General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2023)

[max silver]

Could get crazy for the same reason everyone here kind of wants him even though nobody seems to love the idea: he’s the only FA hitter left who seems to offer the potential for 4-5 win season. It’s a bidding war waiting to happen.

 

It was far easier to be all in on Ohtani given the elite bat he offers which is backed up by his quality of contact numbers even if he weren't to return to front of the rotation pitching numbers. Similar to Bellinger I had a lot of difficulty in getting on board with a Soto trade given the extreme acquisition cost for a 1 year rental player that should probably be a full time DH in his mid 20's.

[bluejaysinternNo5]

Grab Sean Bouchard from the Rockies to spell Varsho against lefties, before he turns into an all star.

[burlingtonbandit]

I would go as high as 7/160 on Bellinger but anything more is a pass. I'm on board with the idea of just overpaying a few players on 1 year deals to maintain flexibility, and you hope the logjam of LF/3B/2B prospects can take a step forward and look like contributors.

 

Joc Pederson

JDM

Michael Taylor

Tim Anderson

 

Sign a few of these guys and a back end SP and maybe a trade for a Max Kepler and its not the end of the world.

[Frenchsoup]

Pretty right heavy Bandito

[G-Snarls]

At this point I'm going to have to be fine with:

 

Taking a couple of flyers on 1 year guys for COF/DH

Trade for a solid bat at 3B/2B

Sign a depth starter

Give the young IF prospects a chance to make the team out of ST

Roll the dice and hope the pitching holds up

Trade for a bat at the deadline if you're not getting what you need offensively

 

Not what I wanted starting the offseason but what more can we do?

[Frenchsoup]

What did you want the jays to do G-snarls

[burlingtonbandit]

Pretty right heavy Bandito

 

You talking politics or baseball?

 

Pederson/Kepler are LH. Belt another option if he wanted to come back. But you need good players first and foremost. Rather a 120wRC+ RHB than a 100 wRC+ LHB.

[glory]

The same basic premise that they had last off season is probably the best one to follow, which was short term vetrins and if an opportunity for a longer term player in a position of need became available, then go the trade route. In hindsight that strategy worked pretty well in 2023 (KK, Bassitt, Belt) except the existing core (Vlad, Kirk, and Springer specifically) s*** the bed relative to expectations. Hoping for internal improvement is probably not the safest route to take, but this run was predicated on Vlad/Bo being superstars, and Vlad is still young enough to breakout, so if you can't get a difference maker like Ohtani/Soto and the rest of the field stinks, then go back to counting on Vlad/Bo. If it fails then pivot in direction next winter.

[Frenchsoup]

Whit I loved your play this year.

[Frenchsoup]

I'm not tradeing Vladdy unless it's for a massive haul

[Jonn]

I'm not tradeing Vladdy unless it's for a massive haul

 

Why would any team trade a massive haul for a 2 win player.

[Omar]

It's scary when as a Jays fan I'm already pondering what next seasons trade deadline is going to look like. Slim pickings right now.

[Frenchsoup]

Who would you rather have for next year? Brantley and Winker for a combined 15million or Bellinger for 25million and a longterm commitment?

[Carlos Danger]

Who would you rather have for next year? Brantley and Winker for a combined 15million or Bellinger for 25million and a longterm commitment?

 

Are you aware why the Mariners traded Winker.. Brantley is always hurt as well.

[Frenchsoup]

I'd take the risk with these men

[Laika]

Who would you rather have for next year? Brantley and Winker for a combined 15million or Bellinger for 25million and a longterm commitment?

 

Bellinger if it's for 4 years

 

I'm okay with giving Brantley one more chance but Winker, not even sure he's worth a minor league deal. He's a big f***ing baby with a s***** attitude and he had spinal fusion surgery or something. He might just retire.

[DonJays]

I'd take the risk with these men

 

Thankfully the organization will likely do the opposite of all of your suggestions

[jaysblue]

There's also no reason why we can't be the team to give Austin Meadows a chance to rebound.

 

Max where are you?

[Frenchsoup]

The Winker injury is nutty lol but i'd still toss the dart

[jaysblue]

Gimme:

 

Brantley 1 x 10

Martinez 1 x 12

Urshela 1 x 8

Montas 1 x 8

Hicks 3 x 9

 

I wouldn't sign both Brantley and Martinez. Only one of them. Both are old and likely require the DH spot full time. I also see JD Martinez getting probably around $14-15M and the Jays probably gotta give him around $18M or a two-year-deal to sign him.

 

Urshela would be a great buy low candidate at 3B. Likely could squeeze 2+ WAR out of him.

 

Montas is also a great buy low/bounce back candidate but he probably wants to sign somewhere where he's guaranteed a rotation spot.

 

Hicks likely gets $40-50M given the deals handed out to relievers over the last couple of seasons. Would love to see him back but if you're going to spend that type of money on him, would rather go big on Hader instead.

[jaysblue]

I just read a report that Bellinger is seeking a 10 year $250 million contract. That certainly has landmine potential written all over it but I have a really hard time seeing the actual offers approaching anywhere close to that in reality given the question marks over the repeatability of his 2023 numbers.

 

Better if Atkins re-creates Bellinger in the aggregate.

[Carlos Danger]

Better if Atkins re-creates Bellinger in the aggregate.

 

I love you Billy!

[L54]

Number one target right now should be JD Martinez

[BaseballIsLife]

Noted Canadian hater Heyman said that Toronto is interested in trading for Yelich. What’s fair value for him?

[Eat My Shatkins]

Noted Canadian hater Heyman said that Toronto is interested in trading for Yelich. What’s fair value for him?

 

He has negative value.

 

Even if they ate some of his contract you could probably get him for a couple low level lottery tickets or 40 FV schlubs from the 40 man, is my guess.

 

But the Jays could use a 4 WAR LFer though, so I wouldn't be opposed to getting him.

[Key22]

The Winker injury is nutty lol but i'd still toss the dart

 

Winker is supposedly a clubhouse problem.

 

Seattle's Ryan Divish was asked about Jesse Winker.

"I don't think he puts in the time to be better defensively or have a better arm or any of the work that should be done and really is counter to what has made this team great."

 

There was more as well. Here are some of the highlights from that conversation on the radio.

 

Players are tired of Winker’s act. Tired of putting up with him. The team was frustrated with him.

He wasn’t even with the team and didn’t go to Toronto or Houston. The Mariners likely told him to just go home.

Haniger and Winker are opposites. Haniger puts in all the work, and Winker puts in none. Not to improve defense or his arm, and just isn’t strong enough.

Expected to play just by showing up.

If he didn’t get to play a DH, he would essentially pout, causing other players to have to play all 18 innings.

The team puts in a ton of work to get ready, and he does nothing. Doesn’t follow through with what his responsibilities are.

There are going to be hard conversations with him, or they are just going to move on.

 

When you put up one of the worst defensive seasons in all of baseball, this isn’t something that can come out about you. All year, I had tried to defend him. https://sodomojo.com/2022/10/18/mariners-jesse-winker-reportedly-odds/

 

If the Jays are trying to win a World Series they need to get players that will help them do that - not reclamation injury-plagued dregs. Bellinger may not be perfect but he was an MVP and he had a very solid 2023.

 

Former GM Jim Bowden on Ohtani and also describes what Bellinger gives you now.

 

[L54]

Yelich + Adames + cash

 

Can’t imagine paying Yelich 24M a year for 5 more years

[L54]

Winker sucks ass he hasn’t been mentioned by a single front office this offseason except Pittsburgh

[Eat My Shatkins]

Yelich + Adames + cash

 

Can’t imagine paying Yelich 24M a year for 5 more years

 

Then move Bo, or put Adames at 3B?

[L54]

Then move Bo, or put Adames at 3B?

 

Adames at 3rd. He’s a FA after the season