Morosi: Jays sign Justin Turner to 1-year deal

[The Cats Ass]

Honestly

 

I think he’s just the only one they knew would sign on the dotted line

 

For a reasonable 1 year deal. Keeping flexible for next offseason is nice. Similar bats are all looking for multi year deals.

[Terminator]

Hilariously underwhelming. The steamer bros better take note of that 105 wRC+ and 0.7 WAR projection in 130 games lmao

 

I am in the whelmed to slightly underwhelmed range but I'll probably be able to talk myself into it.

 

I think Soler and JDM's power potential would have made for a more fun signing.

 

I don't think Steamer has much to do with it though. JDM projects slightly worse via Steamer. If you go by Zips then Turner blows him out of the water.

[G-Snarls]

An ideal outcome might be a rookie mashing in AAA and forcing "whoever plays 2B" or IKF to a bench role

[Laika]

Joc - chose Arizona over Toronto

JDM - probably wants a bigger AAV and possibly 2 years

Soler - wants multi year deal

Belt - major concerns about injury risk and hitting skills

Hoskins - got his 2 year deal

 

Turner is just the "bird in hand" at this point.

[The Cats Ass]

Jays are gearing up for Soto next offseason.

[glory]

Honestly

 

I think he’s just the only one they knew would sign on the dotted line

 

That’s the way it comes off to me as well. Everyone else either wanted to play elsewhere or wanted multi years and/or more money. The Jays clearly wanted a one year deal at a specific price point, and Turner was the only one who would take it.

 

I am firmly in the underwhelmed category as well but it’s really due to one signing. I wasn’t a fan of bringing KK back as he’s a redundant fit next to Varsho, and I’m not thrilled with having to hope a 39 year old remains good, but I can at least rationalize both of those signings. A two year deal for a 80 wRC+ player who might end up with 500 PA next season is dragging the rest of it down. If Barger ends up winning the 3B spot then that instantly makes the off season more palatable but I think it’s more likely to be IKF/Biggio at 3B, and KK/Turner doesn’t compensate for that.

[RustyTrombone]

Jays are gearing up for Soto next offseason.

 

Thats what I keep telling my self these days. Offer him $500M and dont blink.

[L54]

For a reasonable 1 year deal. Keeping flexible for next offseason is nice. Similar bats are all looking for multi year deals.

 

One in the hand is worth two in the bush type of thinking which is okay but still underwhelming to me

 

Soler probably wants 3 years. JDM I would’ve given 20M for one year I don’t care if he can’t play the field he’s the best hitter left

[BigCecil]

Hilariously underwhelming. The steamer bros better take note of that 105 wRC+ and 0.7 WAR projection in 130 games lmao

 

0.7? yikes. JT great player in his day. Met him and his girlfriend once in the line up for the TOR Ripley's Aquarium after an LAD game and he signed my kids hat and baseball. We have been in touch ever since (jk)

 

Replacing Chappy and Belt's 6 WAR with IKF and 39 year old JT seems less than optimal. The genius of Ross 4D chess mere mortals like myself cannot comprehend.

[L54]

That’s the way it comes off to me as well. Everyone else either wanted to play elsewhere or wanted multi years and/or more money. The Jays clearly wanted a one year deal at a specific price point, and Turner was the only one who would take it.

 

I am firmly in the underwhelmed category as well but it’s really due to one signing. I wasn’t a fan of bringing KK back as he’s a redundant fit next to Varsho, and I’m not thrilled with having to hope a 39 year old remains good, but I can at least rationalize both of those signings. A two year deal for a 80 wRC+ player who might end up with 500 PA next season is dragging the rest of it down. If Barger ends up winning the 3B spot then that instantly makes the off season more palatable but I think it’s more likely to be IKF/Biggio at 3B, and KK/Turner doesn’t compensate for that.

 

Ya like they told everyone what they were willing to do and said take it or leave it. The only good thing is that it seems they stick to their guns during negotiations which is good I guess?

 

I think I feel the same as you. It’s the two year commitment to

IKF that really paints the offseason as underwhelming

[The Cats Ass]

One in the hand is worth two in the bush type of thinking which is okay but still underwhelming to me

 

Soler probably wants 3 years. JDM I would’ve given 20M for one year I don’t care if he can’t play the field he’s the best hitter left

 

I feel JDM won't be signing a 1 year deal.

[The Cats Ass]

I thought the Teo deal would set a lower benchmark for these bat first or bat only guys.

 

Try telling Boras this.

[L54]

I feel JDM won't be signing a 1 year deal.

 

I think he will. Who is left to leverage a two year deal?

[L54]

0.7? yikes. JT great player in his day. Met him and his girlfriend once in the line up for the TOR Ripley's Aquarium after an LAD game and he signed my kids hat and baseball. We have been in touch ever since (jk)

 

Replacing Chappy and Belt's 6 WAR with IKF and 39 year old JT seems less than optimal. The genius of Ross 4D chess mere mortals like myself cannot comprehend.

 

Haha you and me both Big C

 

Turner should be a good vet to have around. I think most people assumed we had one big move left to make and a 39 year old red head just feels a little *light*

[Jays24]

For a bunch of people who live and die on analytics, please go check Turner's defensive numbers. He's not going to get better at age 39. He's pretty much a full time DH who will hurt you defensively when he's forced out there.

 

I am extremely underwhelmed at this signing. I don't hate it but I definitely don't love it. Going from Ohtani/Soto/Yamamoto to IFK/Turner/KK lol.

 

This team still needs to add one more impact bat to the lineup. You cant have IFK and Varsho getting that many AB's playing 3B/LF.

[Stangstag]

For a bunch of people who live and die on analytics, please go check Turner's defensive numbers. He's not going to get better at age 39. He's pretty much a full time DH who will hurt you defensively when he's forced out there.

 

I am extremely underwhelmed at this signing. I don't hate it but I definitely don't love it. Going from Ohtani/Soto/Yamamoto to IFK/Turner/KK lol.

 

This team still needs to add one more impact bat to the lineup. You cant have IFK and Varsho getting that many AB's playing 3B/LF.

 

Plan A to Plan B was quite a f***ing drop

[Dr. Dinger]

Ughhh kinda gross. Always disliked that ugly little gnome.

[deanmike]

So what’s your next move?

 

LOL you know what my opinion is. I'm the biggest Vlad hater on this board, take a guess at what my next move would be?

[Terminator]

Ok if you guys want a little Kool-Aid here you go:

 

-Reasonable one year deal. The other options likely wanted more years and $$$.

 

-The positional flexibility is nice for a DH. League average-ish 1B and hopefully he can chip in some at 2B and especially 3B.

 

-His numbers might have been dragged down by injury. His worst two months were April (he took a ball to the face in ST) and September (clearly hobbled through a heel injury). He was slashing .287/.357/.488 through the first 5 months of the season until an awful Sept.

 

-Turner seems like the type of late career veteran that the Jays can squeeze the most out of and they should have a better plan in place for him over Boston. Shooting for 120 games and sitting him more against hard throwing righties would be a good start.

 

-The positional flexibility and a lighter workload for Turner provides a nice 250-300 AB role for Horwitz, an MLB ready lefty bat that projects to hit righties better than Soler and JDM. A Turner/Horwitz 65/35 split at DH probably projects just as well as Soler and better than JDM.

[Jays24]

LOL you know what my opinion is. I'm the biggest Vlad hater on this board, take a guess at what my next move would be?

 

Let's trade our highest potential offensive player for a team that desperately needs it? While Vlad has been disappointing the past few years, there are plenty of other problems on this roster.

[wilko]

Ok if you guys want a little Kool-Aid here you go:

 

-Reasonable one year deal. The other options likely wanted more years and $$$.

 

-The positional flexibility is nice for a DH. League average-ish 1B and hopefully he can chip in some at 2B and especially 3B.

 

-His numbers might have been dragged down by injury. His worst two months were April (he took a ball to the face in ST) and September (clearly hobbled through a heel injury). He was slashing .287/.357/.488 through the first 5 months of the season until an awful Sept.

 

-Turner seems like the type of late career veteran that the Jays can squeeze the most out of and they should have a better plan in place for him over Boston. Shooting for 120 games and sitting him more against hard throwing righties would be a good start.

 

-The positional flexibility and a lighter workload for Turner provides a nice 250-300 AB role for Horwitz, an MLB ready lefty bat that projects to hit righties better than Soler and JDM. A Turner/Horwitz 65/35 split at DH probably projects just as well as Soler and better than JDM.

 

You got a hard on for Howritz.

[Captain Adama]

The way this FA market is shaping out, the best way to play is to not, or at least stick short term with someone like Turner. Especially if Soler is looking for a multi-year deal.

 

I don't want any of the big free agents at what they're asking/looking for.

Yeah it's underwhelming, but it's the smartest move given the teams needs.

[Jimcanuck]

Jays are not selling low on Vlad lol

 

I'm sure they kicked the tires on a Bo deal though

[connorp]

Jays are not selling low on Vlad lol

 

I'm sure they kicked the tires on a Bo deal though

 

Where’s your proof?

I wanted to join the fun.

[Jays24]

If this is our biggest signing in the offseason, you'll get a lot of upset people. If we can still add a better player than Turner, fans will be happy.

[Terminator]

You got a hard on for Howritz.

 

Steamer has a huge hard on for him. I'm not quite that high but he had one hell of a year last year and may have unlocked some power along the way (9 of his 10 AAA homers came in his final 175 ABs).

 

But that was a glass half full of Kool-Aid take anyway. The glass half empty is that Horwitz sucks and won't play and that Turner is older than dirt and we only signed him because he was the only one willing to take our cheapskate offer.

[deanmike]

IMO this signing makes an Espinal trade feel even more inevitable now. He's the 4th stringer for both positions the organization views him as still capable of playing (they lost faith in him as a SS last season) and makes 2.725M this year.

 

2B has Schneider/Biggio/Clement who has no options

3B has Biggio/IKF/Turner

Even at SS they trust Clement there more than him, plus Bo+IKF

 

There is like no point in Santiago Espinal's existence on this team lol, although if trading him wouldn't free up spending ability for the FO to add someone else they might just option him to hold him as depth.

[Laika]

Steamer has a huge hard on for him. I'm not quite that high but he had one hell of a year last year and may have unlocked some power along the way (9 of his 10 AAA homers came in his final 175 ABs).

 

But that was a glass half full of Kool-Aid take anyway. The glass half empty is that Horwitz sucks and won't play and that Turner is older than dirt and we only signed him because he was the only one willing to take our cheapskate offer.

 

ZIPS also likes him, 1.7 fWAR in 507 PA

 

Dude walked more than he struck out in AAA and hit for some power

Has done that at a couple levels

 

The flaws are obvious (defensive profile, middling pop, age) but you can't fake this s***

 

He outhit guys like Matt Walner, Matt Mervis, Miguel Andujar, Bobby Dalbec, Jordan Westburg, etc in AAA in 2023

 

If Toronto doesn't want to give him a chance he has a guaranteed 500 PA chance with Oakland

[Terminator]

IMO this signing makes an Espinal trade feel even more inevitable now. He's the 4th stringer for both positions the organization views him as still capable of playing (they lost faith in him as a SS last season) and makes 2.725M this year.

 

2B has Schneider/Biggio/Clement who has no options

3B has Biggio/IKF/Turner

Even at SS they trust Clement there more than him, plus Bo+IKF

 

There is like no point in Santiago Espinal's existence on this team lol, although if trading him wouldn't even free up more spending ability to add someone else they might just option him to hold him as depth.

 

Yeah Espinal's days are definitely numbered.

[BTS]

IMO this signing makes an Espinal trade feel even more inevitable now. He's the 4th stringer for both positions the organization views him as still capable of playing (they lost faith in him as a SS last season) and makes 2.725M this year.

 

2B has Schneider/Biggio/Clement who has no options

3B has Biggio/IKF/Turner

Even at SS they trust Clement there more than him, plus Bo+IKF

 

There is like no point in Santiago Espinal's existence on this team lol, although if trading him wouldn't free up spending ability for the FO to add someone else they might just option him to hold him as depth.

 

Trade Espinal for a high minors arm with velo and a couple options. Bring in Adam Duvall or Grichuk to platoon with Kiermaier. Maybe have a look at a 5th starter if there's still a few pennies left under the cushions.