The Blue Jays sign Kevin Kiermaier

[bendera3]

And the cameras in KK's house were without audio. Purely for visual pleasure

 

You still would have been blessed. #Blessedup

[Stangstag]

I'd be surprised if it were a straight one year deal given that the Dodgers were apparently interested as well. Maybe the Jays promised more playing time, or he saw a path to more playing time in Toronto. Ideally for the Jays it would be one year + a team option with a buyout, because as fringey as Kiermaier is, the Jays kind of need outfielders beyond 2023 as well.

 

Either way, as credible as "Damon" is, I'll wait for more of an official announcement.

 

It was reported that KK chose Toronto because he has a house in Tampa and preferred to stay in the ALE

[Key22]

Is KK all that much better than JBJ though? Isn't JBJ also a light-hitting excellent defensive CF? And JBJ isn't hurt.

 

So not sure about paying a LOT more money to KK when JBJ could probably be had for peanuts.

[max silver]

Is KK all that much better than JBJ though? Isn't JBJ also a light-hitting excellent defensive CF? And JBJ isn't hurt.

 

So not sure about paying a LOT more money to KK when JBJ could probably be had for peanuts.

 

At this point of his career Jackie Bradley Jr. is so bad at the plate that he is a sub-replacement level player. The Jays gave a combined 614 plate appearances to Tapia, JBJ and Zimmer last season, and had all of 0.2 WAR to show for it. Kiermaier gives the team a legitimate option to man center field when Springer is either DH'ing or manning right field.

[Jimcanuck]

JBJ is average at best in the field at this point. KK is still elite.

[Jays24]

JBJ is average at best in the field at this point. KK is still elite.

 

You're talking about a gold glove finalist at CF sir.

 

*runs away knowing that means jack all lol.

[connorp]

JBJ is average at best in the field at this point. KK is still elite.

 

Entering a year when many CF go into a steep decline, not even considering the surgery. But King Jim has spoken

[Laika]

Is KK all that much better than JBJ though? Isn't JBJ also a light-hitting excellent defensive CF? And JBJ isn't hurt.

 

So not sure about paying a LOT more money to KK when JBJ could probably be had for peanuts.

 

One big difference is that JBJ can no longer hold his own as an MLB hitter.

 

There is a big difference between a 75 wRC+ and a 90 wRC+

 

In this last two years JBJ was worth negative 52 batting runs. Just hemorrhaging runs.

He only contributed +13 runs on defense and baserunning in those years.

 

By comparison, Kiermaier has been almost neutral on batting runs over the last 3 years (minus 3.1 runs) which he more than makes up for by baserunning alone. So in theory he can hit enough to make his defense pure gravy.

 

Statcast also shows that JBJ is cooked. He wasn't even above average by sprint speed in 2022. Kiermaier was 93rd percentile.

[G-Snarls]

One big difference is that JBJ can no longer hold his own as an MLB hitter.

 

There is a big difference between a 75 wRC+ and a 90 wRC+

 

In this last two years JBJ was worth negative 52 batting runs. Just hemorrhaging runs.

He only contributed +13 runs on defense and baserunning in those years.

 

By comparison, Kiermaier has been almost neutral on batting runs over the last 3 years (minus 3.1 runs) which he more than makes up for by baserunning alone. So in theory he can hit enough to make his defense pure gravy.

 

Statcast also shows that JBJ is cooked. He wasn't even above average by sprint speed in 2022. Kiermaier was 93rd percentile.

 

Was going to post something similar about batting

 

KK only had only two true terrible batting seasons. Most recently he has been in the 90-104 wRC+ range. If he can keep up average/slightly below average hitting that's OK.

 

JBJ is a HUGE liability in the lineup. KK is not. He's not great but he's acceptable if he keeps up the defense.

Edited December 13, 2022 by G-Snarls

[Key22]

Thanks, guys - this makes me feel much better about KK. Watching Zimmer at the plate was downright excruciating and taking three roster spots with JBJ, Tapia, and Zimmer was irritating.

[Laika]

Thanks, guys - this makes me feel much better about KK. Watching Zimmer at the plate was downright excruciating and taking three roster spots with JBJ, Tapia, and Zimmer was irritating.

 

Imagine Tapia as a hitter

 

But he's an elite CF with a cannon arm. And a better baserunner.

[Jays24]

Man that physical must be really worrying if we're still waiting (my guess). Also scares me that Tampa is letting him walk on a 1 year deal if that's what ends up being the final deal. Tampa rarely screws up lol.

[max silver]

Man that physical must be really worrying if we're still waiting (my guess). Also scares me that Tampa is letting him walk on a 1 year deal if that's what ends up being the final deal. Tampa rarely screws up lol.

 

Tampa didn't want to pay Kiermaier something like $13 million. That doesn't mean he isn't a nice pickup for less than that though for a competitive team in need of center field innings.

[Terminator]

Man that physical must be really worrying if we're still waiting (my guess). Also scares me that Tampa is letting him walk on a 1 year deal if that's what ends up being the final deal. Tampa rarely screws up lol.

 

They had 39 guys on the 40 man and then made a couple of signings. They could be waiting to make the moves official as because maybe they have a trade in the works?

[Brownie19]

Man that physical must be really worrying if we're still waiting (my guess). Also scares me that Tampa is letting him walk on a 1 year deal if that's what ends up being the final deal. Tampa rarely screws up lol.

 

please stop guessing.

[Jays24]

Tampa didn't want to pay Kiermaier something like $13 million. That doesn't mean he isn't a nice pickup for less than that though for a competitive team in need of center field innings.

 

I get that... it seems like he wanted to remain close to home so I'd assume he'd give Tampa the hometown discount to stay with them if they wanted him back.

 

Anyways, if he's fully healthy and ready to go for spring training, he addresses my concern for having elite CF defense. Now I still think we need a legit SS defensively but that doesn't seem like it will get addressed this offseason at least.

[Brownie19]

I get that... it seems like he wanted to remain close to home so I'd assume he'd give Tampa the hometown discount to stay with them if they wanted him back.

 

Anyways, if he's fully healthy and ready to go for spring training, he addresses my concern for having elite CF defense. Now I still think we need a legit SS defensively but that doesn't seem like it will get addressed this offseason at least.

 

TB doesn't want to pay ANYONE $10M a year - this isn't difficult to understand.

[MikeM3]

He had interesting swing data changes happening last year before he got hurt. Who knows what it's like next year. 8.5M is too much but he has upside IMO.

[glory]

From Davidi's latest article:

 

While details of the Kiermaier agreement aren’t known, industry speculation has him falling into the $8-$10 million range for one year.

[Laika]

He had interesting swing data changes happening last year before he got hurt. Who knows what it's like next year. 8.5M is too much but he has upside IMO.

 

what changes?

[Spanky99]

what changes?

 

I think he's mixing up Belly.

[Brownie19]

From Davidi's latest article:

 

1 year $8M-$10M is really nice.

[MikeM3]

what changes?

 

Just twitter nerds talking about improved swing path scores.

[Laika]

ah found it

 

 

seems kind of hocus pocus, not sure how much this stuff matters

[Stangstag]

1 year $8M-$10M is really nice.

 

Yeah I like that much better than a 2 year deal

[Terminator]

From Davidi's latest article:

 

We got this guy for half the cost of Bellinger? Lol

[max silver]

We got this guy for half the cost of Bellinger? Lol

 

If Bellinger can rediscover his stroke he can end up as more than twice the player of Kiermaier. I just didn't think it was worth spending $17.5 million to find out.

[Laika]

If Kevin Kiermaier can stay healthy and his hip surgery takes five years off his metabolic age…

[Stangstag]

If Bellinger can rediscover his stroke he can end up as more than twice the player of Kiermaier. I just didn't think it was worth spending $17.5 million to find out.

 

Yeah that’s a giant IF. More than likely Bellinger is cooked.

 

How many players were absolute s*** at the plate for 2 full seasons and then regained their form??

 

Pujols in a platoon role?

[BTS]

I torn between wanting Bellinger to fail because Jim owns him in fantasy and wanting him to win the MVP because of the Terminator spin that would be required.