Offseason Roster Thread 2025-26

[Brownie19]

3 minutes ago, thatoneguy said:

Cease/Gausman/Bieber/Yesavage is a very solid top 4 assuming Yesavage continues to any decent degree what he started.

Very solid?  C'mon man

[thatoneguy]

2 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Very solid?  C'mon man

I only said very solid because of the questions with Yesavage. It's a great top 3.

[204Jays]

Without knowing deferrals, seems like a luke warm deal

[Omar]

1 hour ago, BTS said:

This is the dumbest argument on this forum in recent memory, and I hate each and every one of you for participating in it 

Come on, it's the offseason.  Some leeway is in order, right?

[Ray]

Given the prices on SP, is it possible that Berrios actually has some surplus value despite that contract? Certainly feels like they could move him if they really wanted to.

[max silver]

1 hour ago, Ray said:

Given the prices on SP, is it possible that Berrios actually has some surplus value despite that contract? Certainly feels like they could move him if they really wanted to.

That's probably a stretch given Berrios' downward trajectory but I think if the Jays ate a bit of salary the deal in movable. 

[Vancouverite]

Scherzer said he has unfinished business and believe Bassit too among those lines

 

If both would resign on a 1 year 5M contract would you trade Berrios for his equivalent position player or reliever and go with

 

Cease

Gausman

Bieber

Yesavage

Bassit

Scherzer

Lauer

?

[Laika]

2 minutes ago, Vancouverite said:

Scherzer said he has unfinished business and believe Bassit too among those lines

 

If both would resign on a 1 year 5M contract would you trade Berrios for his equivalent position player or reliever and go with

 

Cease

Gausman

Bieber

Yesavage

Bassit

Scherzer

Lauer

?

Bassitt as the SP5 would be a dream but he probably gets a solid contract. Maybe 2/$30m 

[Vancouverite]

4 minutes ago, Laika said:

Bassitt as the SP5 would be a dream but he probably gets a solid contract. Maybe 2/$30m 

Yeah he possibly could but don't know man these guys seem pretty tight. If any 2 players would take a discount id bet on bassit and scherzer especially after scherzers comments that came out today

[John_Havok]

1 hour ago, Vancouverite said:

Yeah he possibly could but don't know man these guys seem pretty tight. If any 2 players would take a discount id bet on bassit and scherzer especially after scherzers comments that came out today

Scherzer coming back as a leverage reliever would be the tits if he was willing (maybe he would?)

I'm okay with moving on from Bassitt as it looks incredibly unlikely Berrios can be moved. One can hope, but the chances seem remote. 

[G-Snarls]

Now what do they do with Varland?

Do they still try to make him into a starter?

Lauer is now clearly the swing man

[Laika]

2 minutes ago, G-Snarls said:

Now what do they do with Varland?

Do they still try to make him into a starter?

Lauer is now clearly the swing man

I guess not. That was just speculation anyway, I think. 

[Jimcanuck]

3 minutes ago, G-Snarls said:

Now what do they do with Varland?

Do they still try to make him into a starter?

Lauer is now clearly the swing man

Varland has an option remaining.  Would it be bad for him to start in Buffalo and be first guy up when needed?

[Funky]

The way I look at it is we took two of those top starting pictures in free agency off the board early and free agency. Nobody expected Bieber back. Not only did he come back, it was at a sweetheart deal.

Then we ended up getting maybe the biggest starting pitching free agent in Cease at a rumored 26 million a year with the deferrals. 
 

Basically, we landed too very good pictures that could possibly be at the top of our lineup for a combined luxury tax total of 36 million a year. That’s 18 million each.  
 

I don’t think you could have a much better start to free agency than what we just did. 

[R.O.]

Re: Berrios trade.

Some people are saying that it would be a hard trade to make. I don't think so.

Many teams need a veteran starter who takes the ball every 5 days.

Here is an example from an Athletic Article about St. Louis after the Gray trade:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6837553/2025/11/25/st-louis-cardinals-sonny-gray-trade-direction/

Quote

The Cardinals will look to bring in a durable, experienced starter to fill in the rotation either through free agency or trade, but will not add at the expense of taking away opportunities from their young starters.

“We want to create competition with our players,” Bloom said. “I don’t think that necessarily needs to be at the exclusion of veterans. There is a lot of value in guys that have been there, done that, and can show the way. And we’ve seen that here the last couple of years.”

I am sure there are many teams that feel the same way.

[Brownie19]

13 minutes ago, R.O. said:

Re: Berrios trade.

Some people are saying that it would be a hard trade to make. I don't think so.

Many teams need a veteran starter who takes the ball every 5 days.

Here is an example from an Athletic Article about St. Louis after the Gray trade:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6837553/2025/11/25/st-louis-cardinals-sonny-gray-trade-direction/

I am sure there are many teams that feel the same way.

Not at 3 years $67M for a guy who's a 1.5 WAR pitcher.  We'd have to eat a significant amount to get anyone to take him for free, let alone give us something of value in return.

There are veterans on the FA market that would cost 1 year $8M-$10M who can provide exactly what Berrios does.  We're stuck with him.  Hopefully he comes back healthy and maybe a little angry and gives us quality SP5 innings next year.

[John_Havok]

4 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Not at 3 years $67M for a guy who's a 1.5 WAR pitcher.  We'd have to eat a significant amount to get anyone to take him for free, let alone give us something of value in return.

There are veterans on the FA market that would cost 1 year $8M-$10M who can provide exactly what Berrios does.  We're stuck with him.  Hopefully he comes back healthy and maybe a little angry and gives us quality SP5 innings next year.

Perhaps when pitchers get hurt there might be an opportunity, but I largely agree the Jays are stuck with him, and its not the worst problem to have.

In a perfect world, his arm heals fully and he gets back to his norms for 2026, opts out, declines a QO and gets signed elsewhere.

Granted at point the rotation will need to replace Gausman and Berrios, but theres lots of time to solve that eventuality 

 

[glory]

Berrios as a FIP beating #5 starter who eats up innings over 162 and never sees a post season inning can still be valuable. Massively overpaid but as a #5 guy it’s not terrible. Best case is whatever injury he had in 2025 explains his performance drop and he comes back a bit better in 2026. No chance he’s opting out of 2/48 or 2/50, so just have to hope he’s a 1-2 WAR innings guy. Maybe you can dump him in 2027 or 2028 when he’s closer to the end of his deal. 

Of course if he has a 3 WAR bounce back season then maybe he’s a bit more tradable next winter.

[Omar]

15 hours ago, John_Havok said:

Scherzer coming back as a leverage reliever would be the tits if he was willing (maybe he would?)

I'm okay with moving on from Bassitt as it looks incredibly unlikely Berrios can be moved. One can hope, but the chances seem remote. 

I don't get why some are so enamored with Scherzer to the extent that they want him back in any capacity.

Is it the resume?  The high strung attitude? The vetrin presents?

Sure he had some value in the playoffs and is an easy guy to cheer for but why take a chance with a guy north of 40?  He is an injury waiting to happen. Too much volatility for me.  Thanks for your efforts Max.  Wish you well wherever you end up but your time in Toronto has come to an end.

[Sasky05]

On 11/26/2025 at 8:27 AM, Laika said:

Yeah it's nice to see. I'm losing faith in his hitting ability but hopefully he can become a SS with defense and pop. 

Let's not forget, he just turned 20 yo.

[jmomcc]

40 minutes ago, glory said:

Berrios as a FIP beating #5 starter who eats up innings over 162 and never sees a post season inning can still be valuable. Massively overpaid but as a #5 guy it’s not terrible. Best case is whatever injury he had in 2025 explains his performance drop and he comes back a bit better in 2026. No chance he’s opting out of 2/48 or 2/50, so just have to hope he’s a 1-2 WAR innings guy. Maybe you can dump him in 2027 or 2028 when he’s closer to the end of his deal. 

Of course if he has a 3 WAR bounce back season then maybe he’s a bit more tradable next winter.

If he has 3 war, he opts out i think. He could get something like 4/80. 

[Brownie19]

15 minutes ago, jmomcc said:

If he has 3 war, he opts out i think. He could get something like 4/80. 

Entering his age 33 season, with an average WAR/year of 1.8 over the last 5 years?   Seems highly unlikely.

[jmomcc]

3 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Entering his age 33 season, with an average WAR/year of 1.8 over the last 5 years?   Seems highly unlikely.

Yea if he showed some kind of change that produced three wins, His durability, i think he gets it. Maybe 4/75

[John_Havok]

1 hour ago, Omar said:

I don't get why some are so enamored with Scherzer to the extent that they want him back in any capacity.

Is it the resume?  The high strung attitude? The vetrin presents?

Sure he had some value in the playoffs and is an easy guy to cheer for but why take a chance with a guy north of 40?  He is an injury waiting to happen. Too much volatility for me.  Thanks for your efforts Max.  Wish you well wherever you end up but your time in Toronto has come to an end.

As with many guys, his stuff would likely play up as a 1 inning guy where he can air it out. 

Can you imagine that bi-eye colored nutcase staring you down in the 7th or 8th?

Plus, he very clearly wants to come back to Toronto. Yes, theres plenty of reasons this wouldn't happen, but its not a terrible idea and shouldnt be Plan A, but as far as backup plans go when other options disappear... sure

[G-Snarls]

I just don't see a good fit for Scherzer or Bassitt at this point even though you gotta love them both 

[Eat My Shatkins]

I wonder if Arizona is a good fit for Berrios, if the Jays try to move him. Their rotation is a mess, especially with Burnes out with TJS. 

This is of course assuming that they strike out via free agency.

I'm fine keeping Berrios as the #5 though, as long as his price tag isn't keeping the Jays from adding some more pieces, like a good hitter and a high leverage reliever or closer.

[Nexii]

37 minutes ago, G-Snarls said:

I just don't see a good fit for Scherzer or Bassitt at this point even though you gotta love them both 

Yea not unless as bullpen/spot starter (injuries are gonna happen) which the Jays desperately need. Thing is they can get way more as starters elsewhere, so they'd have to really want to join the Jays

[JaysForever]

Bassitt looked incrediably good out of the bullpen. If he would accept such a role, I would have no problem bringing him back. He looked better than the other relievers in the playoffs.

 

He will be 37 next year so he may accept such a role on a playoff contender but with teams throwing around starter roles it is probably unlikely.

 

 

[JaysForever]

11 minutes ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

I wonder if Arizona is a good fit for Berrios, if the Jays try to move him. Their rotation is a mess, especially with Burnes out with TJS. 

This is of course assuming that they strike out via free agency.

I'm fine keeping Berrios as the #5 though, as long as his price tag isn't keeping the Jays from adding some more pieces, like a good hitter and a high leverage reliever or closer.

Someone desperate for starting pitching will take a flyer on Berrios. At the very least, the guy puts up innings each year.

 

The problem is that free agency has to thin out before those deals become available. I would also not take back garbage just to move him. I suspect he rebounds this year and becomes more tradeable next summer.

[JaysForever]

7 minutes ago, Nexii said:

Yea not unless as bullpen/spot starter (injuries are gonna happen) which the Jays desperately need. Thing is they can get way more as starters elsewhere, so they'd have to really want to join the Jays

Scherzer probably is open to such a role. Bassitt will have options to start so don't see him taking that role. He will be 37 this year, so I guess it may be possible.