Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2026)

[glory]

Can Clase or Lukes play an average CF? Probably not, but if they can, then I'd much rather go that route in 2027 than give Varsho big money. The Jays might be the only team who views Straw as a $8M player, so they'll certainly pick up his option and he can back either of those two up. I'm not sure there is an obvious CF answer if Varsho leaves but that doesn't mean you make a bad decision. 

All of this might be moot anyway since the CBA could be completely different by the time Varsho can sign anywhere. 

[Laika]

Lukes is an emergency CF at best. Clase can't hit and probably is not a CF either. 

I don't think they'll keep Straw. Shake his hand and wish him well. Maybe sign him back for $4m or so. It's such a limited skill set.

I think given the landscape they'll make some sort of attempt with Varsho and then consider trades. Overpay for one year of CF Stevie Kwan?

[Terminator]

14 minutes ago, glory said:

Can Clase or Lukes play an average CF? Probably not, but if they can, then I'd much rather go that route in 2027 than give Varsho big money. The Jays might be the only team who views Straw as a $8M player, so they'll certainly pick up his option and he can back either of those two up. I'm not sure there is an obvious CF answer if Varsho leaves but that doesn't mean you make a bad decision. 

All of this might be moot anyway since the CBA could be completely different by the time Varsho can sign anywhere. 

They do like Straw and he certainly profiles better as a short side platoon in CF than he does in a corner. They could decline his option and get him back for 3 or 4 mil.

I suppose they could bring in Mullins or something and platoon him with Straw and then take the Varsho money and spend it on a more permanent solution to fix a corner OF spot? 2 or 3 year deal for Ward or Happ or something?

But I don't think a 1 year QO for Varsho would necessarily preclude them from signing a corner OF anyway. We've got plenty of money coming off the books.

[Terminator]

As for Clase I don't even think I'd tender him a contract. He's out of options and he's had a terrible season, 1 week of lucky MLB ABs notwithstanding.

[jaysblue]

Likely trade route is the best option to find a CF. 

Steven Kwan, O'Neil Cruz, Garrett Mitchell, Colton Cowser, Lawrence Butler could possibly be available. Obviously some of those guys aren't defensive wizards like Varsho was. 

[abola2121]

1 hour ago, jaysblue said:

Likely trade route is the best option to find a CF. 

Steven Kwan, O'Neil Cruz, Garrett Mitchell, Colton Cowser, Lawrence Butler could possibly be available. Obviously some of those guys aren't defensive wizards like Varsho was. 

If they're selling, they should target prospects like Overn or Morgan from TB (I'd rather see them clinch the division anyway instead of NY).

[Olerud363.354]

3 hours ago, Terminator said:

As for Clase I don't even think I'd tender him a contract. He's out of options and he's had a terrible season, 1 week of lucky MLB ABs notwithstanding.

I just checked Clase's scouting report and nothing terrible there.   This year everything is normal for him, except batting average down.   I am a big batting average guy and reject my prospects unless they are hitting .330, but Blue Jays Message board doesn't in general love batting average as much as I do, so according to that philosophy the .225 this year is just noise. 

Not the greatest arm.  Elite speed.  Has a 70 sb season and a .257 .359 .430 minor league average.  Actually same minor league numbers as Cedric Mullins.  Currently same projections going forward as Cedric Mullins.  

His 75th percentile projection is probably Cedric Mullins at his average.  His 97th percentile Projection is probably Cedric Mullins 2021, unlikely to hit that, but so would Cedric Mullins if he randomly replayed his career 20,000 times.   

[Bob_Gratton]

3 hours ago, glory said:

Can Clase or Lukes play an average CF? Probably not, but if they can, then I'd much rather go that route in 2027 than give Varsho big money. The Jays might be the only team who views Straw as a $8M player, so they'll certainly pick up his option and he can back either of those two up. I'm not sure there is an obvious CF answer if Varsho leaves but that doesn't mean you make a bad decision. 

All of this might be moot anyway since the CBA could be completely different by the time Varsho can sign anywhere. 

Will be like Schneider at 2B instead of Clement/Gimenez or Jesus instead of Straw. Unfortunately we don't have a better CF than Varsho. So if we want a reliable CF that have good defensive and offensive skills, will need to make a trade. If Atkins sign Varsho, should be similar contract than Kirk. Anything close to Springer salary, will be a big no. 

[Terminator]

52 minutes ago, Olerud363.354 said:

I just checked Clase's scouting report and nothing terrible there.   This year everything is normal for him, except batting average down.   I am a big batting average guy and reject my prospects unless they are hitting .330, but Blue Jays Message board doesn't in general love batting average as much as I do, so according to that philosophy the .225 this year is just noise. 

Not the greatest arm.  Elite speed.  Has a 70 sb season and a .257 .359 .430 minor league average.  Actually same minor league numbers as Cedric Mullins.  Currently same projections going forward as Cedric Mullins.  

His 75th percentile projection is probably Cedric Mullins at his average.  His 97th percentile Projection is probably Cedric Mullins 2021, unlikely to hit that, but so would Cedric Mullins if he randomly replayed his career 20,000 times.   

You are winning the BA in the minors argument sir, don't go soft on us now.

[Brownie19]

I think there's a pretty good possibility Varsho only signs a 1 or 2 year deal.  I'm good to bring him back on that.  We have no internal options and the FA pool will be weak.

It's a great example of why we had to give up Moreno to get a young CFer with control.  There simply aren't many in the league.

[Bob_Gratton]

5 hours ago, Laika said:

Lukes is an emergency CF at best. Clase can't hit and probably is not a CF either. 

I don't think they'll keep Straw. Shake his hand and wish him well. Maybe sign him back for $4m or so. It's such a limited skill set.

I think given the landscape they'll make some sort of attempt with Varsho and then consider trades. Overpay for one year of CF Stevie Kwan?

Honestly they should part away with Straw, Varsho, coz both will want a pay raise, and will never improve, so will be a mistake to sign them long term. Kwan don't have a good season, and Indian will at 99.99% ask for someone like Perry, King or Parker to be included in the trade, and for Kwan, this will be overpaid. Instead better try get Jackson Merrill, he's young, so to trade few of our best prospects for him, won't hurt as if we trade for someone like Buxton or Kwan. Atkins need think about 2028, so to make trade for thirty something guys, won't make sense. 

[Olerud363.354]

39 minutes ago, Terminator said:

You are winning the BA in the minors argument sir, don't go soft on us now.

I demand .330 so to me Clase is just another failure already.  

I guess on a serious note Clase overall in the minors seems pretty mid, but not a guy I'd write off yet. 

Like not a terrible hitter.  Also if I apply my "what do they know that I don't" logic, like I apply to draft picks who drop, the fact that Seattle traded him for a reliever is a flag?  Like they are not going to trade an every day center fielder for 2 months of Yimi.  

On the other hand maybe no one knows and they traded a 35% chance of an everyday center fielder, so you have to work with him another year and see. 

[Bob_Gratton]

3 minutes ago, Olerud363.354 said:

I demand .330 so to me Clase is just another failure already.  

I guess on a serious note Clase overall in the minors seems pretty mid, but not a guy I'd write off yet. 

Like not a terrible hitter.  Also if I apply my "what do they know that I don't" logic, like I apply to draft picks who drop, the fact that Seattle traded him for a reliever is a flag?  Like they are not going to trade an every day center fielder for 2 months of Yimi.  

On the other hand maybe no one knows and they traded a 35% chance of an everyday center fielder, so you have to work with him another year and see. 

Clase, Pinango was hitting like superstar when Jays call up them from Buffalo, but it's only ephemeral, coz soon or later they go back to normal. Only Valenzuela show some regularity in his play.

[Terminator]

I guess one thing I could be missing with Clase is that he missed about a month this year with an injury. So perhaps putting stock in his AAA numbers this year isn't fair. 

• March/April: Slow start the first two weeks in frigid Buffalo and then gets hurt.
• May: Comes back after 4 weeks but struggles as he shakes the rust off. 
• June: Actually hit pretty well.
• July: Hitting well in the majors. 

He also seems to have been having some bad luck in AAA. His prospect savant page paints a much better picture: https://prospectsavant.com/player/682729

Olerud might be right again but I still don't love him now that he's out of options. If he could play an average CF I'd buy in a lot more.

[Olerud363.354]

Jay Harry has played a bit of center field.  He is hitting .320 this year.  However only .245 still lifetime and not an amazing strike-out or walk rate or anything so not sure how much stock you put into this year.

Then there is Bohofren and Arrias in New Hampshire.

All 4 (Classe, Harry, Bohofren and Arrias) give or take have the same minor league lifetime stats.  No idea if any of them can play center.  

[jaysblue]

Can Kevin Pillar still play CF? 

[jaysblue]

Try to get Mike Trout in the offseason. He needs out of Anaheim and with the Jays he would actually have a chance at a ring. 

[Olerud363.354]

2 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

Try to get Mike Trout in the offseason. He needs out of Anaheim and with the Jays he would actually have a chance at a ring. 

His defense is now negative according to fangraphs.    If healthy still be an overall big positive (3-4 WAR) as a player.

However if you are willing to put a non-elite defender in center, would you open it up to Trent Grisham, and maybe even Jazz ??  Like just try to find a 2 WAR guy to put out there even if the defense is not elite.

Like if Varsho projects say 2 WAR with good defense, but Grisham projects 2.2 WAR with better offense, but worse defense, do they open it up to that kind of player? 

[Olerud363.354]

Just now, Olerud363.354 said:

and maybe even Jazz ??

According to some free agent site for 2027 I looked at Jazz is a center field option because he played there in 2024 (though not since AFAICS).

[jaysblue]

Geez two days without Blue Jays baseball or baseball in general really does suck. 

Mets/Phillies tonight only lol. 

[jaysblue]

13 hours ago, Olerud363.354 said:

His defense is now negative according to fangraphs.    If healthy still be an overall big positive (3-4 WAR) as a player.

However if you are willing to put a non-elite defender in center, would you open it up to Trent Grisham, and maybe even Jazz ??  Like just try to find a 2 WAR guy to put out there even if the defense is not elite.

Like if Varsho projects say 2 WAR with good defense, but Grisham projects 2.2 WAR with better offense, but worse defense, do they open it up to that kind of player? 

I think the Jays need to squeeze as much offense as possible out of every position, especially with how the current core of the lineup is constructed.

You can’t rely on Vladdy to consistently be an elite bat in the Judge/Soto tier. He’s absolutely capable of having a huge offensive season, but you can’t pencil that in as a guarantee every year. Same with Kirk - he can be a very valuable bat when he’s right, but he hasn’t consistently shown he’s a year-to-year 115 wRC+ type. There are stretches where the bat turns into a pumpkin and he’s closer to a 90ish wRC+ hitter.

When you combine that with running Gimenez out there every day, and even someone like Clement despite the hot start, the Jays are still leaning on too many low-power bats. The lineup lacks real thump.

That’s why Trout is interesting. If he’s healthy, he can still be a legitimate difference-maker offensively. He lengthens the lineup, gives them a true middle-of-the-order presence, and could take pressure off guys like Vladdy and Okamoto. A middle of the order built around Trout, Vlad, and Oka would be a lot more dangerous than what they’re currently running.

Even if Trout costs you a bit defensively in CF, I think the offensive upgrade is worth it. If healthy, he can still be a 4–5 WAR player. Bring back Straw as the 4th outfielder/late-game defensive option, and I think the Jays would be fine.

I want nothing to do with Grisham. As for Jazz, I’m a big fan of the bat and athleticism, but the defense worries me. He makes a lot of boneheaded decisions whether he’s at 2B, 3B, or in the outfield, and the injury history is also a real concern.

If you could get Jazz on a short-term deal - something like one year with a high AAV - I’d be open to it. But I wouldn’t want to be the team giving him a big multi-year contract. 

[Terminator]

1 hour ago, jaysblue said:

Geez two days without Blue Jays baseball or baseball in general really does suck. 

Mets/Phillies tonight only lol. 

Yeah and the World Cup games being midday really screwed us sports fans at night. Zero games on last night.

[Terminator]

 

 

Well, now it all makes sense on why this guy is such an angry moron all the time lmao.

He's got an IQ of about 75, and then the Yankees spend every waking hour force-feeding him anti-Yankee hot takes before his starts.

It's some sort of twisted baseball version of Frankenstein. I almost feel bad for him because I'm not sure how much any of this is actually his fault. 

[jaysblue]

27 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Yeah and the World Cup games being midday really screwed us sports fans at night. Zero games on last night.

I watched Obsession last night. Creeped me out. What a thriller! 

[jaysblue]

11 minutes ago, Terminator said:

 

 

Well, now it all makes sense on why this guy is such an angry moron all the time lmao.

He's got an IQ of about 75, and then the Yankees spend every waking hour force-feeding him anti-Yankee hot takes before his starts.

It's some sort of twisted baseball version of Frankenstein. I almost feel bad for him because I'm not sure how much any of this is actually his fault. 

Grant loves the part of Schlittler trolling Boston and its fans haha. 

[Terminator]

1 hour ago, jaysblue said:

I watched Obsession last night. Creeped me out. What a thriller! 

Reminds me of myself watching the 2026 Blue Jays

*Jays fail to cash in a runner from 3rd with 0 outs*

"NO NO NO NO NO....I THOUGHT WE WERE HAVING A NICE SEASON"

[Brownie19]

We're not getting Trout.  Cool fantasy I guess.  I also hate Jazz. Low IQ dipsh*t showoff.  No thanks.

[G-Snarls]

7 hours ago, jaysblue said:

I watched Obsession last night. Creeped me out. What a thriller! 

Same 

OMFG   no real spoiler here...

The scene where he wakes up and she's not in the bed and we gradually realize she's standing against the wall wearing his sweater...

I screamed like a 10 year old girl I'm not even kidding 

[Stangstag]

1 hour ago, G-Snarls said:

Same 

OMFG   no real spoiler here...

The scene where he wakes up and she's not in the bed and we gradually realize she's standing against the wall wearing his sweater...

I screamed like a 10 year old girl I'm not even kidding 

Bruh i watched this a week ago after my GF went to sleep, and during the part near the end when she starts tweaking out my fkn power went out. Pitch black. Almost s*** myself. Was too scared to hop in bed with the GF.

[jaysblue]

4 hours ago, G-Snarls said:

Same 

OMFG   no real spoiler here...

The scene where he wakes up and she's not in the bed and we gradually realize she's standing against the wall wearing his sweater...

I screamed like a 10 year old girl I'm not even kidding 

One of the best horror/thrillers I've seen in a long time. Same here, jumped out of my seat.