Offseason Roster Thread 2025-26

[Governator]

10 minutes ago, Funky said:

My dad‘s in the hospital right now pepping for open heart surgery so I haven’t had a whole lot of time to look at advanced stats and stuff, but off the top of my head, we would throw a difficult lineup

 

I hope everything goes well.

[Jimcanuck]

Bad time for this, but I was right.

Now let's get Framber.  I don't care about his rumoured attitude problem.  He's an SP anyway, those guys are off in their own little world, not like the position guys.  Spanky's a pitcher.

[jaysblue]

29 minutes ago, Laika said:

Nah he has about as much versality as Davis Schneider 

He has basically just been an emergency SS. Only played 3B meaningfully back in 2022. 

Dude is a LF/2B. 

And he's even a minus OF by OAA, and a minus 2B by DRS. 27th percentile sprint speed and consistently negative baserunning... I hate him. 

I think that undersells the versatility a bit. He’s not an everyday shortstop, but being able to credibly cover 2B, spot at 3B, and play the outfield still has real roster value especially over a long season when injuries and matchups come into play. It’s more than just “emergency-only” coverage.

And while the defensive metrics aren’t flattering, the appeal isn’t that he’s a plus defender or burner on the bases. It’s that he provides steady on-base skills and offensive competence in roles where the lineup can otherwise become a dead zone. You’re not acquiring him to be flashy. You’re acquiring him to raise the floor and reduce volatility across the roster.

[glory]

From BNS:

Quote

At this point in the winter, the free-agent market has thinned out and there aren’t many players who’d represent meaningful upgrades for the Blue Jays beyond Bellinger. It’s unclear how much recent contact they’ve had with Framber Valdez, but for what it’s worth I heard they met with him in person at the Las Vegas GM Meetings (pre-Cease deal) and there was some mutual interest at that point. If the Blue Jays wanted to go all-in on run prevention they could reignite those talks, but most in the industry consider the Mets and Baltimore Orioles more likely suitors for the left-hander.

Framber has a 3.7 WAR projection and has a 60% GB rate so having Clement/Gimenez behind him would certainly help. Not sure how they'd work around 7 starters and their egos + whatever promises were made to them (ex. Ponce) but it's certainly an option.

[jaysblue]

1 hour ago, Terminator said:

Signing Framber raises the projected WAR about as much as Tucker and more than Bo. I will now take my tar and feathering like a man.

Framber would move the needle during the 162 game season, though who in the rotation are you kicking out? The other issue is that you’re almost certainly not getting him on a 1–2 year deal. Given his age, workload, and the market for frontline starters, he’s probably still looking for something in the four to five-year range minimum.

And while Framber would obviously be a nice addition, I’m not sure a pitcher (given the rotation as is now) makes as immediate of a difference as adding an elite bat like Tucker or Bo would have, especially in October. In the postseason, you’re really only running with three or four starters anyway, whereas a top bat impacts every game. 

But yeah open to signing him, though not sure where he fits unless the Jays trade someone.

[gruber9292]

Would a Yesavage and Barger package land Jackson Chourio or am I way off? 

[Laika]

2 minutes ago, gruber9292 said:

Would a Yesavage and Barger package land Jackson Chourio or am I way off? 

he's probably untouchable 

he shouldn't be untouchable

yes it should land him

no it won't land him because he will not be traded but it should but it won't because he won't 

[Orgfiller]

25 minutes ago, gruber9292 said:

Would a Yesavage and Barger package land Jackson Chourio or am I way off? 

Arguably neither team should do that trade. The Brewers especially should not do that trade.

[ComeTogether]

 

 

[justafan]

Baseball is about last years' stats.  Still gotta cross the plate more than the other team.  There will be new stars, more duds and everyone is 1 year older!

[JaysAllMighty]

1 hour ago, glory said:

From BNS:

Framber has a 3.7 WAR projection and has a 60% GB rate so having Clement/Gimenez behind him would certainly help. Not sure how they'd work around 7 starters and their egos + whatever promises were made to them (ex. Ponce) but it's certainly an option.

I doubt Shatkins are interested in Framber, he's nuts.

[Stangstag]

1 hour ago, justafan said:

Baseball is about last years' stats.  Still gotta cross the plate more than the other team.  There will be new stars, more duds and everyone is 1 year older!

Yup. Maybe Okamoto is our best hitter next year. Maybe Varsho becomes the leadoff hitter. You really never know.

Lets not forget, we began 2025 with Gimenez as our cleanup hitter lol.

[L54]

22 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Yup. Maybe Okamoto is our best hitter next year. Maybe Varsho becomes the leadoff hitter. You really never know.

Lets not forget, we began 2025 with Gimenez as our cleanup hitter lol.

Pretty sure he had like 3 tanks in the first couple weeks too lol 

[L54]

would be nice if Okamoto comes over and balls out  

Add a big corner outfield bat in July 

Just need one more guy who can mash at some point 

 

[mphenhef]

3 minutes ago, L54 said:

Pretty sure he had like 3 tanks in the first couple weeks too lol 

It was in the first series

[max silver]

Just now, L54 said:

would be nice if Okamoto comes over and balls out  

Add a big corner outfield bat in July 

Just need one more guy who can mash at some point 

 

My one major complaint with Atkins trade deadline dealing has been the outright failure to add even a solid bat to the lineup. I can't come up with a single position player added at or around the deadline who actually helped with the stick, so it feels somewhat unlikely that will change to any degree this season. 

[Terminator]

[Brownie19]

3 hours ago, Funky said:

My dad‘s in the hospital right now pepping for open heart surgery so I haven’t had a whole lot of time to look at advanced stats and stuff, but off the top of my head, we would throw a difficult lineup.

Hoping it all goes well brother.  Thinking about you.  Hopefully baseball is a good distraction for you.

[Terminator]

let’s trade for Oneil Cruz, we can fix him

takes over for Varsho in CF after the year

[rydermike]

Well Bichette is gone. Time for me to pivot to make myself feel better and tell myself it's all good, because I'll tell myself that  Clement will easily translate his 30 hit postseason over a full season and make up for Bo's production with better defense at 2nd.

[L54]

3 minutes ago, max silver said:

My one major complaint with Atkins trade deadline dealing has been the outright failure to add even a solid bat to the lineup. I can't come up with a single position player added at or around the deadline who actually helped with the stick, so it feels somewhat unlikely that will change to any degree this season. 

Ya but that’s not predictive so I’m not worried about that. So many variables 

[Nexii]

7 minutes ago, L54 said:

Ya but that’s not predictive so I’m not worried about that. So many variables 

Yea I'm not worried about not getting a bat. I really hope we can get one more decent RP though. Our pen still only projects to be average-ish

[jaysblue]

35 minutes ago, Terminator said:

let’s trade for Oneil Cruz, we can fix him

takes over for Varsho in CF after the year

Not a bad idea.

I think the Pirates try to somewhat compete this season. Though if they think Oniel Cruz is broken, he could be available. 

Jays and Pirates also have a trade history. 

[Eat My Shatkins]

19 minutes ago, Nexii said:

Yea I'm not worried about not getting a bat. I really hope we can get one more decent RP though. Our pen still only projects to be average-ish

Pen is deep. It's so deep that guys like Flu, Fisher and Yariel aren't even on the 26 man. Hell, Yariel isn't even on the 40 man. Those guys combined for over 170 MLB innings last season.

[Vancouverite]

Lots of free agents guy available but fit seems a challenge

However do you guys think Nathaniel Lowe is washed up or could he bounce back? I think he could be had for really cheap

If jays trade a positional player for RP he'd be a guy i wouldnt mind the jays taking a cheap flyer on

Springer/Santander probably wont play a full season so having Lowe on the bench as a lefty bat could be a good thing.

Injuries will also certainly happen

Its also crazy to see Suarez coming off a 49 HR season still on the market and hard not to want to kinda see jays add a 49 HR bat

 

[glory]

1 hour ago, Terminator said:

Tucker has negative aura. That has to factor into the WAR calculations somehow. 

[Spanky__99]

9 hours ago, jaysblue said:

Doesn't make sense. 

Mets have Lindor at shortstop and Semien at second base. Where would Bo play? Third?

Likely 3rd and used as a utility guy for days off injury. Guess, I'm glad these guys went to the NL, Belly on deck, Git R Dun Boss!

[Spanky__99]

10 hours ago, Funky said:

Could we swing Varsho to them lock up center field until 2029? I know Varsho has massive power and the defense is sweet, but him not able to hit high velocity bit us in the World Series. 

his cap hit is just over 14 million a year, and in a good year, he could be a 30/20.

cons, 32, glass and turf don’t mesh, 

just saw the Bo news

 Between Tucker and Bo anything good the Blue Jays had go in the soft season has now been crushed

Hey Vladdy  we just lost your best friend and we have no one to hit behind you so you’re gonna suffer statistically as well.  Although the money each one of those guys got is ridiculous.
 

And before I get crapped on, what have wereally done other than upgrade or pitching, and that’s if Ponce actually is the real thing and we have to remember that Bassett actually had a decent season, especially at home. We are hoping that Cease will at least hit those numbers and Bieber is healthy   

Okamoto as a bench piece I was OK with as I won’t believe it until I see it.  We really need him to work out, Barger to take the next step, and Santander to rebound.

I guess I just have to hold out hope. Hopefully there’s another move in us.
 

It’s just s***** that the team we were chasing that’s the best free agent on the market as well as the best closer on the market and we lose probably our best hitter to the scumbag mats. I just can’t see Bo liking it there but we have just learned that money definitely does talk

 

 

Wow!

[Spanky__99]

10 hours ago, jaysblue said:

Spanky's insider source was wrong. 

 

[jaysthebest]

Without Bichette, our lineup looks so mid... Okamoto is a huge question mark, no guarantee Santander could bounce back and you cannot expect Springer to repeat 166 wRC+ again given his age.