Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2026)

[Brownie19]

Yimi García (elbow) allowed one run on one hit while walking two on Wednesday for Triple-A Buffalo.

García threw just eight of his 21 pitches for strikes, but he did earn one strikeout. The 35-year-old is continuing to work his way back from elbow surgery and will likely need another couple of appearances at Triple-A before he is ready to return.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the broadcast, they reported Garcia was throwing like 93 MPH.  Yimi might be dead 🥹

[max silver]

12 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Yimi García (elbow) allowed one run on one hit while walking two on Wednesday for Triple-A Buffalo.

García threw just eight of his 21 pitches for strikes, but he did earn one strikeout. The 35-year-old is continuing to work his way back from elbow surgery and will likely need another couple of appearances at Triple-A before he is ready to return.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the broadcast, they reported Garcia was throwing like 93 MPH.  Yimi might be dead 🥹

Yeah the Statcast box score is the stuff of nightmares. Yimi's velocity was down 2-3 MPH on most of his offerings with a corresponding decrease of approximately 300 RPM. Maybe he'll be able to return as more of a middle relief option but it appears as though the premium fireman version of Garcia is a thing of the past.

[Governator]

Yimi hasn't really pitched in over a year. With no Spring Training and no ramping up, just be thankful his arm didn't fall off in game 1.  If he can even get back to his former strength it's going to take time but I can't imagine he's slotting right in to high leverage anytime soon. Still might be more lucky than Hoffman tho.

[Brownie19]

31 minutes ago, Governator said:

Yimi hasn't really pitched in over a year. With no Spring Training and no ramping up, just be thankful his arm didn't fall off in game 1.  If he can even get back to his former strength it's going to take time but I can't imagine he's slotting right in to high leverage anytime soon. Still might be more lucky than Hoffman tho.

I guess that could explain "some" of the velo drop.  I'd have thought they'd build him up in bullpens and that he wouldn't face batters until he was pretty darn close to ready.  But then again, we sent Berrios to the mound when he was throwing 90 MPH poo, so maybe there are other factors, or maybe they are stupid.

[glory]

Giving Garcia a 2 year guaranteed deal at age 34 coming off an injured 2024 post trade seemed really risky for no real reason at the time (can't imagine he was getting many/any offers beyond 1 year), but not surprised at all if his arm is toast at this point. Good reliever when healthy but the moment you saw his velo suddenly chasing 100 mph, that's when you knew the arm was probably a ticking time bomb. Relievers in general are risky bets. 

[max silver]

37 minutes ago, Governator said:

Yimi hasn't really pitched in over a year. With no Spring Training and no ramping up, just be thankful his arm didn't fall off in game 1.  If he can even get back to his former strength it's going to take time but I can't imagine he's slotting right in to high leverage anytime soon. Still might be more lucky than Hoffman tho.

This isn't game 1 for Yimi. It's his 4th appearance in the last 10 days or so but the first in AAA. His velocity and spin were much better in his Dunedin outings but this recent appearance is definitely cause for concern for a player who has suffered so many setbacks on the way back from elbow surgery.

[Brownie19]

2 hours ago, max silver said:

This isn't game 1 for Yimi. It's his 4th appearance in the last 10 days or so but the first in AAA. His velocity and spin were much better in his Dunedin outings but this recent appearance is definitely cause for concern for a player who has suffered so many setbacks on the way back from elbow surgery.

Oh I didn't know that - thanks for pointing it out.

[Masterbather]

I was never banking on Garcia's comeback to begin with. I always held the viewpoint that I will expect nothing while hoping for the best and this is why. 

Age, injuries, lack of playing time. It's a toxic mix. I'll continue to hope, but I'll be very pleasantly surprised if he's pitching leverage innings for us this year.

[Brownie19]

MLB Network (@mlbnetwork) • Instagram photos and videos

WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM

---

15K likes, 391 comments - mlbnetwork on June 9, 2026: "Vlad Guerrero Jr. has just 3 HR through the Blue Jays' first 67 games...

 

Gross

[hanton]

bring back Floyd

[R.O.]

 

[Brownie19]

22 minutes ago, R.O. said:

 

A live body for Seabold is a solid return...

[Landry_25]

Currently Ernie leading 2B all star voting (yes!!!) and vlad leading 1B all star voting (please no). I’d say give ole vladdy an all star game break to rest ffs. Don’t reward garbage play due to popularity. 

[Bob_Gratton]

2 hours ago, Landry_25 said:

Currently Ernie leading 2B all star voting (yes!!!) and vlad leading 1B all star voting (please no). I’d say give ole vladdy an all star game break to rest ffs. Don’t reward garbage play due to popularity. 

Only Clement, Varland and maybe Okamoto deserves to be at the all star game

[Bob_Gratton]

4 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

A live body for Seabold is a solid return...

This doesn't make sense for the Royals, unless they are still in talk with the Jays for further biggest trade

[Bob_Gratton]

13 minutes ago, Bob_Gratton said:

This doesn't make sense for the Royals, unless they are still in talk with the Jays for further biggest trade

I would like if the Jays can acquire Bobby Witt Jr , no matter if they empty the farm. Barger, King, Parker, Nimmala, Pinango, Stanifer

[hanton]

lol a team actually wanted seabold....

[hanton]

as of April '26

[jmomcc]

1 hour ago, Bob_Gratton said:

I would like if the Jays can acquire Bobby Witt Jr , no matter if they empty the farm. Barger, King, Parker, Nimmala, Pinango, Stanifer

Dude, we could give them our entire farm, we aren’t getting bobby witt jr. 

[Stangstag]

9 minutes ago, jmomcc said:

Dude, we could give them our entire farm, we aren’t getting bobby witt jr. 

hey guys does anyone else think we should sell the farm for both Witt and also Skenes?? We could use a couple good players like them.

Let me know your thoughts!

[jmomcc]

Looks like the giants are interested in trading their big contracts and guys who are expiring. 

[james jones]

Just checked Vladdy's stat since May 1 and it's amazing lol

.218/.316/.278 

69 wRC+

-0.2 fWAR.

This guy needs to step up ASAP, otherwise he shouldn't be in the lineup.

[jaysblue]

12 hours ago, jmomcc said:

Looks like the giants are interested in trading their big contracts and guys who are expiring. 

They have some intriguing pieces, but I’m not sure how cleanly they would fit into the Jays’ lineup.

Luis Arraez would be a strong target and a worthwhile addition. He puts the ball in play at an elite rate and would bring a useful contact-oriented bat to the top of the order. The fit is a little tricky defensively, though, as he would likely need to DH or occasionally play first base. So far, he’s hitting .319/.352/.435 with a 118 wRC+ and 2.5 WAR.

Matt Chapman also isn’t having a bad season, though the Giants would likely need to absorb some of his contract to make a deal work. Acquiring him would probably push Okamoto to DH, but Chapman would further improve the infield defense and give the Jays another bat with some pop. That said, it still feels unlikely.

Jung Hoo Lee is having a terrific offensive season, but the Jays’ outfield is already pretty crowded, especially once Varsho and Barger return.

Rafael Devers could be an interesting change-of-scenery candidate, but the Giants would need to eat a significant portion of his contract. He has been an elite bat before and would give the Jays a legitimate middle-of-the-order presence. The downside is that he would almost certainly have to be used strictly as a DH.

[Stangstag]

6 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

They have some intriguing pieces, but I’m not sure how cleanly they would fit into the Jays’ lineup.

Luis Arraez would be a strong target and a worthwhile addition. He puts the ball in play at an elite rate and would bring a useful contact-oriented bat to the top of the order. The fit is a little tricky defensively, though, as he would likely need to DH or occasionally play first base. So far, he’s hitting .319/.352/.435 with a 118 wRC+ and 2.5 WAR.

Matt Chapman also isn’t having a bad season, though the Giants would likely need to absorb some of his contract to make a deal work. Acquiring him would probably push Okamoto to DH, but Chapman would further improve the infield defense and give the Jays another bat with some pop. That said, it still feels unlikely.

Jung Hoo Lee is having a terrific offensive season, but the Jays’ outfield is already pretty crowded, especially once Varsho and Barger return.

Rafael Devers could be an interesting change-of-scenery candidate, but the Giants would need to eat a significant portion of his contract. He has been an elite bat before and would give the Jays a legitimate middle-of-the-order presence. The downside is that he would almost certainly have to be used strictly as a DH.

We already have a Luis Arraez at home (mr 500mil)

[John_Havok]

18 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

We already have a Luis Arraez at home (mr 500mil)

Clement is more Arraez-ian. Except he can actually play defense 

[glory]

Arraez and Vlad on the same team competing to see who can hit more singles sounds like fun. 

[Olerud363.354]

6 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

Clement is more Arraez-ian. Except he can actually play defense 

For 70 games at least this has apparently reversed.  Arraez is elite defensively this year according to fangraphs and savant, Ernie sub-par. 

Real?  Not real?  Fluke?  Flaw in the d-stats systems?  Arraez got some good tips from SF coaches?  Ernie lost a step?  Will it reverse the second half?

I feel like a bit of all of the above.  Hard to believe Arraez was really that bad defensively.  Not the fastest guy but obviously elite hand eye coordination and you think that would translate somewhat on defense.   

 

[Olerud363.354]

This season has been a disaster and gets worse and worse every day.

Except according to fangraphs the playoff odds have been slowly increasing since bottoming out at about 30% they are now up to 45%.

And the dream to become the first team with a non-winning record to win the world series remains in play.  A lot would have to go right and a few few things wrong for this to happen.

1.  Fangraphs projects only 3 teams in the AL to be above .500 and three playoff teams to have exactly 81 wins (non-winning record)

2.  So in fact there is a chance one of those teams could make the playoffs with a losing record and it could be our Blue Jays.

3.  It is still unlikely a losing team or a .500 team make the playoffs I would think, it just seems that while the projections have a bunch of near .500 teams, the reality is some of those teams will win 84 and some 74 and the playoff teams will be above .500.

4.  We can still dream though and here are my playoff predictions

WCS: Blue Jays 79-83 over Guardians 84-78

ALDS: Blue Jays 79-83 over Mariners 86-76

ALCS: Blue Jays 79-83 over Yankess 102-60

WS: Blue Jays 79-83 over Dodgers 112-50

[Governator]

On 6/11/2026 at 12:28 PM, Brownie19 said:

I guess that could explain "some" of the velo drop.  I'd have thought they'd build him up in bullpens and that he wouldn't face batters until he was pretty darn close to ready.  But then again, we sent Berrios to the mound when he was throwing 90 MPH poo, so maybe there are other factors, or maybe they are stupid.

 

Yimi Garcia

Garcia pitched on Tuesday for the Bisons. He struck out all three batters he faced, his fastball sat 94.4 m.p.h., topped out at 96.6 m.p.h. and Charlotte Knights hitters whiffed on all five swings against him.

[Brownie19]

3 minutes ago, Governator said:

 

Yimi Garcia

Garcia pitched on Tuesday for the Bisons. He struck out all three batters he faced, his fastball sat 94.4 m.p.h., topped out at 96.6 m.p.h. and Charlotte Knights hitters whiffed on all five swings against him.

I heard that on the broadcast last night.  More encouraging!