General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2024)

[Terminator]

This is just sad

 

Yeah what a disaster. Vlad saying he'd be fine with a trade to the Yankees. Bo sounding like he wants out.

[Laika]

Somehow the Blue Jays are having the saddest season in baseball

 

White Sox and Angels and Rockies fans are having a better time I bet

[Omar]

Atkins is on Overdrive right now and Hayes asked him about this, he said he was surprised on that comment and wants to talk to Bo

 

either way this team is one hot mess right now

 

LMAO! Atkins finding out from a radio host who does mostly hockey about the attitude of his players. Clown show mode:ENGAGED!

[Terminator]

The Yankees are going to pound us.

 

Judge will be dropping bombs. Michael Kay will be talking s*** all series and he'll bring up Vlad's latest comments every time he's up to the plate. Aaron Boone will clown Schneider and Pete Walker the whole time.

[BatFlip]

Yeah what a disaster. Vlad saying he'd be fine with a trade to the Yankees. Bo sounding like he wants out.

 

This is a rapidly sinking ship.

[hanton]

LMAO! Atkins finding out from a radio host who does mostly hockey about the attitude of his players. Clown show mode:ENGAGED!

 

I'm assuming he was aware of it before coming on the show...but who knows

[Terminator]

 

Doesn't sound like either of them even want to be here at this point.

[HomeRunHomer]

The Blue Jays management sure stamped out the "players are having too much fun" problem.

[PhillyBlueJay]

The Blue Jays management sure stamped out the "players are having too much fun" problem.

 

Bo wants out IMO.

 

https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/2932579

[Omar]

The Atkins interview today:

 

[hanton]

^Blair hitting him hard, about time

[BTS]

 

I think AJ Preller is mostly a clown. But holy f*** this team could use some of his style right now. Why the extreme risk-aversion? Why are we pretending like Bo and Vlad are untouchable franchise cornerstones? Things aren't working and it's OK to make significant changes.

[G-Snarls]

The only truly wrong thing to do would be to let Vladdy and Bo walk for draft picks

 

That's what stupid gutless directionless teams do

[BigCecil]

The only truly wrong thing to do would be to let Vladdy and Bo walk for draft picks

 

That's what stupid gutless directionless teams do

 

Vlad has value in 2024. If he won’t extend on reasonable deal, move him. Will be a sellers market.

[BTS]

The only truly wrong thing to do would be to let Vladdy and Bo walk for draft picks

 

That's what stupid gutless directionless teams do

 

A close second would be long-term extensions for them because they're already here and Atkins doesn't like change. There is zero chance that a team like LAD, NYY, ATL, or TB would be looking to commit to either of these guys this offseason. That's loser s***.

 

Actually I'd probably rather have the comp pick than either Bo or Vlad on a long-term deal.

[G-Snarls]

A close second would be long-term extensions for them because they're already here and Atkins doesn't like change. There is zero chance that a team like LAD, NYY, ATL, or TB would be looking to commit to either of these guys this offseason. That's loser s***.

 

Actually I'd probably rather have the comp pick than either Bo or Vlad on a long-term deal.

 

Depends on the deal to me. Xander Bogaerts deal for Bo? f*** no. Matt Olsen deal for Vladdy? Yes.

[jaysblue]

^Blair hitting him hard, about time

 

Blair asked him some tough questions. Glad he did.

 

The issue with Atkins is that he has never built a good enough "all-around roster" during his tenure here. Just always feels like one area on the team is lacking when it shouldn't. Whether in 2021, it was the BP or in 2022 was the defensive inabilities, or in 2023 and 2024 which was the lack of power in the lineup. Not blaming the bullpen this season on him, though you can blame the lack of player development and drafting, for not having any arms waiting in the wings.

 

Otherwise, overall I think Atkins has done a lot of great things while being GM here. He's built one of the strongest and durable rotations over the last two years, he's built a really solid pen in 2023, has improved the teams defense greatly in 2023 and has made some great FA signings over the years here as well. He just hasn't been able to take this roster to the next level, which is the disappointing and frustrating thing given some of the talent accured over the last couple of years.

[Carlos Danger]

Blair asked him some tough questions. Glad he did.

 

The issue with Atkins is that he has never built a good enough "all-around roster" during his tenure here. Just always feels like one area on the team is lacking when it shouldn't. Whether in 2021, it was the BP or in 2022 was the defensive inabilities, or in 2023 and 2024 which was the lack of power in the lineup. Not blaming the bullpen this season on him, though you can blame the lack of player development and drafting, for not having any arms waiting in the wings.

 

Otherwise, overall I think Atkins has done a lot of great things while being GM here. He's built one of the strongest and durable rotations over the last two years, he's built a really solid pen in 2023, has improved the teams defense greatly in 2023 and has made some great FA signings over the years here as well. He just hasn't been able to take this roster to the next level, which is the disappointing and frustrating thing given some of the talent accured over the last couple of years.

 

That was the Shapiro way in Cleveland. Didn’t have that killer instinct balls in to put the team over the top.

[saskjayfan]

A close second would be long-term extensions for them because they're already here and Atkins doesn't like change. There is zero chance that a team like LAD, NYY, ATL, or TB would be looking to commit to either of these guys this offseason. That's loser s***.

 

Actually I'd probably rather have the comp pick than either Bo or Vlad on a long-term deal.

 

You're giving up on Vlad. The Jays have been preaching let the ball travel, hit it to center or right for 2 years. They've been missing meatballs for the last 2 years, but their strike out and walk rates have improved. It looks like they hitters have finally said f*** that and they are being more aggressive. Vlad's going to have a monster second half.

 

Bo is checked out. He looks like a guy who's given up. He swings at everything. The Jays need to trade him. Vlad. I'm not taking a f***ing comp pick for Vlad.

[BTS]

You're giving up on Vlad. The Jays have been preaching let the ball travel, hit it to center or right for 2 years. They've been missing meatballs for the last 2 years, but their strike out and walk rates have improved. It looks like they hitters have finally said f*** that and they are being more aggressive. Vlad's going to have a monster second half.

 

Bo is checked out. He looks like a guy who's given up. He swings at everything. The Jays need to trade him. Vlad. I'm not taking a f***ing comp pick for Vlad.

 

I’m less convinced of trading Vlad. But I don’t think he should be extended long-term unless he plays to a level that shows he deserves it. Definitely not throwing 160 or 200M at him hoping he figures it out. The bar for actually being difficult to replace at 1B is too high. If he finished the season strong and finishes within a 3-4 win season then yeah maybe.

 

Bo has so many red flags that I think an extension would be madness.

[Eat My Shatkins]

Yeah, IMO the sooner they trade Bo the better. Give Jiminez some reps and see if there is anything there and along with IKF you aren't really missing much with Bo gone. At least not this version of Bo.

 

Then if need be take a run at Adames/Kim in the off season.

[max silver]

I’m less convinced of trading Vlad. But I don’t think he should be extended long-term unless he plays to a level that shows he deserves it. Definitely not throwing 160 or 200M at him hoping he figures it out. The bar for actually being difficult to replace at 1B is too high. If he finished the season strong and finishes within a 3-4 win season then yeah maybe.

 

Bo has so many red flags that I think an extension would be madness.

 

Vlad has been mashing for the last two months now. He put up a 173 wRC+ from April 28-June 8 despite the lack of power as he hit only 4 home runs. This shows how productive he can be even without the ball leaving the yard. He cooled off for a week in early June with a -37 wRC+ over a 6 game sample before the recent power explosion which has seen a 215 wRC+ over an 11 game sample including 4 home runs. I legitimately think he's earned an extension at this point as he's most likely fixed at the plate, but it's most likely going to be difficult for Vlad and the club to align on value at this point given how close he is to reaching free agency.

[BatFlip]

Vlad has been mashing for the last two months now. He put up a 173 wRC+ from April 28-June 8 despite the lack of power as he hit only 4 home runs. This shows how productive he can be even without the ball leaving the yard. He cooled off for a week in early June with a -37 wRC+ over a 6 game sample before the recent power explosion which has seen a 215 wRC+ over an 11 game sample including 4 home runs. I legitimately think he's earned an extension at this point as he's most likely fixed at the plate, but it's most likely going to be difficult for Vlad and the club to align on value at this point given how close he is to reaching free agency.

 

Max, I'm curious on your thoughts.

 

What do you think a) Vladdy's market value would be based on how things stand now (i.e. if he theoretically hit the market with these numbers); and what is the max figure you would be willing to extend him for right now weighing all the risk/reward as well as some of the intangibles (i.e. fan engagement, marketing).

[max silver]

Max, I'm curious on your thoughts.

 

What do you think a) Vladdy's market value would be based on how things stand now (i.e. if he theoretically hit the market with these numbers); and what is the max figure you would be willing to extend him for right now weighing all the risk/reward as well as some of the intangibles (i.e. fan engagement, marketing).

 

I hate to even really hazard a guess here as I just don't know what the market value for Vlad would be. He's already earning $20 million per season, and if he continues mashing the rest of the season he's going to see a massive raise in arbitration as he received a $5 million raise last offseason despite the relative struggles of 2023. It's hard to see him signing long term for less than a $25 million AAV as a result.

 

He should be able to roll out of bed and produce 150 wRC+ seasons based on his raw talent alone but unfortunately that hasn't been the case other than his MVP caliber 2021 season. First base/DH types haven't been handed out monster extensions or free agency deals in recent seasons so there isn't really a recent precedent for one of these types of deals for a player with his natural offensive gifts that primarily mans first base. I think the early declines of all of Pujols, Fielder and Cabrera outlined the hazards of giving out mega deals to defensively limited and/or bad body types of players and this will likely limit the overall term that Vlad receives. I think once Vlad eventually signs an extension or in free agency this will likely set a bit of a new precedent moving forward.

[Carlos Danger]

Vlad has been mashing for the last two months now. He put up a 173 wRC+ from April 28-June 8 despite the lack of power as he hit only 4 home runs. This shows how productive he can be even without the ball leaving the yard. He cooled off for a week in early June with a -37 wRC+ over a 6 game sample before the recent power explosion which has seen a 215 wRC+ over an 11 game sample including 4 home runs. I legitimately think he's earned an extension at this point as he's most likely fixed at the plate, but it's most likely going to be difficult for Vlad and the club to align on value at this point given how close he is to reaching free agency.

 

Using only wRC+ for Vlad and comparing him to other “superstars” is a fools game this year.

 

The deep dive on Vlad up until recently was his ABs with RISP were night and day. Only 3 of his HRs prior to the hot streak the last week or so were with runners on.

 

I need to see more consistency from Vlad as a slugger with RISP before I consider an extension that compares wRC+ to others in the league when determining AAV.

[The_DH]

Using only wRC+ for Vlad and comparing him to other “superstars” is a fools game this year.

 

The deep dive on Vlad up until recently was his ABs with RISP were night and day. Only 3 of his HRs prior to the hot streak the last week or so were with runners on.

 

I need to see more consistency from Vlad as a slugger with RISP before I consider an extension that compares wRC+ to others in the league when determining AAV.

 

I think the whole problem is that Vlad can't be the offensive leader of the team, he has to be #2 or 3 run producer. He would probably be amazing on the Yankees. He's got the abilities just not the head for it.

[max silver]

Using only wRC+ for Vlad and comparing him to other “superstars” is a fools game this year.

 

The deep dive on Vlad up until recently was his ABs with RISP were night and day. Only 3 of his HRs prior to the hot streak the last week or so were with runners on.

 

I need to see more consistency from Vlad as a slugger with RISP before I consider an extension that compares wRC+ to others in the league when determining AAV.

 

Not sure I agree that Vlad's production with runners in scoring position is any kind of issue. He's up to 128 wRC+ with RISP for the season as a whole, but it's been trending upwards much like his overall numbers over his two month hot streak. Up until nearly the end of April he was sitting at 38 wRC+ which is obviously terrible for a player in a run production spot in the lineup. Over the last two months he's produced 177 wRC+ with runners in scoring position which is actually better production that his overall numbers over that span of time.

[Brownie19]

I think the whole problem is that Vlad can't be the offensive leader of the team, he has to be #2 or 3 run producer. He would probably be amazing on the Yankees. He's got the abilities just not the head for it.

 

I'm not sure I agree with that. He was the #1 hitter on the team in 2021 and 2022, when the Jays were a Top 2 offense in baseball. He didn't produce last year, but appears to have made adjustments and is trending up once again as a hitter.

[Spanky99]

Brownie on point today, enjoy the long weekend folks, Go Jays Go!

[glory]

Definitely on the extend Vlad/trade Bo train. I think the front office will eventually reach this position as well if they haven’t already.