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

[phillipmike]

He’s the DH. No JD Martinez and I wonder what happens to Soler.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

13 million. I like turner but worry about his age.

For that amount, even if he falls off a cliff, it's low risk and high reward as they aren't tied to him beyond this upcoming season. No complaints with the signing. Good player and by all accounts a solid vet. Nice add to this group of players.

 

[Puckstuff]

You keep Bichette in the 2 spot not hit the league leader in hits 5th

Most people would agree with you, and I know I'm in the minority here but I want Bo to hit 5th for the same reason you want him to hit 2. He could drive in 120 runs, batting 5th, and I love a guy who can put the ball in play or hit for power in the five-hole. He might be the best contact hitter in the league but his lack of patience and unwillingness to take a pitch annoys me when he hits 2.

 

[Suntouchable13]

He’s the DH. No JD Martinez and I wonder what happens to Soler.

You gotta go get Bellinger now, in my opinion. Unless there is a trade out there that we don’t know about.

 

[landy92mack29]

Most people would agree with you, and I know I'm in the minority here but I want Bo to hit 5th for the same reason you want him to hit 2. He could drive in 120 runs, batting 5th, and I love a guy who can put the ball in play or hit for power in the five-hole. He might be the best contact hitter in the league but his lack of patience and unwillingness to take a pitch annoys me when he hits 2.

I'd rather Bichette get a extra 50ish plate appearances over the year and be on base for the 3-5 guys

 

[Discoverer]

Most people would agree with you, and I know I'm in the minority here but I want Bo to hit 5th for the same reason you want him to hit 2. He could drive in 120 runs, batting 5th, and I love a guy who can put the ball in play or hit for power in the five-hole. He might be the best contact hitter in the league but his lack of patience and unwillingness to take a pitch annoys me when he hits 2.

A lot of it depends on what Vlad does this year. If he has a season like last year, you want Bo in a better position to drive in runs since Vlad isn't producing enough. But if Vlad gets back closer to his 2021 form, then I just want Bo getting on base for him.

 

[Puckstuff]

I'd rather Bichette get a extra 50ish plate appearances over the year and be on base for the 3-5 guys

Given that we just signed Turner and I don't think we're getting J.D Martinez, I think so.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Older player or not, i appreciate greatly that Turner is a very, very consistently good hitter.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[GoonieFace]

How long before “We the North” commercials with Turner?

 

[Habs10Habs]

He’s the DH. No JD Martinez and I wonder what happens to Soler.

No complaints about this deal. I think Turner will fit in quite nicely.

 

[Canada4Gold]

As much as I wouldn't love it Bellinger makes probably the most sense at this point. Turner will play a lot of DH but you likely want him to get some time at 3rd. IKF too. You're just messing with the fit if you bring back Chapman. Same thing for Martinez or Soler. Soler could play some corner outfield, and by that I mean he'll exist out there every so often but is more of a DH too. Bellinger hits left, can play all the OF positions and some 1B. Allows Turner to mostly DH, but can play some 3rd when Bellinger plays 1st to allow Vlad to DH and get both Varsho and Kiermaier in there more. IKF and or Orelvis/Barger covers 3rd the rest of the time while Schneider/Biggio cover 2nd. Espinal is a backup for every infield spot except 1B I guess, though he doesn't make much sense at this point with there being two 2B already, IKF can backup Bo at short, and Turner as an option at 3rd. I'd prefer to trade Espinal and use the final roster spot on Horwitz or Orelvis/Barger.

RF Springer
LF Bellinger
SS Bo
1B Vlad
C Kirk/Jansen
DH Turner
2B Biggio/Schneider
CF Varsho/Kiermaier
3B IKF/?

Where ? is sometimes Espinal/Orelvis/Barger, sometimes the other one of Kiermaier/Varsho in LF with Bellinger 1B, Vlad DH. Sometimes the other of Kirk/Jansen with Turner at 3rd, and sometimes Biggio if both him and Schneider are hot.

I don't love the risk with Bellinger, but the fit is pretty good as a last add. I'm not optimistic about the cost though.

 

[Discoverer]

As much as I wouldn't love it Bellinger makes probably the most sense at this point. Turner will play a lot of DH but you likely want him to get some time at 3rd. IKF too. You're just messing with the fit if you bring back Chapman. Same thing for Martinez or Soler. Soler could play some corner outfield, and by that I mean he'll exist out there every so often but is more of a DH too. Bellinger hits left, can play all the OF positions and some 1B. Allows Turner to mostly DH, but can play some 3rd when Bellinger plays 1st to allow Vlad to DH and get both Varsho and Kiermaier in there more. IKF and or Orelvis/Barger covers 3rd the rest of the time while Schneider/Biggio cover 2nd. Espinal is a backup for every infield spot except 1B I guess, though he doesn't make much sense at this point with there being two 2B already, IKF can backup Bo at short, and Turner as an option at 3rd. I'd prefer to trade Espinal and use the final roster spot on Horwitz or Orelvis/Barger.

RF Springer
LF Bellinger
SS Bo
1B Vlad
C Kirk/Jansen
DH Turner
2B Biggio/Schneider
CF Varsho/Kiermaier
3B IKF/?

Where ? is sometimes Espinal/Orelvis/Barger, sometimes the other one of Kiermaier/Varsho in LF with Bellinger 1B, Vlad DH. Sometimes the other of Kirk/Jansen with Turner at 3rd, and sometimes Biggio if both him and Schneider are hot.

I don't love the risk with Bellinger, but the fit is pretty good as a last add. I'm not optimistic about the cost though.

Yeah, I just don't see what Espinal provides at this point. He's, at best, your third option at multiple infield spots (2B behind Biggio/Schneider, SS behind Bo/IKF, 3B behind IKF/Turner). I would much rather move him and give Clement his roster spot - I'm not sure how I feel about the glove at SS, but he'll be third on the depth chart anyway, and there's obviously some upside in the bat that probably isn't there with Espinal anymore. Then you have Barger, Orevlis, and Palmegiani as infield depth in Buffalo.

 

[trellaine201]

Boo

 

[Jojalu]

Turner's a solid add. He can play a little 1B/2B/3B and has a solid, OBP-driven offensive profile. The depth and defensive versatility on this team is wild. One thing I really like is that they can run out almost any combination of players and still be solid offensively and defensively.

They're still missing a middle-of-the-order bat, though. Martinez would be great there, but I think Soler is more likely at this point since he can at least pretend to be an outfielder now and then.

I agree.

Martinez would be perfect!

 

[jetsforever]

Ohtani and Soto > IKF and Turner

 

[Eyedea]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned yet but the thing they’ll probably bring up the most about JT is the fact that he hits extremely well with men on base/RISP. He’s actually a better “middle of the order” bat than you’d expect.

Would be nice if he can still field 3B, even just a little bit.

 

[Canada4Gold]

Ohtani and Soto > IKF and Turner

I don't believe you. Show your work.

 

[ryno23]

5-9 doesn't inspire much confidence in the offense improving. Internal improvement sure but teams are going in scared to face 5-9 in a series.

1. George Springer, RF
2. Bo Bichette, SS
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
4. Justin Turner, DH
5. Schneider / Biggio, 2B
6. Jansen / Kirk, C
7. Daulton Varsho, LF
8. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 3B
9. Kevin Kiermaier, CF

 

[Avilaj07]

Give me Bellinger and this team just might have a shot if our rotation excels again like last year.

Springer
Bo
Vlad
Bellinger
Turner
Schneider
KF
Jansen
Varsho

 

[Eyedea]

5-9 doesn't inspire much confidence in the offense improving. Internal improvement sure but teams are going in scared to face 5-9 in a series.

1. George Springer, RF
2. Bo Bichette, SS
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
4. Justin Turner, DH
5. Schneider / Biggio, 2B
6. Jansen / Kirk, C
7. Daulton Varsho, LF
8. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 3B
9. Kevin Kiermaier, CF

If IKF is on the bench, Turner 3B, Schneider/Horwitz as 2B/DH, then it looks quite a bit deeper. I think that 5/6 you listed is still plenty dangerous especially if you add Horwitz to the mix, and Varsho still has solid potential with the bat. If Barger/OMart heat up that creates bigger conversations too regarding depth and lineup construction.

Bigger question is if Springer goes crazy next year. We need him to be a catalyst and lift the ball closer to what he showed in 2020/2021. Even if he’s not that guy anymore, we need more than the .147 iso he showed last year.

 

[The Nemesis]

Yeah, I view it as a move that lengthens the lineup rather than really bolstering it. There's nothing wrong with that, but they're still one impact bat away from finishing the team.

I think this one pretty much rules out a Chapman return (where do IKF and Turner get any playing time if they also add a full-time 3B?) and increases the likelihood of Espinal not making it through the offseason with the team.

I don't know if it does. Turner hasn't played meaningful innings at 3rd in like 3 years (he played 500 innings there in 2022 but that's only like 60 games). I think Chapman is out because of his apparent price tag but I would not be surprised to see something else happen over there unless they figure that maybe one of Martinez or Barger are going to threaten for the job in the spring.

 

[Eyedea]

I don't know if it does. Turner hasn't played meaningful innings at 3rd in like 3 years (he played 500 innings there in 2022 but that's only like 60 games). I think Chapman is out because of his apparent price tag but I would not be surprised to see something else happen over there unless they figure that maybe one of Martinez or Barger are going to threaten for the job in the spring.

It’s probably Espinal right now, but I would definitely like one of the spects to breakout, or for them to acquire a 3B via trade. Especially since we’re unsure if those guys are actual fits defensively at 3B.

They could go for a young, established player like Ke’Bryan Hayes/Jared Triolo, or older salary dumps but still great players like Machado or Bogaerts.

 

[Dr.Funk]