Offseason Roster Thread 2025-26

[jaysblue]

L54 laying down common sense these last two pages! 👏

[jaysblue]

11 hours ago, Laika said:

I sort of agree that Clement/Gimenez are fine for 162 but you want punch in the playoffs, but they were both exactly what was needed for most (Gimenez) or all of (Clement) the 2025 playoffs so I don't agree entirely 

Flip flopping is what you do best! 

[jaysblue]

10 hours ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

I think Ernie has more than earned a full time starting IF spot after the last two seasons and a historic post season.

I agree as well, though I’m not sure the Jays can afford to have both Clement and Gimenez as potential dead spots in the lineup. Hopefully Okamoto can help fill some of the void left by Bo’s departure, Santander rebounds, and Springer plays closer to his 2025 level. That would definitely help. 

 

[jaysblue]

10 hours ago, Carlos Danger said:

Yea, but at the end of the day we didn't score more runs than the other Team and we lost. We need to be able to score more runs this year in a 5-7 game series and IMPROVE on last year.

Clement was in rare air and that ain't going to happen again... 

We need more offense!

Agree 100% Carlos! 

[Spanky__99]

4 hours ago, Terminator said:

Santander/Lukes/Barger in 2027 is a pretty s*** OF.

I wouldn't say I'm panicking (remember I was the guy that said last year's team would contend when everyone had already thrown in the towel in May) but it is a concern that we will have to address at some point. And there aren't really any FA center fielders next year either.

Ahem.

[Spanky__99]

4 hours ago, Jays24 said:

You ignored the past where I said Varsho is an extension candidate.  If not then the Jays with their 300M payroll who just offered Tucker 350M will find another player that fits. 

These are big dick swinging, limousine riding, 300M payroll having POWERHOUSE Jays baby!!!!

You're full of 

[jaysblue]

8 hours ago, ValiantJaysFan said:

Yeah for a CF I doubt we can do much better. Wonder what kind of salary he’s gonna want though with such a weak market next year. He’s got a lot of leverage. 

It really depends on the type of season Varsho has. If he’s on and off of the IL and/or hits around .230–.240 with 20–25 home runs and a 2-3 WAR season, I don’t think his market will be as strong as you’re suggesting.

As Brownie mentioned above, Harrison Bader is still available, which foreshadows what Varsho's market could be like next offseason. Unless Varsho goes out and puts together a true career year offensively and a season in the 4–5 WAR range, I don’t see the market for him being especially aggressive.

That said, I’d still be open to extending him if the deal looked similar to Kirk’s extension.

[jaysblue]

10 hours ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

I give him a pass because he struggled with injuries last season but looked decent at the start of the season and the end of the season when he was supposedly healthy. Hanging by a thread though.

If he can put up 85-95 wRC+ he's probably worth 3 or so fWAR as our GG level starting SS and #9 hitter. I can live with that no problem.

That’s fair, and I’m willing to give him some benefit of the doubt given the injuries. He did look more like himself early and late when he was healthier.

An 85–95 wRC+ paired with elite defense at short and hitting ninth is absolutely playable, and 3 fWAR in that role is solid value. The concern is more about lineup construction - the Jays can’t really afford to carry too many low wRC+ bats at once, especially with Gimenez also in the mix. If one of them slips below that range, the margin gets tight pretty quickly.

[jaysblue]

5 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

You're full of 

Have you ever heard of using a toilet? 

[Spanky__99]

Jays literally 2 outs away from winning the WS... we need mOaR runs... 😅

[jaysblue]

4 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

Jays literally 2 outs away from winning the WS... we need mOaR runs... 😅

With the loss of Bo, some regression expected from other players like Springer & others, with Okamoto being an unknown and potentially having two dead spots in the lineup with Gimenez and Clement, trying to add more runs doesn't hurt. 

[Spanky__99]

21 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

Have you ever heard of using a toilet? 

[Spanky__99]

Just now, jaysblue said:

With the loss of Bo, some regression expected from other players like Springer & others, with Okamoto being an unknown and potentially having two dead spots in the lineup with Gimenez and Clement, trying to add more runs doesn't hurt. 

Where'd I say they shouldn't?

 

[Spanky__99]

Varsho needed to be extended before Arb at a 100M for 5 years, just sayin'

[Pendleton]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/blue-jays-sign-cj-stubbs-to-minor-league-contract.html

 

Added some additional catcher depth 

[jaysblue]

8 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

Varsho needed to be extended before Arb at a 100M for 5 years, just sayin'

You think he would get $100M+ as a free agent?

 

[John_Havok]

14 hours ago, Terminator said:

Santander/Lukes/Barger in 2027 is a pretty s*** OF.

I wouldn't say I'm panicking (remember I was the guy that said last year's team would contend when everyone had already thrown in the towel in May) but it is a concern that we will have to address at some point. And there aren't really any FA center fielders next year either.

What ya nean there's no FA CFs next year? Varsho will be available

[saskjayfan]

10 hours ago, jaysblue said:

With the loss of Bo, some regression expected from other players like Springer & others, with Okamoto being an unknown and potentially having two dead spots in the lineup with Gimenez and Clement, trying to add more runs doesn't hurt. 

I think the decrease in production from Springer will be offset from the increased production from Vlad.  I think Barger will be an .800 OPS bat next year, Santander will be better.  That will offset the drop from Bo to Okamoto.   I still want to upgrade at the deadline, but our offense is fine imo.  

[Jonn]

10 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

Varsho needed to be extended before Arb at a 100M for 5 years, just sayin'

That would be a massive overpay Sir Spanks a lot.

[Carlos Danger]

16 hours ago, Jays24 said:

We got Varsho/Barger/Santander with Lukes as the 4th OFer for this season.  3 of the 4 are under contract past this season with Varsho being a contract extension candidate.  What is there exactly to freak out over?

When Springer leaves, Santander should go to the DH spot. he would be there now if it weren't for Springer. Also,the new Japanese guy is supposedly not good on D at 3B and ICR how is is in the OF, I would assume passable at 31/32, but not ideal. 

So that leaves Varsho and Luke as guys who should really be in the OF everyday. 

*Caveat is assuming Barger is playing 3B??

[BringBackTheODog]

45 minutes ago, Carlos Danger said:

When Springer leaves, Santander should go to the DH spot. he would be there now if it weren't for Springer. Also,the new Japanese guy is supposedly not good on D at 3B and ICR how is is in the OF, I would assume passable at 31/32, but not ideal. 

So that leaves Varsho and Luke as guys who should really be in the OF everyday. 

*Caveat is assuming Barger is playing 3B??

I mean we've got a guy who's primary position is 3B in Okamoto. I don't see why Barger isn't locked into RF and Okamoto is locked into 3B in 2027. Varsho even with a 4-5 WAR season can be retained, likely attached to a QO and concerns about how he'll age. LF you can figure out some sort of platoon, I don't think it's quite that dire. 

[Brownie19]

15 hours ago, jaysblue said:

With the loss of Bo, some regression expected from other players like Springer & others, with Okamoto being an unknown and potentially having two dead spots in the lineup with Gimenez and Clement, trying to add more runs doesn't hurt. 

Dude - it really looks like you're just trying to set up to for a big "I told you so" if our offense isn't Top 5 in the league.  If you're not - I'm sorry.

You seemingly do this over and over, year after year - constant concern and then you're happy when you're right once in awhile.  It feels like you can't wait to rip Atkins again and bump the "Fire Atkins" thread.  I don't mean to be a d*ck, but it's a bit much.  

[Carlos Danger]

29 minutes ago, BringBackTheODog said:

I mean we've got a guy who's primary position is 3B in Okamoto. I don't see why Barger isn't locked into RF and Okamoto is locked into 3B in 2027. Varsho even with a 4-5 WAR season can be retained, likely attached to a QO and concerns about how he'll age. LF you can figure out some sort of platoon, I don't think it's quite that dire. 

I admittedly have not looked at Okamoto's defensive metrics. However, I was listening to MLB radio all day when we signed him (when Bo might have still come back) and while he plays and can play 3B. He is supposedly not great on D and it would not be ideal. Akin to having Santander and Teo in the OF. If you are talking about a team that run prevention is equally paramount and that does not make a lot of errors, apparently,Okamoto is not the best choice at 3B.

[Spanky__99]

4 hours ago, jaysblue said:

You think he would get $100M+ as a free agent?

 

I said a 100M pre arb, read.

A friendly wager($20), bud... Varsho's projected for a 100 wRC+, I'll take the over again just as I did with Clement.

[Sorrow]

The Japanese version of baseball savant says that Okamoto is a plus defender at 1st and an average defender at 3rd for his career. If he can make the routine plays anywhere near the bag and Gimenez is Gimenez at SS you’re fine.

If Varsho has another Varsho season with a bat around 100 wRC+ and an elite season in CF he’s probably a 20-25m a season player.

[Spanky__99]

2 hours ago, Jonn said:

That would be a massive overpay Sir Spanks a lot.

[Carlos Danger]

15 minutes ago, Sorrow said:

If he can make the routine plays anywhere near the bag and Gimenez is Gimenez at SS you’re fine.

You are talking about him at 3B, correct?

[Spanky__99]

48 minutes ago, Carlos Danger said:

You are talking about him at 3B, correct?

That's where they signed him to play at his presser, also BA has Okamoto as an above average 3rd baseman, A ++ at 1B and average LF, we'll see how he translates but with our versatility it should work out just fine.

[JaysForever]

Barger is a lock for RF based on the current roster. He looked better out there towards the end of the season with his rocket of an arm.

Santander is in LF and signed longterm. I think Springer will put up decent numbers and extends another year.  So Santander's move to DH is probably premature right now. I don't think this something to worry about until probably 2028.

CF is the only question mark in the outfield because Varsho is a free agent. So long as they extend Varsho, the outfield stays intact.

In another 2 years maybe Arias is knocking on the door. Or one of the Pinango or Schreck surprise.

Either way, I think this panic about the the shape of the outfield longterm is premature.

 

 

[jaysblue]

3 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

Dude - it really looks like you're just trying to set up to for a big "I told you so" if our offense isn't Top 5 in the league.

You do this over and over, year after year - constant concern. It feels like you so happy when you're right once in awhile.  It feels like you can't wait to rip Atkins again and bump the "Fire Atkins" thread.  I don't mean to be a d*ck, but it's a bit much.  

What is your problem dude? We can disagree without it turning personal.

That’s honestly not the intent at all. I’m not rooting for the offense to fail, and I’m definitely not trying to set up an “I told you so.” I want this team to mash and prove all of this unnecessary.

The concern comes from risk assessment, not negativity. Talking about downside, regression, or thin margins isn’t the same as hoping for it and it doesn’t mean I’m itching to rip Atkins. If the offense is top-5, that’s a massive win for everyone.

Offseason discussion is always going to include differing levels of optimism vs. caution. That’s kind of the point of the board. Disagreeing on roster construction doesn’t mean bad faith or ulterior motives. It just means we’re weighing the same information differently.

Deep breaths, man. It’s just offseason roster talk.