Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2026)

[BTS]

I think Suzuki is going to get something like 4/100. And I think he's worth it. He has the kind of bat that changes the entire look of a lineup. 

[Terminator]

Corner OF is definitely a need but I actually think the biggest hole is 2B.

Not because Taters/Barger/Lukes are saviors, but because Ernie flat-out sucked this year: .259 xwOBA with 10th-percentile defense. Among 134 qualified hitters, he was 15th-worst in WAR. Yuck.

Tendering him a contract isn't a slam dunk anymore. Luis Urias is barely hanging around MLB and projects better. At minimum, Ernie needs to be a full-time bench player and if some team views him as a legit starter I'd trade him.

As for Lowe and Arraez, I agree with the criticisms above. But everyone in baseball knows about their flaws, and they'll be priced accordingly. The free-agent rankings I've seen aren't exactly gushing over either guy or projecting massive contracts.

Lowe is definitely riskier with his contact profile but I don't think either is getting 4+ years? If so, I'm out but if they are looking at 2 or 3 years then I would kick the tires.

[BTS]

2 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Corner OF is definitely a need, but with Taters and Barger coming back alongside Lukes, I actually think the biggest hole is 2B.

Not because Taters/Barger/Lukes are saviors, but because Ernie flat-out sucked this year: .259 xwOBA with 10th-percentile defense. Among 134 qualified hitters, he was 15th-worst in WAR. Yuck.

He still projects as roughly a 2-WAR player, so I'd tender him a contract, but at ~$7M in arbitration I think it's a tougher call than people realize. Luis Urias is barely hanging around MLB and projects better. At minimum, Ernie needs to be a full-time bench player. If some team views him as a legit starter, I'd gladly trade him.

As for Lowe and Arraez, they both have obvious warts, and I agree with the criticisms above. But everyone in baseball knows about those flaws, and they'll be priced accordingly. The free-agent rankings I've seen aren't exactly gushing over either guy or projecting massive contracts.

Is Lowe or Arraez getting 4+ years? I'm out. Two or three years? I'm at least kicking the tires. 2B is a black hole right now.

I really want Arraez. He's just so much fun to watch. And I don't see him getting more than 3 years. Nobody is going to think he's a vastly different player than he was last offseason when he got 1/12 

[Terminator]

1 minute ago, BTS said:

I really want Arraez. He's just so much fun to watch. And I don't see him getting more than 3 years. Nobody is going to think he's a vastly different player than he was last offseason when he got 1/12 

Yeah I don't think he would cost that much and he doesn't have very pronounced splits so he wouldn't further our problems against LHP. He's also younger and I think he ages just fine on a 3 year deal. 

[abola2121]

22 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Corner OF is definitely a need but I actually think the biggest hole is 2B.

Not because Taters/Barger/Lukes are saviors, but because Ernie flat-out sucked this year: .259 xwOBA with 10th-percentile defense. Among 134 qualified hitters, he was 15th-worst in WAR. Yuck.

Tendering him a contract isn't a slam dunk anymore. Luis Urias is barely hanging around MLB and projects better. At minimum, Ernie needs to be a full-time bench player and if some team views him as a legit starter I'd trade him.

As for Lowe and Arraez, I agree with the criticisms above. But everyone in baseball knows about their flaws, and they'll be priced accordingly. The free-agent rankings I've seen aren't exactly gushing over either guy or projecting massive contracts.

Lowe is definitely riskier with his contact profile but I don't think either is getting 4+ years? If so, I'm out but if they are looking at 2 or 3 years then I would kick the tires.

Agreed. Personally I think they should use the Brett Bateman example and trade for a decent MLB-ready SS/2B prospect who'll contribute before the middle of next season*.

[jaysblue]

On 9/23/2026 at 10:11 PM, Brownie19 said:

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...

Yeah, I’ll admit it’s hard for us as fans, too. When you follow a team for a full season—or for decades—you get attached to the players who come and go. Especially after years of missing the postseason, it felt like we were right there with those 2015, 2016 and 2025 teams, living and dying with every pitch. It was like the world stopped in September and October of those seasons.

I do think something may have been lost in translation with what Vlad said, but the timing definitely rubbed people the wrong way. The team had just been eliminated, and he was coming off the season he’d had.

Like you said, if he doesn’t rebound and become the consistent 30–40 HR hitter we envisioned, his contract could weigh this franchise down for years. The long-term fallout could end up being worse than what Vince Carter did to the Raptors.

[jaysblue]

Not sure if Vlad is really tradable, unless it for another bad contract or another struggling superstar type player. Maybe J-Rod (who hasn't really been lighting it up in Seattle). 

We've seen the Mariners make that kind of swap before - with Michael Pineda for Jesus Montero. 

[jaysblue]

On 9/23/2026 at 10:20 PM, Brownie19 said:

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...

Yeah, that end-of-season press conference is going to be a tough one, and a lot of the questions will revolve around Vlad.

Obviously, I don’t expect them to throw him under the bus, but some conversations need to happen behind closed doors to address the drama and cut this s*** out.

I think they’ll say his comments were lost in translation, which I do believe to an extent. He’s probably frustrated with his own struggles and all the criticism he’s received. My read is that he was pushing back, saying he earned that contract and can’t be expected to play at an MVP level every season.

[jaysblue]

I think the Blue Jays’ main priority this offseason should be adding another top bat, whether that means bringing back Bo, signing Jazz or finding someone else. That could help Vlad psychologically. Having another star hitter alongside him would take some of the pressure off and make him feel like he doesn’t have to carry the lineup himself.

[glory]

37 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

Not sure if Vlad is really tradable, unless it for another bad contract or another struggling superstar type player. Maybe J-Rod (who hasn't really been lighting it up in Seattle). 

We've seen the Mariners make that kind of swap before - with Michael Pineda for Jesus Montero. 

The issue with trading Vlad will be the length of his contract. Even if he has a 2024-25 type of season in 2027, is another team going to covet 12 more years of a 1B with Vlad's track record? Or if he somehow has 3 straight elite seasons from 2027-29, is another team absorbing another decade of that? The latter scenario might give a glimmer of hope, but Vlad hasn't had 2 elite seasons in a row yet, and he'll be 28 next year. I don't think it's happening at this point unless he starts taking coaching/adjustments seriously.

Most likely scenario IMO is either having to live with a s*** load of negative WAR seasons as he tries to hit enough singles to reach 3000 hits by 2040, or cut bait half way into the deal if it gets to the point of hurting the team. I'm not sure which scenario is more likely but unless Arte Moreno stays on for another season or two as Angels owner, I don't see a logical trade fit, unfortunately. Would love to be wrong on that one. 

[JaysFan99]

32 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

I think the Blue Jays’ main priority this offseason should be adding another top bat, whether that means bringing back Bo, signing Jazz or finding someone else. That could help Vlad psychologically. Having another star hitter alongside him would take some of the pressure off and make him feel like he doesn’t have to carry the lineup himself.

Sign Arozarena, Skubal, and Bichette (if he opts out) before the CBA expires.  Should be simple enough.

Will teams be trying to sign all the free agents in the small window before the CBA expires or will they sit back and see what happens?

[max silver]

53 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

Not sure if Vlad is really tradable, unless it for another bad contract or another struggling superstar type player. Maybe J-Rod (who hasn't really been lighting it up in Seattle). 

We've seen the Mariners make that kind of swap before - with Michael Pineda for Jesus Montero. 

Umm sorry to burst your bubble but trading Michael Pineda for Jesus Montero isn't remotely close to trading a player struggling on a long term contract for a player struggling on a dramatically worse long term contract. With J-Rod I believe he's a far better bet to provide at least decent value on his deal as he possesses a dramatically higher floor than Vlad, and his guaranteed money is less than half of what Vlad is owed as well. I see no conceivable way the Mariners would even begin to entertain making this type of trade given the landmine potential (if not almost certainty) in Vlad's deal.

[John_Havok]

8 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

55K views · 419 reactions | Bringing up your contract like Vladimir...

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM

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Bringing up your contract like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did rarely has a good outcome #mlb #baseball #sports

I saw a clip yesterday - they suggest Vlad is extremely intelligent note that everyone they have spoken to who's close to the Blue Jays agrees.

That seems wildly different to absolutely everything fans see - and it's the first time I've ever heard anyone suggest this.

Intelligence and smarts are not the same thing

Intelligence is knowing what youre saying might be exactly what you feel but know its going to make you look like a twat.

Smarts... would be deciding not to say it.

[jaysblue]

18 minutes ago, max silver said:

Umm sorry to burst your bubble but trading Michael Pineda for Jesus Montero isn't remotely close to trading a player struggling on a long term contract for a player struggling on a dramatically worse long term contract. With J-Rod I believe he's a far better bet to provide at least decent value on his deal as he possesses a dramatically higher floor than Vlad, and his guaranteed money is less than half of what Vlad is owed as well. I see no conceivable way the Mariners would even begin to entertain making this type of trade given the landmine potential (if not almost certainty) in Vlad's deal.

You didn't burst my bubble bud. Just throwing out ideas and having discussion. 

[jaysblue]

38 minutes ago, JaysFan99 said:

Sign Arozarena, Skubal, and Bichette (if he opts out) before the CBA expires.  Should be simple enough.

Will teams be trying to sign all the free agents in the small window before the CBA expires or will they sit back and see what happens?

So we're becoming the Dodgers now? 😂

[max silver]

29 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

You didn't burst my bubble bud. Just throwing out ideas and having discussion. 

Why would the Mariners be interested in this swap? J-Rod's contract is exactly the type you would want long term as a management group as he only gets PAID if he produces MVP caliber seasons along the way so they are largely sheltered if he ends up being just good vs great or elite.

[hanton]

31 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

So we're becoming the Dodgers now? 😂

we kinda already are lol

[jaysblue]

Just now, max silver said:

Why would the Mariners be interested in this swap? J-Rod's contract is exactly the type you would want long term as a management group as he only gets PAID if he produces MVP caliber seasons along the way so they are largely sheltered if he ends up being just good vs great or elite.

Man you need to chill. I'm not wasting my time with you on this. Do something better with your Friday night pal. 

[jaysblue]

Just now, hanton said:

we kinda already are lol

Agreed, but here everyone hates the Dodgers lol. Like I said, it's okay when we spend money to buy FA's, but when the Dodgers do it, it's not fair haha. 

[Spanky__99]

38 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

So we're becoming the Dodgers now? 😂

It's that easy, lol.

[JaysFan99]

41 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

So we're becoming the Dodgers now? 😂

Spend like them to beat them!

I was also joking and actually wondering what’s going to happen in November. 

[Spanky__99]

6 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

Agreed, but here everyone hates the Dodgers lol. Like I said, it's okay when we spend money to buy FA's, but when the Dodgers do it, it's not fair haha. 

The Dodgers spend over 500M bro, they're not the same.

[hanton]

16 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

Agreed, but here everyone hates the Dodgers lol. Like I said, it's okay when we spend money to buy FA's, but when the Dodgers do it, it's not fair haha. 

Jealous

Best organization in baseball

[max silver]

19 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

Man you need to chill. I'm not wasting my time with you on this. Do something better with your Friday night pal. 

Gee someone who supposedly wants to talk baseball sure got his panties in a knot in a hurry when someone else simply presented a different opinion. 

[jaysblue]

12 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

The Dodgers spend over 500M bro, they're not the same.

If the Jays managed to sign Skubal, Bo, and Arozarena this offseason, everyone on this board would be kissing the floor Atkins walks on and jumping for joy. But if the Dodgers did this, everyone would be up in arms lol. 

[Stangstag]

5 hours ago, BTS said:

I really want Arraez. He's just so much fun to watch. And I don't see him getting more than 3 years. Nobody is going to think he's a vastly different player than he was last offseason when he got 1/12 

Plus he looks exactly like the type our front office would create as a custom player in MLB the Show

[Spanky__99]

15 minutes ago, jaysblue said:

If the Jays managed to sign Skubal, Bo, and Arozarena this offseason, everyone on this board would be kissing the floor Atkins walks on and jumping for joy. But if the Dodgers did this, everyone would be up in arms lol. 

 

[Landry_25]

13 hours ago, jaysblue said:

If the Jays managed to sign Skubal, Bo, and Arozarena this offseason, everyone on this board would be kissing the floor Atkins walks on and jumping for joy. But if the Dodgers did this, everyone would be up in arms lol. 

Well yeah, it’s a blue jays forum… I’m sure if the dodgers did the same the dodgers forum would be kissing dodgers management while everyone else is indeed up in arms