General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2024)

[MikeM3]

Sign Chapman. Save DH for when Springer is banged up in week 2

[Sorrow]

So who would a bargain bin platoon RH DH be?

 

A tiny bit of defensive utility would be nice

 

Doesn’t need to be a platoon DH but allows you to move a regular to DH against lefties so maybe a Grichuk who hits lefties well or Rosario who hits lefties well.

 

Grichuk would replace Lukes and Rosario would replace Espinal.

 

Personally I think if you go the Pederson route you need to get two more players.

[BigCecil]

So who would a bargain bin platoon RH DH be?

 

A tiny bit of defensive utility would be nice

 

Hoskins coming off injury?

[Spanky99]

So who would a bargain bin platoon RH DH be?

 

A tiny bit of defensive utility would be nice

 

Grichuk or Grossman?

[Spanky99]

Hoskins coming off injury?

 

He'd likely cost 16-18M, no bargain bin there, I'd love it if they signed him.

[Frenchsoup]

Grichuk or Grossman?

 

O I love Grossman spanks, guy can run and has a great eye

[Laika]

Sign Chapman. Save DH for when Springer is banged up in week 2

 

I think I agree with this

 

Horwitz and Kirk/Jansen is not a bad platoon DH solution

[Frenchsoup]

I have confidence in Horowitz, but I don't really want my backup catcher dhing. They need there days off.

[Frenchsoup]

There's no speed there though.

[MikeM3]

Just let Biggio DH against RHP until someone is banged up and needs the DH spot.

[Terminator]

Just let Biggio DH against RHP until someone is banged up and needs the DH spot.

 

Only problem with that is that Biggio can't hit.

[Terminator]

If we signed Joc, one thing we could do is make a trade for a 2B and then move Schneider into the weak side platoon at DH while also getting him ABs at 3B/2B/LF.

 

There's been talk about Turner being an option as a DH because he can play some 3B. But at this stage in their careers I doubt Schneider is any worse than Turner there.

 

Getting Luis Arraez to play 2B would be fun.

[Frenchsoup]

Only problem with that is that Biggio can't hit.

 

He's pretty much a lock to have a .350 OBP against RHP and the defense at 1b 2b and any outfield spot is a pretty good floor I'd say. If he has a .350 OBP it's pretty much a lock he steals 20 bags and is incredibly safe out there on the basepaths and puts a ton of pressure on pitchers with these new rules...he litterally never does anything stupid on the field.

[Terminator]

He's pretty much a lock to have a .350 OBP against RHP and the defense at 1b 2b and any outfield spot is a pretty good floor I'd say. If he has a .350 OBP it's pretty much a lock he steals 20 bags and is incredibly safe out there on the basepaths and puts a ton of pressure on pitchers with these new rules...he litterally never does anything stupid on the field.

 

He's fine as a utility bench player but he doesn't have enough bat to be the primary DH.

[Frenchsoup]

He's not being moved unless you can get a stud or 2

[Frenchsoup]

He's more valuable in the feild, he's a gazzelle with some hands.

[max silver]

Sign Chapman. Save DH for when Springer is banged up in week 2

 

Only issue with this is that Springer hasn't hit much at the DH spot during his time as a Blue Jay. He's managed a 98 wRC+ at DH vs 131 wRC+ in the field so even using someone like Horwitz against right handed pitching would likely garner better results.

[deanmike]

If BNS is to be believed here, he also believes that the Jays see Davis Schneider as someone who can play some LF in 2024. He is probably the weak side platoon LF if the Jays sign Joc. Jays also probably don't see any weak side platoon FA bats as big enough upgrades on Clement to spend money on them. If the Jays sign Joc they can use games against LHP as a Vlad DH day or maybe even Bo DH day.

 

C Jansen/Kirk

1B Clement/Vlad

2B Espinal/Clement

3B IKF/Espinal

SS Bo/IKF

LF Schneider

CF Varsho

RF Springer

DH Vlad/Bo

 

There is also the option of DHing Kirk/Jansen against LHP instead of playing Clement, but IMO Jays should just play it safe with catcher rest and try to make sure they both stay healthy.

 

If Soler is the DH add it's even easier for platoon splits with less shuffling because he's an everyday bat.

[Terminator]

Only issue with this is that Springer hasn't hit much at the DH spot during his time as a Blue Jay. He's managed a 98 wRC+ at DH vs 131 wRC+ in the field so even using someone like Horwitz against right handed pitching would likely garner better results.

 

There does seem to be some sort of "DH penalty" with a lot of players. I assume that if Springer DH'd more often he would be better at it.

[max silver]

There does seem to be some sort of "DH penalty" with a lot of players. I assume that if Springer DH'd more often he would be better at it.

 

That might be an eventuality in his later years to become more of a full time DH but he has to prove he can produce in that spot first. The team doesn't have a lot of dudes who could successfully hit out of the DH spot the last few seasons. Teoscar seemed to have quite a bit of success (122 wRC+) but he has moved on, so that leaves Vlad (130 wRC+) as the only guy with any amount of plate appearances who has proven the ability to produce out of the DH spot.

[Eat My Shatkins]

That might be an eventuality in his later years to become more of a full time DH but he has to prove he can produce in that spot first. The team doesn't have a lot of dudes who could successfully hit out of the DH spot the last few seasons. Teoscar seemed to have quite a bit of success (122 wRC+) but he has moved on, so that leaves Vlad (130 wRC+) as the only guy with any amount of plate appearances who has proven the ability to produce out of the DH spot.

 

Maybe they should use Vlad as the primary DH and have someone else play 1B most of the time?

[max silver]

If BNS is to be believed here, he also believes that the Jays see Davis Schneider as someone who can play some LF in 2024. He is probably the weak side platoon LF if the Jays sign Joc. Jays also probably don't see any weak side platoon FA bats as big enough upgrades on Clement to spend money on them. If the Jays sign Joc they can use games against LHP as a Vlad DH day or maybe even Bo DH day.

 

C Jansen/Kirk

1B Clement/Vlad

2B Espinal/Clement

3B IKF/Espinal

SS Bo/IKF

LF Schneider

CF Varsho

RF Springer

DH Vlad/Bo

 

There is also the option of DHing Kirk/Jansen against LHP instead of playing Clement, but IMO Jays should just play it safe with catcher rest and try to make sure they both stay healthy.

 

If Soler is the DH add it's even easier for platoon splits with less shuffling because he's an everyday bat.

 

I do like the idea of running Schneider as a potential 2B/LF Merrifield replacement but it remains to be seen if it's going to be a defensive side show when he plays the outfield with any regularity.

[max silver]

Maybe they should use Vlad as the primary DH and have someone else play 1B most of the time?

 

That's part of why I like the idea of Hoskins, although it wouldn't be wise to play him too frequently in the field coming off of knee surgery. He could certainly split time with Vlad however as 2023 aside each of them have typically posted similar defensive metrics.

[deanmike]

Maybe they should use Vlad as the primary DH and have someone else play 1B most of the time?

 

Trust ZiPS Vlad being a primary DH soon is already inevitable. Out of the DH options post-Ohtani signing Hoskins has been my #1 preferred target all offseason for this reason (get butcher Vlad out of 1B) but it seems like the Jays want a DH who can cover some OF instead of 1B like with Belt last season.

[Terminator]

That might be an eventuality in his later years to become more of a full time DH but he has to prove he can produce in that spot first. The team doesn't have a lot of dudes who could successfully hit out of the DH spot the last few seasons. Teoscar seemed to have quite a bit of success (122 wRC+) but he has moved on, so that leaves Vlad (130 wRC+) as the only guy with any amount of plate appearances who has proven the ability to produce out of the DH spot.

 

Well a couple of things here. The "DH penalty" might be real but I'm not sure anyone knows for sure. Second, you are talking about Springer like it's certain that he can't DH when the guy only has 80 ABs in the role which is too small of a sample size.

[Spanky99]

Maybe they should use Vlad as the primary DH and have someone else play 1B most of the time?

 

lol

[MikeM3]

Only problem with that is that Biggio can't hit.

 

Ya but paying someone 13m to hit vs RHP or giving 20M to Chapman for 4 wins with 6 win upside and just letting Biggio run 110 wrc is better IMO

[Eat My Shatkins]

lol

 

1. Looks like Vlad has had the most success hitting out of the DH spot of all Jays hitters

2. He's terrible at 1B

 

 

Kind of makes sense no?

[max silver]

Trust ZiPS Vlad being a primary DH soon is already inevitable. Out of the DH options post-Ohtani signing Hoskins has been my #1 preferred target all offseason for this reason (get butcher Vlad out of 1B) but it seems like the Jays want a DH who can cover some OF instead of 1B like with Belt last season.

 

It feels like you are maybe placing a little too much emphasis on a single season for Vlad as a first base defender. He had improved to the point where he was about -4OAA per season at first base in 2021/2022 and managed to post positive DRS values in both of those seasons. 2023 aside Hoskins really hasn't been any better than Vlad and his defensive metrics are arguably worse than Vlad's.

 

Vlad's defensive metrics cratered in 2023 and I can't help but suspect that he was dealing with some sort of physical issue (aside from the low hanging fruit fatness explanation) that was affecting his mobility. He missed time for a few separate stints due to some knee issues so it's possible this had an effect on his defense. Hopefully with an effective offseason to slim down he can avoid the knee issues while improving his mobility around the base.

[Terminator]

Ya bit paying someone 13m to hit vs RHP or giving 20M to Chapman for 4 wins with 6 win upside and just letting Biggio run 110 wrc is better IMO

 

I'm down for the Chapman side of the equation. Would probably go with Horwitz as the DH or something like that. Or maybe you just wait until February and a DH bat for 5 mil comes along.