Blue Jays Free Agents and Qualifying Offers

[AdamGreenwood]

Looking ahead to the off-season, we have the following players on expiring contracts.

Qualifying Offers have been calculated to be around 20.5 MM

 

1) Hyun-Jin Ryu

He's been decent when not injured, but given his age, his injury history, and his inconsistency, I don't think he's worth $20 MM

 

Recommendation: No QO. Offer 2/25.

 

2) Matt Chapman

In May, this would have been a no-brainer, but Chapman has hit under .550 OPS since August 1st.

 

Recommendation: No QO. No offer.

 

3) Kevin Keiermaier

Great defense. Palatable offense. Great clubhouse guy. But not worth $20MM

 

Recommendation: No QO: Offer 3/23

 

4) Whit Merrifield.

We have an $18 MM mutual option, which we'll decline and a QO doesn't make sense now.

Whit is alright, but we have younger, cheaper guys who deserve more PT (Biggio).

He's also not the best utility guy, as he plays 2B and a bad LF, and not much else.

 

Recommendation: No QO: No offer.

[L54]

I would offer Chapman the QO and try to bring back Ryu. The other two can walk.

[max silver]

I would offer Chapman the QO and try to bring back Ryu. The other two can walk.

 

Full agree here. I'd have zero issue with taking Chapman back on a 1 year deal if the offers in free agency aren't to his liking, and given the high likelihood he receives a multi year deal to his liking the team gets a draft pick.

 

Having Kiermaier and Varsho on the same roster is a poor use of resources, and trusting Manoah to bounce back without a back-up plan is asking for trouble. I think he should need to earn his way back into the rotation next season and shouldn't be guaranteed anything.

 

I used to think I'd be on board with bringing Whit back on a reasonable multi year deal, but his later season struggles at the plate have me flip flopping. He's done little to nothing at the plate for nearly 2 months as he's struggled to the tune of a 55 WRC+ dating back to the start of August. I like Schneider far more moving forward and would prefer the money it would take to retain Merrifield be used elsewhere.

[John_Havok]

Full agree here. I'd have zero issue with taking Chapman back on a 1 year deal if the offers in free agency aren't to his liking, and given the high likelihood he receives a multi year deal to his liking the team gets a draft pick.

 

Having Kiermaier and Varsho on the same roster is a poor use of resources, and trusting Manoah to bounce back without a back-up plan is asking for trouble. I think he should need to earn his way back into the rotation next season and shouldn't be guaranteed anything.

 

I used to think I'd be on board with bringing Whit back on a reasonable multi year deal, but his later season struggles at the plate have me flip flopping. He's done little to nothing at the plate for nearly 2 months as he's struggled to the tune of a 55 WRC+ dating back to the start of August. I like Schneider far more moving forward and would prefer the money it would take to retain Merrifield be used elsewhere.

 

I’m still open to Whit coming back but the dollars are getting lower by the day. 2/16ish maybe. As cold as he is with the bat right now, having a bench guy who can play multiple positions, hits lefties and runs well are good guys to have around. Punt Espinal, keep Biggio, Whit, Clement and Horwitz as the primary bench guys alongside the backup catcher. Good mix of youth and experience, pretty much every position covered and would be around 12 million total. Leaves lots of payroll flex to address LF and the pitching

[G-Snarls]

I would offer Chapman the QO and try to bring back Ryu. The other two can walk.

 

Agree completely

 

We'll take a draft pick and let someone else pay for a declining streaky Chapman

 

I'd love to have Ryu back on a reasonable 1-2 year deal

 

Merrifield was great for half the year. I don't see keeping him. Biggio appears perfectly adequate to cover his utility role. Would keep Merrifield only if deal is cheap and they punt Espinal but we know that won't happen.

 

KK was great but probably not staying. Varsho will almost certainly be handed full time CF duties. Love KK but he probably gets a full time CF job somewhere else. We need a bigger bat in the OF to go with Varsho and Springer.

Edited September 21, 2023 by G-Snarls

[Omar]

Hopefully none of them come back. Least of all Chapman. I hope Chapman signs a four year deal with the Yanks and proceeds to stink the joint out.

[G-Snarls]

Hopefully none of them come back. Least of all Chapman. I hope Chapman signs a four year deal with the Yanks and proceeds to stink the joint out.

 

Was thinking exactly the same thing LOL

[Grant77]

Not offering a QO to Chapman would be a mistake.

[Laika]

Have to offer it to Chapman.

 

The free agent pile for 3B is scarce so he almost certainly turns it down. But even if he accepts it, that's fine too!

[Ehjays]

I agree with giving Chapman the QO, no way Boras will allow him to take it knowing there are teams like the Yankees in need of a 3B in a very thin free agent class for 3B

[bigshot84]

we cannot offer QO for Ryu because dodgers offered him already , QO is only once in life time

[G-Snarls]

we cannot offer QO for Ryu because dodgers offered him already , QO is only once in life time

 

s*** you're right I forgot

 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/dodgers-ryu-player-accept-17-9m-qualifying-offer/#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%20%E2%80%94%20Los%20Angeles%20Dodgers,is%20considered%20a%20signed%20player.

 

It worked out great for the Dodgers since next season he led the National League in ERA and finished second to deGrom in Cy Young voting.

 

Then it worked out well for the us too because we didn't have to give up a draft pick the next year when we signed him

[jaysblue]

Looking ahead to the off-season, we have the following players on expiring contracts.

Qualifying Offers have been calculated to be around 20.5 MM

 

1) Hyun-Jin Ryu

He's been decent when not injured, but given his age, his injury history, and his inconsistency, I don't think he's worth $20 MM

 

Recommendation: No QO. Offer 2/25.

 

2) Matt Chapman

In May, this would have been a no-brainer, but Chapman has hit under .550 OPS since August 1st.

 

Recommendation: No QO. No offer.

 

3) Kevin Keiermaier

Great defense. Palatable offense. Great clubhouse guy. But not worth $20MM

 

Recommendation: No QO: Offer 3/23

 

4) Whit Merrifield.

We have an $18 MM mutual option, which we'll decline and a QO doesn't make sense now.

Whit is alright, but we have younger, cheaper guys who deserve more PT (Biggio).

He's also not the best utility guy, as he plays 2B and a bad LF, and not much else.

 

Recommendation: No QO: No offer.

 

I would offer Chapman a QO. He still put up a 3 WAR season despite his bat being awful. If he accepts, that would be awesome. If he declines, might limit the numbers of buyers who don't want to lose their pick, so Toronto might have an advantage to bring him back on a 1-year pillow contract or maybe 2 year deal. Don't think he's getting anything close to $150M like we all thought before this season.

 

I'm okay with bringing back Ryu at 2/25 or on a one-year deal worth around $10-12M.

 

I love KK but if the plan is to move Varsho to CF, would rather go after a big bat in LF.

 

Merrifield probably isn't back given the emergence of Babe and Biggio I think could fill in the role as a super utility guy who gets 300-400 ABs against RHP. Open to having Merrifield back if he's at around $7-8M and if money isn't an issue.

[jaysblue]

I agree with giving Chapman the QO, no way Boras will allow him to take it knowing there are teams like the Yankees in need of a 3B in a very thin free agent class for 3B

 

Yankees will likely trade for Machado.

[G-Snarls]

Yankees will likely trade for Machado.

 

That would suck

[jaysblue]

That would suck

 

Yeah I'm most worried about the Yankees this offseason. No way they just stand pat after their disappointing season. They make a big splash or two this offseason, and I still think they land Ohtani.

[hanton]

Looking ahead to the off-season, we have the following players on expiring contracts.

Qualifying Offers have been calculated to be around 20.5 MM

 

1) Hyun-Jin Ryu

He's been decent when not injured, but given his age, his injury history, and his inconsistency, I don't think he's worth $20 MM

 

Recommendation: No QO. Offer 2/25.

 

2) Matt Chapman

In May, this would have been a no-brainer, but Chapman has hit under .550 OPS since August 1st.

 

Recommendation: No QO. No offer.

 

3) Kevin Keiermaier

Great defense. Palatable offense. Great clubhouse guy. But not worth $20MM

 

Recommendation: No QO: Offer 3/23

 

4) Whit Merrifield.

We have an $18 MM mutual option, which we'll decline and a QO doesn't make sense now.

Whit is alright, but we have younger, cheaper guys who deserve more PT (Biggio).

He's also not the best utility guy, as he plays 2B and a bad LF, and not much else.

 

Recommendation: No QO: No offer.

 

If I had to pick one it would be Chapman but I would rather not offer any

 

Don't REALLY need Ryu, Varsho replaces KK, Biggio kinda replaces Chapman but if not some internal option or FA and Babe replaces Merrifield

 

Spend the mony on a BIG OF bat or 2

[L54]

If I had to pick one it would be Chapman but I would rather not offer any

 

Don't REALLY need Ryu, Varsho replaces KK, Biggio kinda replaces Chapman but if not some internal option or FA and Babe replaces Merrifield

 

Spend the mony on a BIG OF bat or 2

 

Ya ideally you offer Chapman the QO and he declines and you take the pick. It’s nice at least that there only appears to be one infield position to fill now instead of two

[Spanky99]

Ya ideally you offer Chapman the QO and he declines and you take the pick. It’s nice at least that there only appears to be one infield position to fill now instead of two

 

A QO is a must for Chappy and sign Ryu, i like Greenwood's suggestion, 2/20 Max though, should be able to get him cheaper I think.

Edited September 22, 2023 by Spanky99

[Laika]

I don't see the allure of Ryu. I think you just thank him for his service and consider him as one of the many free agent SP. Maybe you end up with him, but probably not.

[John_Havok]

Isn't Hicks also a pending free agent?

 

Also, Yimi has a player option for 6 million. It's not a non-zero chance he declines and tries to get a multiyear deal but it's probably so unlikely it's not worth discussing.

[L54]

Doesn’t have to be Ryu but you have to bring in a bonafide big league rotation piece. Ryu should come cheap and familiarity on both ends

[John_Havok]

Doesn’t have to be Ryu but you have to bring in a bonafide big league rotation piece. Ryu should come cheap and familiarity on both ends

 

Yeah there's lots of fish out there this offseason

 

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/starting-pitcher/?ref=trending-page

[hanton]

Isn't Hicks also a pending free agent?

 

Also, Yimi has a player option for 6 million. It's not a non-zero chance he declines and tries to get a multiyear deal but it's probably so unlikely it's not worth discussing.

 

I think players aquired during the season are not eligible for a qo

[keggy]

What about the Chad Green option situation

[Spanky99]

What about the Chad Green option situation

 

I'm sure they want to see how he does down this stretch. It's a lot of money to commit too, should be an interesting situation for sure.

[Spanky99]

I don't see much their as #5's, I trust Ryu with that pinpoint command and baseball IQ, but that's me, obviously.

[Spanky99]

Doesn’t have to be Ryu but you have to bring in a bonafide big league rotation piece. Ryu should come cheap and familiarity on both ends

 

This.

[John_Havok]

I think players aquired during the season are not eligible for a qo

 

Yeah, knew that. Thought the OP was meaning to include all pending FAs, not just the ones that are QO eligible. My misunderstanding there

[John_Havok]

What about the Chad Green option situation

 

You need an economics degree to figure out all those options

 

• First, the Blue Jays get a club option covering the 2024-26 seasons for $27 million over three years, with annual performance bonuses of up to $1 million based on games pitched;

 

• If the Blue Jays decline that option, Green gets a player option for the 2024 season worth $6.25 million with up to $2 million in bonuses based on games pitched;

 

• If Green declines that, the Blue Jays get a final $21-million, two-year club option covering 2024-25 with annual performance bonuses of up to $1 million based on games pitched.