Around Baseball 2024

[Pendleton]

Soroka was dominant in his stint as an RP last year, so for 9M they are getting that as a fallback option to starting.

[wilko]

Soroka was dominant in his stint as an RP last year, so for 9M they are getting that as a fallback option to starting.

 

Dominant is a stretch.

[Pendleton]

Dominant is a stretch.

 

60 Ks in 36 innings (15 K/9) and opponents batted .189/.303/.291

 

....pretty dominant

[Spanky99]

9.85 K/9 and a 2.55 BB/9 is pretty decent. 4.32 ERA, 4.29 FIP and 3.82 xFIP as well.

 

Damn, those numbers aren't much different than what Bassitt did this past season and we're paying him $21M instead of $4M.

 

GARBAGE... his career has been s***, Bassitt runs circles around him , meat.

[Brownie19]

9.85 K/9 and 1.8 fWAR in 24 games (22 starts) during the 2023 season.

 

Again, just said he would be a decent back of the rotation arm who could be had for cheap. At $4M, that's not a bad signing at all. He's nothing flashy but gives the Jays rotation some depth at least and allows them to try Y-Rod in the pen, which is an area that is of significant concern. Maybe Pete Walker untaps something with him. I don't know man. Can't even have a baseball discussion with you since you come across as an arrogant prick as always!

 

That's really the answer - and that's fine - maybe just say that upfront, or otherwise try and explain why you thought he'd be a good fit?

 

Unfortunately there's really not a lot to like. He was awful last year and lost the extra MPH he had in 2023. I was just wondering if I missed some angle - like after [insert date] he changed his pitch usage and finished the season strong, or he added a pitch or something.

 

He just felt like a tough fit for the Jays. They don't need a long man if Yariel is going to fill that role to start the year and I don't think you want a 2nd long man out of the pen? So you'd be signing him for the 5th spot, which takes you out of the running for another SPer (unless you're trying to deal Bassitt or something). It just seemed like something you'd only consider if you've decided to give up on a quality FA starter and want to go the cheap route for the 5th starter spot - and if they do that, there will be lots of decent options - like a Lance Lynn.

 

If AA doesn't want him with the depth they have, then I'd stay clear myself.

[Brownie19]

60 Ks in 36 innings (15 K/9) and opponents batted .189/.303/.291

 

....pretty dominant

 

Also 5 BB/9, but yes, he was good. Still an expensive gamble, especially when you consider all the injuries he's battled.

[Jimcanuck]

Have you looked at the fWAR from Belli and Teoscar lately? Also Belli's defense seemingly has disappeared overnight, steep decline, he's garbage.

 

Just seeing this. Way to change the goalposts lol

[Terminator]

[jaysblue]

 

Suggested Kepler as an option a couple months ago if the Jays wanted to go the cheap route in left field. Was met with some backlash when suggesting his name.

 

He posted 2.8 WAR and hit 24 HR's in 2023. As long as he's healthy, he should be good for 2-3 WAR. I think he'll fit in nicely in Philly.

[Pendleton]

Edit - oops

[max silver]

Suggested Kepler as an option a couple months ago if the Jays wanted to go the cheap route in left field. Was met with some backlash when suggesting his name.

 

He posted 2.8 WAR and hit 24 HR's in 2023. As long as he's healthy, he should be good for 2-3 WAR. I think he'll fit in nicely in Philly.

 

I think the Jays need to aim higher. The Phillies are adding to an already excellent offense so they can afford to roll the dice on Kepler. The 2023 result is a massive outlier to the point where his 4 year average wRC+ is all of 102. It’s entirely possible that the substandard offensive output of last season is basically who this guy is.

[Terminator]

Suggested Kepler as an option a couple months ago if the Jays wanted to go the cheap route in left field. Was met with some backlash when suggesting his name.

 

He posted 2.8 WAR and hit 24 HR's in 2023. As long as he's healthy, he should be good for 2-3 WAR. I think he'll fit in nicely in Philly.

 

One might say that you were....attacked?

Edited December 20, 2024 by Terminator

[Laika]

Tarred and feathered

[Terminator]

Jaysblue:

mentions the name Max Kepler

 

BJMB:

[Pendleton]

"I Survived the Great Kepler War of 2024" t-shirts are available on my Etsy shop

[jaysblue]

I think the Jays need to aim higher. The Phillies are adding to an already excellent offense so they can afford to roll the dice on Kepler. The 2023 result is a massive outlier to the point where his 4 year average wRC+ is all of 102. It’s entirely possible that the substandard offensive output of last season is basically who this guy is.

 

Obviously the Jays need to aim higher lol. Have no issue with them spending money if they bring in Teo or Santander. They haven't yet however. But if money was tight, I suggested that Kepler wouldn't have been a bad option. Yes Kepler is definitely more riskier, but that's why you're getting him at $10M on a one year deal versus Teo who likely gets a 3-4 year deal around $60-70M or even more lol.

 

Phillies already have an excellent lineup in place, so they definitely can afford to roll the dice on a player like Kepler.

[Brownie19]

I think $10M seems really high for a guy who's been over 99 wRC+ in just once in the past 4 years and 3 times in 9 seasons for his career.

 

He seems like an expensive 4th OFer to me. But he was really good in 2023, so maybe.

[L54]

Same as KK got paid

[jaysblue]

I think $10M seems really high for a guy who's been over 99 wRC+ in just once in the past 4 years and 3 times in 9 seasons for his career.

 

He seems like an expensive 4th OFer to me. But he was really good in 2023, so maybe.

 

Nothing new for Atkins if that's the case!

[Spanky99]

Just seeing this. Way to change the goalposts lol

 

How ao?

[Brownie19]

Nothing new for Atkins if that's the case!

 

I don't know what Atkins has to do with this. I'm providing my opinion on Kepler. I assume this is some kind of crack about signing KK last year. But even KK has been over 100 wRC+ in 5 of his 11 ML seasons, with elite defense. I see a lot more risk than reward in Kepler myself. That said, his statcast page does look solid. It is odd he's been so inconsistent and generally weak at the plate throughout his career.

Edited December 20, 2024 by Brownie19

[Barrelsandbombs]

 

In some ways, they have no choice but to spend.

 

The A's are scheduled to receive 100% of their revenue-sharing pool for the first time under the current collective bargaining agreement, which stipulates that teams put 1½ times that amount toward their major league payroll. An industry source estimated the A's will receive approximately $70 million in revenue sharing next season, confirming a report by the Athletic, which means anything short of a $105 million payroll in 2025 would open them up to a grievance from the players' union.

[Terminator]

10M for Kepler could be a sign that the market is settling down post Soto. Fangraphs projected 1 year 12 mil for him.

[Barrelsandbombs]

Looks like Christian Walker will be signing with the Astros.

 

[L54]

That means Bregman is definitely not going back now

[Laika]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/blue-jays-receiving-trade-interest-in-bo-bichette.html

 

Jays will trade Bo.

Sign Bregman.

Extend Vlad for $400M plus.

[Jays24]

Looks like Christian Walker will be signing with the Astros.

 

 

That's 1 less potential big bat that we need this off-season. Kinda wish Arenado approved the trade there to allow us to have 1 more option.

 

Houston Adding Walker and Peredes keeps that lineup scary man. You'd think they'd fall off when trading Tucker but they are the franchise I hoped we could be. Imagine losing Springer and Correa while still being that f***ing good.

[Jays24]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/blue-jays-receiving-trade-interest-in-bo-bichette.html

 

Jays will trade Bo.

Sign Bregman.

Extend Vlad for $400M plus.

 

In this situation, the Jays would STILL need 2 big bats. I can get behind this depending on the return for Bo since he looks like a goner anyways and hoping Bregman doesn't cost 200M.

[glory]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/blue-jays-receiving-trade-interest-in-bo-bichette.html

 

Jays will trade Bo.

Sign Bregman.

Extend Vlad for $400M plus.

 

Yeah I don't see a clear path for Bregman at this point. Houston always seemed like his most likely spot. Cross them off. The Yankees won't be spending that much on him. The Cubs just dumped Bellinger's contract likely to save money for a Tucker extension so I don't think they would be in. Maybe Boston? Detroit? I think whoever signs Bregman will regret it, so I hope it's not the Jays, but it's possible his market craters pretty quickly (if it hasn't already).

[Brownie19]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/blue-jays-receiving-trade-interest-in-bo-bichette.html

 

Jays will trade Bo.

Sign Bregman.

Extend Vlad for $400M plus.

 

I think I'm up for all of this if it were to happen. That's assuming we get a good return for Bo. Bregman and Bo are almost completely opposite hitters. Bo swings a ton and uses his physical skills to hit the ball hard, but stats like Chase%, Whiff%, K% and BB% all suck. Bregman is the opposite. He generally excels in Chase%, Whiff%, K% and BB% (albeit BB% dropped hard last year), but doesn't wow you with exit velo and such. It will be interesting to see which skillset ages better.

 

Neither of them run well anymore, but Bregman offers more defensively. If they think Gimenez can be above average defensively at SS, then you can certainly see this approach helping out defense. If you could sign Teo (3 years $66M) and trade for Robert (maybe using pieces from the Bo trade), then this starts to look really solid. You could also trade for Naylor (and Bo Naylor?) and play him at 1st/DH, with Teo sliding into LF.

 

C - Kirk

1st - Vlad

2nd - Wagner/Leo

SS - Gimenez

3rd - Bregman

LF - Robert

CF - Varsho

RF - Springer

DH - Teo

 

That's a lineup with WS potential IMO. No idea where that would leave us from a budget perspective and we'd still have to patch the bullpen (Minter, LeClerc, Hoffman, etc.) and the SP depth (Lynn?), but it wouldn't be hard to get excited about this team for 2025. Make it happen Ross.

Edited December 20, 2024 by Brownie19