Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2026)

[Brownie19]

24 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

You're an idiot.

Go eat a dick friendo (or preferably - don't attack me).  Vlad deserves ALL the smoke.  Sid's a media guy looking for views and clicks.  It's what he does.  The fact Straw gives him the time of day is embarrassing.  If Straw wants to help the team, then be the vet who has the honest conversation with Vlad about making changes.  Maybe try being a bit more serious and ending the stupid gatorade jug dumps.  WHY NOT?  Why the f*ck wouldn't he try something different?  Clearly what he's doing isn't working.  

I mean obviously there's a possibility Straw has done this and Vlad told him go fly a kite, or that they honestly believe Vlad is doing everything possible to get on track - but I'm not sure I buy that.  He's been a low IQ player for years - one with seemingly no ability to make the necessary adjustments to reach his potential.  It's super sad.  I mean thank god he gave us his best in the playoffs last year.  That does mean something to me, but otherwise, he's been far too inconsistent for a "star".

Also - Straw has always been a hot head with fans.  Remember when he was trying to fight fans in the stands?  Little man syndrome.

I don't even particularly like Sid, but there's no reason for Straw to get involved.  Media is always saying unnecessary things to gain views and clicks.  Christ - half the fans also hate players at times.  How to you get baited into that as a professional?

[Spanky__99]

16 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Go eat a dick friendo (or preferably - don't attack me).  Vlad deserves ALL the smoke.  Sid's a media guy looking for views and clicks.  It's what he does.  The fact Straw gives him the time of day is embarrassing.  If Straw wants to help the team, then be the vet who has the honest conversation with Vlad about making changes.  Maybe try being a bit more serious and ending the stupid gatorade jug dumps.  WHY NOT?  Why the f*ck wouldn't he try something different?  Clearly what he's doing isn't working.  

I mean obviously there's a possibility Straw has done this and Vlad told him go fly a kite, or that they honestly believe Vlad is doing everything possible to get on track - but I'm not sure I buy that.  He's been a low IQ player for years - one with seemingly no ability to make the necessary adjustments to reach his potential.  It's super sad.  I mean thank god he gave us his best in the playoffs last year.  That does mean something to me, but otherwise, he's been far too inconsistent for a "star".

Also - Straw has always been a hot head with fans.  Remember when he was trying to fight fans in the stands?  Little man syndrome.

I don't even particularly like Sid, but there's no reason for Straw to get involved.  Media is always saying unnecessary things to gain views and clicks.  Christ - half the fans also hate players at times.  How to you get baited into that as a professional?

[Spanky__99]

Brownie you bring up conjecture all the time, when it comes to FO's, Clubhouse and team all the time, in what's behind closed doors. 

Here's a guy that just calls a spade a spade, yet here you are projecting your hype and value to what you think, Sid's a toerag pal.

Hate Vlad at your own fruition, but, own your stupidity.

[Omar]

 

 

[Olerud363.354]

2 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

He didn't ruin Sid?  Vlad is a f*cking joke.  Sid is spot on here IMO.  If teammates aren't man enough to do it, then the organization needs to. Tell that stupid, fat f*ck to get in the lab and rebuild his swing.

I've no idea how to rebuild a swing but a couple of obvious things are some load management and strike-out more.  

Strike-out rate is 1/2 of Aaron Judge's and weirdly lowest of Vlad's career in his worst season.  Swing less, swing hard, and fix the attack angle whatever that is, but the last one I just know because Laika said it. 

Needs load management.  Play 5 times a week.  5/6 games or 5/7 if no off day. 

The fact that they haven't load managed him, even with obvious injuries is very weird and maybe fits the narrative no one is man enough to try and fix things. 

[Spanky__99]

 

[Spanky__99]

Welp...

[Stangstag]

4 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

 

I don’t necessarily care about changing free agency, but i’ve seen TONS of people online begging over the years for a shorter FA window because the offseason is too boring 

Sometimes these owners/players get so caught up in what THEY want, they forget the bigger picture is that the fans need to be on board.

[John_Havok]

1 hour ago, Stangstag said:

I don’t necessarily care about changing free agency, but i’ve seen TONS of people online begging over the years for a shorter FA window because the offseason is too boring 

Sometimes these owners/players get so caught up in what THEY want, they forget the bigger picture is that the fans need to be on board.

I read the new proposal from the owners and it's honestly pretty stupid overall. Everything they offered is contingent on a cap/floor system being agreed to

They want weekly rosters where you set your 26 man roster on a Sunday or whatever and stays locked for the next 7 days (injury exceptions of course). Basically brings back the problem of a starter getting blown out early, having to use 4 or 5 arms to finish a game and setting your pen back by a few days. Even if you were carrying an extra arm, 2 games in a row like this and you're basically done for the week. This is stupid. 

Option limits change from 4 to 5, IL is now 1 week and two weeks rather than 10 and 15 days, 60 day IL is a 12 week IL, pitcher limit change up to 14 from 13 ... Reasoning given by MLB is "This reduced transactional frequency would help teams maintain a more consistent roster, allowing fans to build a deeper familiarity with players while also mitigating instability for players."  - really just sounds like they want less transactions for some reason. Kinda hard to imagine this being "better" given the amount of injuries a team can sustain over the course of a season. I would guess though the PA might like this as it would increase the likelihood of guys reaching option limits and thus trades and new guys being added to the 40 man roster... probably a very small effect overall though. 

Rule 5 draft changes to allow anyone under 20 to be grabbed at the 4th draft after their signing rather than the 5th, 20 or over can be taken at the 3rd draft after their signing rather than the 4th. On the surface this seems like  good idea, but I don't see how much impact it would actually have since an 18 year old high school draftee is almost never ready by the time he's 22, though college bats (depending on age) could be eligible up to 2 drafts earlier. Rule 5 is barely a needle mover in the MLB so this is largely an optics move IMO. 

The free agent signing period thing... also seems inconsequential to me. They basically want it to all signings have to be done in a 2-3 week window at the Winter meetings which is like Dec 1-21 (give or take) then shut down again until the 1st Monday in February. Trades would also be not allowed from Dec 21 to the first Monday in Feb but would be allowed as usual from the end of the WS moratorium until the end of the winter meetings.   They say they want to build excitement on the FA signing period like in the NFL and NBA...realistically it's just about giving players and agents far less time to shop around and get more money from somewhere else as needs change in the offseason. 

[Omar]

Waking up this morning with 27 games left on the schedule and then noticing that Laika has locked the Jays Playoff Tracker thread.

[Laika]

Springer suddenly has okay numbers 

It's too bad DH is already clogged for 2027 with the bum Santander 

[Omar]

It has been six years. It's aloha time for Springer.  

[Spanky__99]

 

[John_Havok]

6 hours ago, Omar said:

It has been six years. It's aloha time for Springer.  

What could have been without that toe injury this season... it really killed him. 

[Jays24]

Report: Mets place former All-Star Robert on waivers

https://thescore.com/mlb/news/3588288

The Jays can finally get their guy after all these years lol.  

[John_Havok]

28 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

Report: Mets place former All-Star Robert on waivers

https://thescore.com/mlb/news/3588288

The Jays can finally get their guy after all these years lol.  

nah, no thanks. one underachieving headcase is enough. nice they put him on waivers with enough time to get claimed for playoff eligibility tho

[Jays24]

14 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

nah, no thanks. one underachieving headcase is enough. nice they put him on waivers with enough time to get claimed for playoff eligibility tho

Look at all the guys we've taken chances on... definitely can see us doing that.  

[Rafters]

Robert jr has been healthy playing well in August….id take home over Cameron 

[glory]

They’d have to pay Robert’s remaining salary plus his buyout (unless they pick up his option, which they won’t). Would be a pricey September pick up, but no question it would be an improvement over Cameron. Robert has historically done very well against lefties so a platoon with him and Sanchez/Lukes would make a lot of sense. Just pricey for basically just one month. I don’t think they have to worry about chemistry issues. This isn’t 2025.

[Jonn]

Blue Jays are already giving up 10 spots in the draft. May as well grab him.

[R.O.]

 

[hanton]

1 hour ago, R.O. said:

 

not hitting is contagious

[Jays24]

1 hour ago, R.O. said:

 

Not gonna be a popular comment but the Jays will need to upgrade at least one/two of Clement/Lukes/Gimenez/Bateman in the lineup offensively depending on who that player(s) is/are for next season. 

My guess is that it'll be Clement and/or Lukes depending on whos available and they take the role of the ultimate sub/injury insurance.

[Brownie19]

20 hours ago, Jays24 said:

Not gonna be a popular comment but the Jays will need to upgrade at least one/two of Clement/Lukes/Gimenez/Bateman in the lineup offensively depending on who that player(s) is/are for next season. 

My guess is that it'll be Clement and/or Lukes depending on whos available and they take the role of the ultimate sub/injury insurance.

With Barger returning to play RF, it certainly feels like LF is the most obvious place to "upgrade", which would push Lukes back to a bench role.  Randy or Seiya are obvious fits, but they are both kinda old and will come with risk on a 4+ year deal.

[Olerud363.354]

50 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

With Barger returning to play RF, it certainly feels like LF is the most obvious place to "upgrade", which would push Lukes back to a bench role.  Randy or Seiya are obvious fits, but they are both kinda old and will come with risk on a 4+ year deal.

Jays style is to trade for a controllable player in their mid to late 20s.  Think Varsho, Soriano.  So maybe a package around Keys and one of Perry/King for a really good outfielder?  Who would that be?   I mean obviously you are not trading both Keys and Perry/King unless getting something really good in return.  Maybe just Keys for who?

(I am happy keeping Keys, and rotating Vlad/Oak/Keys 1b/3b/dh.  Just based on how Jays operate they might use him to fill a need, like they did with Moreno).   (And then when Keys is next Ben Rice, and Vlad is permanently an 8 homer guy, we all have lots to complain about unless the left fielder we get for Keys is awesome). 

[bluejaysinternNo5]

Lukes should not be getting 600 PA anyways. He's a great 4th outfielder.

[glory]

Lukes and Clement are both perfect in utility/bench roles. With JS managing they’d still get a ton of PA’s but upgrading 2B/LF and having bench players who could provide league average-ish offense and versatile defense would be great. Not sure the Jays do that, though. Clement in particular has started the last two seasons, and JS loves him. Hard to see him in a bench role as long as he’s on the team, but who knows. 

[G-Snarls]

On 8/29/2026 at 12:53 PM, Spanky__99 said:

 

100% love it

Well done

[Brownie19]

38 minutes ago, bluejaysinternNo5 said:

Lukes should not be getting 600 PA anyways. He's a great 4th outfielder.

I believe the average 4th OFer typically receives 450-500 PA's...

[bluejaysinternNo5]

21 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

I believe the average 4th OFer typically receives 450-500 PA's...

Is this true? When I wrote that I assumed the average 4th outfielder gets 250-350 PA, with a strong side platoon or semi regular guy getting slightly more at 400-500 PA (basically how we have used Lukes). 

All of that is to say I wouldn't hate Lukes getting another 400 PA next year, if we get some offensive improvement on the infield. But that's harder than signing a corner outfielder who can hit.

Idk these are my pre-coffee Monday morning thoughts.