General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2023)

[Dick_Pole]

 

Rob Longley

@longleysunsport

 

“I think the next step for us is going from a young talented team to a team that figures out how to be a championship team." - #Bluejays president Mark Shapiro talks goals, renovations, accountability and more in a one-on-one interview.

https://t.co/B5SmhWecry

 

The Braves just went ahead and skipped that phase, straight into a championship. Not to call out Shapiro individually because every team expected to win that doesn't spews out some half assed BS excuse like this. But it's such horseshit. This iteration of the Jays is still working on its first playoff win. Better to just highlight the good things that were actually done to shore up this team's glaring weaknesses than hope some magic fairy dust sprayed over Vlad and Bo that turned them into grizzled playoff vets.

[John_Havok]

The Braves just went ahead and skipped that phase, straight into a championship. Not to call out Shapiro individually because every team expected to win that doesn't spews out some half assed BS excuse like this. But it's such horseshit. This iteration of the Jays is still working on its first playoff win. Better to just highlight the good things that were actually done to shore up this team's glaring weaknesses than hope some magic fairy dust sprayed over Vlad and Bo that turned them into grizzled playoff vets.

 

True, but then the Braves got rolled in their first series of 2022 when they had easily a much better team than the one that won the WS in 2021. "Learning how to win in the playoffs" is the biggest meaningless cliche in sports.

[RustyTrombone]

The Braves just went ahead and skipped that phase, straight into a championship. Not to call out Shapiro individually because every team expected to win that doesn't spews out some half assed BS excuse like this. But it's such horseshit. This iteration of the Jays is still working on its first playoff win. Better to just highlight the good things that were actually done to shore up this team's glaring weaknesses than hope some magic fairy dust sprayed over Vlad and Bo that turned them into grizzled playoff vets.

 

The Braves didnt just "skip that phase". They lost 3 times in a row before they won that championship. And the year they won the championship was the worst team they put out in a 5 year stretch. There is no such thing as learning to win anyway. Just play well and hope you get hot....

[Krylian]

The Braves just went ahead and skipped that phase, straight into a championship. Not to call out Shapiro individually because every team expected to win that doesn't spews out some half assed BS excuse like this. But it's such horseshit. This iteration of the Jays is still working on its first playoff win. Better to just highlight the good things that were actually done to shore up this team's glaring weaknesses than hope some magic fairy dust sprayed over Vlad and Bo that turned them into grizzled playoff vets.

 

It's the Toronto way.

[Jonn]

This Jays team is just so much deeper than past times. They have the balance and depth to substsin injuries better. There’s also still prospect capital to improve the roster further and prospects especially pitching prospects that can impact the roster this season.

 

There was actually a lot of under performance last year. I expect Vlad, Bichette, Berrios, Springer, and even someone like Chapman entering a contract year to be better.

[jerb]

 

Ben Nicholson-Smith

@bnicholsonsmith

 

Per sources, #BlueJays & Bo Bichette have recently had substantive discussions about deals that would cover multiple arb years. Bichette has a hearing scheduled for Thursday. Three arb years remaining. Some mutual interest in avoiding arb with multi-year deal.

[jerb]

 

Ben Nicholson-Smith

@bnicholsonsmith

 

Per sources, #BlueJays have now avoided arb with Bo Bichette on a multi-year deal.

 

Terms still unclear but sources said a three-year term was under active discussion this week.

[Jimcanuck]

Very good news. Be nice if it included a couple of FA years.

[glory]

My guess is it is a 3 year deal so that his arbitration years are covered and they don’t have to go through the whole song and dance for another 2 years after this one. If it’s a deal that extends to his FA years, then I’d be shocked.

[Ray]

Very good news. Be nice if it included a couple of FA years.

 

I’d like to see an Alex Bregman type deal. Astros basically bought out all his arb years, but in exchange for guaranteed term he gave up a free agent year.

 

Either way, great news to see them avoid arbitration.

[Ray]

My guess is something in the neighbourhood of $40M for the 3 arb years.

 

Mayyyybe buying out a free agent year at $30M or so, but we’ll see.

[Krylian]

Very good news. Be nice if it included a couple of FA years.

 

At most, 1 year... But I'm guessing 0 years

[WryNGinger]

3 year deal

[Jonn]

So looks like they just paid out his arbitration years so they don’t have to go through the process again.

[Ehjays]

[connorp]

So looks like they just paid out his arbitration years so they don’t have to go through the process again.

 

Yeah, good move having no bad blood but I’m not thinking there will be any home team discount for FA

[The_DH]

At least that's over with.

[John_Havok]

I guess I'll be in the minority and say I don't like it. I'll admit though it is different and coming from a team that has whipped through about a thousand different designs since the World Series years, they are running out of ideas to put something new on the market.

 

Could be worse….

 

[connorp]

Definitely worse. I think the Jays hat is pretty unoriginal but there’s always being too original

[connorp]

I’m not sure if it’s real but the bird looks more like it’s in a porn stance than baseball

[WryNGinger]

So looks like they just paid out his arbitration years so they don’t have to go through the process again.

 

Kind of makes me wonder why? Are they trying to offer an olive branch so he might decide to sign on again before he becomes a FA? If they think he will walk regardless just let it play out and maybe save some $. Not sure what the message here is or who is sending it.

[Laika]

Kind of makes me wonder why? Are they trying to offer an olive branch so he might decide to sign on again before he becomes a FA? If they think he will walk regardless just let it play out and maybe save some $. Not sure what the message here is or who is sending it.

 

Saves resources and time in future years

 

Also some benefits to the player so they can just focus on baseball for the next three seasons

 

And a bit of an icebreaker. They've now "done business" successfully together twice. Business relationship generally improved. Now 0.5% more likely to reach common ground on a free agency extension

[Stangstag]

Kind of makes me wonder why? Are they trying to offer an olive branch so he might decide to sign on again before he becomes a FA? If they think he will walk regardless just let it play out and maybe save some $. Not sure what the message here is or who is sending it.

 

You’re not sure why they’d choose to avoid arbitration with one of their stars for the next 3 years??

[Jimcanuck]

Kind of makes me wonder why? Are they trying to offer an olive branch so he might decide to sign on again before he becomes a FA? If they think he will walk regardless just let it play out and maybe save some $. Not sure what the message here is or who is sending it.

 

Probably some financial considerations here - interest rates and inflation expected to stay up for a while yet, arbitration awards will increase. Jays might actually come out ahead here financially, while Bo gets security.

[Terminator]

Some good vibes before the Jays make Vlad an extension offer.

[43211234]

IÂ’m not sure if itÂ’s real but the bird looks more like itÂ’s in a porn stance than baseball

 

It's an old alternate logo for the Cardinals .

 

[WryNGinger]

You’re not sure why they’d choose to avoid arbitration with one of their stars for the next 3 years??

 

? Dafuq? If it was so simple it would have been decided a while ago. This is a silly comment... all of their stars are in the same arb situation? Don't take the easy bait stang...i'm not connor.

 

No I am not. Bo seems intent on going to FA come hell or high water... His comments on the process and his willingness to test it every year indicate he is not going to sign a "team friendly" deal at any time. His on field production is unlikely to change regardless of how the arbitration panel decides. Given what I have stated, who benefits from signing this deal other than to reduce the media optics for the next 3 years?

 

I think that both sides have already decided on what range arbitration will come in at over the next 3 years and have decided to say "f*** it" let's not bother and move on.

[G-Snarls]

This Jays front office seems to like settling out the arb years in advance just so it's done and reduces the possibility of stress and conflict. And also so it's easier to budget. Have they actually even gone to arbitration with any player recently? They've now done this sort of thing with Chapman and Bichette. I was kind of expecting the same for Jansen but would prefer a deal that buys out some FA years instead.

[Ray]

This Jays front office seems to like settling out the arb years in advance just so it's done and reduces the possibility of stress and conflict. And also so it's easier to budget. Have they actually even gone to arbitration with any player recently? They've now done this sort of thing with Chapman and Bichette. I was kind of expecting the same for Jansen but would prefer a deal that buys out some FA years instead.

 

Did the same with Josh Donaldson after his MVP year.

 

Shapiro has been very vocal about not going to arbitration if they can help it. I believe the only arbitration cases we’ve had are Marcus Stroman and relievers like Ryan Tepera. Track record speaks for itself.

[connorp]

? Dafuq? If it was so simple it would have been decided a while ago. This is a silly comment... all of their stars are in the same arb situation? Don't take the easy bait stang...i'm not connor.

 

No I am not. Bo seems intent on going to FA come hell or high water... His comments on the process and his willingness to test it every year indicate he is not going to sign a "team friendly" deal at any time. His on field production is unlikely to change regardless of how the arbitration panel decides. Given what I have stated, who benefits from signing this deal other than to reduce the media optics for the next 3 years?

 

I think that both sides have already decided on what range arbitration will come in at over the next 3 years and have decided to say "f*** it" let's not bother and move on.

 

No need to bring me into it when you get called out for a dumb comment lol

 

While I agree it likely won’t mean a discount in FA, there’s still a benefit to keeping a good working relationship with your star player for reasons beyond the FA contract discount and stat line