Offseason Roster Thread 2025-26

[Brownie19]

24 minutes ago, Jimcanuck said:

Nah, the Clement bet does not obligate Jaysblue to take the Varsho bet.

If Spanky wanted to even out his odds, he should have made a Varsho bet a condition of the Clement bet.  He did not, and he alone is responsible for his actions.

I didn't say it obligated him.  

[Jimcanuck]

15 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

I didn't say it obligated him.  

Ok but you essentially said he should accept the Varsho bet because of some "guy code".  I'm certainly not going to act against my interest based on some unwritten code.

[Omar]

[M.E.]

I am starting to wonder how big of clubhouse asses that Bo and guys like Framber are that their existing teams made virtually no attempt to resign them regardless of their skill level.  It happens every year but in these cases both teams seem very willing to let the guy go.

[Jays24]

15 minutes ago, M.E. said:

I am starting to wonder how big of clubhouse asses that Bo and guys like Framber are that their existing teams made virtually no attempt to resign them regardless of their skill level.  It happens every year but in these cases both teams seem very willing to let the guy go.

It also depends on what you define as "clubhouse asses".  Most of the 2015/2016 squad had some sort of animosity towards Shatkins on their way out but were loved by AA and the fanbase at the time. 

Whit/Chapman had similar issues but you can say that almost everyone on our team currently loves playing here.  Its a weird one.  

[Spanky__99]

2 hours ago, jaysblue said:

You're such a drama queen. 

I took the Clement bet because I believe in that outcome. You took the other side because you believe in the outcome that he goes over 100 wRC+. I’m not obligated to take every bet just to keep things “even.” No need to turn it into a whole thing.

You imbecile, I said Clement projects for a 100 wRC+ when you said it was impossible to someone during a discussion, that's it, you came to me with the bet, I told you to seek help (and have even told you I was finished with betting you after you asked for odds on a H2H matchup), you then posted the chicken gif, so I said why the f*** not it's a drop in the bucket over a year long bet, I DID NOT want to bet, like you seem to think, but whatever.

Now I suggest that Varsho should've been extended pre Arb for 5/100M, and your snark remark about that suggestion brought me to asking for a similar bet as Clement and you stuck your tail between your legs like a beeeyotch. It's as simple as that man. You're a sandbagger, never again, coward.

[Spanky__99]

2 hours ago, jaysblue said:

I’m not excited about winning anything here. It’s a message board bet, not a payday. I’d rather just stick to wagers that reflect my actual views instead of balancing things out for optics. If that means only doing one bet, that’s fine with me.

Please do and leave me the f*ck alone, sieve.

[Spanky__99]

1 hour ago, Jimcanuck said:

Ok but you essentially said he should accept the Varsho bet because of some "guy code".  I'm certainly not going to act against my interest based on some unwritten code.

No one cares what you would do Jimmyc, go piss up a rope, oldtimer.

[Spanky__99]

Decent read from Keegan on the Blue Jay Beat...

 

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays were held to a new standard this offseason, challenged to meet all of the expectations of a legitimate World Series contender, not just a team hoping to be invited to the party.    They’ve responded emphatically. It still feels like the Blue Jays are one move away from returning the same caliber of offense after watching Kyle Tucker sign with the Dodgers and Bo Bichette with the Mets, but there’s time, particularly on the trade market.    The Blue Jays’ rotation has taken a step forward, though, which hasn’t been given its proper share in conversations about the 2026 team. They’ve taken this group from good to great, with the potential to be one of the best in baseball.

WHO'S IN, WHO'S OUT?

Let’s simplify this and ask Dylan Cease to replace Chris Bassitt, clean and tidy. Bassitt was excellent for the Blue Jays last season, giving them a 3.96 ERA over 170 1/3 innings, but Cease was given a seven-year, $210 million deal for a reason. The Blue Jays envision Cease taking over the role Kevin Gausman played through 2025 and the postseason, leading the rotation with the ability to pitch deep into games and rack up strikeouts.    Max Scherzer is gone now, too, and while his postseason performance will be how he’s remembered in Toronto, he gave the Blue Jays a 5.19 ERA over 17 starts in the regular season. Don’t forget Bowden Francis and his 6.05 ERA over 14 starts, either. Those combine to represent one full season of poor starting pitching.    Remember Spencer Turnbull? What about José Ureña? Easton Lucas even made five starts along the way in 2025. In some way or shape, all of these innings will be replaced by Trey Yesavage, a full season of Shane Bieber and Cody Ponce.

Expectations could not possibly be higher for Yesavage, who shot from Single-A to become a star of the Blue Jays’ World Series run in just seven months. Bieber will be another five months removed from Tommy John surgery, and there’s no motivation like a free-agent year. Ponce, who comes back to the big leagues from Korea on a three-year, $30 million deal, is quietly the Blue Jays’ most interesting move of the offseason, taking a big swing on the upside of a reinvented righty.    Even when we leave some room for health, bad days and all of the things that can go wrong over 162 games, the Blue Jays are coming out with a clear net positive here. If Gausman keeps pitching near the level he has and Bieber gives the Blue Jays a full, healthy season, this rotation is enough to drag a team to the postseason itself.

DEPTH MATTERS, AND IT'S BETTER

Whether José Berríos opens the regular season in the rotation is the No. 1 factor here, but even leaving Berríos aside for a moment, the Blue Jays are positioned well to weather some storms.    Eric Lauer, one of 2025’s biggest success stories, is projected to compete for a swingman role in camp and gave the Blue Jays a 3.18 ERA over 104 2/3 innings last season, including 15 starts. Frankly, he saved that rotation from what could have been a much uglier outcome.

Francis will be healthy in camp and could be a very valuable piece of starting depth from Triple-A Buffalo, if the Blue Jays choose, while No. 6 prospect Gage Stanifer could be with the Bisons by midsummer to give the Blue Jays another option. Lefty Ricky Tiedemann (No. 4) is back from Tommy John surgery, too, and while it’s likely he pitches in shorter stints, his long-term potential is still tantalizing.    This is why it’s important to remember names like Turnbull, Ureña and Lucas. The Blue Jays will need six, eight, maybe 10 starters this season, and they’re in better shape to handle that than they were one year ago.

WHAT TO DO WITH BERRÍOS?

The best answer is still the boring one … for now.    Berríos will ramp up in camp like he always has, and if the Blue Jays still have six healthy starters by late March, that’s when any uncomfortable conversations can happen. Berrios was “not happy” with how his season ended, being left off the postseason rosters after a trip to the IL (right elbow inflammation) for the first time in his 10-year career.    The Blue Jays still have time on theirere, meaning time to see if Berríos’ right arm bounces back. They are not at all eager to trade their own prospects to facilitate salary-dump trades, so any deal would need to make baseball sense. Right now, it makes baseball sense to see how Spring Training feels and go from there.

Edited January 26 by Spanky__99
If you can't read it change the night/day toggle at the top of the page.

[Brownie19]

1 hour ago, Jimcanuck said:

Ok but you essentially said he should accept the Varsho bet because of some "guy code".  I'm certainly not going to act against my interest based on some unwritten code.

You're a real guys guy eh Jimbo?

[Pendleton]

[rydermike]

Can we fast forward to spring training. 

[Stangstag]

36 minutes ago, rydermike said:

Can we fast forward to spring training. 

Im pumped for the WBC, should be a great precursor to the season 

[Jimcanuck]

4 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

You're a real guys guy eh Jimbo?

Nah.  Spanky's a guys guy.

[Spanky__99]

33 minutes ago, Jimcanuck said:

Nah.  Spanky's a guys guy.

Projecting you senile ole Bird, I told you I don't play in your sandbox.

[Brownie19]

1 hour ago, Stangstag said:

Im pumped for the WBC, should be a great precursor to the season 

100% It's always fun.

[mphenhef]

14 hours ago, M.E. said:

I am starting to wonder how big of clubhouse asses that Bo and guys like Framber are that their existing teams made virtually no attempt to resign them regardless of their skill level.  It happens every year but in these cases both teams seem very willing to let the guy go.

I think with Bo it wasn't about being a clubhouse ass....just look at how many guys showed up at his wedding.  With Bo, it was more that the team doesn't like how they think his skillset will age (rightfully so I suspect).

[Governator]

"Guy's guy"

See my footer.  Now let's move on.

 

[Jays24]

Heyman says the Jays rank 2nd after the Orioles in the pursuit of Valdez.  Sounds like the Jays are doing their usual "we'll take you if your market craters." 

[Brownie19]

OMG - we need some baseball.  You guys expect me to work all day long?  WTF?

[Terminator]

23 hours ago, Jays24 said:

Heyman says the Jays rank 2nd after the Orioles in the pursuit of Valdez.  Sounds like the Jays are doing their usual "we'll take you if your market craters." 

Price enforce the Orioles to the point that they can't sign another SP of merit until Valdez' contract expires

[Terminator]

1 hour ago, Brownie19 said:

OMG - we need some baseball.  You guys expect me to work all day long?  WTF?

Yeah we are in the brutal part of the offseason now, a couple of FAs remain but no one earth shattering

I'd kill for a Jays trade

[G-Snarls]

22 hours ago, Terminator said:

Yeah we are in the brutal part of the offseason now, a couple of FAs remain but no one earth shattering

I'd kill for a Jays trade

Same 

For someone no one had any idea might get traded 

[Bob_Gratton]

22 hours ago, Terminator said:

Price enforce the Orioles to the point that they can't sign another SP of merit until Valdez' contract expires

To sign Valdez is now mandatory for the Jays, because if they didn't, Orioles or another big American MLB team will do. And we shouldn't take for granted Bieber, Pounce, will do the job as expected. Also, when we will lose Gausmann and Bieber to free agency next year, will be difficult to find someone as good than Valdez without overpaid. Knowing we can start 2027 with Cease, Yesavage, Valdez, it's more comfortable than be in panic mood and overpaid for SP that aren't great. Maybe Skubal will be avalaible, but even at 10/600m chances he sign here are less than 0%

[mphenhef]

23 minutes ago, Bob_Gratton said:

To sign Valdez is now mandatory for the Jays, because if they didn't, Orioles or another big American MLB team will do. And we shouldn't take for granted Bieber, Pounce, will do the job as expected. Also, when we will lose Gausmann and Bieber to free agency next year, will be difficult to find someone as good than Valdez without overpaid. Knowing we can start 2027 with Cease, Yesavage, Valdez, it's more comfortable than be in panic mood and overpaid for SP that aren't great. Maybe Skubal will be avalaible, but even at 10/600m chances he sign here are less than 0%

The Giants are going pretty hard for him at the moment, which I would be happy with.  It would be nice to have a lefty in the Jays rotation but given they have Lauer as depth and Trey arguably looks better against lefties than righties I don't know that it is necessary.  Keep in mind they still have Berrios in 2027 and hopefully some of King, Tieds, Stanifer knocking on the door.

[Jays24]

We find a true Bo replacement yet? 

[L54]

Just now, Jays24 said:

We find a true Bo replacement yet? 

Kazuma Okamoto

121 wRC+ projection from zips

 

[Jays24]

5 minutes ago, L54 said:

Kazuma Okamoto

121 wRC+ projection from zips

 

You can take those projections for a dude who never played in the MLB, turn it sideways and... 

 

[L54]

25 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

You can take those projections for a dude who never played in the MLB, turn it sideways and... 

 

I for one am I excited to watch the Japanese Aaron Judge 

[Abomination]

1 hour ago, L54 said:

I for one am I excited to watch the Japanese Aaron Judge 

More like the Japanese Adam Dunn. He'll be fun to watch though!