General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2022)

[Stangstag]

I think 2B platoon with espinal would be a really easy way to ease him in. But, yea maybe too soon.

 

Yall guys forgetting about Whit?

[Terminator]

Wow... Steamer600 has Addison Barger as a 3.5 win player.

 

Craig Biggio's son moving further and further down the depth chart. Just non-tender him already.

[L54]

Might be the last offseason to squeeze a little bit of orange juice out of Biggio.

[Dagagad]

Yall guys forgetting about Whit?

 

Lol, i actually did.

[Spanky99]

Craig Biggio's son moving further and further down the depth chart. Just non-tender him already.

 

Non tender a 2 win player? lol... f*** off.

[Spanky99]

Yall guys forgetting about Whit?

 

Nope, he's our 2B/CF.

[glory]

Yall guys forgetting about Whit?

 

Yeah I think Merrifield is starting at 2B in 2023, at least to begin the season. After that will depend on performance. He finished the year strong (119 wRC+, 0.8 WAR, 130 PA post trade) but has been trending downwards otherwise. We will see, but I don't think they start Barger anywhere in the Majors to start the season.

 

With Chapman being a FA after 2023, hopefully Barger becomes a legit starting 3B option in 2024. I guess we can't rule out Orelvis turning things around either, but really need one of them to have a great 2023 so there's some cushion if/when Chapman leaves.

[Spanky99]

He played 60 games at SS last year and 42 at 3B. He also DH'd 23 times but he never played 2B.

 

I'm not sure how his defense is though. Does anyone have insight on that?

 

He's a passable SS, so should be fine...

 

Defensively he has the ability to handle shortstop, third base, and second, but he has the kind of arm you want on the left side of the infield. His ability to make all the throws and handle shortstop defensively make him a potential everyday hitter if he makes enough contact.

[The Cats Ass]

Non tender a 2 win player? lol... f*** off.

 

This was my thought. He'll be cheap and is a perfect bench player. I'd actually like to see the Jays try him out in CF. Just to add another position he can cover incase of injury. He needs to hit the gym this offseason though and add some strength to his body.

[Terminator]

He's a passable SS, so should be fine...

 

Wow well if he can stick at SS he's quite the prospect then.

[wamco]

Espinal needs to start vs lhp. Prob right about whit getting majority of ab to start season at 2nd.

 

Last year to evaluate Whit and biggio to see how to proceed

[Spanky99]

Wow well if he can stick at SS he's quite the prospect then.

 

Dare to dream, man...

 

 

Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #18 prospect in-season in 2022

BA Grade: 45/High

 

Track Record: The Blue Jays drafted Barger in the sixth round in 2018 out of C.Leon King High in Tampa. The signed him for an at slot bonus of $271,100, and assigned him to the gulf coast league out of the draft. He was limited in 2019 to just 13 games after he was placed on the restricted list. He remerged with Dunedin in 2021 with added strength and game power, clubbing 18 home runs.

 

Scouting Report: Dating back to his time as an amateur Barger has always had a plus or better throwing arm. His all-around play was his calling card with a plus arm and a toolbelt of average skills. He added power in 2021, seeing big jumps in his top end exit velocities and showing a steeper launch angle. He traded some contact for power however and struckout over 31% of the time in 2021. He regained some of that contact heading into 2022, and has cutdown on the swing and miss tendencies this season. While his approach is still aggressive he's cut down on his chase rate and is now making contact at an average rate. He's managed to keep the power gains too, allowing Barger to take a major step forward at the plate. His swing is highly unusual with a pronounced leg kick, and a hands driven swing with a highly rotational finish. It's worked over the last two years but leads to some questions as to how he'll fare against higher caliber pitching. Defensively he has the ability to handle shortstop, third base, and second, but he has the kind of arm you want on the left side of the infield. His ability to make all the throws and handle shortstop defensively make him a potential everyday hitter if he makes enough contact.

 

The Future: A player with a standout tool on both sides of the ball - will Barger make enough contact long-term to be an everyday player? - is the primary question around his profile. If he does he has the ability to be a super-utility infielder or an everyday regular on a second-division squad.

[Stangstag]

This was my thought. He'll be cheap and is a perfect bench player. I'd actually like to see the Jays try him out in CF. Just to add another position he can cover incase of injury. He needs to hit the gym this offseason though and add some strength to his body.

 

I agree, he needs reps in CF. Could be a solution for us there over the next year or two.

[Terminator]

Biggio in CF? Are you guys high?

 

He's fine as a bench player who can play LF, 2B and 1B but he's not good. He can take a walk and I think he's pretty decent at 2B but his batted profile is truly awful and he has a very weak arm. He's an extreme flyball hitter but without the exit velocity to make it count for anything. Deadening the ball killed him.

[G-Snarls]

Biggio in CF? Are you guys high?

 

He's fine as a bench player who can play LF, 2B and 1B but he's not good. He can take a walk and I think he's pretty decent at 2B but his batted profile is truly awful and he has a very weak arm. He's an extreme flyball hitter but without the exit velocity to make it count for anything. Deadening the ball killed him.

 

Who is better at 2B and corner OF between Whit and Cavan?

 

We know Espinal is very good with the glove at 2B or SS.

 

How do you optimize use of the other two?? Or are you better off trading one of them?

[Spanky99]

Who is better at 2B and corner OF between Whit and Cavan?

 

We know Espinal is very good with the glove at 2B or SS.

 

How do you optimize use of the other two?? Or are you better off trading one of them?

 

The beauty of depth, I'd keep em all, horde the depth.

[Terminator]

At this point Whit and Espinal are part-time starting players IMO. Whit can be LF/2B and a backup CF and Espinal can be 2B/3B and backup SS.

 

Biggio is a clear backup who can fill in at 2B/3B/LF.

[Spanky99]

Biggio in CF? Are you guys high?

 

Not as high as saying non tender him, lol.

[Stangstag]

Biggio in CF? Are you guys high?

 

He's fine as a bench player who can play LF, 2B and 1B but he's not good. He can take a walk and I think he's pretty decent at 2B but his batted profile is truly awful and he has a very weak arm. He's an extreme flyball hitter but without the exit velocity to make it count for anything. Deadening the ball killed him.

 

You’re right we should try Kirk out there instead

[Stangstag]

At this point Whit and Espinal are part-time starting players IMO. Whit can be LF/2B and a backup CF and Espinal can be 2B/3B and backup SS.

 

Biggio is a clear backup who can fill in at 2B/3B/LF.

 

That’s also fine. Really the only thought behind Biggio to CF is his above-average speed

[Terminator]

You’re right we should try Kirk out there instead

 

^Still salty about Kirk winning the Silver Slugger

[G-Snarls]

The beauty of depth, I'd keep em all, horde the depth.

 

If you do it guarantees a pretty flexible bench

[Laika]

I think one of Espinal, Whit, Biggio will be traded.

 

Barger projects too well to keep him down all year. It's hard to imagine fitting all four of those guys onto the roster at once... unless Gurriel is gone and Whit is being considered a full time outfielder (which would be gross if true).

 

For obvious reasons I think they try to flip Whit first.

[Spanky99]

I think one of Espinal, Whit, Biggio will be traded.

 

Barger projects too well to keep him down all year. It's hard to imagine fitting all four of those guys onto the roster at once... unless Gurriel is gone and Whit is being considered a full time outfielder (which would be gross if true).

 

For obvious reasons I think they try to flip Whit first.

 

If they go that route, I wouldn't mind. What about Otto Lopez?

[Laika]

if they go that route, i wouldn't mind. What about otto lopez?

 

aaa

[EmployedUser]

some pics here

 

https://ballparkdigest.com/2022/11/08/work-begins-on-300m-rogers-centre-upgrades/

 

not much to see yet just demo phase

 

Nice. Hopefully construction workers will sneak us pictures so we can see the progress.

 

Thanks

[Stangstag]

^Still salty about Kirk winning the Silver Slugger

 

Why would I be salty lol i’m glad he won it. Ups his trade value a bit

[Spanky99]

Only 4 players DFA'd so far today and the deadline's in half an hour.

[Terminator]

I think one of Espinal, Whit, Biggio will be traded.

 

Barger projects too well to keep him down all year. It's hard to imagine fitting all four of those guys onto the roster at once... unless Gurriel is gone and Whit is being considered a full time outfielder (which would be gross if true).

 

For obvious reasons I think they try to flip Whit first.

 

They seem to really like Whit but he makes the most money and maybe after the good finish to the year they can get more for him than they gave up? But again, they seem to like him a lot. Biggio, on the other hand, they clearly do not. I kid about him a lot but he was buried on the depth chart all year and couldn't even beat out Tapia for playing time. Granted, the entire industry might be pretty down on Biggio so they might not get anything for him via trade but it seems like he's clearly the low man on the totem pole and obvious trade bait so I would think he is most likely to go.

 

I actually think trading Espinal makes a lot of sense as he would likely bring back the most value. Whit could start the year as the primary 2B with the expectation that Barger will be up some time during the year.

[G-Snarls]

Only 4 players DFA'd so far today and the deadline's in half an hour.

 

I may have missed some news...

 

JBJ, Zimmer, Tapia - have any been DFA/non-tendered/released/traded for cash?

 

That's our real logjam of inadequacy