General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2024)

[hanton]

Except Varsho is even more of a dead pull hitter, just doesn’t have a kids power. Varsho trying no to go the other way last season was attempted and failed horribly.

 

Guys like Whit, Espinal etc, those are the guys who should be looking the other way since they really don’t have pull power.

 

Maybe when they forced him to hit in the top part of the order, to me he's the kind of hitter that needs to put the ball in play and run / he has the speed. His said one of his goals for 2023 was......to hit for bunt singles

[Stangstag]

He would definitely be our new McDreamy

 

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

 

Bellinger looks like a character from Bugs Life

[Brownie19]

Bellinger is a fascinating and polarizing FA. On one hand, he seems like a great fit for the Jays. We could really use a legit, dynamic LH bat and we have room to add within our OF. He's entering his age 28 season, so he's younger than most big name FA's, which is a major plus in my mind. And of course, he's someone who's previously shown legit star ability. Unfortunately, his statcast page isn't all that red and there's legitimate concern that his true talent may be more in the 2-4 WAR range, which will only drop as he ages and his speed/defense decline. If the Jays are serious about him, I sure hope they have a good read on what he's going to be moving forward. If he is signing in the same range that Springer did - that could be a solid addition. I think I'd rather have Belly than Chapman for that price.

[max silver]

Bellinger is a fascinating and polarizing FA. On one hand, he seems like a great fit for the Jays. We could really use a legit, dynamic LH bat and we have room to add within our OF. He's entering his age 28 season, so he's younger than most big name FA's, which is a major plus in my mind. And of course, he's someone who's previously shown legit star ability. Unfortunately, his statcast page isn't all that red and there's legitimate concern that his true talent may be more in the 2-4 WAR range, which will only drop as he ages and his speed/defense decline. If the Jays are serious about him, I sure hope they have a good read on what he's going to be moving forward. If he is signing in the same range that Springer did - that could be a solid addition. I think I'd rather have Belly than Chapman for that price.

 

Bellinger is the best remaining target in free agency but I find the massive gulf between his expected results and actual results to be very concerning. From comparing the rest of his seasons over his career his batted ball metrics and profile most closely resemble his 2020 season where he settled at a 112 wRC+. Having said that he went on an absolute tear over the second half of his season and couldn't have ended on a better note heading into free agency.

 

His numbers are pretty eye popping over his last 85 games. .333/.375/.564 with a 6.6%BB/.13.4%K rate good for a 150 wRC+. BABIP at .337 isn't overinflated by any means either and HR/FB is at 15.4% is perfectly reasonable as well.

[Eat My Shatkins]

I wonder how badly the Guardians will want to cut payroll?

 

Currently sitting an an estimated $132,000,000 luxury tax payroll.

 

Probably stupid to even hope for this on any level, but if the Jays could somehow pry Ramirez out of there that would be super dooper.

[Omar]

I wonder how badly the Guardians will want to cut payroll?

 

Currently sitting an an estimated $132,000,000 luxury tax payroll.

 

Probably stupid to even hope for this on any level, but if the Jays could somehow pry Ramirez out of there that would be super dooper.

 

I believe JRam is the most coveted player by almost everyone on this board, and for good reason. Could it be an Xmas wish come true? Come on Ross, make it happen.

[wamco]

Adames and yelich combine for -29m value on MLBTV.

 

I would love to sweep in on that and add bellinger who could play 1b and vlad Dh (vs rhp). Play cf vs lhp.

 

Thats a pretty stacked lineup.

 

Thats 51m added if bellinger gets 25.

[wamco]

Jram loves Cleveland for some reason

[Eat My Shatkins]

Assuming the Jays can't snag Yamamoto, are we content going into the season with:

 

1. Gausman

2. Berrios

3. Bassitt

4. Kikuchi

5. Manoah

6. Tiedemann

7. White

 

As the starting pitching depth?

 

I mean, the top 4 were all good to great last year, and have a track record of durability.

#5 is one season removed from Cy Young contention

#6 is one of the top 2 or 3 starting pitching prospects in all of MiLB

#7 appeared to figure his s*** out late last season in AAA and was demolishing batters

 

It's not bad depth really.

[Ray]

Jose Ramirez is an even better fit on this team now than he was years ago.

 

If the Guardians really need to move him to shed salary due to their TV deal, I would essentially just tell Chris Antonetti to name his price.

[Brownie19]

I'm probably good with that rotation. Add some s*** ballers to fill out AAA.

 

The issue with White is he has no options and not sure we want him in the bullpen this year?

[Ray]

Why the hell did Cleveland extend Myles Straw?

[mellowgold]

Yeah, JRam really is still a perfect fit if we can finally get him. Him and Bellinger would be nice.

 

ss Bo

3b JRam

lf Belly

1b Vlad

rf Springer

cf Varsho

c Kirk/Jansen

dh

2b

 

I'm good with the rotation depth right now but we'd probably have to sign some shitballer to battle for the #5/6 spot, as I assume at least one of Manoah or Tiedemann would be Cleveland bound in this scenario.

 

And I'm on board with Hader for the pen.

[Stangstag]

Assuming the Jays can't snag Yamamoto, are we content going into the season with:

 

1. Gausman

2. Berrios

3. Bassitt

4. Kikuchi

5. Manoah

6. Tiedemann

7. White

 

As the starting pitching depth?

 

I mean, the top 4 were all good to great last year, and have a track record of durability.

#5 is one season removed from Cy Young contention

#6 is one of the top 2 or 3 starting pitching prospects in all of MiLB

#7 appeared to figure his s*** out late last season in AAA and was demolishing batters

 

It's not bad depth really.

 

I say we need 1 more guy at the back end.

[Frenchsoup]

Why the hell did Cleveland extend Myles Straw?

 

They signed one of the worst catchers in the league in Hedges to lol let's get Biebs off them

[Eat My Shatkins]

How worried are we about the D if we lose KK and Chappy, and how much will that drag the pitching down?

 

Hard to say I guess, but it's definitely a concern in my eyes.

[glory]

Ramirez would have been a FA this winter had he not extended with the Guardians. Instead he signed a $141m extension two years ago to stay in Cleveland. Not sure he'd agree to a trade with his NTC. Dude took a 9 figure discount to stay there. My guess is they will move guys like Clase, Bieber, and Naylor before they even approach Ramirez, but obviously if there was a way to get Ramirez somehow, then don't hesitate. Take Straw's contract and anything else to lessen their financial tension. Either way I expect them to keep Ramirez, and I don't expect him to accept a trade anyway, so probably wishful thinking.

[Stottlemyres_Bloody_Chin]

Bellinger is going to be a disaster for whoever signs him.

 

Sign Lee from Korea to play CF and lead off. Trade for Yelich and get Brewers to eat a chunk.

[Frenchsoup]

Get Adames while ur at it. Talented guy

[Laika]

I don't think Jays fans could stomach Varsho and Adames.

 

That's a lot of the same kind of flawed hitter.

[Frenchsoup]

Varshos sick u bum

[Carlos Danger]

I am not interested in going to war (no pun intended) with a player from the KBR who has never had a MLB AB. The track record from Korea is much more mixed than Japan and that dude from the Reds and others are still fresh in my mind..

[Frenchsoup]

I'll go to War for Jung Hoo Lee, guy will have more WAR then Shoehei next year. Eliteeeeeeee defender with a reallly good bat. Scout him noob.

[Carlos Danger]

I'll go to War for Jung Hoo Lee, guy will have more WAR then Shoehei next year. Eliteeeeeeee defender with a reallly good bat. Scout him noob.

 

The Korean league has nowhere the pitching of the Japanese league.... Research the scouting and write ups the guy the Reds signed and Kim prior to him going to SD.. Kim is a good hitter, but nowhere near what people were foaming over prior to his signing.. The track record is not there yet for him to be a key piece we are going to rely on for offense.

[Frenchsoup]

I see him as a Steven Kwan with a bit more pop and absolute cannon like Joey Bats from CF push Varsho to LF and you have the best outfield defense in baseball. Now we just got to work on our left side.

[Carlos Danger]

I see him as a Steven Kwan with a bit more pop and absolute cannon like Joey Bats from CF push Varsho to LF and you have the best outfield defense in baseball. Now we just got to work on our left side.

 

Putting Varsho in LF dilutes his value.. He is one of the best CF in baseball and his bat can play at CF, not LF.. I wouldn't want to do that, maybe vice versa...

[Frenchsoup]

You have him for CF if Jung Hoo gets hurt you need 2 Cf'ers on ur roster....plus i'd be signing IKF as a 3rd string Cf'er and backup SS and 3b for Donaldson and Adames

[Frenchsoup]

And like another poster said we can bat him leadoff happily and push everyone down a notch, the guy will be rookie of the year.

[Eat My Shatkins]

I've given up on the hope of Yamamoto. With the Yanks and Mets going all out for him I have no faith in the Jays sneaking in there.

 

Best option on paper I guess would be to go all in on Belly and Chappy but I can see that turning into a disaster.

 

However, with the pitching staff we have it might work out alright. Especially if we get any bounce back from Vladdy, Kirk and Springer. Just riddle the diamond with 2-4 fWAR players and have a top 5 pitching staff.

[Frenchsoup]

Im down for Chappy if the Jays have the money...which they do...they made a similiar offer for Shoehei that the dodgers got done