Scherzer signs with Toronto

[Nexii]

21 hours ago, Terminator said:

Yeah when the team has good and motivated ownership it can support a top payroll.

Yea Jays had #3 payroll in 1992 and #1 payroll in 1993. I don't understand people who get upset when the Jays spend

[G-Snarls]

4 hours ago, Jimcanuck said:

Ya only Scherzer knows.  I am sure he was prepared to walk away if there was no offer to his liking.  Quite a few players announce retirement just before or during spring training for this reason.  For example Josh Donaldson on March 4, 2024.

Votto was the saddest recent example of essentially forced retirement

[G-Snarls]

I'm sure it's rough going from "star player" to "no longer a star player but still getting paid really well" to "no one wants you anymore"

For athletes you're only mid-late 30's often and it's all over and what do you do the rest of your life. Can't blame anyone for wanting the extra year or more. 

[Stangstag]

50 minutes ago, Nexii said:

Yea Jays had #3 payroll in 1992 and #1 payroll in 1993. I don't understand people who get upset when the Jays spend

Yeah, the alternative is…. Not spending. Like the Os. Imagine how frustrated that fanbase must be having that great young core but no free agent support.

[Stangstag]

24 minutes ago, G-Snarls said:

I'm sure it's rough going from "star player" to "no longer a star player but still getting paid really well" to "no one wants you anymore"

For athletes you're only mid-late 30's often and it's all over and what do you do the rest of your life. Can't blame anyone for wanting the extra year or more. 

I don’t think Scherzer is in that boat quite yet. Only thing holding him back is injuries, but he’s still proven to be useful when healthy.

[Terminator]

Yeah the hope for Scherzer is that he didn't get a normal offseason after having back surgery in December of last year. That messed with his preparation and other annoying injuries popped up.

The hopeful take is that even with all the nagging injuries, he was still pretty effective. And with a normal offseason he should be able to better prepare himself to get through 120+ innings.

He did have a showcase session recently and the Jays liked what they saw. I can only assume his velocity was encouraging and the stuff looked good so hopefully he's on track.

[Delete_My_Account_Thanks]

2 hours ago, Nexii said:

Yea Jays had #3 payroll in 1992 and #1 payroll in 1993. I don't understand people who get upset when the Jays spend

I don't think anyone can be upset with the Jays spending big money.  It's awesome that Rogers has joined the big boys club.  The only person who should be upset is Ed Rogers for having to pay a lot more to compete this year.  Fans though, should be ecstatic.  

It's just too bad the front office couldn't have supplemented this roster more through drafting and development.  A 280 million payroll should project as a World Series favorite, not a borderline playoff team.  We're lucky Rogers is willing to spend whatever it takes to try and get this team back into the playoffs.

If we don't make a playoff run this year and Ross and Mark aren't brought back, I hope the next front office is given the same amount of resources going forward.

In the meantime, I'm pumped for 2025, It should be a very exciting season.  Hopefully it results in a deep playoff run.

 

 

[Delete_My_Account_Thanks]

1 hour ago, Stangstag said:

Yeah, the alternative is…. Not spending. Like the Os. Imagine how frustrated that fanbase must be having that great young core but no free agent support.

Orioles turning into Tampa before our eyes?

[Abomination]

7 minutes ago, Vladdywagon said:

I don't think anyone can be upset with the Jays spending big money.  It's awesome that Rogers has joined the big boys club.  The only person who should be upset is Ed Rogers for having to pay a lot more to compete this year.  Fans though, should be ecstatic.  

It's just too bad the front office couldn't have supplemented this roster more through drafting and development.  A 280 million payroll should project as a World Series favorite, not a borderline playoff team.  We're lucky Rogers is willing to spend whatever it takes to try and get this team back into the playoffs.

If we don't make a playoff run this year and Ross and Mark aren't brought back, I hope the next front office is given the same amount of resources going forward.

In the meantime, I'm pumped for 2025, It should be a very exciting season.  Hopefully it results in a deep playoff run.

 

 

The Jays have spent a lot the last few years in upgrading Skydome.  I wonder if that money is now available for the payroll?

[Delete_My_Account_Thanks]

7 minutes ago, Abomination said:

The Jays have spent a lot the last few years in upgrading Skydome.  I wonder if that money is now available for the payroll?

 Rogers has really stepped it up the last few years

[M.E.]

My thoughts on need to do

 

- sign/trade for big bat 

- relief arm

- sign Vlad

- get Bo value up and trade at mid season. Giminez to SS and if Wagner/Schneider doing well they take over 2b

ALCS here we come. 

[Stangstag]

32 minutes ago, M.E. said:

My thoughts on need to do

 

- sign/trade for big bat 

- relief arm

- sign Vlad

- get Bo value up and trade at mid season. Giminez to SS and if Wagner/Schneider doing well they take over 2b

ALCS here we come. 

I don’t see how trading Bo mid-season helps us compete in 2025

[Jimcanuck]

7 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

I don’t see how trading Bo mid-season helps us compete in 2025

Depends on the team and the return

Let's say the Jays sign Bregman, and Orelvis is crushing AAA while playing an average 2B

Bo, who is leaving at the end of the season, is playing well.  Trade him to fill team needs and run with a Vlad, Orelvis, Gimenez, and Bregman infield

There are scenarios where trading Bo at the deadline will improve the team

 

[Abomination]

I'm still not convinced Bo is gone. He was part of the group who tried to convince Sasaki to play here.  Those aren't the actions of someone who is unhappy with the club and/or wants out. I'm not saying he WILL resign, just that I don't think it's as unlikely as people seem to think.

[Terminator]

6 minutes ago, Abomination said:

I'm still not convinced Bo is gone. He was part of the group who tried to convince Sasaki to play here.  Those aren't the actions of someone who is unhappy with the club and/or wants out. I'm not saying he WILL resign, just that I don't think it's as unlikely as people seem to think.

Yeah it seems pretty likely he's gone but it's not 100 percent certain.

[Jimcanuck]

9 minutes ago, Abomination said:

I'm still not convinced Bo is gone. He was part of the group who tried to convince Sasaki to play here.  Those aren't the actions of someone who is unhappy with the club and/or wants out. I'm not saying he WILL resign, just that I don't think it's as unlikely as people seem to think.

Fair point.  The cynicist in me says Bo could have been trying to convince Sasaki to come here because the Jays going deep in the playoffs and Bo playing well means $$$

[FellerFromFortune]

On 1/30/2025 at 7:03 PM, Angrioter said:

Ted Lilly 

I don't think Max would fight to stay in the game after giving up 7 runs by the third inning. lol

[Sorrow]

10 hours ago, Terminator said:

Yeah it seems pretty likely he's gone but it's not 100 percent certain.

He's openly said multiple times that he'd like to stay in Toronto.

Though earlier in his career he did say (I think when the Jays made the deal covering all his arbitration years) that he was going to test free agency but would give Toronto an opportunity to match any offer he received.

[Brownie19]

29 minutes ago, Sorrow said:

He's openly said multiple times that he'd like to stay in Toronto.

Though earlier in his career he did say (I think when the Jays made the deal covering all his arbitration years) that he was going to test free agency but would give Toronto an opportunity to match any offer he received.

Imagine a world where we sign Bregman or Alonso and then extend Vlad and Bo?

It may not work out, but it would certainly be exciting.

[Jimcanuck]

1 hour ago, Sorrow said:

He's openly said multiple times that he'd like to stay in Toronto.

Every pending free agent says this though

[saskjayfan]

17 hours ago, Stangstag said:

I don’t think Scherzer is in that boat quite yet. Only thing holding him back is injuries, but he’s still proven to be useful when healthy.

I think Scherzer is going to have a low 3s ERA if he's healthy.....maybe even in the high 2s.  I think he's going to bring the right attitude and confidence that the team needs.  A veteran that will keep the train on the tracks.  I love this signing. It's easy to think a guys washed at this age.  When you're as good as Max is it's really all about health. The health might not be there, but it was a gamble worth taking.

[L54]

I can’t see Scherzer with an era that starts with two but I do think the clubhouse presence will be extremely valuable 

[Delete_My_Account_Thanks]

1 hour ago, Jimcanuck said:

Every pending free agent says this though

But we've heard it from Vlad more than anyone else.  He clearly wants to stay.

[Delete_My_Account_Thanks]

3 minutes ago, L54 said:

I can’t see Scherzer with an era that starts with two but I do think the clubhouse presence will be extremely valuable 

Because it's going to start with a 1!

[Stangstag]

2 minutes ago, L54 said:

I can’t see Scherzer with an era that starts with two but I do think the clubhouse presence will be extremely valuable 

He’ll be a perfectly solid 4/5 starter at worst (if healthy) and that’s really what we needed so everything else is gravy.

People tend to overlook the intangibles, and yes I think having future HoF guy on the staff can only help.

[Jimcanuck]

16 minutes ago, Vladdywagon said:

But we've heard it from Vlad more than anyone else.  He clearly wants to stay.

Yes but theres a small caveat.  $450 to $500 million

[JaysAllMighty]

22 minutes ago, saskjayfan said:

I think Scherzer is going to have a low 3s ERA if he's healthy.....maybe even in the high 2s.  I think he's going to bring the right attitude and confidence that the team needs.  A veteran that will keep the train on the tracks.  I love this signing. It's easy to think a guys washed at this age.  When you're as good as Max is it's really all about health. The health might not be there, but it was a gamble worth taking.

Hopefully for us he will be the Gordie Howe of Baseball!

[Jays24]

19 minutes ago, Jimcanuck said:

Yes but theres a small caveat.  $450 to $500 million

This  caveat just came to fruition this offseason.  We could have gotten him for like 300M, which many folks here didn't even want to do earlier.  

[saskjayfan]

1 hour ago, Jimcanuck said:

Yes but theres a small caveat.  $450 to $500 million

It's not like he gets a lump sum cheque.  He's on the books for 30 mil.  Add another 5 or 6.  You just have to commit to that for 12 or 13 years.

[Jimcanuck]

8 minutes ago, saskjayfan said:

It's not like he gets a lump sum cheque.  He's on the books for 30 mil.  Add another 5 or 6.  You just have to commit to that for 12 or 13 years.

Oh