Jays Re-Sign KK to a 1/10.5 Deal

[Jays24]

Report: Kiermaier, Blue Jays agree to 1-year, $10.5M deal

https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/2804283

 

Discuss

[Jimcanuck]

4th OF

[jaysblue]

Awesome and happy to see KK back in Toronto! Nice OF depth to have and someone who could play CF if need be. Can't go wrong with one-year at $10.5M.

 

Hope they go out and sign Duvall now!

[Jays24]

Signing a guy like Teo would be perfect where he could split his time at DH and the OF.

 

Was always a massive KK fan so happy to see him back. Maybe Varsho gets moved for another immediate need but that seems shortsided since KK doesn't have much left in the tank.

[Stangstag]

4th OF

 

I like him as a 4th OF but I don’t see him putting up the same numbers as 2023.

 

If Varsho isn’t primarily a CF this year, he should be traded or made backup C

[Jimcanuck]

Primary return is more gals in the seats.

[jaysblue]

I like him as a 4th OF but I don’t see him putting up the same numbers as 2023.

 

If Varsho isn’t primarily a CF this year, he should be traded or made backup C

 

Yeah I see KK likely as a guy who gets around 300-400 PA's next season. Nothing more. Nice guy to bring in for depth which is what the team really needed.

[Jays24]

4th OF

 

Pretty sure this would make Varsho the 4th OFer if we happen to add someone else lol.

[Stangstag]

Pretty sure this would make Varsho the 4th OFer if we happen to add someone else lol.

 

Feel like Varsho should be used as a backup Catcher.

 

It’s almost inevitable either KK or Jansen will go down for at least a month. If you could plug Varsho into either of those spots he’s a very valuable piece even if the bat sucks again.

[Spanky99]

lol

[Jays24]

Feel like Varsho should be used as a backup Catcher.

 

It’s almost inevitable either KK or Jansen will go down for at least a month. If you could plug Varsho into either of those spots he’s a very valuable piece even if the bat sucks again.

 

No doubt... his defense, baserunning and ability to lay down the bunt makes him an ideal 4th OFer.

 

I just don't think Shatkins are ready to accept they traded Moreno/Gurriel for that so it's more likely he'd get moved before that happened.

[Laika]

2023

 

Varsho, 2.1 WAR

KK, 2.2 WAR

Springer, 2.2 WAR

 

2024 projection

 

Varsho, 3.0 WAR

Springer, 3.0 WAR

KK, 1.1 WAR

 

I don't think you really have a "4th OF"... you just have 4 outfielders. Bring in a RHB with some pop (or use Schneider in that role if you sign/trade for a 2B) and then between DH, injuries, and days off, everybody plays enough.

 

Someone like Brian Anderson might be a good fit. He can play RF/LF/3B and not a butcher anywhere. Too bad his offense has cratered and his projections are now soft.

 

Whit Merrifield started 70 games in the OF last year.

[Pendleton]

Run prevention will continue to be a theme

[Spanky99]

Run prevention will continue to be a theme

 

Yup, IKF next...

[Spanky99]

Awesome and happy to see KK back in Toronto! Nice OF depth to have and someone who could play CF if need be. Can't go wrong with one-year at $10.5M.

 

Hope they go out and sign Duvall now!

 

Who goes out? NVM... I'm dumn.

[Jays24]

As much as I love KK, our needs still remain the same.

- OF bat

- DH

- 3B

- backend RP (more of a nice to have)

[Grant77]

This signing pleases me. Fills a need with a known quantity and gives us flexibility to make other moves all without a long term commitment.

[Frenchsoup]

I'm fine with it, 10mill for good d, baserunning and nice abs at the bottom of our order. Good job Blue Jay's.

[L54]

25% of the budget feels dirty

[Frenchsoup]

Where'd u get that number L54?

[glory]

The contract/value is fine, but Varsho should be the starting CF. Another season where he's in LF is not maximizing his value/strengths. I guess we will see what the rest of the moves are. I think the best part of this deal is that it signifies the team is going with the short term vetrin route rather than blowing their wads in a weak FA market. For that reason alone I'm probably ok with it overall, but let's add some legit power with the other moves.

[BTS]

This is a good signing. The team needed two outfielders, and now they have one filled on a reasonable 1-year deal. He's going to put up ~1-2 WAR in 400 PA. Probably starts the season as the 4th OF, possibly the strong side of a LF platoon depending on who else is brought in.

[BTS]

The contract/value is fine, but Varsho should be the starting CF. Another season where he's in LF is not maximizing his value/strengths. I guess we will see what the rest of the moves are. I think the best part of this deal is that it signifies the team is going with the short term vetrin route rather than blowing their wads in a weak FA market. For that reason alone I'm probably ok with it overall, but let's add some legit power with the other moves.

 

Just play Varsho in CF. Keirmaier on the corners, and in CF when Varsho isn't playing. KK is 34. He'll play where he's told to play, and isn't owed primary CF innings.

[Jays24]

There is no way one of the best defensive CFs of his generation is being told to play LF in free agency. You guys clearly haven't seen his ego defensively (rightly deserved) to think he'd choose Toronto and that they'd pay him 10.5M to be a corner OFer.

 

KK starting in CF is a lock for as long as he's healthy. I wouldn't expect him to play a single inning elsewhere like last year.

[deanmike]

Where'd u get that number L54?

 

Jays likely have a luxury tax payroll internal cap of 256M for 2024, which is just below the 2nd luxury tax threshold (which adds a 12% surcharge). Last season they were a 2nd threshold luxury tax spender (went roughly 25M over the luxury tax threshold of 233M in 2023). In 2024 the luxury tax threshold is 237M, and Shapiro said the budget will be roughly the same as last season.

 

258M of luxury tax commitments in 2023 compared to 256M in 2024 is roughly the same, and the 20% tax plus 12% surcharge from being a 1st year 2nd threshold tax team in 2023 should amount to a similar tax bill as being a 2nd year 1st threshold tax team in 2024 (30% tax with no surcharge).

 

Per Fangraphs the Jays current estimated luxury tax payroll is roughly 223M (updated post KK signing and includes arb projections). Before the KK signing it was roughly 213M in luxury tax commitments. 256-213 equals 43M, and 10.5 divided by 43 is roughly 24.4%. Hence why L54 rounded up slightly and said 25%.

[Jonn]

As much as I love KK, our needs still remain the same.

- OF bat

- DH

- 3B

- backend RP (more of a nice to have)

 

Oh thank god. Great signing for 2024. He’s my CF

 

Sign Soler and another bat for LF and fire Varsho into the sun.

[Jonn]

Just play Varsho in CF. Keirmaier on the corners, and in CF when Varsho isn't playing. KK is 34. He'll play where he's told to play, and isn't owed primary CF innings.

 

Kiermaier just won the gold glove in CF why the f*** would move to an OF corner lol

 

There’s no universe where that mental midget Varsho is a better CF in 2024.

[BTS]

There is no way one of the best defensive CFs of his generation is being told to play LF in free agency. You guys clearly haven't seen his ego defensively (rightly deserved) to think he'd choose Toronto and that they'd pay him 10.5M to be a corner OFer.

 

KK starting in CF is a lock for as long as he's healthy. I wouldn't expect him to play a single inning elsewhere like last year.

 

They're paying him 10.5M. They can play him at 2B if they want to. If a 34-year old part-time OF can't candle being told to play a corner, he can sit at home and make nothing.

[The Cats Ass]

Love him as a 4th OFer/injury replacement. Springer had an unusually healthy year last year.

[Jays24]

They're paying him 10.5M. They can play him at 2B if they want to. If a 34-year old part-time OF can't candle being told to play a corner, he can sit at home and make nothing.

 

Loll so what do you want to bet that KK is our starting CF for 2024?

 

Some of you guys sound delusional here. I understand this move makes Varsho look like bad because his bat isn't good enough in the corner OF but the Jays management made their decision as of right now. Maybe Varsho comes to Spring Training and takes the job away from KK with his play. Let's see.