Potential Free Agents 2025

[Joltin Joe]

Best value on the FA market is probably Christian Walker. Would they move Vlad to third to accommodate an elite defensive 1B is the question

If he would sign for Bo 17 million I do it.

[John_Havok]

Getting a #1 hard to do. Expensive also. Pivetta looked like good arm for 5th starter. Gives depth. Pushes Rod to long relief or spot starter

 

Right now, if you make the assumption that Yariel and Francis are the 4/5 starters, they have the back end of the rotation covered for just over 7 million. Both are proving (so far) to be capable back end starters. Why sign another guy, for more money to pitch like a 4/5 when there's already two options in house for cheaper?

 

They don't need improvement at the back end, they need improvement at the the top and middle

[Laika]

I would describe Pivetta is a mid rotation arm

 

I know his fWAR doesn't say so but he has pitched in brutal home parks his whole career, probably jacked his HR rate and FIP/ERA a good amount

[jaysblue]

Right now, if you make the assumption that Yariel and Francis are the 4/5 starters, they have the back end of the rotation covered for just over 7 million. Both are proving (so far) to be capable back end starters. Why sign another guy, for more money to pitch like a 4/5 when there's already two options in house for cheaper?

 

They don't need improvement at the back end, they need improvement at the the top and middle

 

Agree to an extent, but rotation depth will be important. The Jays can't afford to go into 2025 relying on an aging rotation of Gausman/Berrios/Bassitt and two unproven arms who are in their late 20's. We saw both Gausman and Berrios regress a bit this season, and they will be a year older next season. If the Jays lose one of them to an extended IL stint or if they continue to regress a bit more, could be in real trouble. This year the rotation has been really on thin ice. Hasn't been elite, but hasn't been awful. One injury or more regression to someone like Gausman/Berrios, could be really troubling.

 

Ideally it would be better having only ONE of YRod or Francis as the No. 5 in the rotation come Opening Day 2025. I think there is a solid group of arms in the second tier like Nathan Eovaldi, Luis Severino, Nick Pivetta, Kikuchi etc. who can all probably be solid mid-rotation guys and who could sign short term deals at reasonable AAV.

[jaysblue]

I wouldn't hate bringing back Stripling back on a cheap deal. He looks bad at first glance, but hasn't lost any velo and has a 3.91 FIP.

 

As a swing-man option, wouldn't be a bad option if his price is really cheap like under $4M or else the Jays likely have to use one of YRod or Francis as a swing-man in the pen if they add a mid-rotation starter. Can't afford to be dishing out $7-8M for someone like Stripling.

[glory]

Focus on Soto, but keep Santander as the pivot fallbacknplan. Alonso would be fine too, but I shudder to think of the IF defense with Vlad at 3rd, Bo at SS, Horwitz atv2b and Alonso at 1st. That might be Greek tragedy level s*****

 

Santander would probably be more appealing to the Jays than Alonso. Should be (a lot) cheaper and is a switch hitter. The Jays badly need power in the lineup.

 

I’d honestly be fine with Vlad at 3B and Horwitz at 1B at this point. If Vlad is extended then they could always move him back to 1B down the line but if not extended then just put the best possible lineup you can out there if the intention is to contend. Vlad at 3B is likely part of the best lineup they can realistically field even if he’s bad defensively. Contract year playing the position he’s always wanted to play, I’d take that gamble as long as they spend wisely on another bat.

[jaysblue]

I think third base could potentially be filled by some combination of Barger, Vlad and Clement. This could add flexibility to add offense at first base as another possibility.

 

Yeah I really think moving Vlad over to 3B next season as someone who can play 60%-70% of the time there would allow the Jays to add more pop to the lineup by targeting a 1B instead of a 3B through FA. Jays can afford doing that since they have Clement and Barger who could share time with him at the hot corner. When Vlad doesn't play 3B, he plays 1B or just DH's.

 

As well, Vladdy benefits from a move to 3B since as a FA, he can market himself as a 3B which likely means a more lucrative contract.

[jaysblue]

Focus on Soto, but keep Santander as the pivot fallbacknplan. Alonso would be fine too, but I shudder to think of the IF defense with Vlad at 3rd, Bo at SS, Horwitz atv2b and Alonso at 1st. That might be Greek tragedy level s*****

 

Santander, Walker or Alonso are nice pivots if the Jays fail to sign Juan Soto. If they're in on Soto this offseason and fail to sign him, should be no excuses on bringing other bats in since they're plenty 1B/corner OF bats available.

[L54]

If he would sign for Bo 17 million I do it.

 

I don’t think he’d cost much more than that for a couple years. If it takes three years then that’s getting iffy, he will be 34 to start the season

 

2/40M

[L54]

Yeah I really think moving Vlad over to 3B next season as someone who can play 60%-70% of the time there would allow the Jays to add more pop to the lineup by targeting a 1B instead of a 3B through FA. Jays can afford doing that since they have Clement and Barger who could share time with him at the hot corner. When Vlad doesn't play 3B, he plays 1B or just DH's.

 

As well, Vladdy benefits from a move to 3B since as a FA, he can market himself as a 3B which likely means a more lucrative contract.

 

Or he gets exposed as not being a 3B which would be my guess

[Pendleton]

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-players-with-options-for-2025

 

^ List of notable players with 2025 options (team/player/mutual) with brief speculation on how they may be handled

[Brownie19]

Santander, Walker or Alonso are nice pivots if the Jays fail to sign Juan Soto. If they're in on Soto this offseason and fail to sign him, should be no excuses on bringing other bats in since they're plenty 1B/corner OF bats available.

 

There's no way we sign Soto. You think it's in the best interest of the team to outbid the league for guys like Bregman, Santander, Walker, Teo and/or Alonso? I suspect the market for these guys is going to make everyone's butt clench up. I could see Bregman and Alonso getting 5-7 year deals and the other three getting 3 year deals and they are all hitting the decline portions of their careers. I'm not so sure that dumping money at these guys is the right path forward for the Jays. Santander, Teo and Alonso may all be DH's in a year or two (if they shouldn't already be full-time DH's).

 

IMO, the probability the Jays can buy their way back into the playoffs next year aren't very good.

[Brownie19]

Or he gets exposed as not being a 3B which would be my guess

 

I would agree with this. I suspect the probability Vlad can provide even slightly below average defense at 3rd base over a full season is <20%. I think he's defensively Jake Burger at 3rd. Do I think they can hide him at 3rd like 25% of the time if they want to play that game with all kinds of late game defensive subs.

[jaysblue]

There's no way we sign Soto. You think it's in the best interest of the team to outbid the league for guys like Bregman, Santander, Walker, Teo and/or Alonso? I suspect the market for these guys is going to make everyone's butt clench up. I could see Bregman and Alonso getting 5-7 year deals and the other three getting 3 year deals and they are all hitting the decline portions of their careers. I'm not so sure that dumping money at these guys is the right path forward for the Jays. Santander, Teo and Alonso may all be DH's in a year or two (if they shouldn't already be full-time DH's).

 

IMO, the probability the Jays can buy their way back into the playoffs next year aren't very good.

 

Well to sign any FA, you have to outbid other teams for them lol. I'm not suggesting the Jays just spend money foolishly and throw a blank cheque at any of those second tier guys.

 

I could see Bregman getting around a 5 to 7 year deal max. Never even suggested him as an option since the Jays can likely roll with Clement at 3B or with Vladdy playing at 3B like 60-70% of the time. Alonso likely 5 years max IMO. Have no issue signing someone like Santander, Teo or Walker to 3 year deals similar to what Jorge Soler signed for last offseason. They won't be crippling long term. Also, other guys available who likely can sign 1 or 2 year deals like Joc Pederson, Jurickson Profar, Michael Conforto, Max Kepler, Tyler O'Neill, Jesse Winker, or Rhys Hoskins. Plenty of corner OF/1B/DH type bats available and I could see a lot of these guys settling for one-year deals.

[Spanky99]

At this rate we can start the 2025 trade deadline thread next week.

 

[Terminator]

It will be interesting to see what positions they target in FA.

 

Some things are finally going right this season after the brutal start.

 

-Horwitz looks worthy of a starting spot

-Clement is looking like a solid option

-Barger (been hitting well since he's been back), Loperfido, Wagner, and Leo Jimenez all look like they could contribute

-Francis looks like he can hold down a rotation spot

 

Seems like a month or two ago we needed 3 bats, an ace and 12 relievers to compete for a WC. Now it seems like we need 1 or 2 bats, a dependable starter and 12 relievers.

[BTS]

I thought this team was going to nosedive bigly after the deadline, but they've been great. Sign Soto!

[jaysblue]

It will be interesting to see what positions they target in FA.

 

Some things are finally going right this season after the brutal start.

 

-Horwitz looks worthy of a starting spot

-Clement is looking like a solid option

-Barger (been hitting well since he's been back), Loperfido, Wagner, and Leo Jimenez all look like they could contribute

-Francis looks like he can hold down a rotation spot

 

A big bopper who can play some LF and a starting pitcher seem like good ideas.

 

Yeah Jays might not need to fill that many areas/holes on the roster originally as we thought.

 

Like you said, they could likely save money rolling with Clement at 3B if they want. Horwitz I think should be a starter as well at 2B. Guys like Barger/Loperfido/Jimenez/Wagner aren't bad to have around as bench pieces or depth in AAA. I don't want to see them starting unless there are injuries.

 

If they could sign one or two big boppers, a mid-rotation arm and upgrade the pen, I think they could be competitive in 2025. Alongside with Vladdy playing at an elite level and if Bo bounces back to being a 4 WAR player!

[Terminator]

I thought this team was going to nosedive bigly after the deadline, but they've been great. Sign Soto!

 

Sounds ridiculous as it's probably true for most teams but he is exactly what we need.

 

A corner OF/DH like him and all they would need to do otherwise is revamp the bullpen and the playoffs would be easy to make.

[Terminator]

Yeah Jays might not need to fill that many areas/holes on the roster originally as we thought.

 

Like you said, they could likely save money rolling with Clement at 3B if they want. Horwitz I think should be a starter as well at 2B. Guys like Barger/Loperfido/Jimenez/Wagner aren't bad to have around as bench pieces or depth in AAA. I don't want to see them starting unless there are injuries.

 

If they could sign one or two big boppers, a mid-rotation arm and upgrade the pen, I think they could be competitive in 2025. Alongside with Vladdy playing at an elite level and if Bo bounces back to being a 4 WAR player!

 

Yeah we will see how the rest of the season plays out. Barger/Loperfido/Jimenez/Wagner look like platoon guys at best entering next year. Perhaps one of them finishes the season strong and looks like a starter.

[jaysblue]

I thought this team was going to nosedive bigly after the deadline, but they've been great. Sign Soto!

 

The one advantage the Jays have with targeting Soto is that they could convince him/ensure him that they would also sign Vlad to a long-term extension, which gives the Jays lineup a huge new outlook from now until 2030. Or visa versa when trying to resign Vlad. Having both of them under control and in the middle of the lineup throughout their prime years would be fun!

[Brownie19]

Well to sign any FA, you have to outbid other teams for them lol. I'm not suggesting the Jays just spend money foolishly and throw a blank cheque at any of those second tier guys.

 

I could see Bregman getting around a 5 to 7 year deal max. Never even suggested him as an option since the Jays can likely roll with Clement at 3B or with Vladdy playing at 3B like 60-70% of the time. Alonso likely 5 years max IMO. Have no issue signing someone like Santander, Teo or Walker to 3 year deals similar to what Jorge Soler signed for last offseason. They won't be crippling long term. Also, other guys available who likely can sign 1 or 2 year deals like Joc Pederson, Jurickson Profar, Michael Conforto, Max Kepler, Tyler O'Neill, Jesse Winker, or Rhys Hoskins. Plenty of corner OF/1B/DH type bats available and I could see a lot of these guys settling for one-year deals.

 

I don't think you're going to get Santander, Teo or Walker for 3 years $42M. That's what LGJ and Soler signed for and they both suck balls and don't have near the track record of the other 3. It may take $60M+ or a 4th year to get those guys. They "could" produce enough in 2025 to help the Jays get back to the playoffs, but I still think that's a stretch and it would take several other things to break their way. My issue is the Jays already have too much money sunk into declining guys (Berrios, Bassitt, Springer, Gausman). I'm not sure I'm "pushing my chips in" for a shot to make the playoffs in 2025, only to have them become dead money soon afterwards.

 

Almost all the other guys you just listed f***ing suck, or have a strong probability of sucking very soon. Profar and O'Neill likely cash in on a 2-3 year deals (and I'd want no part of that), but I'd agree the rest will likely settle for 1 year deals. I could see being appealing to the Jays, but honestly, I'd just roll with what we have over brining in guys like Winker, Conforto, Kepler, Hoskins, etc. They are all non difference makers and that money is probably better spent on some bullpen help (although I hate the idea of spending on the bullpen too). Building through free agency rarely works.

[wilko]

I don't think you're going to get Santander, Teo or Walker for 3 years $42M. That's what LGJ and Soler signed for and they both suck balls and don't have near the track record of the other 3. It may take $60M+ or a 4th year to get those guys. They "could" produce enough in 2025 to help the Jays get back to the playoffs, but I still think that's a stretch and it would take several other things to break their way. My issue is the Jays already have too much money sunk into declining guys (Berrios, Bassitt, Springer, Gausman). I'm not sure I'm "pushing my chips in" for a shot to make the playoffs in 2025, only to have them become dead money soon afterwards.

 

Almost all the other guys you just listed f***ing suck, or have a strong probability of sucking very soon. Profar and O'Neill likely cash in on a 2-3 year deals (and I'd want no part of that), but I'd agree the rest will likely settle for 1 year deals. I could see being appealing to the Jays, but honestly, I'd just roll with what we have over brining in guys like Winker, Conforto, Kepler, Hoskins, etc. They are all non difference makers and that money is probably better spent on some bullpen help (although I hate the idea of spending on the bullpen too). Building through free agency rarely works.

 

It's not your money ya cheap bastard.

[Spanky99]

It's not your money ya cheap bastard.

 

Funny s***, mang.

[Spanky99]

Brownie, the Birds will be spending this offseason, mate. They'd have sold everyone if that were the case at the deadline.

[Terminator]

O'Neill could be a decent option with Loperfido as the 4th OF. I would consider an LGJ-like deal for him.

[John_Havok]

Agree to an extent, but rotation depth will be important. The Jays can't afford to go into 2025 relying on an aging rotation of Gausman/Berrios/Bassitt and two unproven arms who are in their late 20's. We saw both Gausman and Berrios regress a bit this season, and they will be a year older next season. If the Jays lose one of them to an extended IL stint or if they continue to regress a bit more, could be in real trouble. This year the rotation has been really on thin ice. Hasn't been elite, but hasn't been awful. One injury or more regression to someone like Gausman/Berrios, could be really troubling.

 

Ideally it would be better having only ONE of YRod or Francis as the No. 5 in the rotation come Opening Day 2025. I think there is a solid group of arms in the second tier like Nathan Eovaldi, Luis Severino, Nick Pivetta, Kikuchi etc. who can all probably be solid mid-rotation guys and who could sign short term deals at reasonable AAV.

 

I think we generally agree that adding to the bottom of the rotation doesn't move the needle. If anything they need to add to the top.

[Terminator]

I think we generally agree that adding to the bottom of the rotation doesn't move the needle. If anything they need to add to the top.

 

Yeah we kind of need any starting pitcher added in the offseason to be a #3 or better.

 

I suppose a #4 or 5 could make sense but it would only add depth in that it would push one of Yariel or Francis to the swingman role but it could make the rotation worse if they aren't any better than those two.

[John_Havok]

Yeah we kind of need any starting pitcher added in the offseason to be a #3 or better. I suppose a #4 or 5 could make sense but it would only add depth in that it would push one of Yariel or Francis to the swingman role.

 

Right now, just looking at the numbers...who's gonna sign to be a 4/5, for less than Yariel.makes and pitch as well as he has? Right now Yariel is pretty much on par with Bassitt as far as fip xfip xERA etc all go. Sure Bassitt is having a down year for him, but...the point stands.

 

I think pushing either Francis or Yariel to a pen role just doesn't make sense unless the numbers of the new guy are demonstrably better. Otherwise you're just shuffling chairs on the Titanic.

[Brownie19]

Brownie, the Birds will be spending this offseason, mate. They'd have sold everyone if that were the case at the deadline.

 

Doesn't mean I have to agree with it. I don't want to be the Angels, Mets, Giants or the Cubs (I guess we already are....blah).