Blue Jays Discussion: Off-Season Pt IV | Ah the waiting game sucks, let's play Hungry Hungry Hippos
- Thread starter BertCorbeau
- Start date
- Status
Anthrax442
Registered User
Springer training is what I want to see.
Vladdy looking good doesn’t mean he learned how to play defence. Plenty of fat bastards can play good at 3B. He just isn’t a good defensive 3B and never will be. You can quote that all you want because I guarantee he won’t be a good 3B. Ever.
phillipmike
Registered User
- Oct 27, 2009
- 12,984
- 9,186
Pitchers and catchers report usually around Valentine’s Day.
First spring trading game is February 27th.
phillipmike
Registered User
- Oct 27, 2009
- 12,984
- 9,186
Da Cool Rula
Registered User
Dr.Funk
Registered User
- Jul 2, 2004
- 20,195
- 2,913
Predictions and updates for every top remaining MLB free agent - ESPN.com
George Springer: The Mets seemed like a good spot for Springer for most of the winter. That may have changed with the recent blockbuster trade between New York and Cleveland that sent star shortstop Francisco Lindor and starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco to the Big Apple. The Mets reportedly are looking to steer clear of the $210 million luxury tax threshold for 2021, so suddenly the math of accommodating Springer doesn't work. Still, the buzz around Springer's prospects remains positive. He's going to get paid.
Prediction: Blue Jays. The smoke-to-fire ratio around Toronto in the rumor mill has been heavily tilted toward the former. For all we've read about the Jays' supposed aggressiveness, their winter haul at the moment consists of re-signing starter Robbie Ray to a one-year, $8 million contract. That's going to change and Toronto's need for a Springer-level outfielder is acute. -- Doolittle
Marcus Semien: He's one of the toughest free agents to evaluate, third in the MVP voting in 2019 in a career year, but coming off a .223/.305/.374 line in 2020 with worse defensive metrics. It's worth noting that he was still worth 4.7 bWAR in 2018, when he hit .255/.318/.388, but that was also his best defensive year and now that he's entering his age-30 season, his defense may start slipping. That's one reason some teams were reportedly looking at him at second base or third base.
While the Francisco Lindor trade clears one domino in the shortstop shuffle, Didi Gregorius, Andrelton Simmons and Freddy Galvis remain free agents. The A's and Reds are two teams with obvious holes at shortstop, but also small-market teams (although if the market drops, a return to Oakland seems feasible). The Phillies are a possibility, depending on whether they think Scott Kingery can handle the position on a full-time basis. Throw the Blue Jays in the mix here as well, although that would probably mean moving Semien off shortstop. The Cardinals fit, with some combination of Semien, Tommy Edman and Paul DeJong in the infield.
Prediction: Blue Jays. We already have Springer going to the Blue Jays, but why stop there? Let's see if those rumors about the Jays' aggressiveness come true. Semien may have to choose between playing shortstop and taking less money or getting more money with a move to third base, but this would be a fun lineup:
CF Springer
2B Cavan Biggio
SS Bo Bichette
RF Teoscar Hernandez
DH Rowdy Tellez
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
3B Semien
C Danny Jansen/Reese McGuire
A little right-handed, but the lineup is deep, you have Randal Grichuk as a spare outfielder and lots of versatility in the infield if needed with Semien and Biggio. -- Schoenfield
George Springer: The Mets seemed like a good spot for Springer for most of the winter. That may have changed with the recent blockbuster trade between New York and Cleveland that sent star shortstop Francisco Lindor and starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco to the Big Apple. The Mets reportedly are looking to steer clear of the $210 million luxury tax threshold for 2021, so suddenly the math of accommodating Springer doesn't work. Still, the buzz around Springer's prospects remains positive. He's going to get paid.
Prediction: Blue Jays. The smoke-to-fire ratio around Toronto in the rumor mill has been heavily tilted toward the former. For all we've read about the Jays' supposed aggressiveness, their winter haul at the moment consists of re-signing starter Robbie Ray to a one-year, $8 million contract. That's going to change and Toronto's need for a Springer-level outfielder is acute. -- Doolittle
Marcus Semien: He's one of the toughest free agents to evaluate, third in the MVP voting in 2019 in a career year, but coming off a .223/.305/.374 line in 2020 with worse defensive metrics. It's worth noting that he was still worth 4.7 bWAR in 2018, when he hit .255/.318/.388, but that was also his best defensive year and now that he's entering his age-30 season, his defense may start slipping. That's one reason some teams were reportedly looking at him at second base or third base.
While the Francisco Lindor trade clears one domino in the shortstop shuffle, Didi Gregorius, Andrelton Simmons and Freddy Galvis remain free agents. The A's and Reds are two teams with obvious holes at shortstop, but also small-market teams (although if the market drops, a return to Oakland seems feasible). The Phillies are a possibility, depending on whether they think Scott Kingery can handle the position on a full-time basis. Throw the Blue Jays in the mix here as well, although that would probably mean moving Semien off shortstop. The Cardinals fit, with some combination of Semien, Tommy Edman and Paul DeJong in the infield.
Prediction: Blue Jays. We already have Springer going to the Blue Jays, but why stop there? Let's see if those rumors about the Jays' aggressiveness come true. Semien may have to choose between playing shortstop and taking less money or getting more money with a move to third base, but this would be a fun lineup:
CF Springer
2B Cavan Biggio
SS Bo Bichette
RF Teoscar Hernandez
DH Rowdy Tellez
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
3B Semien
C Danny Jansen/Reese McGuire
A little right-handed, but the lineup is deep, you have Randal Grichuk as a spare outfielder and lots of versatility in the infield if needed with Semien and Biggio. -- Schoenfield
phillipmike
Registered User
- Oct 27, 2009
- 12,984
- 9,186
Runner-up counter: Gausman, Kim, Lindor and Carrasco, Sugano, LeMahieu, and now Kluber.
Was Hendriks one too? I know we had an offer for Smyly too.
phillipmike
Registered User
- Oct 27, 2009
- 12,984
- 9,186
phillipmike
Registered User
- Oct 27, 2009
- 12,984
- 9,186
https://twitter.com/nightengalejr/status/1350987092294307840
There were multiple reports saying Castillo was traded to the Yankees. Looks like they were false.
Kim's the big miss for me. Missing Kluber sucks because it's a one-year deal with upside.
Based on everything we've heard, I'm pretty much ok with the rest, to be honest. No interest in giving up a comp pick for Gausman, Cleveland apparently actually did want it built around guys who could step in right away, I wasn't at all sure about LeMahieu, no one was willing to pay what Sugano wanted, not a big fan of the Hendriks or Smyly deals...
(For the record, I don't really think of anything as a "miss" until we find out what they actually do, which is why I don't complain much about each individual non-move.)
phillipmike
Registered User
- Oct 27, 2009
- 12,984
- 9,186
Yeah I’m not complaining about any either. Like you, I would have liked Kim and Kluber. Lindor and Carrasco too but the price was too high in my eyes.
Bauer or Springer fit in well but even if we lose out on them I still won’t be upset.
Signing 3-4 of Semien, Tanaka, Wong, Odorizzi, Paxton, Brantley etc. would be a fine offseason for me.
- Dec 12, 2017
- 26,053
- 12,480
Anthrax442
Registered User
- Dec 12, 2017
- 26,053
- 12,480
Spring training games.
I’d imagine if y’all want to watch them play regular season games you’ll have to go to Buffalo.
Man Bear Pig
Registered User
Imagine traveling to the US right now. That's some Russian(American?) Roulette.
- Dec 12, 2017
- 26,053
- 12,480
Yes. I travel between TN and FL often. But, in the summer it’ll be fine.
Man Bear Pig
Registered User
Based on the vaccine plans I'd be surprised if the Jays aren't in Toronto for the majority of the season.
- Dec 12, 2017
- 26,053
- 12,480
Thanks. The roads are crazy, but I’m able to take the back roads which feel much safer than the interstate.
BlueForever75
Registered User
- Oct 4, 2017
- 5,692
- 2,303
If I were the Jays I would be throwing the checkbook at Springer and Realmuto. Sign them for all they can. It would solidify the middle of the diamond and provide us with assets to deal for strengthening the rest of the lineup. Having Jansen, Kirk, Moreno, Grichuk, Gurriel, Hernandez, Fisher, Roark and other prospects at your disposal should easily net you upgrades at other positions like 3B and SP. I would be all for trading the surplus for SP help while making another signing like Turner or Didi or Wong to plug holes in the INF. We definitely need another INF that can help with our situation at 3rd. Whether thats at 3rd or moving another player to 3rd like Biggio or Bichette.
stickty111
Registered User
- Jan 23, 2017
- 27,283
- 34,260
- Status
