General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2024)

[Pendleton]

I think Dickey was close to 80 mph with the knuckleball before coming to the Jays, and it was absolutely filthy at that speed.

 

Dickey at his best threw one version of the knuckler in the high 70s to low 80s and another that was mid 50s to high 60s

[deanmike]

Nobody really thought you were "wrong". Your guess was reasonable - perfectly fair to think the budget will probably be the same as last year.

 

People were mostly taking issue with the definitive nature of your statements.

 

"They only have this much to spend"

"They won't spend last X dollars"

etc.

 

I guess I didn't want a bunch of people to set themselves up for disappointment when the Jays only add 1 more bat and call it an offseason.

 

Not just on this board, I've been seeing this sentiment everywhere from Jays fans. A lot of fans (maybe casuals?) seem to think that Atkins needs to overpay Chapman because they don't like the Biggio/IKF platoon (which could easily provide 2/3 of Chapman's fWAR at 3B for roughly 50-55% of his eventual AAV assuming he signs for 20M AAV or more), AND add 1 of Bellinger/Soler/JDM/Turner for everyday 1B/DH to "turn his offseason around after whiffing on Ohtani."

[DonJays]

Pretty nuts

 

91 mph FB and 81 knuckleball

 

Think Dickey was like 83 and 76

Who is this? Don’t have twitter

[Laika]

I guess I didn't want a bunch of people to set themselves up for disappointment when the Jays only add 1 more bat and call it an offseason.

 

Not just on this board, I've been seeing this sentiment everywhere from Jays fans. A lot of fans (maybe casuals?) seem to think that Atkins needs to overpay Chapman because they don't like the Biggio/IKF platoon (which could easily provide 2/3 of Chapman's fWAR at 3B for roughly 50-55% of his eventual AAV assuming he signs for 20M AAV or more), AND add 1 of Bellinger/Soler/JDM/Turner for everyday 1B/DH to "turn his offseason around after whiffing on Ohtani."

 

Yeah you're right that's almost certainly not happening

 

If they add two legit bats it's probably because someone like Soler has an AAV slightly lower than projected and then one decent vet like Tommy Pham can't find a job for some random reason and signs for $5M kind of desperately. Maybe Pham is a bad example but you know.

 

I do think the plan is to just raise the floor at 3B with Falaffle and then kind of hope some upside emerges from the glut of fringe infield incumbents. maybe a platoon, maybe a guy like Barger or Orelvis taking the job in the summer.

[Eat My Shatkins]

Who is this? Don’t have twitter

 

Jordan Powell

[Pendleton]

Who is this? Don’t have twitter

 

[DonJays]

Jordan Powell

 

Nice, thanks

[wamco]

Soler and grichuk please

[ilovejohnschneider]

 

johnny sources returns ?!

[Carlos Danger]

Soler and grichuk please

 

Please no to Grichuk.

[Jays24]

Please no to Grichuk.

 

Grichuk seems like the perfect platoon partner for Varsho based on what we can do realistically rest of the offseason.

[Carlos Danger]

Grichuk seems like the perfect platoon partner for Varsho based on what we can do realistically rest of the offseason.

 

High K half a season Grichuck who sucked in the OF also? There is a reason we got rid of him. He doesn't get a Colorado bump with is either.. Dumpster diving..

[Jays24]

High K half a season Grichuck who sucked in the OF also? There is a reason we got rid of him. He doesn't get a Colorado bump with is either.. Dumpster diving..

 

We got rid of him because of how much he makes. His defense as a corner OF with the Jays was good so not sure if thats fallen off.

 

And half season Grichuk at a very low price is perfectly fine. You can't expect more from a bench player anyways. His numbers against lefties are great and would provide more value at the plate than Varsho against lefties.

[wamco]

Like a 950 ops vs lefties over last 2 seasons and I’m sure can play adequate D

[Jonn]

Shitbriuk would be hitting cleanup mid season f*** that.

[max silver]

Like a 950 ops vs lefties over last 2 seasons and I’m sure can play adequate D

 

I'm not getting the hate here. Grichuk would be a great addition as a lefty mashing 4th outfielder. It's like the haters would prefer to run the likes of Biggio and Schneider in the outfield instead, and if one of the starters is injured then it's possible one of the aforementioned guys is suddenly starting games in the outfield on the regular.

[Jays24]

I'm not getting the hate here. Grichuk would be a great addition as a lefty mashing 4th outfielder. It's like the haters would prefer to run the likes of Biggio and Schneider in the outfield instead, and if one of the starters is injured then it's possible one of the aforementioned guys is suddenly starting games in the outfield on the regular.

 

Ya, people think we're getting Grichuk on a 5/52M deal to be a everyday starter. Him on a cheap 1 year deal to be our 4th OFer when we have 2 below average hitting lefties starting currently seems like a no brainer.

 

Sign Soler/Chappy/Grichuk. Trade Espinal/Yimi for prospects to free up money to allow for those signings.

[Carlos Danger]

Like a 950 ops vs lefties over last 2 seasons and I’m sure can play adequate D

 

Look at his HUGE drop off after he went from CO to LAA.

 

Also, with Varsho you have plus D so you can take some hit on on offense. Grichuk was really bad in the OF his last year here. They moved him out of CF and into RF. You guys don't recall the Yankee stadium game? Embarrassing! He wasn't even doing the basics like hitting the cut off man.

[Carlos Danger]

I'm not getting the hate here. Grichuk would be a great addition as a lefty mashing 4th outfielder. It's like the haters would prefer to run the likes of Biggio and Schneider in the outfield instead, and if one of the starters is injured then it's possible one of the aforementioned guys is suddenly starting games in the outfield on the regular.

 

No. It is not and I hope to God not Grichuck or an OF of Biggio/Mustach. I just remember what Grichuk was when he was here. It doesn't matter lefty or righty of he doesn't make contact...half the season.

[Laika]

Grichuk suxxxx

 

Probably not even an upgrade over current situation vs LHP which would be Varsho CF Schneider LF Espinal 2B

[L54]

Ya, people think we're getting Grichuk on a 5/52M deal to be a everyday starter. Him on a cheap 1 year deal to be our 4th OFer when we have 2 below average hitting lefties starting currently seems like a no brainer.

 

Sign Soler/Chappy/Grichuk. Trade Espinal/Yimi for prospects to free up money to allow for those signings.

 

They ain’t signing three guys lol you guys need to come to grips with that

[Jays24]

They ain’t signing three guys lol you guys need to come to grips with that

 

Fine... Grichuk doesn't really count as a "signing" anyways. I'll settle for one of Soler/J.D. and one of Chappy/Bellinger

[max silver]

Grichuk seems like the perfect platoon partner for Varsho based on what we can do realistically rest of the offseason.

 

Varsho actually outperformed Kiermaier against lefties in 2023 103 wRC+ to 98 wRC+ so it's not necessarily Varsho who would be platooned.

[max silver]

Look at his HUGE drop off after he went from CO to LAA.

 

Also, with Varsho you have plus D so you can take some hit on on offense. Grichuk was really bad in the OF his last year here. They moved him out of CF and into RF. You guys don't recall the Yankee stadium game? Embarrassing! He wasn't even doing the basics like hitting the cut off man.

 

He still mashed lefties when with the Angels as he produced a 136 wRC+. He'd likely be cheap as hell at this point to the point as well.

[Spanky99]

They ain’t signing three guys lol you guys need to come to grips with that

 

Yeah, it's one guy no doubt, a lefty masher is plausible on top of that, but...

[Jimcanuck]

I doubt Jays have any interest in Grichuk as a platoon bat against lefties. These types of players can be had at the deadline. So the better approach is to see if Vlad, Bo, Springer, Kirk meet projections, in which case there will be a different need for a deadline pickup.

[glory]

The Jays had the same OF last season but opted to go with Nathan Lukes as the 4th OF (and proceeded to never use him). I guess Merrifield was seen as the 4th OF, and now Schneider might be used in that 2B/LF hybrid role. I think the Jays should try to get a lefty mashing 4th OF (not Grichuk), but I think a DH might just be it barring a trade.

[Stangstag]

I don’t like the way this team is constructed right now. Whatever DH they sign basically replaces Belt, plus we lost Chapman.

 

Really feel like we need 2 more bats. Seems like every year the front office and fans know exactly what the glaring hole of the roster is going into the season and it has come back to bite us.

 

If they wanna wait until the deadline before assessing the weaknesses, fine. But they NEED to address those problems if they’re waiting til the deadline.

 

Adding a bat or 2 at the deadline last season would’ve made all the difference IMO. And in 2022, they should’ve added a solid RP.

[Laika]

I don’t like the way this team is constructed right now. Whatever DH they sign basically replaces Belt, plus we lost Chapman.

 

Really feel like we need 2 more bats. Seems like every year the front office and fans know exactly what the glaring hole of the roster is going into the season and it has come back to bite us.

 

If they wanna wait until the deadline before assessing the weaknesses, fine. But they NEED to address those problems if they’re waiting til the deadline.

 

Adding a bat or 2 at the deadline last season would’ve made all the difference IMO. And in 2022, they should’ve added a solid RP.

 

This is so not true about last year.

 

Everyone thought pitching depth and RP quality was the weakness before the season. The offense being limp only emerged as an issue as the season rolled along and Vlad/Kirk/Springer never got hot. You can argue that they should have traded for a big hitter but... easier said than done, and most still expected the incumbents to hit better in the second half, reasonably.

[wamco]

I’ll withhold judgement until I hear today’s budget update.

What you got for us Dean?