Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2026)

[M.E.]

27 will largely get cheered this weekend when he should hear it from the fan base.

[Nexii]

Well I think it goes kind of beyond Schneider. Paying Vlad 100M above market value basically was telling him he was special for some reason I still don't understand. No other team was going to give him 500M so it was strange.

It really sounds like something an agent might have said to him at some point. Of course it is true of free agency, players are paid based on past performance, MLB is structured that way. But a player should kinda know never to use that as an excuse for lower than expected performance.

[Laika]

It's like some perverse combination of the Pablo Sandoval, Anthony Rendon, and Chris Davis situations all wrapped up into a personal nightmare for all of us.

The worst contract in sports history. 

The most infuriating and insufferable, slobbish moron mascot you can imagine.

Just a perpetual and incomprehensible waste of talent that somehow couldn't just fail, they had to do just enough to cripple a franchise before they failed.

One chubby, 80 IQ Dominican trust fund baby is going to bankrupt Rogers Communications 

[Brownie19]

59 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

Haha thats your response for everything.  "They know more than you" and "how do you know they havent"

Are you such a homer that you disregarded Schneiders comments about not wanting to move him down?  Your comments are hilarious at times lol.  

Perhaps because assigning blame on something you know very little about - is stupid.

As is assuming that what Schneider tells the public is his honest opinion.

It's really that simple.  I know everyone wants to blame someone - but right now we don't if anyone else is to blame. The only obvious guy it blame for this is Vlad.  He's the POS who gave up on this team and feels no obligation to put in the effort.

Deflecting blame away from him and onto another adult is insane.  Vlad isn't a child.

[43211234]

Vladimir is going to have an off-season of introspection and improvement. 

 

5 months of consistent and focused workouts. There won't be just March instagram posts of before-and-afters that leave the viewer guessing which is which.

He will work with Aaron Judge's swing coach and tinker to produce a much shorter swing and one that is able to have a productive attack angle. He will be thinking damage with every swing and fist-pumps will be reserved for extra-base hits, not sacrifice flies poked the other way.

He will finally marry his natural talent with an intelligent approach to the game. 

 

I'm expecting mvp votes next season and 50+ WAR over the remainder of the contract. This disastrous year will ultimately be worth it!

 

[Olerud363.354]

21 minutes ago, Laika said:

Just a perpetual and incomprehensible waste of talent that somehow couldn't just fail, they had to do just enough to cripple a franchise before they failed.

One chubby, 80 IQ Dominican trust fund baby is going to bankrupt Rogers Communications 

Just imagine they hadn't signed him.   

Like what if Ty France was the first basemen, or Alonso, or Murakami or Spencer Horwitz.  Or Randal Grichuk first half and Sean Keys second.   Because of the butterfly effect (someone different standing at first different at bats, different timing for everything) Ponce not injured.  Perhaps Barger not injured (maybe Suzuki is the first basebam, and Barger 3rd so never makes that throw from right). 

We would have cried so sad... Bo and Vlad both gone.    Then slowly... slowly... the sun would rise,  The Jays would be on track for 85 wins.   And a fun season, hope for the future.  Sean Keys hitting them high into the night sky. 

[Laika]

11 minutes ago, Olerud363.354 said:

Just imagine they hadn't signed him.   

Like what if Ty France was the first basemen, or Alonso, or Murakami or Spencer Horwitz.  Or Randal Grichuk first half and Sean Keys second.   Because of the butterfly effect (someone different standing at first different at bats, different timing for everything) Ponce not injured.  Perhaps Barger not injured (maybe Suzuki is the first basebam, and Barger 3rd so never makes that throw from right). 

We would have cried so sad... Bo and Vlad both gone.    Then slowly... slowly... the sun would rise,  The Jays would be on track for 85 wins.   And a fun season, hope for the future.  Sean Keys hitting them high into the night sky. 

They probably end up signing Kyle Tucker or Bo and they also suck this year but the ramifications are more palatable 

[Omar]

21 minutes ago, 43211234 said:

Vladimir is going to have an off-season of introspection and improvement. 

 

5 months of consistent and focused workouts. There won't be just March instagram posts of before-and-afters that leave the viewer guessing which is which.

He will work with Aaron Judge's swing coach and tinker to produce a much shorter swing and one that is able to have a productive attack angle. He will be thinking damage with every swing and fist-pumps will be reserved for extra-base hits, not sacrifice flies poked the other way.

He will finally marry his natural talent with an intelligent approach to the game. 

 

I'm expecting mvp votes next season and 50+ WAR over the remainder of the contract. This disastrous year will ultimately be worth it!

 

Bold predictions thread 2027 is starting early by the looks of this.  Hope it all comes true, but I have my doubts.

[Laika]

Vlad and the Blue Jays never say a single substantive thing about his struggles, and they won't do anything either 

He will just go to the DR and do pushups and take batting practice. That's it. 

The org will just politely ask him to do some kind of training once and he won't even text them back. 

He will come into spring training with the exact same swing and game plan and he'll just be praying to God a bit differently 

[glory]

31 minutes ago, Olerud363.354 said:

Just imagine they hadn't signed him.   

Like what if Ty France was the first basemen, or Alonso, or Murakami or Spencer Horwitz.  Or Randal Grichuk first half and Sean Keys second.   Because of the butterfly effect (someone different standing at first different at bats, different timing for everything) Ponce not injured.  Perhaps Barger not injured (maybe Suzuki is the first basebam, and Barger 3rd so never makes that throw from right). 

We would have cried so sad... Bo and Vlad both gone.    Then slowly... slowly... the sun would rise,  The Jays would be on track for 85 wins.   And a fun season, hope for the future.  Sean Keys hitting them high into the night sky. 

If 2025 played out exactly the same way except Vlad wasn’t extended, then I don’t think there’s any universe where he isn’t brought back. Ed would have bent over even more than he actually did if he was negotiating with a FA Vlad who was coming off the 2025 post season run. Vlad could have asked for Soto money, equity in the team, and booty calls on demand, and Ed would have given it to him. In a sick way the Jays probably saved money by giving him 14/500 when they did rather than have Ed have to beat whatever Cohen was offering.

Thats the depressing part I guess. We can’t even dream on “what if he left and we signed Pete instead”. It was never going to happen.

[John_Havok]

I dont see how anyone would want to be his teammate now. 

Everything he said is a giant "f*** you" to guys like Lukes, Clement, Ponce, Cellucci....anyone who's had to grind their asses off for years in the minors or go overseas to reinvent themselves just to get a shot at being on an MLB roster. 

This dipshit is telling people his 500mil contract was a reward for 1 incredible season, 1 good one and 3 average ones? 

If i was Springer or Scherzer ... I'd have already torn a strip off him in front of the entire locker room telling him what an entitled moron he is.

[jaysblue]

Yikes. Even if you’re a big-name free agent, why would you want to come to Toronto if there are concerns about someone like Vladdy in the clubhouse? Hopefully it doesn’t deter free agents from wanting to sign here.

As for Atkins and Shapiro, they’re definitely going to have to address the media at some point shortly after the season. Hopefully they can clear the air and keep this from becoming a bigger issue. We’ll see.

[John_Havok]

4 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

Yikes. Even if you’re a big-name free agent, why would you want to come to Toronto if there are concerns about someone like Vladdy in the clubhouse? Hopefully it doesn’t deter free agents from wanting to sign here.

As for Atkins and Shapiro, they’re definitely going to have to address the media at some point shortly after the season. Hopefully they can clear the air and keep this from becoming a bigger issue. We’ll see.

And its gonna a very fine highwire they try to walk when they do. 

It has to be strong enough to show theyre pissed, but be short of a public ass-reaming, even though everyone knows Vlad deserves one.

[jaysblue]

And this is exactly why I watch sports for entertainment now and try not to get too attached to a team or its players.

I always remember that line from Fever Pitch when the kid asks Jimmy Fallon, “You love the Sox, but have they ever loved you back?”

Some fans care so much about athletes - how much money they get in free agency, whether they win awards, their personal stats, even wearing their name on the back of a jersey - sometimes more than they care about things going on in their own lives. But does Vladdy care about your finances, your struggles, or what you’re dealing with personally? Does any player? Compared to the money and lifestyle these guys have, we’re all basically peasants.

I’d bet a lot of Jays fans were more heartbroken after that Game 7 loss than some of the players themselves. When you really think about it, that’s kind of crazy.

[JohnSchneiderisAIDS]

Time to run him out of town like Marner. f***ing clown.

I hope he gets booed relentlessly all weekend. Though I doubt he'll give a shyt if the comments today mean anything.

 

[Brownie19]

17 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

And this is exactly why I watch sports for entertainment now and try not to get too attached to a team or its players.

I always remember that line from Fever Pitch when the kid asks Jimmy Fallon, “You love the Sox, but have they ever loved you back?”

Some fans care so much about athletes - how much money they get in free agency, whether they win awards, their personal stats, even wearing their name on the back of a jersey - sometimes more than they care about things going on in their own lives. But does Vladdy care about your finances, your struggles, or what you’re dealing with personally? Does any player? Compared to the money and lifestyle these guys have, we’re all basically peasants.

I’d bet a lot of Jays fans were more heartbroken after that Game 7 loss than some of the players themselves. When you really think about it, that’s kind of crazy.

I know what you're saying and there is something to be said about not making it life or death, but I think in general, you don't want these players on your team...

As for fans - easy to say, hard to do.  If Vlad sinks this franchise for the foreseeable future, nobody will be attached or entertained...

[Brownie19]

26 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

Yikes. Even if you’re a big-name free agent, why would you want to come to Toronto if there are concerns about someone like Vladdy in the clubhouse? Hopefully it doesn’t deter free agents from wanting to sign here.

As for Atkins and Shapiro, they’re definitely going to have to address the media at some point shortly after the season. Hopefully they can clear the air and keep this from becoming a bigger issue. We’ll see.

This may be the most difficult thing Atkins has to do....manage this disaster.  Time to earn your money - unless you're a stupid c*nt who thinks your contract is reimbursement for the work you've already done...

[Sltwtr1]

 Vlad needs a supporting cast. He is not an aircraft carrier. He has a hard time when it is all on him. 

 

I said it years ago and will say it again. You only give half a billion dollars US, or a billion CDN $ to someone with proven individual leadership and the ability to perform when all is on their shoulders.

Don’t tell me about the playoffs. There were like 4 others Jays with over 800 OPS and another with over 1000 OPS. The whole Team was fire and no individual pressure on Vlad. 

 

Same goes for his best prior offensive years. They were all concurrent with other teammates also carrying the load or leading the way. No individual pressure on Vlad. 
 

The situational awareness with HR jacket when losing big and questionable Gatorade baths, not making adjustments after weeks of failure, defensive footwork mistakes still making years after being a rookie, the while coming to camp overweight. 
 

Again, I would have had a very hard time making a business case for half a billion dollars for Vlad. You have to assume in retrospect Ed Rogers might have told them to get it done for PR purposes more than baseball acumen. 

[SpencerBateman]

I am organizing a Vlad jersey burning on Twitter if anyone wants to join.  Actually if anyone has a twitter account and can organize it for me that would be a good start.  I think it will catch on all by itself shouldn’t be too much work.  Maybe we do it down at the front steps of degrassi 

[John_Havok]

1 hour ago, JohnSchneiderisAIDS said:

Time to run him out of town like Marner. f***ing clown.

I hope he gets booed relentlessly all weekend. Though I doubt he'll give a shyt if the comments today mean anything.

 

I wouldnt boo. Thats a reaction that gives attention.

I'd go stone cold silent anytime he came up and hope the other 30k+ did too. 

Show him hes not even worth booing.

 

But if I was Atkins, i'd be putting him on the IL with whatever would pass the sniff test and tell him not to even show up at the park 

[Brownie19]

16 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

I wouldnt boo. Thats a reaction that gives attention.

I'd go stone cold silent anytime he came up and hope the other 30k+ did too. 

Show him hes not even worth booing.

 

But if I was Atkins, i'd be putting him on the IL with whatever would pass the sniff test and tell him not to even show up at the park 

Vlad Jr heads to the IL with a severe brain injury...

[Omar]

Vlad is not that smart, kind of immature and somewhat spoiled.  I suspect, don't know for sure, but my gut tells me he is easily influenced by family (Vladdy Sr. , Uncle Wilton, Grandma, etc.) and that is where these statements are coming from.  His family telling him he deserves all that money despite of his lack luster performance.

That being said,  now that he has embraced his villain arc, the next step is for him to start turning his performance around.  I think he will because the guy has pride.  I believe he wants to succeed.

Then begins the redemption arc.  It may take some time but it is bound to happen.  The natural talent is still there.  The exit velos don't lie.  Time to awake the giant within.......or something like that.

 

[SpencerBateman]

8 minutes ago, Omar said:

Vlad is not that smart, kind of immature and somewhat spoiled.  I suspect, don't know for sure, but my gut tells me he is easily influenced by family (Vladdy Sr. , Uncle Wilton, Grandma, etc.) and that is where these statements are coming from.  His family telling him he deserves all that money despite of his lack luster performance.

That being said,  now that he has embraced his villain arc, the next step is for him to start turning his performance around.  I think he will because the guy has pride.  I believe he wants to succeed.

Then begins the redemption arc.  It may take some time but it is bound to happen.  The natural talent is still there.  The exit velos don't lie.  Time to awake the giant within.......or something like that.

 

His cousins would be f***ed without that money.  He does need it because he has so many cousins and they all live in Toronto which is an expensive city and they don’t want jobs.

[Gen.Disarray]

2 hours ago, 43211234 said:

Vladimir is going to have an off-season of introspection and improvement. 

 

5 months of consistent and focused workouts. There won't be just March instagram posts of before-and-afters that leave the viewer guessing which is which.

He will work with Aaron Judge's swing coach and tinker to produce a much shorter swing and one that is able to have a productive attack angle. He will be thinking damage with every swing and fist-pumps will be reserved for extra-base hits, not sacrifice flies poked the other way.

He will finally marry his natural talent with an intelligent approach to the game. 

 

I'm expecting mvp votes next season and 50+ WAR over the remainder of the contract. This disastrous year will ultimately be worth it!

 

Yeah this is the dream. But I think we all know he's going to change nothing and we all just cross our fingers that somehow it works out. I mean, he said, and this almost verbatim, "I'm just going to rest and then work with my coaches like usual for next season ".  Ugh 

We have to just hope that the org can put enough talent around him to succeed despite him. He's pretty great about once every 3 seasons, so hopefully they can acquire some real offensive talent and one of his good years happens during a fortuitous year, all around. Like last season. That said he was more good than great last season, other than his unreal playoff performance. 

[Gen.Disarray]

2 hours ago, Laika said:

Vlad and the Blue Jays never say a single substantive thing about his struggles, and they won't do anything either 

He will just go to the DR and do pushups and take batting practice. That's it. 

The org will just politely ask him to do some kind of training once and he won't even text them back. 

He will come into spring training with the exact same swing and game plan and he'll just be praying to God a bit differently 

Ding ding ding! Nailed it, unfortunately...