Blue Jays Discussion: Save some runs for the other games, guys. (Jays score team record 28 runs in Friday night drubbing of Red Sox. Yes, that says 28. In one game)

[as Pure as Evil]

some of the mock trades for soto are so out of wack. im sorry not many teams are going to be willing to remove 2 roster players plus 2 on the cusp of being called up. maybe a team that has a glut of riches that wont skip a beat but the ones they just posted on sportsnet are just mental

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

Barriera has to be looking at Ricky and salivating at the thought of being pushed up the system rapidly. Get a winter workout with Manoah and learn how to throw a cutter.

I'd prefer if he worked with Manoah on his 4-seamer up in the zone. Barriera's fastball has more natural sink, but a flatter plane fastball like Manoah's up in the zone has better bat-missing ability.

 

[canucksfan]

A lot of lower-level Jays pitchers have done very well and have exceeded expectations.

Does anyone have information as to what the Jays are doing developmentally? I know they have the new complex in Dunedin but is that it?

 

[dredeye]

I just noticed Soto’s BA is down around 45
Points this year. Not sure if that means anything but his power seems to be up

 

[Scotianhab]

Just for fun what package would it take for Soto?

I’d trade Bo in a package for Soto.

 

[Apotheosis]

I’d trade Bo in a package for Soto.

Same. Love Bo but the idea of Soto with Vladdy is nuts.

 

[Advanced stats]

Anyone betting on the derby tonight?

 

[Scotianhab]

Same. Love Bo but the idea of Soto with Vladdy is nuts.

I don’t mind Bo. He could be a Superstar if he just took some pitches, worked the count, and cut down his swing with 2 strikes.

 

[Killer Orcas]

I’d trade Bo in a package for Soto.

Same. Love Bo but the idea of Soto with Vladdy is nuts.

Just remember how tight Bo and Vlad are though you gotta take that into consideration.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Scotianhab]

Just remember how tight Bo and Vlad are though you gotta take that into consideration.

Vladdy & Soto would be best buds. He’d get over it.

 

[Killer Orcas]

Vladdy & Soto would be best buds. He’d get over it.

Would be devastating line up. Espinal moves to SS, Biggio to 2nd and Soto RF and Hernandez DH'ing.

 

[phillipmike]

Top 20 Draft Picks In Best Situations to Succeed - Player Development — Prospects Live

It’s no secret that some teams are better at developing talent than others. Some teams flourish developing pitching, while others really do well in developing bats. There’s a track record to prove it with some of these teams. With that said, with over 300 picks in thee books, these players, in my op

www.prospectslive.com

1) 3B TUCKER TOMAN, TORONTO

The Blue Jays continue to develop hitters at a clip much higher than the rest of the league. Toman has the clay to become a really impressive big league regular with impressive bat speed and enough athleticism to comfortably stay on the dirt. He’ll be a preseason Top 100 prospect in 2024.

3) 3B JOSH KASEVICH, TORONTO

Kasevich’s batted-ball data and swing-decision metrics are better than almost every college bat in this class, but his bat path has limited his upside. It’s a similar narrative to Jordan Westburg in 2020. Sure feels like Toronto can unlock more game power and turn Kasevich into a potential average defensive shortstop or above average third baseman with 25-homer upside. He’s a ways away from that profile right now. Still, the floor right now could be a .270 hitter with a sub 20-percent K-rate.

 

[Avilaj07]

To Toronto-
Soto

To Nationals-
Bichette
Gurriel
Moreno
Pearson

 

[ryno23]

I would offer

Gurriel Jr
Biggio
Groshans
Jimenez

 

[Woodman19]

A lot of lower-level Jays pitchers have done very well and have exceeded expectations.

Does anyone have information as to what the Jays are doing developmentally? I know they have the new complex in Dunedin but is that it?

I know they have a sensor suit they get pitchers to wear so they can plug it into a program to analyze the mechanics and work on improving their delivery.

 

[Blitzkrug]

Per Olney at the derby: talking to league execs, the belief is Soto will be dealt before the trade deadline for major league ready players.

 

[Eyedea]

Just remember how tight Bo and Vlad are though you gotta take that into consideration.

Vlad and Soto already have a bromance. Adding another latin player, let alone a Dominican, will REALLY rile up the fans that hate how much fun they have and I’m totally down for it.

 

[phillipmike]

MLB Draft analysis for every first-round pick from The Athletic's Keith Law

How did your team do in the first round of the MLB Draft? Keith Law breaks down the picks.

theathletic.com

On the Blue Jays' draft:
I also like the Blue Jays’ draft quite a bit, even though they took a high school arm in the first round — which historical data does not support — because 1) they did take a really, really good high school arm and 2) they backed it up with three solid position players who have a chance to stay up the middle and have reasonable floors.

On Brandon Barriera:
The Blue Jays haven’t taken a high school pitcher in the first round since 2013, and they haven’t signed a high school pitcher they took in the first round since Dustin McGowan in 2000, so it was a mild surprise to hear them take Barriera, the best lefty in the high school class this year. Barriera can show a plus fastball and changeup with good feel for two distinct breaking balls. While he doesn’t have much projection, he doesn’t need it, with a starter’s build already and the potential for front-line starter stuff. It’ll be more about command and control, as well as just staying healthy. Given where he was thought to be going, I imagine he’ll get an over-slot deal.

Scouting report: Barriera ended his season early, choosing to make his final start before his team’s schedule was over, which may become more common going forward (Hunter Greene did this as well) as pitchers try to avoid getting hurt right before the draft. He’s been up to 98 with a very fast arm and shows two very sharp breaking balls, both of which can touch plus, along with a plus changeup. He doesn’t offer much projection, but he also doesn’t need it given his present stuff, and his build right now seems sufficient for him to stay a starter. I don’t think he gets great extension over his front side, but it’s a minor quibble. It’s premium stuff, and he’s aggressive on the mound. If he gets to consistent strikes, he’s an above-average starter.

 

[canucksfan]

Top 20 Draft Picks In Best Situations to Succeed - Player Development — Prospects Live

It’s no secret that some teams are better at developing talent than others. Some teams flourish developing pitching, while others really do well in developing bats. There’s a track record to prove it with some of these teams. With that said, with over 300 picks in thee books, these players, in my op

www.prospectslive.com

Surprised Barriera isn't there with the emergence of the Jays pitching development.

 

[phillipmike]

Per Olney at the derby: talking to league execs, the belief is Soto will be dealt before the trade deadline for major league ready players.

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

Interesting strategy by the Jays. Adding a lot of hard-throwing strikeout guys who look to be reliever only. We don't have a lot of these kinds of arms in our system, they're not expensive to sign in the draft, and if even one of them becomes a high-level closer or setup guy that's a big win. Hopefully, we can grab a few more from the undrafted bin, since teams focus much of their scouting and resources on guys that project to be starters or at least have a chance to be.

Here's my hopeful pick for the 11th round if he makes it to us. He's a 21-year old, 4-year college junior, pure reliever, with nasty fastball, and great numbers at the college level. Teach this guy a cutter or a splitter and you could have an elite closer.

Andrew Walters, RHP, Miami
6'4" 220lbs
Ranked 130 by MLB.com
24gp 1.65era 32.2ip 13h 6bb 62so

Walters wasn’t heavily recruited coming out of high school in Florida and headed to Eastern Florida State College, a two-year school in Brevard County. After a year there shortened by the pandemic, he moved to Miami and made an immediate impact out of the bullpen. He became the Canes’ closer in 2022 and has been among the Division I leaders in saves. At this point, Walters is pretty much a one-pitch pitcher. The 6-foot-4 right-hander throws his fastball more than 90 percent of the time and goes right after hitters with it. It tops out at 99 mph and averages over 95. Even though opponents know it’s coming, they can’t hit it, with a whiff rate of over 40 percent this spring. There’s deception in his delivery, as he steps across his body and hides the ball well, making it tough to pick up, and the pitch has really good life up in the zone. Walters does have a slurvy breaking ball at present, but it’s a below-average show-me pitch at this point. He’s been filling up the strike zone consistently this year, and while he obviously will have to work on finding a secondary pitch to his unhittable fastball, it’s hard to argue with the success he’s had at the end of Miami’s pen.

 

[Tony Romo]

Per Olney at the derby: talking to league execs, the belief is Soto will be dealt before the trade deadline for major league ready players.

oh boy here we go

 

[Canada4Gold]

Soto for Bo, Moreno and another prospect not named Tiedemann is about the most I'm willing to do. If you do all prospects you're completely gutting your farm to make it worth it for the Nats. Including Bo you can't go much farther than Moreno too to get it done or it becomes too much.

Baseball trade value has Soto at 176.8 million excess value. Bo, Moreno and Groshans at 180.6

 

[Anthrax442]

Trading for Soto is half the problem. Signing him, is the bigger question.