Offseason Roster Thread 2025-26

[jaysblue]

2 hours ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

Clement and Giminez are going to provide elite up the middle defense, if they have league average bats they should combine for 6~ fWAR as our 8-9 hitters. Not concerned about them too much. Add in Varsho and Kirk, the middle of the diamond is freaking top notch defensively, and Straw is always kicking around as that stud outfield defensive replacement.

Santander needs to bring the big Taters bat though, It's pretty important, and will leave a big hole if he repeats last years debacle.

The biggest wild card is obviously Oka, on both offense and defense.

The good news is the roster has tons of depth and versatility to cover for underperformance and/or injury. And the pitching looks oh so juicy on paper.

I agree the up-the-middle defense is a huge strength, and on paper it’s legitimately elite. Clement, Gimenez, Varsho, and Kirk give you a lot of run prevention value, and having someone like Straw as a late-inning defensive replacement only adds to that.

Where I’m a bit more cautious is on the offensive assumption. League-average bats from Clement and Gimenez would be great outcomes but that’s still an assumption, not a lock, especially over a full season. If one or both come in below that level, the lineup can thin out quickly near the bottom.

I’m with you on Santander. His bat is pretty pivotal. If he rebounds, it stabilizes a lot. If not, that’s where the margin tightens. Okamoto is also a big swing factor, both offensively and defensively.

I do agree the depth and versatility are real strengths, and the pitching looks excellent on paper. I just think that’s also why adding one more reliable offensive piece if its possible would make the roster feel a lot more resilient if one of those bets doesn’t hit.

[jaysblue]

Should have taken the Texans at +11.5 and 7.5 to 1 Money line at the half damn. 

[rydermike]

3 hours ago, Stangstag said:

If only we could combine Santander and Gimenez into a single player lol

The reverse Ohtani rule. Pitch it to MLB. 

Instead of one guy playing two positions in a game, 2 guys playing one position in a game - aka the designated fielder. 

[Blue balls]

1 hour ago, jaysblue said:

I agree the up-the-middle defense is a huge strength, and on paper it’s legitimately elite. Clement, Gimenez, Varsho, and Kirk give you a lot of run prevention value, and having someone like Straw as a late-inning defensive replacement only adds to that.

Where I’m a bit more cautious is on the offensive assumption. League-average bats from Clement and Gimenez would be great outcomes but that’s still an assumption, not a lock, especially over a full season. If one or both come in below that level, the lineup can thin out quickly near the bottom.

I’m with you on Santander. His bat is pretty pivotal. If he rebounds, it stabilizes a lot. If not, that’s where the margin tightens. Okamoto is also a big swing factor, both offensively and defensively.

I do agree the depth and versatility are real strengths, and the pitching looks excellent on paper. I just think that’s also why adding one more reliable offensive piece if its possible would make the roster feel a lot more resilient if one of those bets doesn’t hit.

 

Pretty much all you're writing is obvious and I agree with it.

I expect Giménez to be at 85-90 wRC+ and Clement at 110-115 wRC+. 

 

[Abomination]

20 minutes ago, Blue balls said:

 

Pretty much all you're writing is obvious and I agree with it.

I expect Giménez to be at 85-90 wRC+ and Clement at 110-115 wRC+. 

 

If Clement puts up a 115 wRC+ he might surpass 5 WAR.

[jaysblue]

52 minutes ago, Blue balls said:

 

Pretty much all you're writing is obvious and I agree with it.

I expect Giménez to be at 85-90 wRC+ and Clement at 110-115 wRC+. 

 

Clement ain't surpassing 100 wRC+ haha. Would be great but I don't see it. 

[glory]

I'd definitely take the under on 110-115 for Clement. If he reaches 100, then I think we're all pretty happy. 

A part of me is still doubting that the Jays (who value defense more than any team in the league) is going to put Santander in the OF everyday, so I'm legit stumped on how they proceed from here. If they add another bat, my guess is it will be a LHB that will be able to slot between Springer and Vlad in the lineup. Only realistic options there are Bellinger or Kwan. I haven't heard the Jays linked to Bellinger at all (whose market appears to be the Yankees or tumbleweeds), and Atkins and Boras are BFF's now, so maybe that's the plan. Or they could just stand pat and hope for a Taters bounce back. I guess that's the fun (and agony) of a baseball off season. It's a waiting game now. 

[Spanky__99]

8 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

CJ. Stroud says *Hold My Beer*

 

7 hours ago, jaysblue said:

I love their defense, but man Stroud has looked pretty bad this game so far. They're lucky it's only 21-13. 

...

 

[Spanky__99]

7 hours ago, jaysblue said:

Should have taken the Texans at +11.5 and 7.5 to 1 Money line at the half damn. 

Are you going to regurgitate that s*** above, every f***ing day, bro?

[Spanky__99]

The agony of our off-season, lmao...Jan. 19th '26

[Ball4Life]

The team did well offensively (and defensively) without Bichette and Santander, even in the postseason. But I’m still sad Bichette left. Drafted in 2016. Part of me always thought he’d be a Blue Jay lifer but oh well.

[saskjayfan]

14 hours ago, jaysblue said:

I agree the up-the-middle defense is a huge strength, and on paper it’s legitimately elite. Clement, Gimenez, Varsho, and Kirk give you a lot of run prevention value, and having someone like Straw as a late-inning defensive replacement only adds to that.

Where I’m a bit more cautious is on the offensive assumption. League-average bats from Clement and Gimenez would be great outcomes but that’s still an assumption, not a lock, especially over a full season. If one or both come in below that level, the lineup can thin out quickly near the bottom.

I’m with you on Santander. His bat is pretty pivotal. If he rebounds, it stabilizes a lot. If not, that’s where the margin tightens. Okamoto is also a big swing factor, both offensively and defensively.

I do agree the depth and versatility are real strengths, and the pitching looks excellent on paper. I just think that’s also why adding one more reliable offensive piece if its possible would make the roster feel a lot more resilient if one of those bets doesn’t hit.

Gimenez' wRC+ was 96, 83 and 70 the last 3 years.  Feels more like the league figuring out him.  Can he bounce back to be 85 to 90.  Sure.  Getting to 100 would be a stretch.  

I have a dream and it's Corey Seager.  Texas is going to be 10 games under .500 come July1.   Nimmo will help the offenses a bit.  Langford could take a huge step forward, but if he doesn't they are in big trouble.  Their best starting pitchers are Eovoldi who's out of contract after 27 and Degrom who's old as dirt too.  Can they compete with Houston and Seattle?  Look at the A's though.  Kurts, Wilson, Rooker, Soderstrom, Langliers and De Vries coming in 27.  The Las Vegas As will have money to buy starting pitching and prospects to trade for starting pitching.  Is Texas competing in 27, 28 and 29 against that?  They need a complete teardown.  We trade Gimenez, some cash and we'll have to trade a King, one of Paker, Nimmala.  You still need guys to play so taking on Gimenez at a lower contract amount won't be bad and he becomes another tradeable asset for them.  They get the prospects for the rebuild.   Seager has an 8 team no trade, but he has 10 and 5 rights following 26.  The only problem is the Yankees and 4 or 5 other teams will want Seager too..lol

[max silver]

13 hours ago, jaysblue said:

Clement ain't surpassing 100 wRC+ haha. Would be great but I don't see it. 

Why should this be such an insurmountable task for Clement? He finished at 98 wRC+ last season despite an awful first month to the season and then followed that up by setting a post season hits record.

[Brownie19]

28 minutes ago, max silver said:

Why should this be such an insurmountable task for Clement? He finished at 98 wRC+ last season despite an awful first month to the season and then followed that up by setting a post season hits record.

Because that doesn't suit his narrative.  

[sliderguy35]

15 minutes ago, max silver said:

Why should this be such an insurmountable task for Clement? He finished at 98 wRC+ last season despite an awful first month to the season and then followed that up by setting a post season hits record.

he was the 6th worst hitter in the entire league by wRC+ with at least 400 PAs against righties last year, his groundball rate was 8% higher than righties vs lefties & his air-pull rate dropped 7% when facing a righty vs a lefty.

obviously last year, that was buoyed by him mashing lefties, but he also posted a .336 BABIP against them despite having a 46% flyball rate. generally higher flyball rates lead to lower BABIPs so there's some regression to be expected there, especially when only 9% of his flyballs are leaving the yard.

still a valuable player to have on the roster but right now he should be someone that you're primarily looking to platoon. it would take major changes for him to be an overall above average offensive contributor.

[max silver]

1 hour ago, sliderguy35 said:

he was the 6th worst hitter in the entire league by wRC+ with at least 400 PAs against righties last year, his groundball rate was 8% higher than righties vs lefties & his air-pull rate dropped 7% when facing a righty vs a lefty.

obviously last year, that was buoyed by him mashing lefties, but he also posted a .336 BABIP against them despite having a 46% flyball rate. generally higher flyball rates lead to lower BABIPs so there's some regression to be expected there, especially when only 9% of his flyballs are leaving the yard.

still a valuable player to have on the roster but right now he should be someone that you're primarily looking to platoon. it would take major changes for him to be an overall above average offensive contributor.

I think for Ernie to maintain or even build upon his 2025 season it may boil down to something as simple as avoiding a really bad early season slump. He came out of the gates terribly against right handed pitching in particular, and these early season struggles acted like an anchor to his stats for the rest of the season. Over the first five weeks of the season Ernie produced an inconceivably bad -21 wRC+ vs RHP. He never exactly set the house on fire against same handed pitching the rest of the way but he was much better at 89 wRC+, which is more than good enough to justify regular playing time when combined with the rest of his skills. Ernie was one of the guys that helped to trigger the club's offensive renaissance in May, and he was front and center in the post season with a historical level of performance. If not for a heroic catch by Pages in the bottom of the 9th inning Ernie Clement would have been enshrined within the select few post season titans in Blue Jays history. 

[Jimcanuck]

39 minutes ago, max silver said:

I think for Ernie to maintain or even build upon his 2025 season it may boil down to something as simple as avoiding a really bad early season slump. He came out of the gates terribly against right handed pitching in particular, and these early season struggles acted like an anchor to his stats for the rest of the season. Over the first five weeks of the season Ernie produced an inconceivably bad -21 wRC+ vs RHP. He never exactly set the house on fire against same handed pitching the rest of the way but he was much better at 89 wRC+, which is more than good enough to justify regular playing time when combined with the rest of his skills. Ernie was one of the guys that helped to trigger the club's offensive renaissance in May, and he was front and center in the post season with a historical level of performance. If not for a heroic catch by Pages in the bottom of the 9th inning Ernie Clement would have been enshrined within the select few post season titans in Blue Jays history. 

The good news is if Clement struggles at the plate, a better bat is available in Schneids.

[Laika]

37 minutes ago, max silver said:

I think for Ernie to maintain or even build upon his 2025 season it may boil down to something as simple as avoiding a really bad early season slump. He came out of the gates terribly against right handed pitching in particular, and these early season struggles acted like an anchor to his stats for the rest of the season. Over the first five weeks of the season Ernie produced an inconceivably bad -21 wRC+ vs RHP. He never exactly set the house on fire against same handed pitching the rest of the way but he was much better at 89 wRC+, which is more than good enough to justify regular playing time when combined with the rest of his skills. Ernie was one of the guys that helped to trigger the club's offensive renaissance in May, and he was front and center in the post season with a historical level of performance. If not for a heroic catch by Pages in the bottom of the 9th inning Ernie Clement would have been enshrined within the select few post season titans in Blue Jays history. 

slump avoidance is almost impossible when you rely so much on batted ball luck 

[Laika]

Clement's career platoon split is not that weird

82 wRC+ vs RHP and 98 vs LHP

He does get jammed by RHP you can see it on the IFFB%

The main reason to play him is the elite glove, anyway. Dude might be a +15 3B and 2B, +10 SS, something like that. 

Gimenez and Ernie were really made to platoon with each other, lol. 

[Jimcanuck]

3 minutes ago, Laika said:

Clement's career platoon split is not that weird

82 wRC+ vs RHP and 98 vs LHP

He does get jammed by RHP you can see it on the IFFB%

The main reason to play him is the elite glove, anyway. Dude might be a +15 3B and 2B, +10 SS, something like that. 

Gimenez and Ernie were really made to platoon with each other, lol. 

Yep that's what I said, many moons ago

[glory]

Only thing that will prevent Clement from getting 650 PA in 2026 is injury. He's playing everyday, for better or worse, and I expect him to be around the same as he was in 2024-25 (~95 wRC+). We just have to accept that the middle infield as presently constructed is going to be below average offensively, but great defensively and on the bases. I know the Jays don't steal much, but if Gimenez is healthy, then he really needs to run a lot more when he's on base. I'm assuming his lower body injuries prevented more of the running game, but with his bat, he really needs to maximize base running as well as defense. 

[Laika]

21 minutes ago, glory said:

Only thing that will prevent Clement from getting 650 PA in 2026 is injury. He's playing everyday, for better or worse, and I expect him to be around the same as he was in 2024-25 (~95 wRC+). We just have to accept that the middle infield as presently constructed is going to be below average offensively, but great defensively and on the bases. I know the Jays don't steal much, but if Gimenez is healthy, then he really needs to run a lot more when he's on base. I'm assuming his lower body injuries prevented more of the running game, but with his bat, he really needs to maximize base running as well as defense. 

Yes, as presently constructed. 

It would make sense to hedge and bring in a guy who can play 2B and hit RHP. 

I don't really see any in free agency. Adam Frazier is ancient, Luis Rengifo is not good on D and hits righties worse. 

Ramon Urias is a RHB but he has neutral career splits, decent projections and okay defense. But is he any different than Leo Jimenez? 

This line of discussion is probably why they checked in on Yoan Moncada, before 3B was filled by Okamoto. Insurance against Ernie being unplayable every day against RHP. 

 

[sliderguy35]

7 minutes ago, Laika said:

Yes, as presently constructed. 

It would make sense to hedge and bring in a guy who can play 2B and hit RHP. 

I don't really see any in free agency. Adam Frazier is ancient, Luis Rengifo is not good on D and hits righties worse. 

Ramon Urias is a RHB but he has neutral career splits, decent projections and okay defense. But is he any different than Leo Jimenez? 

This line of discussion is probably why they checked in on Yoan Moncada, before 3B was filled by Okamoto. Insurance against Ernie being unplayable every day against RHP. 

 

that's probably schneider's role, i think it's finally time for him to take his place as gen-z dan uggla.

his batted ball profile is pretty platoon neutral, his swing decisions give him an offensive floor & he made real improvements to get over the contact rate cliff to be at least a tenable big leaguer. the tough part is getting him to fake it long enough as a defender but if the game's close they'll just bring ernie in anyways. 

[max silver]

4 minutes ago, sliderguy35 said:

that's probably schneider's role, i think it's finally time for him to take his place as gen-z dan uggla.

his batted ball profile is pretty platoon neutral, his swing decisions give him an offensive floor & he made real improvements to get over the contact rate cliff to be at least a tenable big leaguer. the tough part is getting him to fake it long enough as a defender but if the game's close they'll just bring ernie in anyways. 

It seems like the front office just has little to no trust in Schneider defensively at second base. They all but refused to use him there in the world series, and with IKF receiving so damn many plate appearances Schneider was robbed of a chance to be a difference maker. 

[Laika]

7 minutes ago, sliderguy35 said:

that's probably schneider's role, i think it's finally time for him to take his place as gen-z dan uggla.

his batted ball profile is pretty platoon neutral, his swing decisions give him an offensive floor & he made real improvements to get over the contact rate cliff to be at least a tenable big leaguer. the tough part is getting him to fake it long enough as a defender but if the game's close they'll just bring ernie in anyways. 

it probably should be his role but I don't remember them making any Schneider vs. Ernie starting decisions in 2025 

it might be more likely that DS is the platoon bat they insert for Gimenez, against lefties, with Clement sliding to SS. 

more likely than not this will end up being dictated by injuries or one of Gimenez/Clement just outright stinking 

[glory]

15 minutes ago, sliderguy35 said:

that's probably schneider's role, i think it's finally time for him to take his place as gen-z dan uggla.

his batted ball profile is pretty platoon neutral, his swing decisions give him an offensive floor & he made real improvements to get over the contact rate cliff to be at least a tenable big leaguer. the tough part is getting him to fake it long enough as a defender but if the game's close they'll just bring ernie in anyways. 

The Jays gave IKF 40 (!) playoff plate appearances (whopping 7 wRC+) instead of putting DS at 2B or even DS in LF, Barger at 3B, and Clement at 2B. I think they view him as a platoon guy who only faces RHP in specific matchups (or moments sheer desperation). I wouldn't consider him a 2B option on this team with the current structure, either because they don't like his defense there, don't trust his bat, or both. 

Someone like Jimenez makes sense in a bench role. He's historically hit LHP well/better in the minors, and can cover 2B/SS. If the existing bench is Lukes/DS/Straw, then not much middle infield coverage there, especially in case of injury or in case of Clement/Gimenez badly struggling. 

[Jimcanuck]

57 minutes ago, sliderguy35 said:

that's probably schneider's role, i think it's finally time for him to take his place as gen-z dan uggla.

his batted ball profile is pretty platoon neutral, his swing decisions give him an offensive floor & he made real improvements to get over the contact rate cliff to be at least a tenable big leaguer. the tough part is getting him to fake it long enough as a defender but if the game's close they'll just bring ernie in anyways. 

but did you regress the splits?

[sliderguy35]

i figure with the okamoto signing pushing barger primarily to the OF, they're probably going to increase schneider's reps on the dirt. otherwise (unless you make a trade or send lukes / schneider down for jimenez) you're looking at rostering 7(!) primary OFers which doesn't feel like a prudent use of resources. 

the playoff playing time stuff just seems like a combination of them having the ability to carry an extra infielder / schneider, davis not having a lot of experience at 2B throughout the year & schneider, john wanting a "veteran presence" in the lineup. 

given the jays current roster construction (aka swapping bo for a 3B), it just makes more sense for him to be on the dirt rather than primarily an extra OF

[Jays24]

I wonder if the Jays even submitted an offer for Bo.  I have seen nothing aside from the Phillies upping their original offer to 7/200 and thought that was gonna get it done. 

Did the Jays completely punt on bringing him back or did Bo make it clear he wasn't coming back? Hope we get clarity on that because I think its a fumble if we could have brought him back before the Mets got involved.  

[Jimcanuck]

12 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

I wonder if the Jays even submitted an offer for Bo.  I have seen nothing aside from the Phillies upping their original offer to 7/200 and thought that was gonna get it done. 

Did the Jays completely punt on bringing him back or did Bo make it clear he wasn't coming back? Hope we get clarity on that because I think its a fumble if we could have brought him back before the Mets got involved.  

I don't think the Jays made a serious offer to Bo.  Might have given him an offer, but it was no where close to what he signed for.