General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2024)

[Perfect Game]

I'm just hoping this is fake news, lol.

 

I'm pretty sure this was from last offseason. IIRC, the kids mom posted it saying Moanoah was her kids favourite pitcher & how happy her kid was to meet him.

[Perfect Game]

Just to put things into perspective, if the Jays were to spend as much as 276M in luxury tax commitments for 2024 (just under the 3rd threshold), that would represent roughly a 7% increase in luxury tax commitments from 2023 to 2024 and a tax bill close to triple what it was last season.

 

I can almost guarantee ownership doesn't authorize this after 2023 was viewed within the organization as failing to meet internal expectations.

 

Ownership finally authorized Shatkins to be a tax paying team last offseason because the Vlad+Bo Jays made the playoffs for the first time in a 162 game season, viewed by ownership as an improvement from 2021 where they missed the playoffs after making the playoffs in the shortened 2020 season.

 

From what Shapiro has stated, it doesn't sound like an ownership decision. He gets a budget every three years & he's free to spend it as he chooses. Given that the payroll falls to $142MM next year & lower still the following years maybe he's ok with paying a little more now? Either way I trust his judgement & unless Rogers announces they're cutting back I really don't think it's worth stressing over.

[BCZ]

Hello all, for your reference, here's an update on the Blue Jays 2023-2024 offseason:

[Spanky99]

I'm pretty sure this was from last offseason. IIRC, the kids mom posted it saying Moanoah was her kids favourite pitcher & how happy her kid was to meet him.

 

Thanks, this makes me feel better, they rode with that though, lol.

 

ETA; They as in that podcast, my bad.

Edited January 23, 2024 by Spanky99

[max silver]

Sooooo this pic was taken yesterday and posted today on Walkoff Podcast, if this is indeed real, I want to puke...

 

 

Dude looks bigger than ever... *sighs*

 

It's tough to make any judgments based on a tiny low resolution photo where the primary subject is wearing a super loose t shirt.

[max silver]

Jays won't go into the 2nd threshold until they make in season additions. 30% tax for all overages already as a 2nd year tax team. For going into the 2nd threshold there is a 12% surcharge on overages within the 2nd threshold on top of the 30% tax.

 

Example, last season they were taxed 20% on all overages as a 1st year tax team. Then the 5M they spent in season crossing into the 2nd threshold was taxed 20% plus a 12% surcharge.

 

Do you ever stop with this nonsense? STFU already, you don't know any more than the rest of us what the team's budgetary plans are so stop with the proclamations acting like you can see the future.

[Jimcanuck]

Pearson is now 27, time to just make him a workhorse out of the bullpen, f*** managing innings

[Spanky99]

It's tough to make any judgments based on a tiny low resolution photo where the primary subject is wearing a super loose t shirt.

 

I agree, thought the same s***, but that looks egregious if true, I don't think it is.

[Jays24]

[Spanky99]

 

This is BS man, fool.

[BTS]

Please stop

[Laika]

If you can't keep it civil you catch a ban. Warning for deanmike and max silver here. I think both crossed the line.

[wilko]

If you can't keep it civil you catch a ban. Warning for deanmike and max silver here. I think both crossed the line.

 

What about Frenchsoup alts?

[glory]

 

Murray, unlike Morosi/Heyman/etc, is reliable, so there's probably some validity to this. Rosenthal reiterated in his latest article that Joc is "thought to prefer the West Coast". I think the Soler interest is real. He's likely the best DH bat out there all things considered (age, upside), though he also comes with risk.

[Jonn]

Murray, unlike Morosi/Heyman/etc, is reliable, so there's probably some validity to this. Rosenthal reiterated in his latest article that Joc is "thought to prefer the West Coast". I think the Soler interest is real. He's likely the best DH bat out there all things considered (age, upside), though he also comes with risk.

 

Rosenthal might be reliable source in terms of information. But man he’s a terrible Baseball writer. That piece he wrote on Franco was outrageous.

 

Soler has the most power upside of the remaining free agents. Seems like the safest pick and the Jays badly need someone who can hit Homeruns. They have already lost Chapman and struggled to hit Homers last Season. Unfortunately signing Soler also means IKF is likely our primary Third Baseman.

 

Having a LF and 3B that can’t hit is not ideal.

[glory]

Rosenthal might be reliable source in terms of information. But man he’s a terrible Baseball writer. That piece he wrote on Franco was outrageous.

 

Soler has the most power upside of the remaining free agents. Seems like the safest pick and the Jays badly need someone who can hit Homeruns. They have already lost Chapman and struggled to hit Homers last Season. Unfortunately signing Soler also means IKF is likely our primary Third Baseman.

 

Having a LF and 3B that can’t hit is not ideal.

 

Rosenthal has definitely slipped. Right now Passan is by far the best source (he’s the Woj/Shams of MLB), and I think I’d put Murray 2nd at this point from a trustworthiness standpoint. He’s not as well known and he’s not breaking the bigger signings yet but I think he will get there soon. Everyone else you just kinda take with a grain of salt.

 

Yeah, Soler adds the type of power that this team (and org in general) needs. Even at his worst he will likely put up a .200 plus ISO. The Jays are banking on internal improvement but after settling on KK/IKF for two important starting spots, they badly need someone who can hit 30+ HR.

[Jimcanuck]

Rosenthal might be reliable source in terms of information. But man he’s a terrible Baseball writer. That piece he wrote on Franco was outrageous.

 

Soler has the most power upside of the remaining free agents. Seems like the safest pick and the Jays badly need someone who can hit Homeruns. They have already lost Chapman and struggled to hit Homers last Season. Unfortunately signing Soler also means IKF is likely our primary Third Baseman.

 

Having a LF and 3B that can’t hit is not ideal.

 

Who is this LF that can't hit? If you are referring to Varsho, he's projected to be a league average or above average bat.

[Jays24]

Who is this LF that can't hit? If you are referring to Varsho, he's projected to be a league average or above average bat.

 

I think Jays fans would be ecstatic if he was league average based on what we saw at the plate last year. You'd still want more from your LF. His bat plays at CF, not LF.

[max silver]

I think Jays fans would be ecstatic if he was league average based on what we saw at the plate last year. You'd still want more from your LF. His bat plays at CF, not LF.

 

Elite defenders with a league average bat can provide a lot of value all over the diamond. Varsho's low 2023 FWAR value is partially due to the fact that his left field defense rated as decidedly average by Statcast OAA. It remains to be seen if this was a single year statistical blip as his DRS of 11 indicates a tremendous defender. Varsho himself mentioned that left field was the hardest position for him due to the way the ball comes off of the bat, so perhaps with time he could improve in left field with more reps. He produced nearly 5 wins in 2022 playing a lot of innings in right field, so the bat played perfectly well in a corner outfield spot in the past and can again in the future.

[Brownie19]

FFS - Varsho's career ISO is .188, which would have ranked him 58th in baseball last year (from qualified batters). Even in a "down" year, his ISO was still 80th in baseball - tied with Correa, Yelich and William Contreras - ahead of Bo, Sal Perez and Suarez. Varsho has good power. Please stop with the nonsense.

[Jays24]

Elite defenders with a league average bat can provide a lot of value all over the diamond. Varsho's low 2023 FWAR value is partially due to the fact that his left field defense rated as decidedly average by Statcast OAA. It remains to be seen if this was a single year statistical blip as his DRS of 11 indicates a tremendous defender. Varsho himself mentioned that left field was the hardest position for him due to the way the ball comes off of the bat, so perhaps with time he could improve in left field with more reps. He produced nearly 5 wins in 2022 playing a lot of innings in right field, so the bat played perfectly well in a corner outfield spot in the past and can again in the future.

 

You are not going to hear me talk down his defense and base running. The offense part comes up because our team severely lacked it last year and he plays a position that can typically provide more of it.

 

Obviously if we had Vlad/Chapman/Kirk/Springer produce better then we could live with what Varsho produces offensively because elite defense ALWAYS plays. We're just looking to find the perfect balance for 2024 and hope he can bounce back.

[max silver]

You are not going to hear me talk down his defense and base running. The offense part comes up because our team severely lacked it last year and he plays a position that can typically provide more of it.

 

Obviously if we had Vlad/Chapman/Kirk/Springer produce better then we could live with what Varsho produces offensively because elite defense ALWAYS plays. We're just looking to find the perfect balance for 2024 and hope he can bounce back.

 

I'll certainly agree that it makes more sense to play Varsho in center field full time and that he and Kiermaier are an imperfect fit. Having said that the team received 4 wins from their center field duo last season so it's not the worst thing in the world to run with the duo again. I suspect that Schneider may receive a decent amount of playing time in left field this upcoming season so hopefully he proves his bat is legit and isn't a disaster defensively out there.

[jerb]

[Jays24]

 

Working on that faster delivery in between pitches!! Still looks the same size but hope the cardio gets much better.

[Jimcanuck]

Not getting a warm and fuzzy from that vid

[wamco]

Ha. He looks exhausted to me as well. Granted no context

[BCZ]

Updated summary of 2023/2024 Blue Jays Offseason:

[BCZ]

Manoah looks like how I feel when I haven't worked out for months................

[BCZ]

Based on that video I think Manoah's career is near the end.........

[BCZ]

I think Manoah ate and drank himself out of a pro baseball career.... I guess some guys can get away with it (CC Sabathia - genetics?) and some can't... obviously this is an especially premature opinion but that's what baseball forums are all about