Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2026)

[Orgfiller]

So much discussion about Kirk being an issue when he's still sitting at 0.8 WAR in only 34 games despite a thumb injury and his worst offensive showing by a wide margin. Don't know where people are getting this illusion that he's not still one of the best defenders in baseball, he's still only 27 years old and signed until his age 31 season, well before his impending bad body breakdown of doom that everyone is always afraid of happens.

Obviously the bat hasn't quite been there, but hand/wrist injuries can be annoying to come back from during the season. He should get back to his league average to slightly above ways next season.

For what it's worth, all 3 Molina brothers played until their mid to late 30s and never saw their defense decline. Bengie who's the most comparable to Kirk body wise was basically the same player his whole career.

[Terminator]

11 minutes ago, Orgfiller said:

So much discussion about Kirk being an issue when he's still sitting at 0.8 WAR in only 34 games despite a thumb injury and his worst offensive showing by a wide margin. Don't know where people are getting this illusion that he's not still one of the best defenders in baseball, he's still only 27 years old and signed until his age 31 season, well before his impending bad body breakdown of doom that everyone is always afraid of happens.

Obviously the bat hasn't quite been there, but hand/wrist injuries can be annoying to come back from during the season. He should get back to his league average to slightly above ways next season.

For what it's worth, all 3 Molina brothers played until their mid to late 30s and never saw their defense decline. Bengie who's the most comparable to Kirk body wise was basically the same player his whole career.

He's been hitting really well since the ASB too. He's only logged about 100 ABs this year, so I wouldn't be surprised if his final slash line ends up looking pretty good in the end. Thus rendering the panic from some of the board's more highly regarded members moot.

[Terminator]

On 7/25/2026 at 8:49 AM, jaysblue said:

Once Kirk starts slipping defensively, his value takes a major hit. Offensively, he hasn’t shown that he can consistently replicate his 2022 or 2025 production from year to year. If he’s no longer an elite defensive catcher, he’s not automatically a 2–3 WAR player. When the defense and offense are both there, he can be a 4–5 WAR catcher. But if the bat regresses and the defense begins to decline, his overall value drops pretty quickly.

Yes, if any position player in the entire league's bat and defense both decline, then their overall value will drop pretty quickly. 

[Jays24]

18 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

He is so superior to us.  I will never doubt any of his opinions again.  He's the smartest!  Maximum fake internet points!

Not really... its you and a few others who try to come off as superior to others.  Just wanted to send a reminder youre not and far from it.  Will help send further reminders to some of you in the future as well lol

[bronson44]

No Tommy John for Barger so some good news.

[G-Snarls]

16 hours ago, bronson44 said:

No Tommy John for Barger so some good news.

Just needed the repair procedure, could we actually see him ready to participate in spring training like normal?

[Laika]

2 minutes ago, G-Snarls said:

Just needed the repair procedure, could we actually see him ready to participate in spring training like normal?

Yes we could. 

We likely won't though. 

Everything needs to go perfectly for that to happen. 

I wonder if they arrange the roster in 2027 so he can be the DH for a couple of months and then work back into the outfield in summer. 

[Brownie19]

4 minutes ago, G-Snarls said:

Just needed the repair procedure, could we actually see him ready to participate in spring training like normal?

I believe that's what was reported yesterday.  They are hopeful he'll be healed and ready to go in Spring Training.  That's the best case scenario I think - certainly no guarantee.  We need him to return to full health and develop into a stud.

[G-Snarls]

36 minutes ago, Laika said:

Yes we could. 

We likely won't though. 

Everything needs to go perfectly for that to happen. 

I wonder if they arrange the roster in 2027 so he can be the DH for a couple of months and then work back into the outfield in summer. 

That makes sense

Hopefully Santander is finally healthy and can fill the space in RF for a couple of months if need be

(filling the space is not quite the same as "playing the position" but YKWIM)

[BTS]

Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia Getting Checked For Thoracic Outlet Syndrome - MLB Trade Rumors

I think Yimi's career is over 

[Orgfiller]

17 minutes ago, BTS said:

Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia Getting Checked For Thoracic Outlet Syndrome - MLB Trade Rumors

I think Yimi's career is over 

It's simply unsustainable to increase your velo in your 30s. Yimi went from averaging 94 in his 20s to 96 while topping out at 99 in his 30s. Same thing happened to deGrom, the body can't handle that increased torque and stress on the joints especially when you're past your physical prime.

[Brownie19]

Not much chatter about this yet, but I'm happy to see Hoffman's HR/9 dropping back in line with his career norms (as a RPer).  

Funny how those things seem to work themselves out.

[Forever92]

Jays lost three starters out of spring training, Barger for the year. Springer and Kirk for long stretches of time. Got zero from 18 million Santandar. Then Vlad and Varsho play fell off the chart.

[Stangstag]

On 7/28/2026 at 11:55 AM, Orgfiller said:

It's simply unsustainable to increase your velo in your 30s. Yimi went from averaging 94 in his 20s to 96 while topping out at 99 in his 30s. Same thing happened to deGrom, the body can't handle that increased torque and stress on the joints especially when you're past your physical prime.

Dude got his bag, worth it

[Brownie19]

5 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Dude got his bag, worth it

100% - that's the game of baseball these days.  You have to throw harder to have success.  You risk injury for the chance to dominate and get paid.

[Spanky__99]

Ross Atkins has told other GM's that Varland isn't available this deadline per Keegan Matheson.

[Brownie19]

18 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

Ross Atkins have told other GM's that Varland isn't available this deadline per Keegan Matheson.

I can't say I'm surprised, but I would love to see what teams would offer...

[Spanky__99]

4 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

I can't say I'm surprised, but I would love to see what teams would offer...

Something slightly less than what Miller goes for I'd imagine! 

[Eat My Shatkins]

Relievers are mostly volatile voodoo so if the offer was juicy you certainly think about it, but I kind of want the Jays to run it back with this bullpen. (and finish the season with it)

With Hoffman going they have just a deadly trio going now on the back end of it. 

[G-Snarls]

TLDR summary:

Toronto Blue Jays

• Acquired Dasan Hill, John Klein, and Dameury Pena from Twins for Jeff Hoffman
• Acquired Spencer Arrighetti from Astros for Daulton Varsho
• Acquired Josh Smith from Rangers for Adam Macko
• Acquired Jose Soriano from Angels for Arjun Nimmala, Eddie Micheletti, and Angel Rivero
• Acquired Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene from Cubs for Kevin Gausman
• Acquired Jameson Taillon from the Cubs for cash considerations or a player to be named later
• Acquired Ryan Sprock from the Twins for Tommy Nance

[Eat My Shatkins]

1 hour ago, G-Snarls said:

TLDR summary:

Toronto Blue Jays

• Acquired Dasan Hill, John Klein, and Dameury Pena from Twins for Jeff Hoffman
• Acquired Spencer Arrighetti from Astros for Daulton Varsho
• Acquired Josh Smith from Rangers for Adam Macko
• Acquired Jose Soriano from Angels for Arjun Nimmala, Eddie Micheletti, and Angel Rivero
• Acquired Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene from Cubs for Kevin Gausman
• Acquired Jameson Taillon from the Cubs for cash considerations or a player to be named later
• Acquired Ryan Sprock from the Twins for Tommy Nance

They also added SP Josh Stephan in the Macko deal, did they not?

[abola2121]

On 7/28/2026 at 10:57 AM, Laika said:

Yes we could. 

We likely won't though. 

Everything needs to go perfectly for that to happen. 

I wonder if they arrange the roster in 2027 so he can be the DH for a couple of months and then work back into the outfield in summer. 

Not feeling too great about having a starting outfielder with the durability of a cracker. Hopefully an offseason priority for the FO.

[Eat My Shatkins]

You have to think the Jays are going bring Bateman up sooner rather than later no?

[Eat My Shatkins]

Also, I wonder what the plan is for Taillon now? The guy has been awful this year and then they added Soriano. They also added Arrighetti, although he is currently on the 15 day IL.

Cease

Sherzer

Bieber

Yesavage

Soriano

Plus Arrighetti at some point. 

No need for Taillon now.

 

[John_Havok]

1 hour ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

Also, I wonder what the plan is for Taillon now? The guy has been awful this year and then they added Soriano. They also added Arrighetti, although he is currently on the 15 day IL.

Cease

Sherzer

Bieber

Yesavage

Soriano

Plus Arrighetti at some point. 

No need for Taillon now.

 

Pen maybe? Theres a hole with Hoffman gone and maybe theres a chance he can add a tick or two.back to the fastball in the pen. Slider is still decent.

Not to suggest hed be high leverage, he'd probably be the defacto long man but yeah, rotation is kinda full. 

He's probably in'scherzer'ance.

[Bob_Gratton]

I will have liked if Jays will have make a trade for Gleyber Torres, so this will have boosted their chance to make playoff. Outfield with Straw, Springer and Lukes, Vlad DH, Okamoto 1B, Gleyber 2B, Clement 3B, Gimenez SS, and Kirk C

[Governator]

4 hours ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

Also, I wonder what the plan is for Taillon now? The guy has been awful this year and then they added Soriano. They also added Arrighetti, although he is currently on the 15 day IL.

Cease

Sherzer

Bieber

Yesavage

Soriano

Plus Arrighetti at some point. 

No need for Taillon now.

 

I feel like the over/under on Scherzer is about 5 more starts.

[Brownie19]

9 minutes ago, Governator said:

I feel like the over/under on Scherzer is about 5 more starts.

I think you spelt innings wrong...

[Terminator]

6 hours ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

Also, I wonder what the plan is for Taillon now? The guy has been awful this year and then they added Soriano. They also added Arrighetti, although he is currently on the 15 day IL.

Cease

Sherzer

Bieber

Yesavage

Soriano

Plus Arrighetti at some point. 

No need for Taillon now.

 

I think Jameson will be in the pen for now and Miles will take some of Hoffman's late innings

[Bob_Gratton]

6 hours ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

Also, I wonder what the plan is for Taillon now? The guy has been awful this year and then they added Soriano. They also added Arrighetti, although he is currently on the 15 day IL.

Cease

Sherzer

Bieber

Yesavage

Soriano

Plus Arrighetti at some point. 

No need for Taillon now.

 

Bullpen for Taillon. Scherzer and Yesevage rarelly throw for more than 6 innings, and now Hoffman traded, we will need more help in the bullpen. Same thing about Justin, he was lucky yesterday, but next for him will be bullpen too when Arrighetti will be ready