Around Baseball 2023

[Stangstag]

I hope he succeeds every time he hits the mound until his next injury. Should be .... April 2nd or 3rd?

 

April 1st.

 

He’ll get announced into the game in the 7th inning, with the Cubs losing 7-2. As he warms up on the mound, he feels a pinch in his shoulder. Catcher knows something’s up. Pitching coach and trainer meet him on the mound. He makes the slow walk back to the dugout without actually getting to face any batters.

 

April fools, can’t believe you guys thought Merryweather was actually going to pitch this season!

[Spanky__99]

At this point I feel like I’d rather have Junior Fernandez in AAA over Merryweather and his lack of options. At least one of them is 25 and threw over 50 pro ball innings last season, something that Merryweather barely accomplished in his entire tenure combined with the Jays since 2017. Junior is relatively young and there’s a bit more time to figure out if you can unlock him, Merryweather has been bad since 2020 and can’t stay off the IL. It was honestly time to cut bait or hope he could pass waivers so you could stash him until we needed 3 more innings from him before he got injured again.

 

I like Fernandez, just think there could've been other options before JM... meh...

[jaysblue]

I just picked up Junior Fernandez in the LOD

[Spanky__99]

I just picked up Junior Fernandez in the LOD

 

I sent you an offer in LOD.

[Orgfiller]

I like Fernandez, just think there could've been other options before JM... meh...

 

Options are king for the fringe roster guys. Yeah Thornton, Hatch and Gage blow, but at least you can juggle them between AAA and the MLB as much as you want for another year. Merryweather has a s*** Spring or makes the MLB team and blows? Welp, you have to lose him anyway as he can't go down anyway. Mayza literally throws from the left side so you more or less need to keep him around. Richards has big time K numbers so if he stops walking every other hitter he could be a very valuable middle relief option. Mitch White is probably too good for AAA so you wanna see what he has. And then you have some young guys that could contribute later in the season/out of the bullpen that you can't get rid of in Pop, Pearson, Hagen Danner, etc.

[Spanky__99]

Options are king for the fringe roster guys. Yeah Thornton, Hatch and Gage blow, but at least you can juggle them between AAA and the MLB as much as you want for another year. Merryweather has a s*** Spring or makes the MLB team and blows? Welp, you have to lose him anyway as he can't go down anyway. Mayza literally throws from the left side so you more or less need to keep him around. Richards has big time K numbers so if he stops walking every other hitter he could be a very valuable middle relief option. Mitch White is probably too good for AAA so you wanna see what he has. And then you have some young guys that could contribute later in the season/out of the bullpen that you can't get rid of in Pop, Pearson, Hagen Danner, etc.

 

Also, it's likely moot as I believe Toronto aren't certainly done with additions to this roster.

[Ehjays]

[Spanky__99]

2 Years? That's Fascinating!!!

 

AA cutting money, I bet. AAV wise.

[Grant77]

2 Years? That's Fascinating!!!

 

AA cutting money, I bet. AAV wise.

 

Looks like a 1 year deal. Good opportunity for him to get a lot of at-bats on a bad team in a hitter's park and build value.

[jaysblue]

Looks like a 1 year deal. Good opportunity for him to get a lot of at-bats on a bad team in a hitter's park and build value.

 

Yeah good opportunity for him to build some value. He'll hit 30 HR's if he stays healthy.

[Brownie19]

Brian Anderson to the Brewers. I'm not certain the Jays are still going to add another veteran RH bat, but if they are, between him, Clutch and Duval, the options are dwindling

[jaysblue]

Brian Anderson to the Brewers. I'm not certain the Jays are still going to add another veteran RH bat, but if they are, between him, Clutch and Duval, the options are dwindling

 

Maybe Chad Pinder on a minor league deal?

 

Profar still available. Not sure he has a huge market since a contending team likely doesn't want to use him as a starter. He probably has to sign with an awful team for a guaranteed spot in the lineup or settle as a super utility guy where he can see himself carve out 400 ABs with a contender.

[Laika]

starting to seem like the Jays are content as is

[Brownie19]

Maybe Chad Pinder on a minor league deal?

 

Profar still available. Not sure he has a huge market since a contending team likely doesn't want to use him as a starter. He probably has to sign with an awful team for a guaranteed spot in the lineup or settle as a super utility guy where he can see himself carve out 400 ABs with a contender.

 

I kind of think we'll see a couple of guys like Pinder brought in on minor league deals at this point. Would be pleasantly surprised if we actually signed legit guys to fill out the very few holes we still have (RH lefty killer OFer, lefty relief pitcher, 5th starter). I suspect the team may want to sit tight and see what we've got in the guys already on the roster. If a hole develops, we'll fill it then.

[jaysblue]

Yeah I think if they bring in any RHB, it's on a minor league deal. Don't see them spending $7-8 million on one and most of the good options (Duvall, Cutch) are off the market now anyways.

[max silver]

Maybe Chad Pinder on a minor league deal?

 

Profar still available. Not sure he has a huge market since a contending team likely doesn't want to use him as a starter. He probably has to sign with an awful team for a guaranteed spot in the lineup or settle as a super utility guy where he can see himself carve out 400 ABs with a contender.

 

I've seen semi serious suggestions that the Jays should trade for Randal Grichuk. He could potentially be a decent addition to the bench to play primarily against left handed starters and the Jays are already paying half of his salary. He has weird splits vs left handed pitching for 2023 though as he produced a 224 WRC+ vs LHP at home vs only 56 WRC+ vs LHP away from Coors Field. He's had odd splits like this over his career alternating between being effective vs LHP at home and away depending on the season. Perhaps this is a common occurrence depending on actual quality of pitching faced at home and away as I've never looked too deeply into this type of split previously.

[jaysblue]

I kind of think we'll see a couple of guys like Pinder brought in on minor league deals at this point. Would be pleasantly surprised if we actually signed legit guys to fill out the very few holes we still have (RH lefty killer OFer, lefty relief pitcher, 5th starter). I suspect the team may want to sit tight and see what we've got in the guys already on the roster. If a hole develops, we'll fill it then.

 

I would love to see the Jays sign Danny Duffy. Fills both roles as a possible No. 5 starter and lefty reliever. Probably could sign him for $4-5 million along with incentives.

[jaysblue]

I've seen semi serious suggestions that the Jays should trade for Randal Grichuk. He could potentially be a decent addition to the bench to play primarily against left handed starters and the Jays are already paying half of his salary. He has weird splits vs left handed pitching for 2023 though as he produced a 224 WRC+ vs LHP at home vs only 56 WRC+ vs LHP away from Coors Field. He's had odd splits like this over his career alternating between being effective vs LHP at home and away depending on the season. Perhaps this is a common occurrence depending on actual quality of pitching faced at home and away as I've never looked too deeply into this type of split previously.

 

Yeah the trade route could be an option. Grichuk wouldn't be that bad actually haha. Wonder what the Rockies would want in return.

[Terminator]

I'm not sure we need a right handed hitting OF. A guy like Grossman isn't really that much better better than our in house options.

[Brownie19]

I'm not sure we need a right handed hitting OF. A guy like Grossman isn't really that much better better than our in house options.

 

Yeah - I think that made more sense when legit lefty killers like Pollack, Duval, etc. were available.

[Laika]

There is a chance that:

 

1. The Espinal/Biggio platoon at 2B is extremely good

2. Merrifield is a stud 4th OF

 

That is kind of how I like to think about the roster - with Merrifield as the RHB 4th OF, ostensibly on the bench. Of course he can and will play a lot and play 2B too.

 

If you think about it like that then a RHB OF for the bench seems like a luxury and not a need, whatsoever.

[Terminator]

Yeah - I think that made more sense when legit lefty killers like Pollack, Duval, etc. were available.

 

Well Pollack, Duvall, etc. got more playing time and significant chunks of change with their respective new teams. We couldn't offer the former so it didn't make sense to spend the latter.

 

Whoever we sign will be battling it out with Whit Merrifield, Espinal, Biggio and others for ABs. We don't even have DH opportunities for whoever we sign. They'll basically be a 5th OFer.

 

Otto Lopez could handle that role just fine and he's also pretty fast and can play the infield too. Sounds like a good enough 5th OFer to me.

 

And injuries will of course happen, but that's when someone like Lukes can come into play. Or Barger, Capra, etc.

[Brownie19]

Well Pollack, Duvall, etc. got more playing time and significant chunks of change with their respective new teams. We couldn't offer the former so it didn't make sense to spend the latter.

 

Whoever we sign will be battling it out with Whit Merrifield, Espinal, Biggio, etc. and others for ABs.

 

Otto Lopez could handle that role just fine and he's also pretty fast and can play the infield.

 

And injuries will of course happen, but that's when someone like Lukes can come into play. Or Barger, Capra, etc.

 

The team is deep enough that I don't think we really need a marginal guy like Duvall or Grossman.

 

Yeah I agree with all of this. I think Otto would enter the spring with a very good chance to be our 5th OF/bench guy. And I like that fit to be honest. Fast, versatile, options

[Terminator]

Plus if we sign someone to a big league deal we have to take someone off the 40-man. Wouldn't be that big of a deal to lose Hatch or Thornton but it's not like Robbie Grossman is that much better than either of those two anyway so it's still a small consideration.

[Laika]

we will probably see one interesting name on a spring training invite

 

someone like Stephen Piscotty, Matt Duffy. I dunno. KP.

[Jimcanuck]

Unless injury, or some invitee make the team out of ST, probably no significant moves until in-season.

[John_Havok]

we will probably see one interesting name on a spring training invite

 

someone like Stephen Piscotty, Matt Duffy. I dunno. KP.

 

just say no to KP.

[The_DH]

Yeah I agree with all of this. I think Otto would enter the spring with a very good chance to be our 5th OF/bench guy. And I like that fit to be honest. Fast, versatile, options

 

I would think that Otto would just rot on the bench. I'd rather see him getting ABs in Buffalo.

[Laika]

I would think that Otto would just rot on the bench. I'd rather see him getting ABs in Buffalo.

 

I don't think he's really the type of player you care about rotting on the bench. It's not like you would expect Lopez to develop into more than a useful bench player anyway.

 

Now guys like Horwitz or Barger... maybe you'd prefer them in AAA playing everyday vs. being the last man on the bench.

[The_DH]

I don't think he's really the type of player you care about rotting on the bench. It's not like you would expect Lopez to develop into more than a useful bench player anyway.

 

Now guys like Horwitz or Barger... maybe you'd prefer them in AAA playing everyday vs. being the last man on the bench.

 

I thought Otto could be useful if an infielder goes down with an injury, but I see your point.