Blue Jays Arbitration 2023

[AdamGreenwood]

Here are the projections. I've noted decline next to the players I would release.

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr: $14.8 million

Teoscar Hernandez: $14.1 million

Bo Bichette: $6.1 million

Raimel Tapia: $5.2 million - RELEASE

Jordan Romano: $4.4 million

Danny Jansen: $3.7 million

Adam Cimber: $3.2 million

Cavan Biggio: $2.6 million

Santiago Espinal: $2.1 million

Tim Mayza: $1.9 million

Trevor Richards: $1.5 million

Bradley Zimmer: $1.3 million - RELEASE

Trent Thornton: $1.1 million - RELEASE

[Jonn]

Agree with released players. Think they probably keep Thornton though.

[harvey16]

Tapia at $5.2 M is a hard no. Suprised Bichette's projected Arb amount isn't higher then that? Thought it would be closer to $10M

[Stangstag]

Tapia at $5.2 M is a hard no. Suprised Bichette's projected Arb amount isn't higher then that? Thought it would be closer to $10M

 

Arb 1 is never that high. Bichette is arb 1 and Vlad is arb 2, that’s why his is so much higher

[InsideThePark]

I'm surprised Bo's number is that high TBH. Vlad's this past year was what just over 7? After an almost MVP season. I figured Bo would be around 5

[Laika]

I'm surprised Bo's number is that high TBH. Vlad's this past year was what just over 7? After an almost MVP season. I figured Bo would be around 5

 

I think it makes sense.

 

Vlad was bad, bad, then great.

 

Bo has been extremely good from day 1.

In his debut season he played at about a 4.2 WAR pace.

Next year, 4.0 WAR pace.

Next year, was worth 5.1 WAR.

This year was worth 4.5 WAR.

 

A stud from day 1

[Laika]

Really, if Toronto is extending someone Bo should be the priority. This is your cornerstone, franchise player.

[Jonn]

Really, if Toronto is extending someone Bo should be the priority. This is your cornerstone, franchise player.

 

They tried last off-season. He declined whatever extension was offered. We don’t know what the dollar figure looked like.

[John_Havok]

They tried last off-season. He declined whatever extension was offered. We don’t know what the dollar figure looked like.

 

Wasnt any real extension talks to my knowledge, they had offered him a bit higher than the minimum and he rejected that, so he got the league minimum. It was he and Manoah I believe.

 

Good thing they dont both play for AA or they'd both already be extended for a 3 million AAV until they're both 35.

[Spanky99]

Who are the Jays going to protect is my concern? Hmm...

[InsideThePark]

Who are the Jays going to protect is my concern? Hmm...

 

In the rule 5? Orelvis, Barger, and Zulueta for sure. Hopefully Gabby Martinez. Maybe Horwitz, Tanner Morris, or Hernandez pending how many spots they have available.

[TheHurl]

In the rule 5? Orelvis, Barger, and Zulueta for sure. Hopefully Gabby Martinez. Maybe Horwitz, Tanner Morris, or Hernandez pending how many spots they have available.

 

1 right now.

[itaos]

Wasnt any real extension talks to my knowledge, they had offered him a bit higher than the minimum and he rejected that, so he got the league minimum. It was he and Manoah I believe.

 

Good thing they dont both play for AA or they'd both already be extended for a 3 million AAV until they're both 35.

 

https://nypost.com/2022/04/14/mlb-news-michael-confortos-market-frankie-montas-trade-suitor/

 

It's Heyman reporting it but would not be surprising if they offered him a team friendly extension

[Jimcanuck]

Tapia at $5.2 M is a hard no.

 

Somehow this seems softer than it should be.

[Ray]

Surely a team with back-asswards views on hitting philosophy like the Royals can trade an expendable arm for 1 year of Raimel Tapia.

 

Tapia for Brad Keller, who says no.

[Spanky99]

In the rule 5? Orelvis, Barger, and Zulueta for sure. Hopefully Gabby Martinez. Maybe Horwitz, Tanner Morris, or Hernandez pending how many spots they have available.

 

Yeah, guys that have to be added to the 40. Orelvis/Barger/Zulueta are no brainers, I don't think Martinez has to be protected concerning age and level I do think Hernandez/Hiraldo should be, with fringe guys like Horwitz/Morris/Eisert etc... maybe. There will be a lot of players available at the rule 5 draft this season as there wasn't one last season, plenty of guys can slip through I'm guessing.

 

As for space, I figure Lawrence, Tapia, Zimmer get non tendered for sure, so that leaves 3 right there, Jays are at 39 but the option on Bass will take that spot. Other non tenders from the 40 could be Thornton/Saucedo and Griffin, I'd rather keep Thornton as our long man again, he's cheap. I think it's doable...

 

ETA: I remember Eric Longenhagen saying back in August that Horwitz was a immediate replacement for Tapia then. I think they protect him for sure now that had dawned on me. That's some sexy praise/information he was getting on the kid.

Edited November 8, 2022 by Spanky99

[Jonn]

Wasnt any real extension talks to my knowledge, they had offered him a bit higher than the minimum and he rejected that, so he got the league minimum. It was he and Manoah I believe.

 

Good thing they dont both play for AA or they'd both already be extended for a 3 million AAV until they're both 35.

 

It was reported last off-season that Bo received in an extension offer. It was written by multiple people.

 

The Toronto Blue Jays proposed a multi-year contract to All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette ahead of the 2022 season, reports the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

 

The two sides weren't close to reaching an agreement, Heyman adds.

 

Toronto renewed Bichette's contract for the 2022 campaign at $717,000 this past offseason. The 24-year-old is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time following this season.

 

The Blue Jays also inquired about a long-term deal for first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., per Heyman. However, Guerrero's camp reportedly prefers to wait until the season concludes to engage in discussions.

 

Guerrero, the 2021 AL MVP runner-up, inked a one-year, $7.9-million contract to avoid arbitration in March. The young slugger isn't scheduled to reach free agency until after the 2025 campaign.

[InsideThePark]

Yeah, guys that have to be added to the 40. Orelvis/Barger/Zulueta are no brainers, I don't think Martinez has to be protected concerning age and level I do think Hernandez/Hiraldo should be, with fringe guys like Horwitz/Morris/Eisert etc... maybe. There will be a lot of players available at the rule 5 draft this season as there wasn't one last season, plenty of guys can slip through I'm guessing.

 

As for space, I figure Lawrence, Tapia, Zimmer get non tendered for sure, so that leaves 3 right there, Jays are at 39 but the option on Bass will take that spot. Other non tenders from the 40 could be Thornton/Saucedo and Griffin, I'd rather keep Thornton as our long man again, he's cheap. I think it's doable...

 

ETA: I remember Eric Longenhagen saying back in August that Horwitz was a immediate replacement for Tapia then. I think they protect him for sure now that had dawned on me. That's some sexy praise/information he was getting on the kid.

 

Hiraldo for sure won't be protected. I don't even think the Jays would care if he were taken. With the influx of middle infielders behind him he might not get much playing time anyway. He's mostly busted and I figure he won't be in the organization by the 2024 season.

 

Hernandez I don't think they'll protect given he didn't have the greatest end of last year and for some reason they didn't even give him a look at any point when they probably should have. I could see some team taking him though given proximity to the majors and pen arms are the easiest guys to stash.

 

They protected Jimenez last year so I do expect them to protect Gabby this year but I do see the point that corner outfielders in A+ have very little place to hide on a MLB roster. I just like the upside so much I'd hate to lose him and some bad team might be willing to take the hit just to get him in their system.

 

I would guess we go with 5 guys both Gabby and Orelvis Martinez, Zulueta, Barger, and Horwitz. But it probably depends on which fat they're willing to cut off the 40 man, there's enough that they can do 5 I think.

[Spanky99]

Hiraldo for sure won't be protected. I don't even think the Jays would care if he were taken. With the influx of middle infielders behind him he might not get much playing time anyway. He's mostly busted and I figure he won't be in the organization by the 2024 season.

 

Hernandez I don't think they'll protect given he didn't have the greatest end of last year and for some reason they didn't even give him a look at any point when they probably should have. I could see some team taking him though given proximity to the majors and pen arms are the easiest guys to stash.

 

They protected Jimenez last year so I do expect them to protect Gabby this year but I do see the point that corner outfielders in A+ have very little place to hide on a MLB roster. I just like the upside so much I'd hate to lose him and some bad team might be willing to take the hit just to get him in their system.

 

I would guess we go with 5 guys both Gabby and Orelvis Martinez, Zulueta, Barger, and Horwitz. But it probably depends on which fat they're willing to cut off the 40 man, there's enough that they can do 5 I think.

 

Holy Hiraldo has been bad, scrap him, I see it as Hernandez being protected over Gabby, he'll be safe. So, Orelvis/Barger/Horwitz and Hernandez for me, the latter is pitching in winterball right now and doing well.

[Ehjays]

I hope Ross doesnt leave Zulu exposed, he will be gone.

[Spanky99]

I hope Ross doesnt leave Zulu exposed, he will be gone.

 

No man, c'mon.

[Jonn]

I hope Ross doesnt leave Zulu exposed, he will be gone.

 

He’s not that dumb. He will just trade him for another Mitch White.

[TheHurl]

Holy Hiraldo has been bad, scrap him, I see it as Hernandez being protected over Gabby, he'll be safe. So, Orelvis/Barger/Horwitz and Hernandez for me, the latter is pitching in winterball right now and doing well.

 

Then who do you drop when you sign a free agent? There will probably only be about 10 teams even able to select in the rule 5. I'm not worried about leaving some of the borderline guys. Front offices always seem to know who will get through anyway.

[InsideThePark]

Then who do you drop when you sign a free agent? There will probably only be about 10 teams even able to select in the rule 5. I'm not worried about leaving some of the borderline guys. Front offices always seem to know who will get through anyway.

 

I only see 31 guys on the 40 worth keeping. That's room for 5 protected guys and 4 free agents. I don't think they'll go full scorched earth on Thornton/Hatch/Kay/Saucedo/Lawrence. But I'd prefer every single one of Orelvis, Barger, Zulueta, Gabby M, and Horwitz to those guys. Perhaps keep 2 of them, that leaves 33 guys on the 40, 38 after they protect 5 guys next Tuesday. Realistically 2 free agents is reasonable. Anyone added to the pen replaces someone, we're likely trading a catcher for either a starter or an outfielder. So you're not looking at too many pure adds that doesn't also have a minus. 1 starter and maybe a position player. We only have 3 free agents leaving after all and 1 of those was brought in in September

[Spanky99]

Then who do you drop when you sign a free agent? There will probably only be about 10 teams even able to select in the rule 5. I'm not worried about leaving some of the borderline guys. Front offices always seem to know who will get through anyway.

 

I agree on that, man? I've said it in post past?

[Ray]

I only see 31 guys on the 40 worth keeping. That's room for 5 protected guys and 4 free agents. I don't think they'll go full scorched earth on Thornton/Hatch/Kay/Saucedo/Lawrence. But I'd prefer every single one of Orelvis, Barger, Zulueta, Gabby M, and Horwitz to those guys.

 

I don't pay attention to every teams 40-man, but I find it hard to believe that competing teams have 5 net negatives like these rostered on their 40-man the way we do. Casey Lawrence is the definition of a 40th man so he's whatever, but the rest are in an awkward phase right now. You can trade them for scraps. You'd likely have to DFA them, but they're intriguing to get picked up by other teams. The org has protected them through roster crunches when they easily could've moved on though, so they clearly like them, but they've also given you less than nothing for the last two years.

 

Anthony Kay is turning 28 next year and has been rostered on this team since 2019(!!!).

[Laika]

I don't pay attention to every teams 40-man, but I find it hard to believe that competing teams have 5 net negatives like these rostered on their 40-man the way we do. Casey Lawrence is the definition of a 40th man so he's whatever, but the rest are in an awkward phase right now. You can trade them for scraps. You'd likely have to DFA them, but they're intriguing to get picked up by other teams. The org has protected them through roster crunches when they easily could've moved on though, so they clearly like them, but they've also given you less than nothing for the last two years.

 

Anthony Kay is turning 28 next year and has been rostered on this team since 2019(!!!).

 

Thornton + Hatch + Kay were all interesting enough and worth keeping heading into 2022. At some point during 2022 it became obvious that they were cooked, useless... but the team still had to keep them around because you need arms.

 

Saucedo + Griffin + Gage + Lawrence are all utterly replaceable.

 

I think most of these 7 guys are off the 40 by the end of the offseason. Maybe a couple survive, like Hatch and Saucedo if they have options.

[John_Havok]

Thornton + Hatch + Kay were all interesting enough and worth keeping heading into 2022. At some point during 2022 it became obvious that they were cooked, useless... but the team still had to keep them around because you need arms.

 

Saucedo + Griffin + Gage + Lawrence are all utterly replaceable.

 

I think most of these 7 guys are off the 40 by the end of the offseason. Maybe a couple survive, like Hatch and Saucedo if they have options.

 

I dont think it would be shocking if they pulled the plug on Merryweather either.

[InsideThePark]

Saucedo and Lawrence already waived. Saucedo claimed, Lawrence clears and is outrighted. The spots are already being opened.

 

Surely Thornton has to be next as a non tender. Tapia too.

[keggy]

With all the new roster and option limits, I think the days of rule 5 drafting a player and stashing him in your bullpen all year are coming to an end. That 13th pitcher slot is too valuable now.

 

Think of how many times we've had to use the 13th pitcher in a leverage or bulk role and then option him immediately (Thornton, Beasley, Gage, etc.).

 

If anything position players will become more popular to draft. Guys like Zimmer, Moreno, Capra, Lopez, etc. could go weeks without a PA.