2024 Trade Deadline

[Brownie19]

Pretty sure if not true, there would have been a rapid and adamant denial.

 

Do players actually bother responding to all the reports published about them? Had Bo been asked about this story in any recent interviews?

 

You think Mr. Professional, Bo Bichette is going to want to be viewed as a whiny little bitch who pouts, complains and forces a trade as soon as things go sour - right before he's about to hit free agency? That just seems like a moronic thing to do.

[Laika]

Do players actually bother responding to all the reports published about them? Had Bo been asked about this story in any recent interviews?

 

You think Mr. Professional, Bo Bichette is going to want to be viewed as a whiny little bitch who pouts, complains and forces a trade as soon as things go sour - right before he's about to hit free agency? That just seems like a moronic thing to do.

 

Then why is Bo doing it? Nobody said he was a genius.

 

- playing like s***

- horrible body language

- entertaining trade hypotheticals with multiple out-of-town reporters

- reportedly telling friends that he would welcome a trade

 

It all tracks and there are little objective pieces of information that support the narrative.

We had Atkins on the radio being surprised about some of Bo's comments a month ago.

 

Bo also has this general history of being a bit stubborn. Weird swing he didn't want to change. Sort of picked his team in the draft.

[Laika]

One more piece of speculation - did Bo come back from injury too early, on his own accord, because he wanted to get traded?

 

You have to consider the possibility!

[Carlos Danger]

Do players actually bother responding to all the reports published about them? Had Bo been asked about this story in any recent interviews?

 

You think Mr. Professional, Bo Bichette is going to want to be viewed as a whiny little bitch who pouts, complains and forces a trade as soon as things go sour - right before he's about to hit free agency? That just seems like a moronic thing to do.

 

Bo is a year and a half from free agency? That means a year and a half in a situation he might not want to be in. That is ages if unhappy.

 

Why are you saying on the cusp of FA?

 

FYI- If he wants out from the Jays, it will have zero, zero affect on his FA value. Zero.

[Governator]

With a season full of injuries and disappointment, Bo's not going to get traded with the intent of being extended by anyone, let alone as a rental for this year. The best play would be to get him as healthy as possible, get his value up and trade him next season as a pure rental.

 

I don't like the idea of Vlad being a rental, he's too valuable. They got to make a solid stance, either trade him this season while he's playing well and get a great return or try their best to extend him with the fewest trade clauses possible.

[Jonn]

This is the best possible time to trade Vlad. You can’t f*** this up again. Jump start the rebuild. This team is very far away from contending and you already don’t want to pay him what he’s commanding based on reports. Get it f***ing done now. You can’t piss away another asset. I still can’t believe how badly they f***ed up the Donaldson situation. They must learn from that.

[Governator]

This is the best possible time to trade Vlad. You can’t f*** this up again. Jump start the rebuild. This team is very far away from contending and you already don’t want to pay him what he’s commanding based on reports. Get it f***ing done now. You can’t piss away another asset. I still can’t believe how badly they f***ed up the Donaldson situation. They must learn from that.

 

 

I hope you're right. Who's the ideal trade partner for him? Even with Casas I'd think the Red Sox should be knocking, no?

[Brownie19]

Then why is Bo doing it? Nobody said he was a genius.

 

- playing like s***

- horrible body language

- entertaining trade hypotheticals with multiple out-of-town reporters

- reportedly telling friends that he would welcome a trade

 

It all tracks and there are little objective pieces of information that support the narrative.

We had Atkins on the radio being surprised about some of Bo's comments a month ago.

 

Bo also has this general history of being a bit stubborn. Weird swing he didn't want to change. Sort of picked his team in the draft.

 

I'm sorry - CD told me "Bo is a smart and media savvy individual. He grew up with a dad in MLB" and that I was naive to think "Bo said something like that off the cuff."

 

You think he's playing like s*** on purpose to force a trade? I just don't buy that. When was the last time we saw a ML player do this? If he is, then he's really f***ing stupid, which should make any team looking to sign him as a FA pause. He also started playing like s*** last August. I think it's just as likely that he's extremely frustrated with his own performance, which is leading to the poor body language. From call accounts, Bo is a very hard working player who likely expects a lot out of himself. This is the longest stretch of his life where he's been s***** at baseball and it's likely been very difficult on him mentally. Remember how defeated Kikucci looked in his first year in Toronto? Did that mean he wanted to be traded too? Or was he just pissed at his s***** performance?

 

As for interviews and stuff - maybe there is something there, maybe he's just frustrated at himself, or maybe he is frustrated with the direction of the team. In these interviews he's said that if he was able to choose what team he plays for, one of the biggest factors would be the opportunity to win. Could he have phrased that differently? Sure, but I suspect most MLB players dream of winning the World Series and most would prefer to be on teams that are winning. This isn't some earth shattering revelation. I understand why some fans may read into that, but I also don't think that means it's guaranteed that he wants to be traded right now and is doing anything to force a trade. Even if he doesn't really see himself in Toronto long term, I think it would be moronic of him to stop working hard, stop being professional, stop caring/trying as he leads up to his FA year.

[Laika]

I'm sorry - CD told me "Bo is a smart and media savvy individual. He grew up with a dad in MLB" and that I was naive to think "Bo said something like that off the cuff."

 

You think he's playing like s*** on purpose to force a trade? I just don't buy that. When was the last time we saw a ML player do this? If he is, then he's really f***ing stupid, which should make any team looking to sign him as a FA pause. He also started playing like s*** last August. I think it's just as likely that he's extremely frustrated with his own performance, which is leading to the poor body language. From call accounts, Bo is a very hard working player who likely expects a lot out of himself. This is the longest stretch of his life where he's been s***** at baseball and it's likely been very difficult on him mentally. Remember how defeated Kikucci looked in his first year in Toronto? Did that mean he wanted to be traded too? Or was he just pissed at his s***** performance?

 

As for interviews and stuff - maybe there is something there, maybe he's just frustrated at himself, or maybe he is frustrated with the direction of the team. In these interviews he's said that if he was able to choose what team he plays for, one of the biggest factors would be the opportunity to win. Could he have phrased that differently? Sure, but I suspect most MLB players dream of winning the World Series and most would prefer to be on teams that are winning. This isn't some earth shattering revelation. I understand why some fans may read into that, but I also don't think that means it's guaranteed that he wants to be traded right now and is doing anything to force a trade. Even if he doesn't really see himself in Toronto long term, I think it would be moronic of him to stop working hard, stop being professional, stop caring/trying as he leads up to his FA year.

 

I don't think he's trying to be bad

 

Maybe the opposite. Trying to hard to hit his way out of Toronto (pressing) to negative results. Or trying to play through injury so he remains a trade candidate, and having it backfire.

[Brownie19]

I don't think he's trying to be bad

 

Maybe the opposite. Trying to hard to hit his way out of Toronto (pressing) to negative results. Or trying to play through injury so he remains a trade candidate, and having it backfire.

 

Yes - I think that could be true. Either way - I don't believe the rhetoric that the Jays MUST trade him immediately because he wants out and he's going to cause all kinds of issues in the clubhouse. The Jays should trade him when they believe they'll get the most value in return. End of story.

[Olerud363]

Yes - I think that could be true. Either way - I don't believe the rhetoric that the Jays MUST trade him immediately because he wants out and he's going to cause all kinds of issues in the clubhouse. The Jays should trade him when they believe they'll get the most value in return. End of story.

 

Every time a young player comes up, positive, good attitude, nice guy, everyone says great things, I know in the back of my mind that someday this ******* will be a goddamn poisonous disaster demanding to leave, or washed up before 28, or organization mis-uses them, or who knows what garbage this long term (since 1994) disaster of an organization will lead the player to.

 

Jesse Barfield, Moseby, George Bell, Joe Carter, Shawn Green, Roberto Osuna, Josh Donaldson, Josh Phelps, Eric Hinske, John Olerud. Different endings, some never meant for happiness, but happy moments that ended sad.

 

Kind of a general statement but sad how most every player meets a sad end. Jays have never had the "Big Papi/Mariano happy retirement tour' thing. Really a reflection of how bad the organization has been since late October 1993.

 

Vlad Guerrero Jr. will be getting that in 2041, but unfortunately with the Red Sox.

[Olerud363]

Jesse Barfield, Moseby, George Bell, Joe Carter, Shawn Green, Roberto Osuna, Josh Donaldson, Josh Phelps, Eric Hinske, John Olerud. Different endings, some never meant for happiness, but happy moments that ended sad.

 

The trend was there before the organization became bad in 1994... Barfield, Bell, Moseby were done at 27... weird. Maybe the turf. Jays throughout their existance have been horrible at developing homegrown, one team players. Compare Jays career position player WAR leaders to Royals or Mariners

[Olerud363]

The trend was there before the organization became bad in 1994... Barfield, Bell, Moseby were done at 27... weird. Maybe the turf. Jays throughout their existance have been horrible at developing homegrown, one team players. Compare Jays career position player WAR leaders to Royals or Mariners

 

Trade deadline thread so a bit off topic, but sad to be here, given where we were this time 5 years ago with Bo/Vlad/Biggio playing the Royals and Orioles in late July early August 2019... happy times. Happy times. Vlad hit two homers one night... Bo got off to a hot start. Biggio hit for cycle later in September... seemed like all was possible... and here we are...

[Jimcanuck]

I hope you're right. Who's the ideal trade partner for him? Even with Casas I'd think the Red Sox should be knocking, no?

 

Casas may not be back this season, based on Bosox manager comments

[glory]

This is the best possible time to trade Vlad. You can’t f*** this up again. Jump start the rebuild. This team is very far away from contending and you already don’t want to pay him what he’s commanding based on reports. Get it f***ing done now. You can’t piss away another asset. I still can’t believe how badly they f***ed up the Donaldson situation. They must learn from that.

 

If they keep Vlad this deadline (they will), then it better be to extend him this winter, even if it's an overpay (it will be). Keeping Vlad and then letting him test free agency because you want to compete in 2025 is borderline incompetent. Keeping him because you want to extend him is fine, just get it done before the 2025 season.

 

Bo is probably more reminiscent of JD, right down to the lower body injuries. Unfortunately he sucked and got hurt. Would the Jays have traded him this week if he were healthy and productive? I have my doubts on that, but we will never know. Bo sucking ass and getting hurt might have saved the front office from having to explain why the hell they are keeping him.

[Olerud363]

Trade deadline thread so a bit off topic, but sad to be here, given where we were this time 5 years ago with Bo/Vlad/Biggio playing the Royals and Orioles in late July early August 2019... happy times. Happy times. Vlad hit two homers one night... Bo got off to a hot start. Biggio hit for cycle later in September... seemed like all was possible... and here we are...

 

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TBA/TBA201908060.shtml

 

August 6th 2019... Vlad OPS of .803 at age 20. Gurriel .550 slugging and becoming a star. Bo off to crazy hot start. Teoscar, Biggio and Jansen struggling a bit but working through growing pains.

 

So happy on that day. So much joy. Joy to be a fan, and some good moments in between then and now, but no playoff wins, and now it's over. 5 short years and it ends.

[Stangstag]

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TBA/TBA201908060.shtml

 

August 6th 2019... Vlad OPS of .803 at age 20. Gurriel .550 slugging and becoming a star. Bo off to crazy hot start. Teoscar, Biggio and Jansen struggling a bit but working through growing pains.

 

So happy on that day. So much joy. Joy to be a fan, and some good moments in between then and now, but no playoff wins, and now it's over. 5 short years and it ends.

 

Best “the future looks bright” moment for me was that final series against Baltimore in 2021. Swept the f*** out of them, smashing homers, offense looking absolutely elite, and through sheer dumb ******** we managed to miss the playoffs by 1 game.

 

What a nutshot that was, but at least we had the “wow these guys are going to continue to develop into stars” excuse.

 

Now we have…. Nothing to be excited about

[Carlos Danger]

I'm sorry - CD told me "Bo is a smart and media savvy individual. He grew up with a dad in MLB" and that I was naive to think "Bo said something like that off the cuff."

 

You think he's playing like s*** on purpose to force a trade? I just don't buy that. When was the last time we saw a ML player do this? If he is, then he's really f***ing stupid, which should make any team looking to sign him as a FA pause. He also started playing like s*** last August. I think it's just as likely that he's extremely frustrated with his own performance, which is leading to the poor body language. From call accounts, Bo is a very hard working player who likely expects a lot out of himself. This is the longest stretch of his life where he's been s***** at baseball and it's likely been very difficult on him mentally. Remember how defeated Kikucci looked in his first year in Toronto? Did that mean he wanted to be traded too? Or was he just pissed at his s***** performance?

 

As for interviews and stuff - maybe there is something there, maybe he's just frustrated at himself, or maybe he is frustrated with the direction of the team. In these interviews he's said that if he was able to choose what team he plays for, one of the biggest factors would be the opportunity to win. Could he have phrased that differently? Sure, but I suspect most MLB players dream of winning the World Series and most would prefer to be on teams that are winning. This isn't some earth shattering revelation. I understand why some fans may read into that, but I also don't think that means it's guaranteed that he wants to be traded right now and is doing anything to force a trade. Even if he doesn't really see himself in Toronto long term, I think it would be moronic of him to stop working hard, stop being professional, stop caring/trying as he leads up to his FA year.

 

This is my theory only from publicly available info.

 

Bo made a comment about a disconnect in communication or lack of after the playoff loss in 2023.

 

Ross Atkins, in his first word salad press conference this year, after the bad start, emphasized emphatically that there was 100% buy in on the hitting strategy of the Blue Jays. He made the buy in theme and that there is 100% buy in the focal point of his statements. Makes me think there was not previously 100% buy in in 2023.

 

Merrifield's interviews on MLB radio support this.

 

Bo being a professional and a solid Team player, might have got on board and was part of the 100% buy in. In a lot of processes, not just hitting. Maybe injury management etc

 

Then what Bo was asked to do was not working for Bo. Bo kept at it and tried to go with the FO program, but it just wasn't working.

 

Now you have a frustrated player on a losing Team and a guy in his penultimate FA year.

 

Not exactly sure what happened behind the scenes that Bo's dad is not a hitting consultant anymore. Might be lingering resentment with that situation.

 

Bo via his agent, knows that him and the Jays are not close in extension $ and all the chatter is that there will not be a deal with Bo and if there is an extension, it will be for Vlad. There will not be an extension for both.

 

Bo wants to be in a playoff race and playing for a winner. Who wouldn't.

 

Put all that in totality, and you have a player that it is highly plausible and likely would prefer to be traded to a playoff team.

 

Not sure why Bo wanting out would be so hard to grasp......

[John_Havok]

This is my theory only from publicly available info.

 

Bo made a comment about a disconnect in communication or lack of after the playoff loss in 2023.

 

Ross Atkins, in his first word salad press conference this year, after the bad start, emphasized emphatically that there was 100% buy in on the hitting strategy of the Blue Jays. He made the buy in theme and that there is 100% buy in the focal point of his statements. Makes me think there was not previously 100% buy in in 2023.

 

Merrifield's interviews on MLB radio support this.

 

Bo being a professional and a solid Team player, might have got on board and was part of the 100% buy in. In a lot of processes, not just hitting. Maybe injury management etc

 

Then what Bo was asked to do was not working for Bo. Bo kept at it and tried to go with the FO program, but it just wasn't working.

 

Now you have a frustrated player on a losing Team and a guy in his penultimate FA year.

 

Not exactly sure what happened behind the scenes that Bo's dad is not a hitting consultant anymore. Might be lingering resentment with that situation.

 

Bo via his agent, knows that him and the Jays are not close in extension $ and all the chatter is that there will not be a deal with Bo and if there is an extension, it will be for Vlad. There will not be an extension for both.

 

Bo wants to be in a playoff race and playing for a winner. Who wouldn't.

 

Put all that in totality, and you have a player that it is highly plausible and likely would prefer to be traded to a playoff team.

 

Not sure why Bo wanting out would be so hard to grasp......

 

All somewhat logical leaps, except the part that playing like garbage isn't a great way to make yourself tradeable.

[Brownie19]

All somewhat logical leaps, except the part that playing like garbage isn't a great way to make yourself tradeable.

 

Bo also stopped hitting in August 2023....not after some theoretical "team wide" hitting philosophy that 100% of the players were told to buy into this year. And this team wide hitting philosophy seems so far fetched that I can't buy it. Every hitter has strengths and weaknesses. No single philosophy would ever work for all players and there's no evidence that players have made any type of drastic changes this season. I already previously disproved that (based on claims they were told to hit the ball to all fields, cut down swings, etc.).

[Carlos Danger]

Bo also stopped hitting in August 2023....not after some theoretical "team wide" hitting philosophy that 100% of the players were told to buy into this year. And this team wide hitting philosophy seems so far fetched that I can't buy it. Every hitter has strengths and weaknesses. No single philosophy would ever work for all players and there's no evidence that players have made any type of drastic changes this season. I already previously disproved that (based on claims they were told to hit the ball to all fields, cut down swings, etc.).

 

Ok, so what is Ross talking about when he says buy in...??? It has to be some type of process/processes. Whatever it might be, it is entirely possible that as much as a player tries to "buy in" it isn't working for that player and it causes frustration/disenchantment.

 

 

I am listening to Blair and Barker right now. They just said the same thing Bob Nightingale said based on what they have heard being around the club. Bo would prefer to move on....

[hanton]

Ok, so what is Ross talking about when he says buy in...??? It has to be some type of process/processes. Whatever it might be, it is entirely possible that as much as a player tries to "buy in" it isn't working for that player and it causes frustration/disenchantment.

 

 

I am listening to Blair and Barker right now. They just said the same thing Bob Nightingale said based on what they have heard being around the club. Bo would prefer to move on....

 

When coach Schneider gets the Lineup Optimizer during the pre game scrum - with the analytics guy - that's a lineup put together for him and not by him. So he needs to "by in"

 

similar to the customized cheat sheets for the players or suggestions from the hitting coaches...etc

 

so yes if it could be frustrating on a player/coach if the suggestions aren't working.

[RobinThicc]

The decision on Vlad is interesting. What would you get back in a trade for him? May be less than what we would expect. What would an extension look like? I wouldn’t commit 300 million to him (would it even be that much?) If the Jays feel the same way, makes sense to trade him now. But maybe he has enough off field value to the Jays, they’ll opt to keep him and extend him in the off season.

[RobinThicc]

Bassitt should be traded too. They won’t be competitive next year.

[glory]

According to MLBTR, the Orioles are open to trading Mullins and Mountcastle. A team in 1st place in the division looking to trade vets in their 20’s due to internal depth while the last place Jays holding on to 36 year old Bassitt for dear life.

[Brownie19]

According to MLBTR, the Orioles are open to trading Mullins and Mountcastle. A team in 1st place in the division looking to trade vets in their 20’s due to internal depth while the last place Jays holding on to 36 year old Bassitt for dear life.

 

Mullins and Mountcastle suck. That's why they want to trade them.

[Jonn]

According to MLBTR, the Orioles are open to trading Mullins and Mountcastle. A team in 1st place in the division looking to trade vets in their 20’s due to internal depth while the last place Jays holding on to 36 year old Bassitt for dear life.

 

It’s unfortunate how bad this front office is. I don’t think it’s because they are just dumb though. They have made some very stupid decisions. But I feel like Rogers basically tells them they can’t rebuild or move marquee players in trades. Only thing that makes sense.

 

They know they should trade Vlad but I’m thinking Rogers says no because asses in seats.

[Carlos Danger]

Mullins and Mountcastle suck. That's why they want to trade them.

 

It might have to do with the fact they are also blocking prospects. Nice situation to be in.

[Brownie19]

It might have to do with the fact they are also blocking prospects. Nice situation to be in.

 

They both suck. They aren't blocking anyone. The O's just want to get some value for them as they no longer need them and they have "some" value. Likely moved for a few lottery tickets.

[BTS]

They both suck. They aren't blocking anyone. The O's just want to get some value for them as they no longer need them and they have "some" value. Likely moved for a few lottery tickets.

 

Yeah. I'm guessing Baltimore is thinking they're not tendering Mullins a QO and paying him ~8.5M next year.

 

Mountcastle is a bit different in that he actually has a bit of value, both this year and next at his likely arb salary. Not really sure who they have tabbed to play 1B vs. LHP.