Vlad sets extension talk deadline of opening day of spring training

[Stangstag]

It will be interesting to see how quickly fans stop coming. I think they are slower to react than you think. It's a fun place to be now and most casuals don't know the game to anywhere near the level most in here do (even you ). I think even without a significant move, the dome will be relatively full until say mid-July to early August.

 

Unfortunately, we may have the opportunity to find out.

 

Yeah i’d have to think the majority of tix are already bought in advance. Attendance likely won’t take a hit til August (after the firesale if the team is out of it)

[Carlos Danger]

I read posters talking about holding Vlad to the trade deadline if he does not sign by the deadline date.

 

If you are not going to sign him, trade him to the Mets ASAP! His whole season value is significantly more than 2 months and a wider range of suitors.

 

Asinine to not sign him and keep him until the deadline!!

[saskjayfan]

Not sure why anyone thinks Atkins' job is on the line. He survived pulling Berrios and he survived last year. Rogers loves Shapiro and Shapiro and Atkins are clearly a package deal. Best buddies for like 20 years going back to Cleveland. They promised a great farm with continuous talent coming through and winning teams etc.

 

Our starting pitching is predicted to be abysmal next year apparently with projected regression abound. Our pen is still lousy.

 

There are too many holes. I am not sure why they are not rebuilding. The Astros have been able to make hard choices trading away top players or letting them go to free agency. Tampa is a master at it. Jays need to do the same. If you aren't going to pay the free agent prices then you need to draft and develop. If you suck at drafting and developing you need to hire people who are good at it. Maybe hire the guys away from Tampa triple their salaries and bring in dome talent.

 

I mean Shapiro won't fire him, but Shapiro is in the last year of his contract. If the Jays go down in flames for the second year in a row with a luxury tax payroll and this time the attendance will drop dramatically as well. If that happens, Shapiro is gone and that means so is Atkins.

[Jays24]

I read posters talking about holding Vlad to the trade deadline if he does not sign by the deadline date.

 

If you are not going to sign him, trade him to the Mets ASAP! His whole season value is significantly more than 2 months and a wider range of suitors.

 

Asinine to not sign him and keep him until the deadline!!

 

Especially when it means rolling this dumpster fire of a squad out there.

[Brownie19]

Especially when it means rolling this dumpster fire of a squad out there.

 

Watching teams like Detroit and KC make the playoffs last year may be influencing decisions...those teams were heavily flawed too.

[Jays24]

Watching teams like Detroit and KC make the playoffs last year may be influencing decisions...those teams were heavily flawed too.

 

By that logic, every team should think they have a chance. Tigers actually sold at the deadline and somehow did what they did. If we sell on Vlad/Bo and go for a rebuild and that's happens then awesome, we just shouldn't be making decisions on pulling off a miracle.

[leaffie]

Lengthy discussion today on sirius. Talking about trading vlad to mets, for their top three prospects plus two major leaguers.

Giving mets 48 hours to sign him to long term contract.

 

Said Jays are in worst place possible, and that no one wants to sign for a last place team. Said Shatkins Just trying to hold onto their jobs.

 

Said once Vlad was gone , they will have 30 million to sign bregman and go hard after Burnes.

 

And with a direction to show other players. And their payroll they would still have chance at wc this year and be in a better position for next.

 

They had no respect for Shatkins and final comment was that managers that come from small payroll teams never learn how to make the big moves, and they both feel that this was the case with the jays.

 

It was in Loud Outs, and I believe one of the commentators was Ryan Spilburg, dont know the other

 

Sorry for length here, but as I was listening, it made perfect sense to trade Vladdy, and I had been on fence.

[Carlos Danger]

Lengthy discussion today on sirius. Talking about trading vlad to mets, for their top three prospects plus two major leaguers.

Giving mets 48 hours to sign him to long term contract.

 

Said Jays are in worst place possible, and that no one wants to sign for a last place team. Said Shatkins Just trying to hold onto their jobs.

 

Said once Vlad was gone , they will have 30 million to sign bregman and go hard after Burnes.

 

And with a direction to show other players. And their payroll they would still have chance at wc this year and be in a better position for next.

 

They had no respect for Shatkins and final comment was that managers that come from small payroll teams never learn how to make the big moves, and they both feel that this was the case with the jays.

 

It was in Loud Outs, and I believe one of the commentators was Ryan Spilburg, dont know the other

 

Sorry for length here, but as I was listening, it made perfect sense to trade Vladdy, and I had been on fence.

 

I think it was sign Alonso, since Vlad would replace him, plus Burnes. One of the players from the Mets can play 3b.

 

It was also, CJ Noviski and Jim Bowden.

[burlingtonbandit]

It will be interesting to see how quickly fans stop coming. I think they are slower to react than you think. It's a fun place to be now and most casuals don't know the game to anywhere near the level most in here do (even you ). I think even without a significant move, the dome will be relatively full until say mid-July to early August.

 

Unfortunately, we may have the opportunity to find out.

 

Certainly will be lower than last year. Go on Ticketmaster right now and look how many blue dots there are.. pretty sure the home opener isn’t even sold out.

 

Last year you had people thinking Ohtani was coming so at the time a lot of people bought tickets in advance back in Dec. This year you are getting zero hype at all. Maybe they’d get a tiny boost if Vlad signed a deal or a big trade of some sorts but other than that I’d expect April and May to have some sub 20k fan nights.

[Eat My Shatkins]

Lengthy discussion today on sirius. Talking about trading vlad to mets, for their top three prospects plus two major leaguers.

Giving mets 48 hours to sign him to long term contract.

 

Said Jays are in worst place possible, and that no one wants to sign for a last place team. Said Shatkins Just trying to hold onto their jobs.

 

Said once Vlad was gone , they will have 30 million to sign bregman and go hard after Burnes.

 

And with a direction to show other players. And their payroll they would still have chance at wc this year and be in a better position for next.

 

They had no respect for Shatkins and final comment was that managers that come from small payroll teams never learn how to make the big moves, and they both feel that this was the case with the jays.

 

It was in Loud Outs, and I believe one of the commentators was Ryan Spilburg, dont know the other

 

Sorry for length here, but as I was listening, it made perfect sense to trade Vladdy, and I had been on fence.

 

 

Yes...please do this.

[glory]

Shapiro is clearly not a good executive if he’s making the exact same mistake twice within 8 years and expecting different results. If he’s cunning enough to get Rogers to spend into the luxury tax then he should be able to convince them to cut bait one year early rather than wait until the bottom falls out. In 2017-18 at least the team was coming off their most memorable run in 20+ years. This current run had better regular season results over a 3-4 year stretch but fans are not going to be clamoring for 2021-23 nostalgia any time soon. If Vlad can’t be extended, then make the damn trade and move forward.

[Jimcanuck]

List of teams in a worse position than Blue Jays:

 

Colorado Rockies

[Eat My Shatkins]

FYI the Mets top 3 prospects per fangraphs in 2024 were:

 

SP Brandon Sproat FV 55

OF Drew Gilbert FV 50

SS Jett Williams FV 50

 

All three reached AAA last year. Add in MLBers like Vientos and maybe Baty and I do that all day long rather than throw $400+ million at Vlad.

[L54]

There’s zero chance you’re getting all of that for Vlad

[L54]

List of teams in a worse position than Blue Jays:

 

Colorado Rockies

 

Community Notes:

 

True

[gruber92]

There’s zero chance you’re getting all of that for Vlad

 

Throw in Bloss and Loperfido and they may bite.

[L54]

Throw in Bloss and Loperfido and they may bite.

 

Maybe! I have no idea

[gruber92]

Certainly will be lower than last year. Go on Ticketmaster right now and look how many blue dots there are.. pretty sure the home opener isn’t even sold out.

 

Last year you had people thinking Ohtani was coming so at the time a lot of people bought tickets in advance back in Dec. This year you are getting zero hype at all. Maybe they’d get a tiny boost if Vlad signed a deal or a big trade of some sorts but other than that I’d expect April and May to have some sub 20k fan nights.

 

Yup, those mid week night games in April and May should be anorexic.

[L54]

I’d do it for Sproat and Vientos

[L54]

Yup, those mid week night games in April and May should be anorexic.

 

Let’s hope so honestly

[Eat My Shatkins]

There’s zero chance you’re getting all of that for Vlad

 

I agree, was just going off the apparent discussion on sirius that leaffie posted.

 

Vientos, Sproat and Williams is enough for me, and that's gotta be in the ballpark at least.

[BTS]

List of teams in a worse position than Blue Jays:

 

Colorado Rockies

 

I think there are a few other teams on that list. Rogers’ willingness to spend to the tax is a huge asset.

[leaffie]

I think it was sign Alonso, since Vlad would replace him, plus Burnes. One of the players from the Mets can play 3b.

 

It was also, CJ Noviski and Jim Bowden.

 

Thanks had a car full of grands and joined midstream. Must tell you my 8 year old grand was upset by them talking about trading vlad, but he was stricken that they would trade Bo.

[jaysblue]

It will be interesting to see how quickly fans stop coming. I think they are slower to react than you think. It's a fun place to be now and most casuals don't know the game to anywhere near the level most in here do (even you ). I think even without a significant move, the dome will be relatively full until say mid-July to early August.

 

Unfortunately, we may have the opportunity to find out.

 

A lot of seats were purchased early last winter because they were speculating an Ohtani signing along with the new renos at the dome. I had a co-worker who bought season tickets last November for that very reason and she told me over the summer she isn't renewing after the disastrous start they had. She had difficulty reselling tickets after and had to take a big loss majority of the time.

 

You will have a lot of casuals just buying tickets online at the last minute for the cheapest they could get, so they can go stand up and hang out at one of the rooftop bars in the summer months when the roof is open. Otherwise, weeknight games in April/May when the roof is closed and when the Leafs are in the Playoffs - a lot of empty seats.

 

Come May long weekend, June and July, with nice weather, the Dome will fill up. But even still, I bet a lot of resellers will be taking a huge loss and you'll be able to buy seats way cheaper than the Jays box office.

[jaysblue]

List of teams in a worse position than Blue Jays:

 

Colorado Rockies

 

Coors Field is way better than the Rogers Centre still haha.

[jaysblue]

Yup, those mid week night games in April and May should be anorexic.

 

Cheap tickets! Best time to go!

[jaysblue]

FYI the Mets top 3 prospects per fangraphs in 2024 were:

 

SP Brandon Sproat FV 55

OF Drew Gilbert FV 50

SS Jett Williams FV 50

 

All three reached AAA last year. Add in MLBers like Vientos and maybe Baty and I do that all day long rather than throw $400+ million at Vlad.

 

You're not getting Vientos for one-year of Vladdy lol. Maybe Baty can be thrown in though.

[Spanky99]

FYI the Mets top 3 prospects per fangraphs in 2024 were:

 

SP Brandon Sproat FV 55

OF Drew Gilbert FV 50

SS Jett Williams FV 50

 

All three reached AAA last year. Add in MLBers like Vientos and maybe Baty and I do that all day long rather than throw $400+ million at Vlad.

 

Gilbert dropped to 9th in BA's listing...

 

Headshot of Jett Williams

1. Jett Williams

SS / OF

 

Ht: 5'6" | Wt: 175 | B-T: R-R

 

Age: null

 

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

 

Track Record: Williams missed the middle months of the 2024 season with a right wrist injury—he had debridement surgery in June—which provided an incomplete picture of his progress. He returned to action at Double-A Binghamton at the end of August and continued to get reps at Triple-A Syracuse and in the Arizona Fall League. In his one six-game series for Syracuse, Williams showcased his strengths. Four of his eight hits were doubles, he drew eight walks and he stole a base. It was Williams’ leadoff skill set, grinder mentality and up-the-middle profile that drew the Mets to draft him 14th overall in 2022 out of his Dallas-area high school. He zoomed to Double-A as a 19-year-old in 2023, hitting 13 home runs, stealing 45 bases and drawing 104 walks. His .425 on-base percentage was higher than any teenaged prospect, save for Minor League Player of the Year Jackson Holliday of the Orioles. While Williams wasn’t able to build on that success in 2024, he learned to process the disappointment of a long-term injury and dedicated himself to his rehab to set him up for 2025.

 

Scouting Report: Williams’ game revolves around his on-base ability, swing decisions and speed. He stays within the strike zone, takes a high volume of pitches and doesn’t chase as often as other young hitters, even with two strikes. As he battled wrist soreness early in the season, Williams’ exit velocity suffered. Still, his 90th percentile EV of 103 mph was two ticks higher than average for a 20-year-old. He hits for solid-average power when he meets the ball out front and gets good carry on balls hit to right field because his ball tends to fly true without slicing. His swing is clean, and the Mets worked with him to get back to the setup he used in high school in an effort to stay through the ball better. The 5-foot-6 Williams appeared thicker and less athletic to opposing scouts in 2024 and ran more above-average times than plus ones. He flashed occasional plus sprint speeds, according to Statcast, but not with the same consistency as 2023. Williams has played primarily shortstop and has seen time at second base and center field. He played both shortstop and center field in high school and is open to playing wherever he is needed. He has the hands for shortstop but his lateral range and internal clock are more questionable. Second base or center field are probably the most realistic options.

 

The Future: Williams’ batted-ball quality improved late in the season after his wrist healed and he got into a routine. He is receptive to coaching and has a well-rounded profile, but not necessarily a carrying tool—unless his plus speed shows up more consistently. With a few productive months in the minors in 2025, Williams could be poised for an MLB look as a 21-year-old. The Mets plan to keep him as versatile as possible, in case he needs to fill a specific position.

 

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 55

Headshot of Brandon Sproat

2. Brandon Sproat

RHP

 

Ht: 6'3" | Wt: 210 | B-T: R-R

 

Age: null

 

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

 

Track Record: Sproat pitched for four seasons at Florida, the first two predominantly in the bullpen. The Mets drafted him twice. He signed for slot value as a second-rounder in 2023 after he was an unsigned third-rounder the year before. Sproat made his pro debut in 2024, throwing 116.1 innings at three levels and appearing in the Futures Game. He faltered in seven starts at Triple-A Syracuse but was utterly dominant at High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, producing a 2.05 ERA with a 33% strikeout rate and 9% walk rate.

 

Scouting Report: Not many minor league starting pitchers throw as hard as Sproat did in 2024. His average velocity of 96.3 mph was ninth-fastest among those who threw at least 750 four-seam fastballs. He topped out at 101.5 mph. Sproat’s fastball played down against advanced hitters at times because of ordinary shape and fringy command. To compensate, he throws four pitch types. Sproat’s high-80s changeup was his best secondary pitch in college and remains a plus offering with armside fade that he can go to for whiffs and chases. He added a mid-80s sweeper in 2024 and committed to throwing it. His slider became his go-to secondary pitch, but he still drops an occasional low-80s curveball and began using a two-seamer more often late in the season. Sproat has a long arm stroke, and his arm lags slightly at foot strike, costing him control and command. Triple-A hitters hit .313 and slugged .574 against Sproat, teaching him a valuable lesson about the importance of pitch sequencing and location.

 

The Future: Sproat has the goods to be a stuff-over-command big league starter, potentially in the middle of a rotation. He has weapons to compete against batters of both hands, requisite mental toughness and the adaptability required to tweak his mix.

 

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45

Headshot of Jesus Baez

3. Jesus Baez

SS / 3B

 

Ht: 5'9" | Wt: 180 | B-T: R-R

 

Age: null

 

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

 

Track Record: From Amed Rosario to Andres Gimenez to Ronny Mauricio to Francisco Alvarez, every Mets No. 1 prospect between 2017 and 2023 was signed internationally. Baez is the most likely candidate to be next. The Mets signed him for a modest $275,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2022. In two seasons of Rookie ball, Baez’s batted-ball data outshined his on-field production. That began to change in 2024, when he slugged his way from Low-A St. Lucie to High-A Brooklyn as a 19-year-old. In early July, just as he was finding his rhythm, Baez tore the meniscus in his right knee and had season-ending surgery.

 

Scouting Report: Although it is true today that more players reach High-A as teenagers after MLB reconfigured the minor leagues in 2021, Baez still stands out for his production and progress at a young age. He has an active hitting approach, plus bat speed and exceptional high-end exit velocity—up near a maximum of 111 mph—for his age. Baez tracks the ball well, hits it hard consistently and already pulls the ball in the air like a more experienced hitter. He doesn’t take many walks and can be enticed to chase, but above-average bat-to-ball skills help him limit strikeouts. He looks confident in the box and is a good mover who improved his swing path in 2024 to make it more direct. Scouts highest on Baez project him to become a plus hitter with plus power. Baez has focused mostly on shortstop, but he began to take a larger share of third base in 2024. His hands and arm grade as plus, but he’s slow-footed and not rangy, making third base or second base good landing spots.

 

The Future: Baez is the Mets’ top helium prospect. They rave about his attitude and work ethic. He has a chance to reach the upper minors as a 20-year-old in 2025 and muscle his way up prospect lists.

 

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 30 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 60

[jaysblue]

I think there are a few other teams on that list. Rogers’ willingness to spend to the tax is a huge asset.

 

Chicago White Sox - they suck.

Pittsburgh Pirates - have some intriguing young arms and players, but they never spend huge money.

Miami Marlins - they never will spend big money and always trade everyone after 3-4 years before they become expensive via arbitration and FA's. No direction whatsoever.

St. Louis Cardinals - what is going on there now? You had a lovefest with that organization before haha.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: wasted years of having the two best players in baseball!

Cincinnati Reds - have drafted and developed some real solid young players and arms, let's see if they can keep them however.

 

Would have included the Athletics on that list, but now seems like they want to spend and they have an exciting roster heading into 2025 that could be a sleeper.

 

Have the Jays ranked anywhere between #20-30, maybe around #23/24 right now but that could change.

Edited December 28, 2024 by jaysblue

[Spanky99]

There’s zero chance you’re getting all of that for Vlad

 

The caveat is the window to have him sign an extension.