G-Snarls

The Reds have agreed to a one-year, $5MM deal with outfielder Austin Hays, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Probably yes

And this is from a former Mets general manager who might actually know people who know something. All the more upsetting if none of it turns out to be true.

He was full tilt on Soto, Sasaki and others. Aimed high that's for sure.

I really can't see them getting both Alonso and Bregman. Too many teams in on Bregman. Alonso seems much more realistic.

Pressly got traded to the Cubs

Honestly through if they do get Alonso but no other big additions what do you do? Alonso and Santander both DH a lot? Move Vladdy to 3B for good so Alsoso plays 1B full time? Trade Vladdy if he doesn't agree to an extension?

Either way it's bad when the owner himself is involved and gets annoyed.

Mets Owner Steve Cohen Discusses “Exhausting” Pete Alonso Talks https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/mets-owner-steve-cohen-discusses-exhausting-pete-alonso-talks.html

I Moe.

Git R' Done Ross

More details from MLBTR The Blue Jays finalized their five-year free agent deal with Anthony Santander this week. The deal came with a $92.5MM guarantee but was known to include heavy deferrals. Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith first reported on Monday that MLB calculated the contract’s net present closer to $70MM. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reported more specifics on the contract structure this afternoon. The NPV landed just under $68.6MM, which comes with an approximate $13.7MM annual competitive balance tax hit. The deal includes $61.75MM in deferred money. The specific layout is as follows: ADVERTISEMENT $13.5MM signing bonus ($6.75MM deferred) $13.5MM salary in 2025 ($10MM deferred) $16.5MM salary in 2026 ($10MM deferred) $16.5MM salary in 2027 ($10MM deferred) $14.75MM salary in 2028 ($10MM deferred) $12.75MM salary in 2029 ($10MM deferred) $15MM club option for 2030; guaranteed a $5MM buyout, which would be completely deferred Santander has an opt-out after the ’27 season. He’s owed $60MM over the first three years, so he’d be weighing whether to leave two years and $32.5MM ($25MM of which would be deferred) on the table. If he opts out, Toronto can override that by guaranteeing his 2030 salary at $17.5MM. That would also escalate Santander’s salaries for the 2028 and ’29 seasons to $17.25MM and $15.25MM, respectively. The maximum value is $110MM over six years — which would only be reached if Santander opts out and the Jays override it. The Jays are into luxury tax territory. They’re taxed at a 20% rate on spending between $241MM and $261MM. They’re close to the $261MM cutoff. Adding Santander likely comes with around a $3MM tax hit for the upcoming season. Toronto would be taxed at a 32% clip for spending between $261MM and $281MM.

More details from MLBTR Anthony Santander’s Contract With Blue Jays Includes Nearly $62MM In Deferrals The Blue Jays finalized their five-year free agent deal with Anthony Santander this week. The deal came with a $92.5MM guarantee but was known to include heavy deferrals. Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith first reported on Monday that MLB calculated the contract’s net present closer to $70MM. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reported more specifics on the contract structure this afternoon. The NPV landed just under $68.6MM, which comes with an approximate $13.7MM annual competitive balance tax hit. The deal includes $61.75MM in deferred money. The specific layout is as follows: $13.5MM signing bonus ($6.75MM deferred) $13.5MM salary in 2025 ($10MM deferred) $16.5MM salary in 2026 ($10MM deferred) $16.5MM salary in 2027 ($10MM deferred) $14.75MM salary in 2028 ($10MM deferred) $12.75MM salary in 2029 ($10MM deferred) $15MM club option for 2030; guaranteed a $5MM buyout, which would be completely deferred Santander has an opt-out after the ’27 season. He’s owed $60MM over the first three years, so he’d be weighing whether to leave two years and $32.5MM ($25MM of which would be deferred) on the table. If he opts out, Toronto can override that by guaranteeing his 2030 salary at $17.5MM. That would also escalate Santander’s salaries for the 2028 and ’29 seasons to $17.25MM and $15.25MM, respectively. The maximum value is $110MM over six years — which would only be reached if Santander opts out and the Jays override it.

Reasonable price but I like our deal for Santander better

And he would pinch run for Salvador Perez

Reese McGuire just signed with the Cubs so that option is gone

Very happy with Betahcourt as our back C really. And for peanuts/league min.

12-14 years with deferrals could get you under 30 at least. But yeah he's likely gonna be another 40+ year old Albert Pujols by the last 1/3 of it.

Good So extend Vladdy and either sign Alonso and use Clement at 3B or sign Bregman As stated above the offense is suddenly pretty exciting again

2025 Buffalo Bisons closer!

Then he could pinch run for Kirk late in games and not require burning an extra bench player? Yes. Don't hate that.

Is that our lefty in the pen and our backup catcher? Or just a couple of maybes??

The Blue Jays announced Wednesday that they’ve signed catcher Christian Bethancourt and left-hander Richard Lovelady to minor league contracts. Both players have been invited to major league camp during spring training.