Jays sign IKF.... 2/15 LOL... F U Wacko!

[L54]

Ross Atkins turning into Kim Ng by acquiring cute slap hitting infielders. Someone check his T levels stat.

 

Trade Vlad for Arraez

[Abomination]

The only way I'm not completely outraged with this is if IKF is purely a late inning defensive replacement and injury insurance. I really hate this signing.

[Krylian]

The only way I'm not completely outraged with this is if IKF is purely a late inning defensive replacement and injury insurance. I really hate this signing.

 

Falafel for everyone!

[max silver]

The only way I'm not completely outraged with this is if IKF is purely a late inning defensive replacement and injury insurance. I really hate this signing.

 

This offseason has been semi depressing so far. I should be used to this type of early off season from this front office as they've typically taken their time letting the market settle before making their bigger moves later on. It's still hard not to be disappointed at this juncture though as we've gone from dreaming about the likes of Ohtani, Soto and Yamamoto, but no big deal as there are still quality players like Chapman and Bellinger on the market. But then the team pivots and signs floor raising/low ceiling types like Kiermaier and IKF. Hopefully the team has some further free agency and trade moves up it's sleeve as the early moves are incredibly uninspiring to say the least.

[burlingtonbandit]

I find it funny how people are saying this is a good move and that they can just dump Espinal. While Espinal had a bad year last year he was better in 21 and 22 than IKF has been. Also better against LHP.

 

IKF and KK deals aren’t terrible on the surface in terms of value but look like a terrible fit on this blue jays roster given there are lots of good defence/weak offense options. Also seems like a bad use of $ paying $17M a year for 2 bench players when they needed a lot more, and have cheaper options on the roster already.

[John_Havok]

I find it funny how people are saying this is a good move and that they can just dump Espinal. While Espinal had a bad year last year he was better in 21 and 22 than IKF has been. Also better against LHP.

 

IKF and KK deals aren’t terrible on the surface in terms of value but look like a terrible fit on this blue jays roster given there are lots of good defence/weak offense options. Also seems like a bad use of $ paying $17M a year for 2 bench players when they needed a lot more, and have cheaper options on the roster already.

 

The move , in a vacuum, is not a “good move.” It’s kinda sideways and slightly backwards when dollars are considered if all you do is compare IKF to Espinal.

 

But, this move can’t be evaluated in a vacuum. IMO it’s clear they have a trade worked out and Espinal is part of it, they knew they needed to find a replacement, and it just happens that the signing is being announced before the trade.

 

At least, I hope that’s what it is because if that’s not the plan, the move doesn’t make a ton of sense.

[Jonn]

IKF has never posted an OPS above .682 and just got 15 million for 2 years. Like what the actual f*** are they thinking. A utility infielder is only valuable to me if they can actually add something offensively to a variety of positions in a pinch.

[Jays24]

This offseason has been semi depressing so far. I should be used to this type of early off season from this front office as they've typically taken their time letting the market settle before making their bigger moves later on. It's still hard not to be disappointed at this juncture though as we've gone from dreaming about the likes of Ohtani, Soto and Yamamoto, but no big deal as there are still quality players like Chapman and Bellinger on the market. But then the team pivots and signs floor raising/low ceiling types like Kiermaier and IKF. Hopefully the team has some further free agency and trade moves up it's sleeve as the early moves are incredibly uninspiring to say the least.

 

Holy crap, I expected this post from someone like me lol.

 

I truly believe we are going to make one big splash heading into the season to get fans and the team excited for the season. There is no way we are just going to work around the edges here.

[Jays24]

The move , in a vacuum, is not a “good move.” It’s kinda sideways and slightly backwards when dollars are considered if all you do is compare IKF to Espinal.

 

But, this move can’t be evaluated in a vacuum. IMO it’s clear they have a trade worked out and Espinal is part of it, they knew they needed to find a replacement, and it just happens that the signing is being announced before the trade.

 

At least, I hope that’s what it is because if that’s not the plan, the move doesn’t make a ton of sense.

 

This is exactly how I see it too. They added 2 guys that could potentially make Varsho/Espinal expendable. We can still sign Hadar and add Romano to the trade package to get some impact talent in LF/3B.

 

To me, these moves have signaled they are looking at the trade market to improve the team and Bellinger/Chapman are out as choices.

[max silver]

This is exactly how I see it too. They added 2 guys that could potentially make Varsho/Espinal expendable. We can still sign Hadar and add Romano to the trade package to get some impact talent in LF/3B.

 

To me, these moves have signaled they are looking at the trade market to improve the team and Bellinger/Chapman are out as choices.

 

Varsho was still acquired after the team signed Kiermaier last season so there's no reason to think he's suddenly expendable after Kiermaier was brought back. The team was perfectly happy to run both guys in the outfield last season and Varsho provides a perfect insurance policy to cover for any potential Kiermaier injuries.

[Laika]

bWAR loved IKF. Some 3 WAR seasons on his BR resume... and a 5 win pace in 2020

[John_Havok]

Varsho was still acquired after the team signed Kiermaier last season so there's no reason to think he's suddenly expendable after Kiermaier was brought back. The team was perfectly happy to run both guys in the outfield last season and Varsho provides a perfect insurance policy to cover for any potential Kiermaier injuries.

 

How anyone arrives at the conclusion that Varsho is expendable because they signed KK just doesn’t get it.

 

They ended up with nearly identical fWAR last season, but to do so the mid thirties guy over performed his offense, while the 26 year old drastically underperformed his.

 

One thing you got backwards though…..Varsho is not the KK insurance policy, KK is the Varsho insurance policy

[Jays24]

Varsho was still acquired after the team signed Kiermaier last season so there's no reason to think he's suddenly expendable after Kiermaier was brought back. The team was perfectly happy to run both guys in the outfield last season and Varsho provides a perfect insurance policy to cover for any potential Kiermaier injuries.

 

Pretty sure we traded for Varsho first and then signed KK afterwards last year but that's besides my point. My point was that the team is making free agent signings to potentially offer other teams cheap controllable talent to teams in a money crunch. It doesn't mean that Varsho WILL go out but just that it's more of a possibility today than it was yesterday.

 

They probably think this is the better route than overpaying Bellinger/Chapman, which most would probably agree with. But let's see what follow up moves are made because this definitely cannot be it. There's too much pressure on Atkins to take the team forward, not backwards.

[gruber92]

He's a bench guy, no way he's a starter. More moves to come

 

A little pricey for a bench player with no bat. $15M guaranteed is really f***ing stupid.

[Jays24]

How anyone arrives at the conclusion that Varsho is expendable because they signed KK just doesn’t get it.

 

They ended up with nearly identical fWAR last season, but to do so the mid thirties guy over performed his offense, while the 26 year old drastically underperformed his.

 

Varsho is not the KK insurance policy, KK is the Varsho insurance policy

 

No one said that its definitely going to happen, just that Its a possible outcome to the direction our front office has gone thus far. Improving our team on the trade market vs free agency could be the solution because if it's not then wtf are we doing with these signings lol.

[gruber92]

Won a gold glove? Is that now a credible metric?

 

It is when it has to be, lol.

[Jays24]

A little pricey for a bench player with no bat. $15M guaranteed is really f***ing stupid.

 

Ya pretty sure he'll be our starting 3B with us looking for impact bats at LF and the DH spot. No one gives 15M to a guy who sucks at hitting to be a bench player when you already have similar players who can do that for a lot less lol.

[gruber92]

Ya pretty sure he'll be our starting 3B with us looking for impact bats at LF and the DH spot. No one gives 15M to a guy who sucks at hitting to be a bench player when you already have similar players who can do that for a lot less lol.

 

Ross exists on a different frequency that we yet to grasp.

[Jays24]

Ross exists on a different frequency that we yet to grasp.

 

There's a bunch of ppl here who always seem to be on Ross's frequency but looks like even they're losing faith lol.

 

I'm gonna wait a bit longer to call this a trash offseason because part of me believes there's a big trade in the works from a team in a money crunch situation.

[max silver]

Ya pretty sure he'll be our starting 3B with us looking for impact bats at LF and the DH spot. No one gives 15M to a guy who sucks at hitting to be a bench player when you already have similar players who can do that for a lot less lol.

 

If IKF was signed to be a starter at third this team is going to be in tough generating much offense from the bottom of the order. I really doubt that he's expected to be anything other than a utility type of player though but time will tell.

[Jays24]

If IKF was signed to be a starter at third this team is going to be in tough generating much offense from the bottom of the order. I really doubt that he's expected to be anything other than a utility type of player though but time will tell.

 

Hope you're right but don't think we have that much money to throw around where we give 7.5M to a backup utility player when we have massive holes in the starting lineup.

[Brownie19]

Why do fans have such a hard time chilling out until the end of the off-season? Outrage on Dec 27th before you have any idea what other moves will be made or what role IKF will play on this team is pretty stupid.

[Dick_Pole]

A little pricey for a bench player with no bat. $15M guaranteed is really f***ing stupid.

 

This is the most not unhinged take Gruber has ever had.

[Spanky99]

From Ohtani to this

 

Is this a shock? I mean concerning they missed out on the Japanese guys, this is what was always going happen?

[Eat My Shatkins]

Is this a shock? I mean concerning they missed out on the Japanese guys, this is what was always going happen?

 

No kidding. They tried for all the big names, even were in on Soto.

 

What the f*** are they supposed to do, just give up and don't sign anybody because they missed out on the top tier guys? Still need solid depth everywhere on the diamond.

[Spanky99]

This is the most not unhinged take Gruber has ever had.

 

[max silver]

Why do fans have such a hard time chilling out until the end of the off-season? Outrage on Dec 27th before you have any idea what other moves will be made or what role IKF will play on this team is pretty stupid.

 

It stands to reason the guy is most likely a somewhat better Espinal replacement. Ever since the early season hot streak ended in mid June of 2022 Espinal has been a pretty lousy player, and with the defensive dropoff last season he really has very little use on an MLB roster. It's hard to believe but Kiner Falefa has actually been a better offensive performer over the last 1.5 seasons since Espinal's bat morphed into a pool noodle.

 

Espinal 166 GP 508 PA 77 wRC+ 0.5 FWAR

Kiner Falefa 199 GP 676 PA 84 wRC+ 1.0 FWAR

 

Kiner Falefa has produced a little better offensively and his infield defensive metrics are better as well, especially after the dramatic drop off Espinal experienced in 2023. It's still likely a small upgrade at best though and reduces money available for better players so it's a hard move to really like very much on it's own.

[Stangstag]

Why do fans have such a hard time chilling out until the end of the off-season? Outrage on Dec 27th before you have any idea what other moves will be made or what role IKF will play on this team is pretty stupid.

 

Just playing devil’s advocate, but we said the same thing with guys like Tapia very recently.

[max silver]

Just playing devil’s advocate, but we said the same thing with guys like Tapia very recently.

 

IKF at least has a high quality infield glove to go with the substandard bat vs Tapia whose only positive attribute was being a productive baserunner.

[Sorrow]

It stands to reason the guy is most likely a somewhat better Espinal replacement. Ever since the early season hot streak ended in mid June of 2022 Espinal has been a pretty lousy player, and with the defensive dropoff last season he really has very little use on an MLB roster. It's hard to believe but Kiner Falefa has actually been a better offensive performer over the last 1.5 seasons since Espinal's bat morphed into a pool noodle.

 

Espinal 166 GP 508 PA 77 wRC+ 0.5 FWAR

Kiner Falefa 199 GP 676 PA 84 wRC+ 1.0 FWAR

 

Kiner Falefa has produced a little better offensively and his infield defensive metrics are better as well, especially after the dramatic drop off Espinal experienced in 2023. It's still likely a small upgrade at best though and reduces money available for better players so it's a hard move to really like very much on its own.

 

I don’t think people realize how bad Espinal has been since June of 22.