General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2023)

[Brownie19]

God no, I think Zimmer's bat is no more than that of a pitcher. But my hope is that the 5th outfielder is nothing but a defensive substitute/pinch runner and gets virtually NO at bats. Lopez and Lukes should be at AAA getting some at bats in case of injuries. If anything I'd have the outfield depth being:

 

Springer

KK

Varsho

Whitfield

4th outfielder

and the last spot: pinch runner, defensive replacement.

 

Zimmer would be good enough for that. Lukes and Lopez might be wasted.

 

How quickly we all forget that Zimmer was a 1.5 WAR player in just 350 PA's in 2021 - with a 89 wRC+ bat. I think you'll find that most players struggle to hit when they get 3 at bats per month. I'm not in the clubhouse, but it seemed like Zimmer accepted his role as that defensive replacement/pinch runner, kept his mouth shut and was a good team player. Nobody should expect much from our 5th OFer.

[The_DH]

How quickly we all forget that Zimmer was a 1.5 WAR player in just 350 PA's in 2021 - with a 89 wRC+ bat. I think you'll find that most players struggle to hit when they get 3 at bats per month. I'm not in the clubhouse, but it seemed like Zimmer accepted his role as that defensive replacement/pinch runner, kept his mouth shut and was a good team player. Nobody should expect much from our 5th OFer.

 

that's how I saw it. It's when he got too many at-bats that his value went down. I would give him 50-100 at bats, almost all as blow outs and lots of appearances after the 7th inning. Lukes and Lopez would rot in this role.

[The Cats Ass]

Someone like Monte Harrison would be nice to bring in for a 5th OFer. Tools for days, and has a ceiling of a 30/30 player.

[Eat My Shatkins]

With Springer, Varsho and KK seemingly set as the OF starters, and all three of Espinal, Merrifield and Biggio on the roster, do we think the Jays are still looking to add another OFer?

 

I'd expect Whit to split time between 2B and the OF and I'd also expect Biggio to get some OF starts along with 2B and 1B, while Espinal will get some time at 2B, SS and 3B.

 

Barger as an injury replacement for SS, 3B and Lukes as the defacto 6th OFer.

[jaysblue]

Someone like Monte Harrison would be nice to bring in for a 5th OFer. Tools for days, and has a ceiling of a 30/30 player.

 

Yeah can probably sign him to a MiLB deal. Worth the gamble for sure.

[The_DH]

With Springer, Varsho and KK seemingly set as the OF starters, and all three of Espinal, Merrifield and Biggio on the roster, do we think the Jays are still looking to add another OFer?

 

I'd expect Whit to split time between 2B and the OF and I'd also expect Biggio to get some OF starts along with 2B and 1B, while Espinal will get some time at 2B, SS and 3B.

 

Barger as an injury replacement for SS, 3B and Lukes as the defacto 6th OFer.

 

With the 2b candidates gaining at bats in the outfield then what other purpose do you see for the 26th man? It's either pinch running or catching.... and we don't need a 3rd catcher other than Varsho.

[The Cats Ass]

Yeah can probably sign him to a MiLB deal. Worth the gamble for sure.

 

He'd at least offer speed and defense off the bench. And unlike a lot of 5th OFer types he doesn't swing a wet noodle.

[glory]

With Springer, Varsho and KK seemingly set as the OF starters, and all three of Espinal, Merrifield and Biggio on the roster, do we think the Jays are still looking to add another OFer?

 

I'd expect Whit to split time between 2B and the OF and I'd also expect Biggio to get some OF starts along with 2B and 1B, while Espinal will get some time at 2B, SS and 3B.

 

Barger as an injury replacement for SS, 3B and Lukes as the defacto 6th OFer.

 

Another thing to keep in mind with the Jays adding an OF, aside from payroll/CBT, is the fact that they'd likely want to keep DH relatively free so that Kirk/Jansen, Springer, and Vlad can take their turns there. That's probably going to make them less likely to go after a player who will want 400-500 plate appearances (Pollock, Cutch, etc), and it's probably going to make the Jays an undesirable location for the best OF's still available on the market since playing time will be somewhat uncertain.

 

Wouldn't surprise me at all if the bench was Espinal, Biggio, Lopez, and 5th OF (JBJ/Zimmer equivalent), assuming Merrifield starts at 2B and Kirk/Jansen are at CA/DH. Although someone like Robbie Grossman who shouldn't have visions of being anything beyond a platoon bench player at this point might be possible depending on cost.

[Eat My Shatkins]

With the 2b candidates gaining at bats in the outfield then what other purpose do you see for the 26th man? It's either pinch running or catching.... and we don't need a 3rd catcher other than Varsho.

 

Keep an extra bullpen arm maybe?

[Brownie19]

Another thing to keep in mind with the Jays adding an OF, aside from payroll/CBT, is the fact that they'd likely want to keep DH relatively free so that Kirk/Jansen, Springer, and Vlad can take their turns there. That's probably going to make them less likely to go after a player who will want 400-500 plate appearances (Pollock, Cutch, etc), and it's probably going to make the Jays an undesirable location for the best OF's still available on the market since playing time will be somewhat uncertain.

 

Wouldn't surprise me at all if the bench was Espinal, Biggio, Lopez, and 5th OF (JBJ/Zimmer equivalent), assuming Merrifield starts at 2B and Kirk/Jansen are at CA/DH. Although someone like Robbie Grossman who shouldn't have visions of being anything beyond a platoon bench player at this point might be possible depending on cost.

 

The reality that KK and Springer are injury prone may help a FA see a path to 400-500 PA's. Will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

[The_DH]

Keep an extra bullpen arm maybe?

 

Can only carry 13 pitchers so 13 position players.

[Spanky99]

Keep an extra bullpen arm maybe?

 

13 pitchers only, bruh. Aside from Double Headers, of course.

[The_DH]

The reality that KK and Springer are injury prone may help a FA see a path to 400-500 PA's. Will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

 

It's why I'd only play Springer or KK about 7 or so innings each. Take the injury risk out.

[jaysblue]

The reality that KK and Springer are injury prone may help a FA see a path to 400-500 PA's. Will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

 

Yeah and also the fact the Jays are a contending team, so hopefully that draws one of them to Toronto.

[glory]

The reality that KK and Springer are injury prone may help a FA see a path to 400-500 PA's. Will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

 

Yeah no doubt that a 4th OF on this team would easily get 400-500 PA's, but I would think it's still going to be a hard sell for free agents since the team has 3 established OF's already. A player who has other options and still sees himself as an everyday-ish player may prefer the more clear path to playing time. Although maybe being on a winning team with a chance to seriously contend could tip the scales in Toronto's favor if the alternative were a bad team. I guess it depends on the individual player. Pollock is 35 and Cutch is 36. They aren't getting any more big contracts in their careers, so maybe they accept lesser roles on winning teams.

[Brownie19]

Yeah no doubt that a 4th OF on this team would easily get 400-500 PA's, but I would think it's still going to be a hard sell for free agents since the team has 3 established OF's already. A player who has other options and still sees himself as an everyday-ish player may prefer the more clear path to playing time. Although maybe being on a winning team with a chance to seriously contend could tip the scales in Toronto's favor if the alternative were a bad team. I guess it depends on the individual player. Pollock is 35 and Cutch is 36. They aren't getting any more big contracts in their careers, so maybe they accept lesser roles on winning teams.

 

Merrifield/Biggio cloud those 400-500 PA's though...

[Krylian]

Merrifield/Biggio cloud those 400-500 PA's though...

 

[jaysblue]

 

From the Happening?

[glory]

Merrifield/Biggio cloud those 400-500 PA's though...

 

Between 2B and OF, I think Merrifield easily clears 500 PA next season (unless his performance falls off a cliff), so yes he would also be a factor into the available 4th OF at bats.

 

Even without factoring payroll/CBT, it's hard to see the Jays making a significant OF add. Once you add the payroll/CBT equation into it, then it becomes more sensible to give someone like Lopez a shot and save some bullets for the trade deadline.

[Krylian]

From the Happening?

 

From the googles.

[Deadpool]

God no, I think Zimmer's bat is no more than that of a pitcher. But my hope is that the 5th outfielder is nothing but a defensive substitute/pinch runner and gets virtually NO at bats. Lopez and Lukes should be at AAA getting some at bats in case of injuries. If anything I'd have the outfield depth being:

 

Springer

KK

Varsho

Whitfield

4th outfielder

and the last spot: pinch runner, defensive replacement.

 

Zimmer would be good enough for that. Lukes and Lopez might be wasted.

 

There's really nothing for Lukes or Lopez to do in AAA at this point, the MLB experience probably has more value than the playing time in AAA would for them, unless you expect any of them to be full time regulars with a bit more seasoning (which I do not).

 

I'm certainly down with signing some MiLB contracts w/ invites to some interesting guys, but I'm not sure you're going to get more from a new signing than you'd get from Lukes or Lopez in those spots.

[Terminator]

 

This is a good pickup. Fangraphs wrote an entire article about him back in November when the Yankees picked him up: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/what-will-the-yankees-do-to-help-junior-fernandez/.

 

According to Statcast he can hit 100 mph with both his 4-Seamer and Sinker.

[The_DH]

There's really nothing for Lukes or Lopez to do in AAA at this point, the MLB experience probably has more value than the playing time in AAA would for them, unless you expect any of them to be full time regulars with a bit more seasoning (which I do not).

 

I'm certainly down with signing some MiLB contracts w/ invites to some interesting guys, but I'm not sure you're going to get more from a new signing than you'd get from Lukes or Lopez in those spots.

 

The only thing to do at AAA would be stay healthy and stay ready in case of an injury. Rotting on a bench can't be good for a rook. This would have been the one year that an outfielder Rule 5 selection may have been useful.

[Brownie19]

The only thing to do at AAA would be stay healthy and stay ready in case of an injury. Rotting on a bench can't be good for a rook. This would have been the one year that an outfielder Rule 5 selection may have been useful.

 

Being a quality bench player is a skill. If Lukes and Lopez are going to play in the majors - it's very likely to be as bench players, so they could use the real life training.

[Krylian]

 

This is a good pickup. Fangraphs wrote an entire article about him back in November when the Yankees picked him up: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/what-will-the-yankees-do-to-help-junior-fernandez/.

 

According to Statcast he can hit 100 mph with both his 4-Seamer and Sinker.

 

Just keep adding big arms. Work with them, and hope 1 or 2 figure it out.

This is what I like to see.

[Spanky99]

 

This is a good pickup. Fangraphs wrote an entire article about him back in November when the Yankees picked him up: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/what-will-the-yankees-do-to-help-junior-fernandez/.

 

According to Statcast he can hit 100 mph with both his 4-Seamer and Sinker.

 

Very nice, this is what I found on BA for him...

 

Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #23 prospect in 2021

TRACK RECORD: Fernandez had a breakout season in 2019, when he leapt from high Class A to the majors. He made his MLB debut in August. He made the Cardinals' 2020 Opening Day rotation, but soon tested positive for Covid-19. He returned to action in September, then tried to make up for lost time by pitching in the Dominican League.

 

SCOUTING REPORT: Fernandez's stuff took a step back in 2020, which is troubling because his plus fastball has long paved his way to the majors. In 2019, Fernandez sat at 95-97 mph and bumped 99. In 2020, he sat at 93-95 mph and touched 97 once. Fernandez does not locate his fringe-average downerbreaking slider very well, and his above-average changeup is not as effective when paired with a less hairy fastball. His swing-and-miss rate in his admittedly short MLB stints dropped by half from 2019 to 2020. Fernandez's control is fringe-average, but his command wavers. He needs to get his fastball back or improve his slider to have success.

 

THE FUTURE: Fernandez did struggle in 2020, but his 2019 season was excellent, and his bout with the coronavirus explains some of his setback. He will compete for a spot in the Cardinals bullpen in 2021.

 

So sounds like he has his stuff back from that FG article.

[John_Havok]

 

This is a good pickup. Fangraphs wrote an entire article about him back in November when the Yankees picked him up: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/what-will-the-yankees-do-to-help-junior-fernandez/.

 

According to Statcast he can hit 100 mph with both his 4-Seamer and Sinker.

 

Excellent. If only he could hit the strike zone with them.

 

That said, sign every functional arm that throws triple digits and hope to hell 1 of them figures it out.

[Laika]

He's in the same bucket as Merryweather. No options, probably only breaking camp with Toronto if a couple guys are hurt.

 

No Options club at the back of the roster:

 

Merryweather, Fernandez, White, Richards.

 

Only 2 spots for these four dudes.

[Terminator]

We had an extra 40 man spot so Fernandez makes a ton of sense. Him and Merryweather are both out of options though so will need to be on the big league team to open the year or we'll lose them.

[Jimcanuck]

He's in the same bucket as Merryweather. No options, probably only breaking camp with Toronto if a couple guys are hurt.

 

No Options club at the back of the roster:

 

Merryweather, Fernandez, White, Richards.

 

Only 2 spots for these four dudes.

 

Competition is good.