Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2026)

[jmomcc]

Yariel is at 16k per 9 in triple A and throwing a different pitch mix. Could be interesting if we need a reliever later in the season. 

[John_Havok]

1 hour ago, jmomcc said:

Yariel is at 16k per 9 in triple A and throwing a different pitch mix. Could be interesting if we need a reliever later in the season. 

Whats the new mix?

They trying the "3-fastball" mix that is looking like it might be the new rage?

[jmomcc]

5 hours ago, John_Havok said:

Whats the new mix?

They trying the "3-fastball" mix that is looking like it might be the new rage?

No the same pitches as before but like 70% slider and splitter, and then 25/5 four seam/sinker. 

[Olerud363.354]

I've been pleasantly surprised by Okamoto's defense.  Things could change but so far it seems he'll be a slightly plus defensive player by both the baseball reference and fangraphs systems. 

On fangraphs guys can range from around -20 to +20 defense, and Okamoto is at 1 right now.  On bbref it tends to be between -2 and +2 WAR and he is at 0.2. 

He doesn't seem to have great arm strength or speed, or maybe even overall range, but seems to have great reflexes, good at diving and getting back on his feet quickly, accurate arm, and uses the bounce throw well. 

Ha ha, not that I know s*** about scouting 3rd basemen. 

[Olerud363.354]

For perspective Vlad has always scored between -10 and -20 defense on fangraphs which dings his WAR.  Okamoto is trending for a +5.  

Vlad is dinged a bit by a positional adjustment, but the adjustment is meant to even things out.  When he did play 3rd he was still -10.

So not saying Okamoto is a gold glover or anything, just that he is so far trending to be a slight positive, which is great combined with the power he is showing so far. 

[Stangstag]

2 hours ago, Olerud363.354 said:

I've been pleasantly surprised by Okamoto's defense.  Things could change but so far it seems he'll be a slightly plus defensive player by both the baseball reference and fangraphs systems. 

On fangraphs guys can range from around -20 to +20 defense, and Okamoto is at 1 right now.  On bbref it tends to be between -2 and +2 WAR and he is at 0.2. 

He doesn't seem to have great arm strength or speed, or maybe even overall range, but seems to have great reflexes, good at diving and getting back on his feet quickly, accurate arm, and uses the bounce throw well. 

Ha ha, not that I know s*** about scouting 3rd basemen. 

I dont believe he will stick, its a mirage right now. My japanese buddies all said he kinda sucks as a 3B, he profiles more like a 1B/DH

Dude is not a MLB caliber 3B

[Laika]

2 hours ago, Olerud363.354 said:

I've been pleasantly surprised by Okamoto's defense.  Things could change but so far it seems he'll be a slightly plus defensive player by both the baseball reference and fangraphs systems. 

On fangraphs guys can range from around -20 to +20 defense, and Okamoto is at 1 right now.  On bbref it tends to be between -2 and +2 WAR and he is at 0.2. 

He doesn't seem to have great arm strength or speed, or maybe even overall range, but seems to have great reflexes, good at diving and getting back on his feet quickly, accurate arm, and uses the bounce throw well. 

Ha ha, not that I know s*** about scouting 3rd basemen. 

Seems to be really good at coming IN on the ball. Good transition and throw accuracy. 

Lacks the raw athleticism to be a plus defender but does the fundamentals well enough to play 3B for now 

The annoying thing is that Ernie is not playing a great 2B so far 

[hanton]

Oka has a ridiculously quick release - for a 3rd basemen - which makes up for his below average arm

[Olerud363.354]

1 hour ago, Laika said:

Lacks the raw athleticism to be a plus defender

It will be interesting to see where he ends up at the end of the year.  Through 40 games he is a plus defender, not a gold glover or anything.  Just trending for maybe half a war positive. 

Good reflexes, quick release, accurate arm.

Does Barger have raw athleticism?  100 mph arm, looks like an athlete but seems his D at third scores about the same as Okamoto. 

Unreliable eye test but seems Barger wasn't a good at reacting quick, the quick lunges and dives that watching on TV Okamoto seems good at.   Maybe I am wrong. 

[BTS]

So Okamoto now projected to end the season with about 3.5 fWAR and Bo with about 3.0. Looks like another masterful gambit from Aktins 

[John_Havok]

7 hours ago, jmomcc said:

No the same pitches as before but like 70% slider and splitter, and then 25/5 four seam/sinker. 

That could be good but getting those results at AAA where lineups are full of free swingers at breaking balls out of the zone,  maybe not the best indicator. 

Do we have data on his zone rates?

[harvey16]

Have a bad feeling that TJS is gonna be the result here. Losing Barger for the rest of this year and most of next year would be devastating

[Laika]

9 minutes ago, harvey16 said:

Have a bad feeling that TJS is gonna be the result here. Losing Barger for the rest of this year and most of next year would be devastating

I don't think he would miss most of even much of 2027 

[Olerud363.354]

15 minutes ago, harvey16 said:

Have a bad feeling that TJS is gonna be the result here. Losing Barger for the rest of this year and most of next year would be devastating

Back for spring training.  Looking forward to it already.

[Stangstag]

2 hours ago, harvey16 said:

Have a bad feeling that TJS is gonna be the result here. Losing Barger for the rest of this year and most of next year would be devastating

Jesus h christ

[Masterbather]

2 hours ago, harvey16 said:

Have a bad feeling that TJS is gonna be the result here. Losing Barger for the rest of this year and most of next year would be devastating

Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. 

 

Hope all the mothers are having a terrific Mother's Day. That's all that matters today.

[Laika]

Just saw on Twitter that Yariel is indeed getting called up 

I wonder if there is any possible corresponding move other than dumping Lauer?

[Olerud363.354]

15 minutes ago, Laika said:

I wonder if there is any possible corresponding move other than dumping Lauer?

Yariel made 21 starts in 2024 with the same fWAR per 9 and xERA as Lauer in 2025

Maybe Miles and Yariel can do 2-3 innings one day and another inning another day a week. 

[jmomcc]

17 minutes ago, Laika said:

Just saw on Twitter that Yariel is indeed getting called up 

I wonder if there is any possible corresponding move other than dumping Lauer?

Unless there is an injury we don't know about? Maybe Mantiply. 

[Laika]

10 minutes ago, Olerud363.354 said:

Yariel made 21 starts in 2024 with the same fWAR per 9 and xERA as Lauer in 2025

Maybe Miles and Yariel can do 2-3 innings one day and another inning another day a week. 

Hard not to think that a bullpen game would be >>> Eric Lauer 

[Spanky__99]

2 hours ago, harvey16 said:

Have a bad feeling that TJS is gonna be the result here. Losing Barger for the rest of this year and most of next year would be devastating

Well f*ck!

[John_Havok]

33 minutes ago, Laika said:

Just saw on Twitter that Yariel is indeed getting called up 

I wonder if there is any possible corresponding move other than dumping Lauer?

Berrios to the 60 day IL probably, then an option of someone?

[max silver]

5 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

Berrios to the 60 day IL probably, then an option of someone?

Perhaps someone like Mantiply could be optioned down to AAA although he's far from deserving of this as he's pitched quite well.

[Spanky__99]

6 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

Berrios to the 60 day IL probably, then an option of someone?

Yeah, he went for an MRI just recently with no news back.

[Spanky__99]

Lauer's likely getting punted. Someone will trade something for him.

[Laika]

12 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

Berrios to the 60 day IL probably, then an option of someone?

40 man is at 39 so they don't even have to do that with Berrios 

[The_DH]

I've got a feeling it might be Lauer.  He's been acting a bit pissy about coming in at later innings.  Something may have happened behind the scenes.

[Spanky__99]

The weather's been so crap they haven't been able to open the roof yet and it's going to be May 11th tomorrow.

[John_Havok]

1 hour ago, max silver said:

Perhaps someone like Mantiply could be optioned down to AAA although he's far from deserving of this as he's pitched quite well.

Also going to have this problem again when Yimi is ready later in the month

Optionable guys are... Fluharty, Fisher, Mantiply and Varland. Obviously Varland isnt going anywhere

Nance would need to be DFA, Miles would need to be offered back on Rule 5.

Mantiply probably down 1st for Yarial then a Nance DFA for Yimi. Though injuries have a way of working the pen out naturally 

[max silver]

4 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

Also going to have this problem again when Yimi is ready later in the month

Optionable guys are... Fluharty, Fisher, Mantiply and Varland. Obviously Varland isnt going anywhere

Nance would need to be DFA, Miles would need to be offered back on Rule 5.

Mantiply probably down 1st for Yarial then a Nance DFA for Yimi. Though injuries have a way of working the pen out naturally 

Nance is another guy that doesn't deserve to be going anywhere. He had a single really tough outing against the Dodgers where he allowed 4 ER, which is half of the total that he's allowed for the entirety of the season. He's on a nice little run of success of 7-1/3 scoreless innings backed up by a 0.81 FIP over the same stretch. He's far from being  a bullpen saviour but he's been doing a fine job in a lower leverage type of role and has been a key member of the pen in recent weeks.