General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2023)

[The_DH]

Is Zulueta on the 40 man? He could be #6 atm because of that reason.

 

He is on the 40.

[THANOS]

Probably depends on the injury

 

If they need a guy for a start or two they won't use Tiedemann or Zulueta

But if it's to a replace a guy for a while, maybe they do just go straight to Teeds

 

Yeah, that's what I figure. Zulu could be used for both scenarios because he's on the 40 already imo. Higher ceiling than the scrubs ahead of him and doesn't burn a roster spot atm.

[The_DH]

Yeah, that's what I figure. Zulu could be used for both scenarios because he's on the 40 already imo. Higher ceiling than the scrubs ahead of him and doesn't burn a roster spot atm.

 

Most of the long man candidates are on the 40. The only "emergency candidates" who aren't would include Tiedemann, Hutch. Almost all real candidates are on the 40. Keep in mind, we have 2 40 man spots available right now

[THANOS]

Most of the long man candidates are on the 40. The only "emergency candidates" who aren't would include Tiedemann, Hutch. Almost all real candidates are on the 40. Keep in mind, we have 2 40 man spots available right now

 

Those 2 are from 60DL submissions on Ryu and Green right?

 

My guess is they both go to guys we expect to add to the BP at some point this season like Danner and Fernandez. I think Julian Fernandez has a good shot at replacing Richards in the BP atm. We'll see if his great spring continues.

[THANOS]

Nevermind, it looks like Danner is already on it.

 

I guess Fernandez so far, maybe the other Fernandez gets added as well?

 

Are they both only ST invites with opt-outs? Hopefully we have them for the season.

[THANOS]

https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/roster/nri

 

Maybe Julian and Juenger are added? Julian may have an opt-out though, not sure.

[Laika]

https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/roster/nri

 

Maybe Julian and Juenger are added? Julian may have an opt-out though, not sure.

 

The depth pitchers who may need to be added if they want to keep them around are:

 

Jackson, Bard, Junior Fernandez, Hutch, Lawrence

[Laika]

Wynton Bernard is another candidate to get the final 40 man spot, maybe even an MLB roster spot...

[The_DH]

Wynton Bernard is another candidate to get the final 40 man spot, maybe even an MLB roster spot...

 

Bernard seems Buffalo-bound.

[Laika]

Bernard seems Buffalo-bound.

 

I'm not sure.

 

- Lukes has options. Lopez has an option. Horwitz has options. Barger has options.

- Bernard is RHB so he might complement the OF better than Lukes or Horwitz, since there are two LHB starters

- Bernard was primarily a CF in AAA recently, maybe he is okay defensively?

- by projections, there is not an obvious offensive gap between any of Lopez, Lukes, or Bernard.

- as a veteran NRI they might have a deal with Bernard that they will cut him loose if he does not make the team.

 

I mean he probably never plays a game as a Blue Jay but I could see a path to him being the final bench player out of spring.

[The_DH]

I'm not sure.

 

- Lukes has options. Lopez has an option. Horwitz has options. Barger has options.

- Bernard is RHB so he might complement the OF better than Lukes or Horwitz, since there are two LHB starters

- Bernard was primarily a CF in AAA recently, maybe he is okay defensively?

- by projections, there is not an obvious offensive gap between any of Lopez, Lukes, or Bernard.

- as a veteran NRI they might have a deal with Bernard that they will cut him loose if he does not make the team.

 

I mean he probably never plays a game as a Blue Jay but I could see a path to him being the final bench player out of spring.

 

I agree with you for the most part but I think Lopez over Bernard. Lopez brings more versatility and speed. Bernard I don't find that special. Okay for AAA, not much more.

[Brownie19]

I agree with you for the most part but I think Lopez over Bernard. Lopez brings more versatility and speed. Bernard I don't find that special. Okay for AAA, not much more.

 

Bernard is faster than Otto. Like 99th percentile speed.

[The_DH]

Bernard is faster than Otto. Like 99th percentile speed.

 

Yes Bernard is faster than Lopez, can't debate that. My comment was that Lopez brings versatility AND speed while Bernard brings speed only. Bernard & Lukes can only play outfield, Horowitz only plays 1b.

[Spanky99]

Bernard's a perfect player for the 26th spot. End discussion.

[glory]

I agree with you for the most part but I think Lopez over Bernard. Lopez brings more versatility and speed. Bernard I don't find that special. Okay for AAA, not much more.

 

Lopez is probably the better player overall, but he has an option remaining and the last bench is likely to get very limited playing time. Not sure the team would want Lopez to get sporadic playing time when they can still stash him in AAA until a need arises. Bernard's skill set is ideal for a back of the bench role since he has elite sprint speed and can (presumably) cover CF. Basically a RH Zimmer except maybe/possibly/hopefully not complete ass with the bat, and if he's on the bench most of the time, it's not that big of a deal.

[The_DH]

After next year Lopez is out of options so would have to make the team or be lost. I thought this might be a good year to work him in and be demoteable when we need a 3rd catcher or something. I don't have a lot of faith in Jansen being available for 162 games.

[Spanky99]

After next year Lopez is out of options so would have to make the team or be lost. I thought this might be a good year to work him in and be demoteable when we need a 3rd catcher or something. I don't have a lot of faith in Jansen being available for 162 games.

 

You don't worry about that stuff till it happens, Lopez gets work everyday while Bernard gets utilized sparingly, seems like a no brainer, this team is already loaded with versatile players.

[Brownie19]

After next year Lopez is out of options so would have to make the team or be lost. I thought this might be a good year to work him in and be demoteable when we need a 3rd catcher or something. I don't have a lot of faith in Jansen being available for 162 games.

 

There's a very good chance that both things happen this year. Bernard starts the year as the 26th player with Otto in AAA - and Otto gets an extended chance to earn a role on our bench for the foreseeable future.

[Terminator]

The depth pitchers who may need to be added if they want to keep them around are:

 

Jackson, Bard, Junior Fernandez, Hutch, Lawrence

 

Jackson and Fernandez are both somewhat intriguing.

 

I don't really know Jackson's story. I assume it's some sort of combination of injury history and playing in foreign leagues but he's put up some solid numbers in the minors and bigs the past few years and even projects fairly well.

 

Fernandez just turned 26 and throws 99.

[Spanky99]

Soooooo... Kooch has looked money, so far.

[G-Snarls]

Soooooo... Kooch has looked money, so far.

 

Couldn't be happier about it

[G-Snarls]

Bernard's a perfect player for the 26th spot. End discussion.

 

5 starters

8 BP arms

 

Jansen

Kirk

Vlad

Espinal

Biggio

Bichette

Chapman

Varsho

Springer

Keirmaier

Merrifield

Belt

 

1 speedster makes sense

 

Biggio/Merrifield make for a very versatile bench. Most positions are backed up well.

Edited March 8, 2023 by G-Snarls

[The_DH]

Soooooo... Kooch has looked money, so far.

 

Yeah I'd say he's been the story of this spring.

[Terminator]

Soooooo... Kooch has looked money, so far.

 

Best mental shape of his life

[John_Havok]

Kikuchi's raw data from yesterdays outing:

 

 

 

And Tiedemann

 

[Grant77]

A lot of positive signs from Kikuchi this spring.

[John_Havok]

A lot of positive signs from Kikuchi this spring.

 

The first positive sign is that the cutter is gone.

 

Second positive signed is the usage of the change is up

 

3rd positive sign is the pitch mix is much more even overall.

 

Now adding his curve back in occasionally too it looks like.

[Spanky99]

Vlad in the cage yesterday...

 

[Governator]

Been a while my friends, happy new season! Hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy.

 

How we looking this Spring?

[John_Havok]

Been a while my friends, happy new season! Hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy.

 

How we looking this Spring?

 

Planning the parade route as we speak.