General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2025)

[Orgfiller]

18 minutes ago, Terminator said:

The Top 3 are pretty set but that 4th spot isn't as easy as just slotting Lauer in there to me.

I'd probably piggy-back 2 of Bassitt, Lauer and Berrios depending on the matchup.

I think unless Berrios regains his velocity a bit later in the year then it's a Bassitt + Lauer piggyback for SP4, totally agreed.

[Eat My Shatkins]

It'll be interesting to see how they go about building next seasons rotation too. It's completely wide open and loaded with question marks.

 

1. Gausman - seems to be losing a bit every year 

2. Berrios - a couple notches below Gausman and also losing a bit each year

3. Lauer - is he for real, or will he be the next Bowden Francis and implode after showing promise?

 

That's it, the only 3 MLB starters in the fold. You'd feel better if that was your 3, 4 and 5 starters or maybe even your 2, 3 and 4 starters after getting a healthy Bieber to come back..

After that there is a huge pile of pure question marks that could turn out very bad or possibly even turn out great. 

1. Francis - can he rebound?

2. Manoah - same as Francis

3. Bastardo - probably more of a reliever

5. Tiedemann - probably best served building back up in AAA but certainly has upside.

6. Yesavage - pretty raw but might force his way in

7. Estrada - had some hope, but got blown up by the O's and seems to have cratered in AAA since

8. Bloss - should be higher on this list but not sure on his time line

9. Macko - not sure if he's anything more than AAA filler

 

Certainly some potential in there, but boy would it be nice to get a guy like Bieber inked long term and then use that list of question marks to fill out the 5th spot and emergency depth.

[jaysblue]

34 minutes ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

It'll be interesting to see how they go about building next seasons rotation too. It's completely wide open and loaded with question marks.

 

1. Gausman - seems to be losing a bit every year 

2. Berrios - a couple notches below Gausman and also losing a bit each year

3. Lauer - is he for real, or will he be the next Bowden Francis and implode after showing promise?

 

That's it, the only 3 MLB starters in the fold. You'd feel better if that was your 3, 4 and 5 starters or maybe even your 2, 3 and 4 starters after getting a healthy Bieber to come back..

After that there is a huge pile of pure question marks that could turn out very bad or possibly even turn out great. 

1. Francis - can he rebound?

2. Manoah - same as Francis

3. Bastardo - probably more of a reliever

5. Tiedemann - probably best served building back up in AAA but certainly has upside.

6. Yesavage - pretty raw but might force his way in

7. Estrada - had some hope, but got blown up by the O's and seems to have cratered in AAA since

8. Bloss - should be higher on this list but not sure on his time line

9. Macko - not sure if he's anything more than AAA filler

 

Certainly some potential in there, but boy would it be nice to get a guy like Bieber inked long term and then use that list of question marks to fill out the 5th spot and emergency depth.

The Jays definitely need to sign a front of rotation arm (Bieber, Woodruff, or Cease) + would be nice to bring back someone like Scherzer for a one-year deal. With both of them already being here, and if they've enjoyed their time in Toronto, probably gives the Jays an advantage and heads up over other teams. 

Gausman, Berrios and Lauer are fine for the back of the rotation. Anyone of those guys could pitch like a No. 3 in the rotation. Gausman seems to be losing a bit each year like you said, so tough counting on him as a No. 1/2 guy like before. Berrios falls in the same category now. Lauer is a wildcard, but he showed promise this season so doesn't hurt to roll with him again. 

Jays have a lot of depth behind those guys with Francis, Manoah, Macko, Bloss, Estrada, Schultz, Lucas, Yesavage which is a good thing over the course of 162 games.

[Terminator]

You could almost keep Lauer's options open.

If any of the Top 3 struggle in Games 1-3, he could come in as the longman.

If they don't, then you could save Lauer as a piggy-back for Game 4. 

 

[Jays24]

All this talk about "clear cut starters for the postseason" is so baseless.  We will probably go with the hottest arm so the last 5/6 weeks will determine our order in the playoffs. 

Its fine to give your opinion as to who that'll be and who has an edge right now but it could look drastically different by the end.  There's a reason why this front office cant even decide who to take out of the rotation because the difference from top to bottom isnt that drastic as how things stand.  

[Terminator]

4 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

All this talk about "clear cut starters for the postseason" is so baseless.  We will probably go with the hottest arm so the last 5/6 weeks will determine our order in the playoffs. 

Its fine to give your opinion as to who that'll be and who has an edge right now but it could look drastically different by the end.  There's a reason why this front office cant even decide who to take out of the rotation because the difference from top to bottom isnt that drastic as how things stand.  

Yeah you can't write off Bassitt or Berrios just yet.

Both are solid mid rotation innings eaters that are great to have in the regular season. But they aren't THAT much worse than Gausman/Scherzer. And I'm not convinced they are any worse than Lauer.

Good final months from them and bad months from Gaus/Scherzer could propel them into the playoff rotation. That does seem possible, but a little bit unlikely.

[Terminator]

Yeasavage could also play a factor as a multi-inning weapon but he'll need to ace his next start as the clock is ticking for him.

But all that said, the Jays pitching is very deep and not that top heavy.

That normally plays down in the playoffs but if Bieber is dealing and the bullpen is clicking, I could see a scenario where we are mixing and matching game to game and end up making the World Series. 

[Masterbather]

2 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Yeasavage could also play a factor as a multi-inning weapon but he'll need to ace his next start as the clock is ticking for him.

But all that said, the Jays pitching is very deep and not that top heavy.

That normally plays down in the playoffs but if Bieber is dealing and the bullpen is clicking, I could see a scenario where we are mixing and matching game to game and end up making the World Series. 

The bullpen clicking is as much a concern as anything given how much variance is in their games. This is where luck will play a big factor, we just have to hope we get a couple of guys get hot at the right time.

[Blue balls]

I’m not too worried about the pitching situation for 2026.

There is 36 500 000$ coming off the books with Bassitt and Scherzer gone. You can get an ace with that money alone and bet on internal growth for the 5-6th spots. There is also the option like mentionned above to sign a vetrin for a 1yr contract. Trade again for a legit pitcher at next year’s trade deadline if needed.

Looking at yesterday’s league wide attendance, Jays are 3rd behind the Dodgers and about 100 behind the Mets. 5000 ahead of the Yankees. After a year where respected players like Scherzer, Bieber, Springer, Guerrero are wearing the uniform and seems to be thriving, I’d be very surprised it they struggle to attract at least one high end FA.

[Terminator]

2 minutes ago, Masterbather said:

The bullpen clicking is as much a concern as anything given how much variance is in their games. This is where luck will play a big factor, we just have to hope we get a couple of guys get hot at the right time.

Yep.

1-6, it's a collection of solid to good setup men without having elite high end fireballers.

I can see where they all click and this team advances far but I can also see where a few of them struggle and we get bounced early. 

[Brownie19]

Gate 14 Podcast (@gate14podcast) • Instagram reel

WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM

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23K likes, 156 comments - gate14podcast on July 31, 2025: "Eric Lauer talks about the incredible 5th Inning smoke break in...

Lauer talking about the 5th inning smoke break in the KBO.  That's awesome.

 

[Jays24]

2 hours ago, Terminator said:

Yeah you can't write off Bassitt or Berrios just yet.

Both are solid mid rotation innings eaters that are great to have in the regular season. But they aren't THAT much worse than Gausman/Scherzer. And I'm not convinced they are any worse than Lauer.

Good final months from them and bad months from Gaus/Scherzer could propel them into the playoff rotation. That does seem possible, but a little bit unlikely.

Exactly. I'm a Berrios fan and have seen him be dominant in the playoffs for us as well. 

Bieber (if healthy) is the only guy who's on a different level.  Rest are too close to be differentiated at this stage of their careers, why is why recency bias will win out imo.  

[glory]

Bieber, Scherzer, and Gausman in that order for me. The 4th depends on matchup, who is hot, etc.

[harvey16]

Jays have a legitimate chance to have 4 qualified players finish the season with a .300+ avg. This would be a first in Jays history, even the powerhouse 93 team only had 3 hitters with .300+ avg albeit they finished 1,2,3 in batting avg in the AL that year. 

Current - Bichette .304, Vlad .297, Kirk .296, Springer. 293

[hanton]

4 hours ago, glory said:

Bieber, Scherzer, and Gausman in that order for me. The 4th depends on matchup, who is hot, etc.

yes or some combo, can't see bassitt or berrios start - at least not initially

[Stangstag]

Yikes. Bullpen is alarming these last couple weeks

[thatoneguy]

They will sink this team in the playoffs if they continue pitching like this.

[BB17]

Biggest problem is the lack of command. All of Hoffman, Little and Dominguez can just "lose" it and everything unravels quickly. Walks and HBP have been killing them lately. And those are 3 of your 4 "highest leverage" arms. Varland being the other who is also struggling.

At the same time as bad as they are right now if they are going well they can be lights out. You just have to have a quick leash come playoff time 

[jmomcc]

I wonder if we just need Lauer in the pen at this point? They need more arms in there. 

[Spanky__99]

14 hours ago, jaysblue said:

The Jays definitely need to sign a front of rotation arm (Bieber, Woodruff, or Cease) + would be nice to bring back someone like Scherzer for a one-year deal. With both of them already being here, and if they've enjoyed their time in Toronto, probably gives the Jays an advantage and heads up over other teams. 

Gausman, Berrios and Lauer are fine for the back of the rotation. Anyone of those guys could pitch like a No. 3 in the rotation. Gausman seems to be losing a bit each year like you said, so tough counting on him as a No. 1/2 guy like before. Berrios falls in the same category now. Lauer is a wildcard, but he showed promise this season so doesn't hurt to roll with him again. 

Jays have a lot of depth behind those guys with Francis, Manoah, Macko, Bloss, Estrada, Schultz, Lucas, Yesavage which is a good thing over the course of 162 games.

You just regurgitated what he just said, lmao. 🙄

[Spanky__99]

Bieber/Gausman/Scherzer as of now and anything interchangeable works after that. They won't need a 4th starter until the ALCS to be honest, just have one of Lauer/Berrios or Bassitt as the long man prior to that. All single inning arms on the roster as well. Still 30 games to go so some s*** can change.

[Grant77]

Guys, we found our ace for the playoffs. Ryan Borucki is back on minor league deal.

[jaysblue]

5 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

You just regurgitated what he just said, lmao. 🙄

 

5 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

Bieber/Gausman/Scherzer as of now and anything interchangeable works after that. They won't need a 4th starter until the ALCS to be honest, just have one of Lauer/Berrios or Bassitt as the long man prior to that. All single inning arms on the roster as well. Still 30 games to go so some s*** can change.

🙄

[G-Snarls]

Can't lie.  The bullpen is scaring me. 

[Masterbather]

19 minutes ago, G-Snarls said:

Can't lie.  The bullpen is scaring me. 

Unfortunately they're certainly not scaring the opposition.

[Spanky__99]

Brewers have Peralta, Priester and Woodruff, pumped for this. 

[Omar]

17 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

Brewers have Peralta, Priester and Woodruff, pumped for this. 

World Series preview?

[G-Snarls]

6 hours ago, Omar said:

World Series preview?

Exactly what I came here to post 

LOL

[jaysblue]

Would have been cool to see Jacob Misiorowski pitch in this series. 

[Masterbather]

16 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

Brewers have Peralta, Priester and Woodruff, pumped for this. 

Well that's most people's top three in the rotation if the playoffs began today, so this will be a hell of a test for those three against the best team in baseball.