Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2026)

[John_Havok]

12 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Ben Shulman has grown on me. I listen to a lot of the radio broadcasts, and whoever fills in for him made me realize Ben is a lot better than I originally gave him credit for. That other guy is not great.

No kidding. It's just verbal diarrhea

[Terminator]

Here's a question to ponder during the ASB.

Would you guys extend a QO to Varsho this offseason?

[Jays24]

40 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Here's a question to ponder during the ASB.

Would you guys extend a QO to Varsho this offseason?

Id trade him and let Straw play better CF defense for 1/4 of the price if we fall even more out of the playoff race.  Next 2 weeks will determine a lot imo.  

I was expecting a career high power season from Varsho to set up a big payday for him.  He can and probably will still get hot during the 2nd half.  

[max silver]

1 hour ago, Terminator said:

Here's a question to ponder during the ASB.

Would you guys extend a QO to Varsho this offseason?

If the team doesn't sell at the deadline I'd extend a qualifying offer. It wouldn't be a bad outcome for him to accept it to man center field for a single season and would buy the team an opportunity to find a long term replacement.

[Olerud363.354]

2 hours ago, Terminator said:

Here's a question to ponder during the ASB.

Would you guys extend a QO to Varsho this offseason?

2 WAR guy now with terrible batted ball data.

I guess it depends on his second half.  

[max silver]

1 hour ago, Jays24 said:

Id trade him and let Straw play better CF defense for 1/4 of the price if we fall even more out of the playoff race.  Next 2 weeks will determine a lot imo.  

I was expecting a career high power season from Varsho to set up a big payday for him.  He can and probably will still get hot during the 2nd half.  

By DRS Varsho has been far better in center field than Straw and they are approximately even by OAA. I was hoping Varsho could maintain the power gains from last season but it's like he made a conscious choice to be a more "complete" hitter and subsequently reduced his power output far too much.

[Jays24]

2 minutes ago, max silver said:

By DRS Varsho has been far better in center field than Straw and they are approximately even by OAA. I was hoping Varsho could maintain the power gains from last season but it's like he made a conscious choice to be a more "complete" hitter and subsequently reduced his power output far too much.

Honestly dont care about the numbers when im seeing every damn baserunner take extra bases because of Varsho's noodle arm (even the Ty France's of the world).  Straw is the better overall CF defensive player right now.  

Agreed on the offensive side of things as power was what set him apart from the Straw's of the world.  

[max silver]

9 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

Honestly dont care about the numbers when im seeing every damn baserunner take extra bases because of Varsho's noodle arm (even the Ty France's of the world).  Straw is the better overall CF defensive player right now.  

Agreed on the offensive side of things as power was what set him apart from the Straw's of the world.  

There are actual advanced metrics to judge defense on vs relying on eye test only which you are obviously utilizing. Straw's arm value by Statcast is worse than Varsho this season as well as Varsho is 31st percentile in arm value vs 28th percentile for Straw. There isn't a single metric that suggests Straw is anything other than a defensive downgrade compared to Varsho in center field but go ahead and continue to make these bogus claims if that makes you feel better.

				Infield / Outfield				Catching				Innings By Position
Rk.	Player	Team	Fielding Run Value	INF/OF Runs	Range	Arm	Inf. DP	Catching Runs	Framing	Throwing	Blocking	Total Innings	C	1B	2B	3B	SS	LF	CF	RF
1	Varsho, Daulton		2	2	3	-1	--	--	--	--	--	649	--	--	--	--	--	--	649	--
2	Lukes, Nathan		1	1	0	0	--	--	--	--	--	59	--	--	--	--	--	--	59	--
3	Straw, Myles		0	0	1	-1	--	--	--	--	--	140	--	--	--	--	--	--	140	--

[G-Snarls]

2 hours ago, max silver said:

By DRS Varsho has been far better in center field than Straw and they are approximately even by OAA. I was hoping Varsho could maintain the power gains from last season but it's like he made a conscious choice to be a more "complete" hitter and subsequently reduced his power output far too much.

And how do we think Clase fits in?

His defense looks excellent 

[Olerud363.354]

23 minutes ago, G-Snarls said:

And how do we think Clase fits in?

His defense looks excellent 

Clase is .257 .349 .433 minors, .230 .302 .345 majors projected about that .230 .290 .350 or so

Straw is ..293 .380 .370 minors, .246 .314 .317 majors, projected .230 .295 .320 or so

Varsho is .296 .365 .519 minors .228 .297 .435 majors projected .230 .295 .410 or so. 

Varsho still projects best.  Not sure about defense.  Clase is fast I think. 

 

[G-Snarls]

3 minutes ago, Olerud363.354 said:

Clase is .257 .349 .433 minors, .230 .302 .345 majors projected about that .230 .290 .350 or so

Straw is ..293 .380 .370 minors, .246 .314 .317 majors, projected .230 .295 .320 or so

Varsho is .296 .365 .519 minors .228 .297 .435 majors projected .230 .295 .410 or so. 

Varsho still projects best.  Not sure about defense.  Clase is fast I think. 

 

If they're not playing for anything they should give Clase lots of playing time in August/September

Seems to have speed, instructs and some power.  But may not on base enough. 

[Olerud363.354]

9 minutes ago, G-Snarls said:

Seems to have speed, instructs and some power.  But may not on base enough. 

He's already projected to have the same on base as Varsho and Straw.  Though point still valid.  Carrying full time players with a .290 on base percentage isn't ideal. 

Be fun to see him play for the rest of the year.   I feel like rule of thumb is minor league stats are a ceiling.  Like he's not going to have a .400 on base percentage, but maybe it could be .335 if he reaches his positive projection. 

[hanton]

13 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

They explained it on the broadcast.  He declared he was going from the wind-up for the previous batter, but didn't for Merrill. Apparently you have to declare each batter?  I don't think she was wrong.

Gausman used the wind-up for this game for the first times in years, so he's not used to having to do it...

I'd have to check on the rule but it would be common to go from the wind-up with the bases loaded

[hanton]

7 hours ago, Terminator said:

Here's a question to ponder during the ASB.

Would you guys extend a QO to Varsho this offseason?

definitely give it some thought, next to ss having elite dee in CF should be a priority, his offensive stats do suck though but I don't care that much; bat him 9th.  Alternately Straw can be had for less.  CF market isn't great so there's that