Blue Jays Acquire Jesus Sanchez

[Joltin Joe]

2 hours ago, jaysblue said:

Jesus turned water into wine. Joey hasn't even done anything close to that. 

Yes, Sanchez needs to perform miracles to improve his .611 OPS. He won't last until end of season. 

[Laika]

32 minutes ago, Terminator said:

They could just option Lukes and platoon Sanchez/Straw and Barger/Schneider and then put Jimenez on the bench

Sucks for Lukes but doesn’t hurt to have the depth

Straw blows though 

[abola2121]

50 minutes ago, Laika said:

Straw blows though 

sucks*

Don't disrespect the man's namesake.

[glory]

Straw was a very solid 4th/5th OF in 2025, but would it surprise anyone if he falls off in 2026? All the projections have his wRC+ in the 70's, and I think that's probably fair. He shouldn't be anything more than a defensive replacement/pinch runner who occasionally starts depending on the matchup. Hopefully that's how he's used and not in a platoon with anyone. Based on the current roster, I think you have Sanchez/DS as one platoon and then Gimenez/infielder (Jimenez at the moment) as the other one. Barger deserves some rope to see if he can be decent against LHP, whereas there's enough data with Sanchez and Gimenez to have a good idea what they are against lefties. 

[jaysblue]

Straw shouldn't be used in a platoon with anyone. He's strictly a 4th outfielder/defensive replacement/pinch-runner. 

I don't want to see Straw getting anywhere near 300 AB's this upcoming season. 

[Jays24]

10 hours ago, jaysblue said:

Straw shouldn't be used in a platoon with anyone. He's strictly a 4th outfielder/defensive replacement/pinch-runner. 

I don't want to see Straw getting anywhere near 300 AB's this upcoming season. 

Totally agree... I was the biggest Straw fan last year because he was great in his role.  Its whenever they gave him unnecessary ABs, he'd get exposed.  

[Brownie19]

1 hour ago, jaysblue said:

Straw shouldn't be used in a platoon with anyone. He's strictly a 4th outfielder/defensive replacement/pinch-runner. 

I don't want to see Straw getting anywhere near 300 AB's this upcoming season. 

If he doesn't get somewhat regular playing time - there's a good chance he give us a Bradley Zimmer type season.

[Eat My Shatkins]

Straw had almost 300 PAs last year because Varsho spent months on the IL

I suspect Straw won't get that much playing time again as long as Varsho stays healthy,

[max silver]

32 minutes ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

Straw had almost 300 PAs last year because Varsho spent months on the IL

I suspect Straw won't get that much playing time again as long as Varsho stays healthy,

I think this is the key as well. Straw is a backup player who primarily mans center field, and his playing time is largely contingent on there being available playing time in center field. He may end up receiving a handful of starts against left handed starters as all of Lukes, Varsho, Barger and Sanchez will likely be on the bench to start vs the tougher lefties. 

[Laika]

It is an imperfect roster construction now no matter how you slice it (even though every team has similar imperfections.)

There are FIVE starting players who you may want to platoon in Gimenez, Sanchez, Clement, Barger, and Varsho, and of course you cannot platoon them all and given the current roster you can really only sensibly platoon Sanchez, so you have to hope Barger figures out lefties.

[Abomination]

1 hour ago, Laika said:

It is an imperfect roster construction now no matter how you slice it (even though every team has similar imperfections.)

There are FIVE starting players who you may want to platoon in Gimenez, Sanchez, Clement, Barger, and Varsho, and of course you cannot platoon them all and given the current roster you can really only sensibly platoon Sanchez, so you have to hope Barger figures out lefties.

Varsho and Clement probably don't need to be. Gimenez is a question mark. His career splits aren't terrible, but they sure have been the last 2 years. Sanchez absolutely cannot be allowed to face a lefty. We'll have to see if Barger can figure it out.  You could probably put Springer in the outfield against lefties and make Heineman the DH. He has a career 113 wRC+ versus lefties.

Certainly not ideal, but...

[spats]

For those who are not familiar with Sanchez, check out the you tube video of his 24 season highlites with the Marlins. He could be the steal of the off season.

[Brownie19]

8 minutes ago, spats said:

For those who are not familiar with Sanchez, check out the you tube video of his 24 season highlites with the Marlins. He could be the steal of the off season.

His highlights are tantalizing.  It is exciting to add someone with that much raw talent.  The swing is beautiful and violent.  He isn't a huge strikeout guy.  In his prime.  Can't wait to see if Popkins can unlock a breakout season.  Would be a very welcome surprise.

[Stangstag]

5 hours ago, Laika said:

It is an imperfect roster construction now no matter how you slice it (even though every team has similar imperfections.)

There are FIVE starting players who you may want to platoon in Gimenez, Sanchez, Clement, Barger, and Varsho, and of course you cannot platoon them all and given the current roster you can really only sensibly platoon Sanchez, so you have to hope Barger figures out lefties.

Its not as big of a problem when half those guys are elite defenders. Varsho, Gimenez, Ernie you don’t feel bad about playing nearly every day because they can impact the game substantially on the defensive side.

[Brownie19]

40 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Its not as big of a problem when half those guys are elite defenders. Varsho, Gimenez, Ernie you don’t feel bad about playing nearly every day because they can impact the game substantially on the defensive side.

Exactly. This team can win low scoring games too.

[jaysblue]

9 hours ago, Stangstag said:

Its not as big of a problem when half those guys are elite defenders. Varsho, Gimenez, Ernie you don’t feel bad about playing nearly every day because they can impact the game substantially on the defensive side.

If they’re hitting near the bottom of the lineup, it’s not nearly as big of an issue.

You can’t realistically platoon everyone. Clement and Gimenez are everyday players up the middle. I’d still rather see Varsho in the lineup against a lefty over Straw. Hopefully Barger gets a longer leash against LHP as well.

The most logical platoon, in my opinion, is Sanchez and DS in left field.

[GoBlue41]

4 hours ago, jaysblue said:

If they’re hitting near the bottom of the lineup, it’s not nearly as big of an issue.

You can’t realistically platoon everyone. Clement and Gimenez are everyday players up the middle. I’d still rather see Varsho in the lineup against a lefty over Straw. Hopefully Barger gets a longer leash against LHP as well.

The most logical platoon, in my opinion, is Sanchez and DS in left field.

Straw should never hit. He can't hit. He can pinch run or be a defensive replacement but if the game doesn't end right then and there, the team has just totally screwed themselves on the hitting side of things. We all saw that play out multiple times last year. Some people just love Straw. I just can't see why. It's all good until the big moments of the playoffs come and then it's a self inflicted catastrophe. 

[Terminator]

I am getting tarred and feather for suggesting Straw platoon but he’s probably like an 80 wRC+ hitter against lefties

I’m not near my battle station to fully engage in sabremetric combat here but I know Sanchez has been abysmal against lefties. Barger too.

And we can regress the numbers and they probably get closer to the 80 wRC+ but Straw is a superior defender and base runner

I'm down to give Barger some rope though. Hes young-ish and we may as well see if he can be a full time player but I’m not convinced that he’s a slam dunk better option against lefties

 

 

 

[L54]

The Jays actually love Straw IMO. I’m pretty sure trading for him last year was a deliberate move and not just for the international money. Elite fast twitch guy who they can milk dry 

Elite D

Elite wheels

Doesn’t whiff and doesn’t strikeout 

This is who we are. The modern day 2015 Royals

[max silver]

7 hours ago, GoBlue41 said:

Straw should never hit. He can't hit. He can pinch run or be a defensive replacement but if the game doesn't end right then and there, the team has just totally screwed themselves on the hitting side of things. We all saw that play out multiple times last year. Some people just love Straw. I just can't see why. It's all good until the big moments of the playoffs come and then it's a self inflicted catastrophe. 

Straw produced a 91 wRC+ last season, that's perfectly acceptable for a backup outfielder who is an elite defender. I can somewhat agree that the Blue Jays really shot themselves in the foot with the way that Straw was utilized in the post season with the World Series being particularly egregious. This was also the case with IKF in that both of Straw and IKF received a ton of key plate appearances at the top of the lineup later in games and they had little to no chance of success at the plate. 

[PitaBaby]

I'm foreseeing a fifth deck shot on the horizon. 

 

[Terminator]

Ok Steamer does splits now so vs. LHP here is what we are looking at:

• Schneider: 107 wRC+
  • Obviously plays.
• Lukes: 89
  • He's a better fielder than Barger too so he could platoon here even though he's a lefty. But he has an option and Jimenez is out of options and we need the infield depth so I think Lukes probably starts in Buffalo.
• Barger: 84
  • He probably gets a lot of runway here.
• Varsho: 80
  • His defense is too good to platoon.
• Jesus: 78
  • Obviously sits.
• Straw: 75
  • His situation is different than Yariel's and from how he was handled in Cleveland. I believe that since he has over 5 years of service time now I think if we option him he can leave. Someone would offer him a big league spot for the league minimum. So I think he makes the team. 

Jesus/Schneider is a pretty clear cut platoon situation. Varsho can play vs. lefties. Barger probably plays vs LHP. Lukes to Buffalo and Jimenez makes the team.

[Spanky__99]

17 hours ago, PitaBaby said:

I'm foreseeing a fifth deck shot on the horizon. 

 

God damned, Moonshot!

 

[Sorrow]

Jesus Sanchez will likely get the vast majority of playing time in LF against RHP. He’s coming off a bad season but the prior two seasons was 116 and 119 wRC+ against RHP. He should never face a lefty. Schneider as a platoon mate works, sends Lukes to Buffalo with Straw as a 4th OF and Jimenez as a back up IF on the roster.

Barger after the playoffs has likely earned himself some rope in RF against lefties, Varsho plays probably everyday unless it’s a day off against a really tough lefty with Straw taking a game in CF. Gimenez and Clement likely don’t get platooned as their D up the middle is game changing.

[Jayzfan79]

Barger made some tweaks in the playoffs to his swing and was hitting lefties good....albeit a small sample size but I am sure he will have every opportunity as a full time player

[Joltin Joe]

I would have kept Joey and signed Seranthony. He's good bullpen arm.