be enough. Jays have to add a guy able to run batters in on a consistent basis.

I did also say that they still need to get things done with free agency and trades.

If you get the three I mentioned close to their ceiling, in theory you won't have to add nearly as much from outside the org.

 

[red devil]

Won't be surprised to see more Blue Jay players making public statements

 

[Suntouchable13]

The offense underachieved not the pitchers. If the offense do better it's more than very possible the pitchers do slightly worse. It's a good team but it's not an extraordinary team. Personally i'm 100% positive this offense is lacking a legit guys to bat behind Bo and vlad. The options the Jays had to bat there last season were not sexy at all and not even close to it.

Let’s hope Atkins stays proactive and makes this team extraordinary. That’s his job to come up with something.

 

[supermann_98]

Jays still have tons of options. Instead of $60 million to Shohei they can:
- re-sign Chapman. Not a huge fan as his offensive game is way too strikeout happy but his game at 3B would be greatly missed
- sign one of JD Martinez or Jorge Soler as the DH, lotsa hitting and lotsa pop in those bats
- sign Cody Bellinger to play CF
- sign Tim Anderson to play 2B, could be had cheap after an injury filled last season

Anderson 2B
Bo SS
Vladdy 1B
Bellinger CF
Martinez/Soler DH
Springer RF
Varsho LF
Chapman 3B
Kirk/Jansen C

 

[Discoverer]

I think for me, I'm not so much upset that we missed out on that Ohtani contract, I'm disappointed we missed out on Soto while we were being led on by Ohtani.

The market that's left is kinda ass and the only way to acquire an impact bat is through emptying out the farm in a trade. It's frustrating having the 2 baseball empires basically colluding to keep us out of the game.

I would agree if they Yankees hadn't paid what they did for Soto. If the cost of acquiring him was going to start with Manoah and Tiedemann, I don't feel like they really "missed" on him. As good as Soto is, that's an easy pass.

Ohtani definitely feels like a miss because I care far less about Rogers' balance sheet. I know the Jays have a budget, but it sounds like that would have been a signing almost outside of the normal budget.

I don't even hate the idea of overpaying Bellinger or someone like that, but I'm not a big fan of dealing a huge prospect package for a one-year piece.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Olney on Blue Jays’ pursuit of Ohtani: I think Toronto was used for leverage - TSN 1050 Toronto

ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney joins First Up to discuss Shohei Ohtani landing a record-setting contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers, why the unique structure of Ohtani’s deal somewhat misleads its present-day value, why he believes Ohtani used the Blue Jays as leverage and more.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Jays still have tons of options. Instead of $60 million to Shohei they can:
- re-sign Chapman. Not a huge fan as his offensive game is way too strikeout happy but his game at 3B would be greatly missed
- sign one of JD Martinez or Jorge Soler as the DH, lotsa hitting and lotsa pop in those bats
- sign Cody Bellinger to play CF
- sign Tim Anderson to play 2B, could be had cheap after an injury filled last season

Anderson 2B
Bo SS
Vladdy 1B
Bellinger CF
Martinez/Soler DH
Springer RF
Varsho LF
Chapman 3B
Kirk/Jansen C

I am excited to see what they do! Hopefully lots of activity before Christmas to come.

 

[Puckstuff]

Jays still have tons of options. Instead of $60 million to Shohei they can:
- re-sign Chapman. Not a huge fan as his offensive game is way too strikeout happy but his game at 3B would be greatly missed
- sign one of JD Martinez or Jorge Soler as the DH, lotsa hitting and lotsa pop in those bats
- sign Cody Bellinger to play CF
- sign Tim Anderson to play 2B, could be had cheap after an injury filled last season

Anderson 2B
Bo SS
Vladdy 1B
Bellinger CF
Martinez/Soler DH
Springer RF
Varsho LF
Chapman 3B
Kirk/Jansen C

Does nobody believe in Davis Schneider!?

 

[Suntouchable13]

Olney on Blue Jays’ pursuit of Ohtani: I think Toronto was used for leverage - TSN 1050 Toronto

ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney joins First Up to discuss Shohei Ohtani landing a record-setting contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers, why the unique structure of Ohtani’s deal somewhat misleads its present-day value, why he believes Ohtani used the Blue Jays as leverage and more.

Do you give the Jays credit for at least trying their best? I think that, at the end of the day, there was next to chance to entice him to leave the west coast. I don't like how the Jays let themselves be used like that

 

[weems]

How good is Yelich at this point?

I see that he had a decent 2023 after a few down years.

He is still owed alot of money and can Milwaukee even afford that contract at this point?

 

[Discoverer]

Does nobody believe in Davis Schneider!?

It's hard to know what to expect from him, but between him, Espinal, Biggio, Clement, and the other AAA infielders (Barger, Orelvis, Palmegiani, Lantigua), I'm not concerned about 2B at all.

I would even be pretty comfortable focusing on LF, DH, and pitching depth, and letting that group battle for playing time at 2B and 3B.

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

How good is Yelich at this point?

I see that he had a decent 2023 after a few down years.

He is still owed alot of money and can Milwaukee even afford that contract at this point?

I was thinking about that. He bounced back to being a 4WAR player last year. We know Shatkins tried to acquire him before. He's 32 with 4 years left on a contract at 25M per. I wouldn't trade much for him but I might take him for free if Milwaukee just wants to get rid of the contract. He can still hit and get on base. I'd rather him at his contract than pay Bellinger 250M.

How about Yelich + Burnes for 2 prospects of varying value.

Burnes and Gausman would be deadly duo in our rotation.

 

[weems]

I was thinking about that. He bounced back to being a 4WAR player last year. We know Shatkins tried to acquire him before. He's 32 with 4 years left on a contract at 25M per. I wouldn't trade much for him but I might take him for free if Milwaukee just wants to get rid of the contract. He can still hit and get on base. I'd rather him at his contract than pay Bellinger 250M.

How about Yelich + Burnes for 2 prospects of varying value.

I have no idea what a trade like that would look like because you're right Yelichs contract isn't great but those two players would make us potentially a damn good team because after you'd be able to deal one of our pitchers for a bat.

 

[Woodman19]

To be honest, I think I would just stand pat and look to add FA to plug in on short term deals to fill holes while we let the farm breathe and prepare to lock in our futures around Vlad and Bichette.

 

[Dr.Funk]

Does nobody believe in Davis Schneider!?

Him and Biggio will be the 2B platoon

 

[The Iceman]

They need Vlad to be better, but I don't believe for a second his struggles last year had anything to do with fitness. He was clearly in better shape than he's been in previous years.

Strong disagree.

He was up a few biscuits from his MVP runner up season for sure.
He is fat, sorry if that offends anyone but it is the truth. Maybe he can play well fat but I think if he got into better shape he would be better.

He lost a well documented 32 lbs before the 2022 season and packed them back on this past year.