The Blue Jays sign Kevin Kiermaier

[Brownie19]

Not accurate. FanGraphs has 7.2M earmarked for league min players. The Jays only have room on the roster for four league min players (Manoah, Kirk, Moreno and a fourth bench bat like Barger). That's like 3.2M on the high end.

 

I'm guessing FanGraphs is overestimating because when a guy like Springer goes down with injury and you call up Nathan Lukes or whoever, you have to pay him league min for the time he's up. But because that's not remotely predictable, there's no point calculating minutiae like that halfway through the offseason.

 

Whenever they trade Jansen and get rid of Thornton and Richards, they'll have the space for those added league min costs.

 

In other words, consider the Jays under the tax line for now.

 

Sounds like we'd have to shed other contracts to add Conforto - or go over the luxury cap limit for 1 year. Seems more likely we're trying to trade a catcher for a young OFer than it does we sign Conforto....but with $ coming off the books next year, I could see us exceeding the luxury tax for 1 year and resetting that next year.

[Ryu In My House]

Merry Christmas

 

I like his spirit.

[Ryu In My House]

A Jansen trade could get the jays comfortably under the threshold

 

And maybe a decent left handed bat.

[Deadpool]

Ya, I'll be pissed if they lose out on Enmanuel Bonilla

 

I can't imagine they'd give up the chance to sign a prospect that highly touted just to get Chris Bassitt into the fold, they obviously have the numbers worked out.

[JaysAllMighty]

Happy to see him as a Blue Jay, he's going to be great for us.

 

[Jonn]

 

I’m curious how this happened lol.

[Captain Adama]

 

I’m curious how this happened lol.

 

I'm liking KK more and more

[wamco]

Was a player removed from 40 man since kk/ bassit signing?

[L54]

 

I’m curious how this happened lol.

 

Checks out

[Deadpool]

Was a player removed from 40 man since kk/ bassit signing?

 

Bassitt hasn't been officially signed yet (according to the transactions page at bluejays.com), KK was just added to the list yesterday, so they're pretty quick with the updates.

[Terminator]

 

I’m curious how this happened lol.

 

Lol KK has Matt Harvey blocked?

[Krylian]

I'm sure there was at least 500k+ that they had alloted for other players that can be used towards that? I mean they aren't giving all of the $$$ available to sign him, right?

 

They did for Vladdy if I'm not mistaken. Had to actually go out and acquire more cap space so they wouldn't be too heavy into the penalties.

[Krylian]

I can't imagine they'd give up the chance to sign a prospect that highly touted just to get Chris Bassitt into the fold, they obviously have the numbers worked out.

 

I'm sure you're right. Only a very inept organization would f*** up that badly.

[jerb]

 

Mike Wilner

@Wilnerness

 

Kevin Kiermaier met #Bluejays media this afternoon and seems awfully pumped and excited to be coming to Toronto.

 

He was blown away by the initial Zoom call with them at the beginning of free agency. “They were speaking my language and everything sounded perfect.”

 

Mike Wilner

@Wilnerness

 

Kiermaier believes he will be #Bluejays everyday CF.

 

“Seems like it’s my job to lose. They want me to play every day. Opportunity-wise, no other team was talking anywhere near the Blue Jays.”

 

Mike Wilner

@Wilnerness

 

Kiermaier said he is going to bring it in this opportunity with #Bluejays:

 

“I’m going to dedicate myself like I never have before. I promise no one will care as much as me.”

 

Mike Wilner

@Wilnerness

 

Kiermaier believes that he will be a different hitter in 2023 with his newly-rebuilt hip. Said that the last two years he was hitting with no lower half at all, couldn’t even hit home runs in batting practice. Rehabbing from hip surgery, says he’s at 90% now. #Bluejays

 

Mike Wilner

@Wilnerness

 

Kiermaier says his calling card is defence. He loves running around the turf at Rogers Centre and can’t wait to make a difference out there.

 

“Guys don’t go first to third on me a lot and little things like that matter.” He does a lot of things that don’t show up in boxscores.

[Jonn]

So yea Kevin Kiermaier wanted an everyday job in CF and I’m guessing the Dodgers weren’t willing to offer him that. Makes sense.

[Solaxys]

If we can platoon Lourdes, can have a strong af defensive OF with Springer/KK/[whoever we get from a trade with DBacks, hopefully]

[G-Snarls]

Bassitt hasn't been officially signed yet (according to the transactions page at bluejays.com), KK was just added to the list yesterday, so they're pretty quick with the updates.

 

Its tight though.

 

A relief pitcher or three will have to be traded or DFA

[Solaxys]

Wonder if Springer moves to left instead of right to account for his throwing arm

[Terminator]

[Terminator]

I wonder if this means that we are going to be dumpster diving for the 4th OF.

[Solaxys]

I wonder if this means that we are going to be dumpster diving for the 4th OF.

 

[Captain Adama]

I wonder if this means that we are going to be dumpster diving for the 4th OF.

 

Probably. I'd imagine they'd find someone with compatible splits against LHP.

 

Pretty much takes them out of Brantley and Conforto, they're likely looking for primary/starter roles.

[Terminator]

Probably. I'd imagine they'd find someone with compatible splits against LHP.

 

Pretty much takes them out of Brantley and Conforto, they're likely looking for primary/starter roles.

 

Yep I said the latter about Brantley and Conforto yesterday. We've also got Whit who the team likes and he can play the OF just fine too. So maybe they dumpster dive for another lefty like Naquin? And then if an OF gets hurt they just move Espinal into 2B more full time with a Naquin/Whit platoon in the OF? Something like that

[Brownie19]

I wonder if this means that we are going to be dumpster diving for the 4th OF.

 

It doesn't appear we have much room to add more salary (before we're into luxury cap territory), so I think the Conforto dream is gone. I fully expect the FO wants to add a young, cheap, cost controlled OFer through trade (for one of our catchers), which would push Gurriel to the 4th OF spot.

[G-Snarls]

It doesn't appear we have much room to add more salary (before we're into luxury cap territory), so I think the Conforto dream is gone. I fully expect the FO wants to add a young, cheap, cost controlled OFer through trade (for one of our catchers), which would push Gurriel to the 4th OF spot.

 

100% I think so too

[Terminator]

It doesn't appear we have much room to add more salary (before we're into luxury cap territory), so I think the Conforto dream is gone. I fully expect the FO wants to add a young, cheap, cost controlled OFer through trade (for one of our catchers), which would push Gurriel to the 4th OF spot.

 

Yeah making a trade is probably the way to go. Then the guy has no choice but to come here. Any FA wanting 600 ABs is going to have some questions about signing here.

[Laika]

I wonder if this means that we are going to be dumpster diving for the 4th OF.

 

No I just think it's safe of them to say it's his job to lose

 

50 wRC+ against lefties 6 weeks into the season? Congrats, you're in a platoon now!

[glory]

It doesn't appear we have much room to add more salary (before we're into luxury cap territory), so I think the Conforto dream is gone. I fully expect the FO wants to add a young, cheap, cost controlled OFer through trade (for one of our catchers), which would push Gurriel to the 4th OF spot.

 

If they want to avoid the CBT penalties, then yes it would make sense that KK is the starting CF and they try to find a cheaper (pre arb) OF via trade instead of going after Brantley or Conforto. Not sure that's realistic especially if Jansen is the one going the other way. Hard to see the D-Backs trading Thomas or McCarthy for Jansen, and the only other team that is looking for a catcher and might be interested in Jansen that has pre arb LHH OF's are the Tigers, but not sure Baddoo or Carpenter move the needle for the front office (maybe I'm wrong).

 

Apparently Conforto wants a multi year deal with an opt out (sounds like what Rodon got last year). I don't think Atkins does that. Brantley is going to need to DH a lot, and if Kirk is on the team (never mind Springer and Vlad needing DH days), he becomes less of a fit. If the Jays still have a little bit of wiggle room maybe Peralta is a possibility, but he'll still get a pretty sizable guarantee I would think.

[Spanky99]

You guys seem to have forgotten about this...

 

Last week team president Mark Shapiro said the CBT was “not an obstacle” for ownership at Rogers Communications, Inc., which also owns Sportsnet.

 

"The support and the growth of that payroll is unprecedented in the history of the franchise and it continues to be very strong,” Shapiro said.

[Deadpool]

You guys seem to have forgotten about this...

 

Yeah, but that doesn't mean they're ignoring it altogether. I think they'd go over for the right piece, but the preference would obviously be to stay under the cap.