General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2025)

[BatFlip]

35 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

This narrative is already getting tired on here, like deal with it, Rogers stepped in and paid well over the FO evaluations, Shapiro even said they went over their evaluations 3 times to land him and he still refused the number. Enter Rogers and *voila* it is what it is, he'll always be overpaid, the number they gave him was ludicrous, same goes with Soto and their owner.

Yup, it is what it is.

Rogers wasn't just making a 'baseball' decision as they're about to close on the purchase of Bell's interest in MLSE and are quite likely to pursue an IPO or sale for all or part of their sports interests in order to reduce hangover debt from their Shaw acquisition a few years back.  On their last quarterly call, they made clear they're "advancing their plan to surface value from their sports assets" and already talking to potential investors.

I'm sure they saw Vlad contract as important in this moment in time to protect the short-term image and value of the club.  Whether we like it or not, he's the most marketable face/personality on the team to the mainstream fans.

All that said, I agree with you guys, he was overpaid.

 

[Spanky__99]

3 minutes ago, BatFlip said:

Yup, it is what it is.

Rogers wasn't just making a 'baseball' decision as they're about to close on the purchase of Bell's interest in MLSE and are quite likely to pursue an IPO or sale for all or part of their sports interests in order to reduce hangover debt from their Shaw acquisition a few years back.  On their last quarterly call, they made clear they're "advancing their plan to surface value from their sports assets" and already talking to potential investors.

I'm sure they saw Vlad contract as important in this moment in time to protect the short-term image and value of the club.  Whether we like it or not, he's the most marketable face/personality on the team to the mainstream fans.

All that said, I agree with you guys, he was overpaid.

 

100%... when an owner steps in, it's certainly about the business and public perception. Not to mention it didn't help when they were backing a truck up for Shohei and Soto. Could they have waited till next fall, no doubt, that's what the FO was going to likely do, but ownership stepped in, and to your and my realisation is...  *It just is what it is* Tired of the 500 million dollar man comments 8 weeks into the season. Just get over it already.

[glory]

Since April 30, the Jays are 4th in MLB in runs, 2nd in wRC+, and 4th in HR. They are 18-12 over that span with a .600 pythW-L%. They were awful in April, but something definitely clicked after that. Varsho coming back and Barger breaking out certainly helped, especially in place of Wagner and Roden from April. 

How they piece together the rotation until reinforcements come (either via Scherzer or a trade) is the question.

[Spanky__99]

On 6/2/2025 at 8:45 PM, glory said:

Since April 30, the Jays are 4th in MLB in runs, 2nd in wRC+, and 4th in HR. They are 18-12 over that span with a .600 pythW-L%. They were awful in April, but something definitely clicked after that. Varsho coming back and Barger breaking out certainly helped, especially in place of Wagner and Roden from April. 

How they piece together the rotation until reinforcements come (either via Scherzer or a trade) is the question.

Yup, June should help define where the offense is at, but they've played really good baseball since and the skeddy was really tough in April. They've played good teams well as well like SD and Detroit specifically in May, I for one am liking what I'm seeing offensively. Bring on the Phillies!

[max silver]

3 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

The Wheeler's are welcoming a new baby to the family and will not pitch against us in the upcoming series, we thank you Mrs. Wheeler and congratulations.

 

That's cool the team misses Wheeler but the Sanchez/Abel/Luzardo matchup still looks very tough. 

[Spanky__99]

Just now, max silver said:

That's cool the team misses Wheeler but the Sanchez/Abel/Luzardo matchup still looks very tough. 

Pffttt...

 

[hanton]

were we ever in on Kim?

[BB17]

2 hours ago, John_Havok said:

There's not even a need to take him out for defense, he's grading out very very well there right now. 

You could move him from 3rd to the OF late in a game if ya wanted to and put Clement there instead, but a straight sub out for Clement wouldn't really be needed in a close game imo. 

I agree but Schneider was taking him out earlier in the year when Giminez was playing 2nd for Clement. You would hope they just leave Barger alone at 3rd now. His arm is so good it makes up for his lack of glove but even fielding the ball has been fine lately. You can tell he’s playing with a ton of confidence so that’s why I’d hate to see him lifted out of a game for “defence”

[Spanky__99]

43 minutes ago, hanton said:

were we ever in on Kim?

Why would we be in on Kim? Your LAD boner is showing, not to mention they blew every team's offer out the water but one, and he chose the Dodgers.

[hanton]

1 hour ago, Spanky__99 said:

Why would we be in on Kim? Your LAD boner is showing, not to mention they blew every team's offer out the water but one, and he chose the Dodgers.

#23

[Spanky__99]

6 minutes ago, hanton said:

#23

 

Exactly, why bring it up???

[Spanky__99]

2 hours ago, hanton said:

were we ever in on Kim?

So why would we be in on Kim?

[hanton]

1 minute ago, Spanky__99 said:

So why would we be in on Kim?

because he's not playing, he gets in 1 or 2 times a week

[Spanky__99]

2 hours ago, hanton said:

because he's not playing, he gets in 1 or 2 times a week

We traded for Gimenez and have a boatload of guys that'd be Kim, there's a reason he plays sparingly.

 

[saskjayfan]

12 hours ago, glory said:

Since April 30, the Jays are 4th in MLB in runs, 2nd in wRC+, and 4th in HR. They are 18-12 over that span with a .600 pythW-L%. They were awful in April, but something definitely clicked after that. Varsho coming back and Barger breaking out certainly helped, especially in place of Wagner and Roden from April. 

How they piece together the rotation until reinforcements come (either via Scherzer or a trade) is the question.

Spencer turnbull should be ready to go.  He hasn't pitched well, but is this a veteran just getting ready?  Is this just his spring training?  I'm not sure how his stuff has looked, but they have to make a decision on him right away as he has an opt out. 

[Barrelsandbombs]

20 minutes ago, saskjayfan said:

Spencer turnbull should be ready to go.  He hasn't pitched well, but is this a veteran just getting ready?  Is this just his spring training?  I'm not sure how his stuff has looked, but they have to make a decision on him right away as he has an opt out. 

There's an option period in the first 35 days of his contract to build him up, and after the first 35 days they have to call him up. They signed him on May 5 so they would have to call him up by June 9 at the latest.

[Brownie19]

1 hour ago, Barrelsandbombs said:

There's an option period in the first 35 days of his contract to build him up, and after the first 35 days they have to call him up. They signed him on May 5 so they would have to call him up by June 9 at the latest.

Yikes - that isn't good.

[Laika]

1.2 IP on June 1st makes it seem like Turnbull got hurt or maybe they are thinking of having him relieve? Dunno. 

[Terminator]

Turnbull looks like poo but he was worth gambling a million bucks on.

If he doesn't pan out I don't think it's a huge deal - they can just cut him loose.

And in the time since we signed him, things have changed a little bit too.

Schultz, Lauer, and Yariel all look like viable multi-inning guys right now and Beaston Lucas made another gem of an appearance. Fisher looks like a big league guy, etc.

[Terminator]

Does anyone plan on reading Keegan Matheson's new book? It came out today.

[R.O.]

I didn't see this, so I am posting this here

[John_Havok]

18 minutes ago, R.O. said:

I didn't see this, so I am posting this here

Sanchez should clear and probably get sent to Buffalo. Stefanic might not clear but...even if he doesnt...no big loss.

[jaysblue]

5 hours ago, Terminator said:

Does anyone plan on reading Keegan Matheson's new book? It came out today.

I'll purchase the audio book. 

[BatFlip]

3 hours ago, jaysblue said:

I'll purchase the audio book. 

Can you let us know your thoughts after you get through it?

Thanks bro

[connorp2]

On 6/3/2025 at 12:23 AM, Spanky__99 said:

This narrative is already getting tired on here, like deal with it, Rogers stepped in and paid well over the FO evaluations, Shapiro even said they went over their evaluations 3 times to land him and he still refused the number. Enter Rogers and *voila* it is what it is, he'll always be overpaid, the number they gave him was ludicrous, same goes with Soto and their owner.

Your FO literally paid like 10x what Gimenez would get any other mlb team. A failure of epic proportions. Vlad no doubt would’ve signed for $500m last off-season and is much better than $45m playing 2 guys in Gimenez and Santander that hurt your team having them in the lineup everybody. FO Superstars lol 

[Spanky__99]

1 hour ago, connorp2 said:

Your FO literally paid like 10x what Gimenez would get any other mlb team. A failure of epic proportions. Vlad no doubt would’ve signed for $500m last off-season and is much better than $45m playing 2 guys in Gimenez and Santander that hurt your team having them in the lineup everybody. FO Superstars lol 

Oh, they're no longer your team now, ya bird? Royce Lewis. 😅🖕 

[Brownie19]

3 hours ago, connorp2 said:

Your FO literally paid like 10x what Gimenez would get any other mlb team. A failure of epic proportions. Vlad no doubt would’ve signed for $500m last off-season and is much better than $45m playing 2 guys in Gimenez and Santander that hurt your team having them in the lineup everybody. FO Superstars lol 

Go away.

[Terminator]

Gimenez has an xwOBA of .323 this year.

In 2022, he had an xwOBA of .326 and put up a 6.1 WAR season.

He's underperforming his Batting Average right now by 66 points, almost entirely due to a .214 BABIP which is extremely low for a lefty with his speed.

He's going to be great.

[Laika]

Bowden Francis has -0.7 fWAR, horrible peripherals everywhere, and his Stuff+ has cratered to 93.

His breaking ball and splitter have become below average pitches over the offseason.

I don't think the team can justify giving him any more turns in the rotation. He does have an option left. 

Problem is there is nobody to call up. Easton Lucas is getting hammered now in AAA. CJ Van Eyk and Lazaro Estrada are the only AAA or AA SP who have even remotely okay K-BB rates. Michael Dominguez in AA is only a 3 inning "SP". 

All the good SP prospects are too far away. Yesavage, Stephen, Stanifer, Watts-Brown.

Could Lazaro Estrada be better than Francis? 

Time for a trade. 

[Laika]

unless of course the strategy this year is "pray for Alek Manoah and Max Scherzer to get healthy and not suck" in which case good luck Ross