Laika

I don't disagree with you Atkins has my continuing support BUT if 2024 and 2025 play out much the same as 2023 and 2022, then massive changes are needed because it some point you would start to question his ability to put the final touches on a roster or spearhead a good development organization. Too early for that though. Process over results, sure, but it's not like the Jays processes are clearly great. Some evidence on the prospect and player development side of things point to the contrary.

Yeah, maybe 2023 was also extra frustrating because the ballpark changes were kind of expected to usher in this new era of fan experience but a lot of that was overshadowed by this creeping idea that the outfield fence changes were ruining the offense 2024 should be better as far as the ballpark changes and visuals go. It should be really cool to see the lower bowl renovated. And the reduction in foul territory might have a notable impact on offense - nobody is talking about this but unlike the outfield changes (which were unpredictable) there is only one way this can go, and it is to increase offense, it's just a question of how much. It should be particularly beneficial for any player that is decent at fouling off pitching, which does actually apply to the big boys. Kirk and Espinal have high contact rates, obviously Vlad and Bo foul off a decent amount with their hit tools... more chances to do damage... I feel like Varsho popped out a lot last year in foul territory... On the pitching side it might only have a significant detrimental effect on Bassitt, who is more of a tricky / reliant on weak contact SP. Rest of them are whiff chasers, and Gausman and Kikuchi are good at it. Berrios not sure. I am ignoring Manoah.

I don't think that is completely true Last year the regular season was a disappointing experience start to finish. Yes, a playoff run would have turned the whole thing around but it wasn't like the team was fun to watch and exciting and they just happened to lose in R1. 2022 was a similar experience, just not as bad. Berrios and Kikuchi were nightmares every fifth day. Vlad treaded water, Gurriel did nothing but punch singles, Tapia got 400+ PA, it was a hit or miss regular season. 2021 might have been the best fan experience start to finish. Vlad beasted, Ray won the Cy Young. They didn't even make the playoffs but in 2022 and 2023 they might as well have not made the playoffs, haha. 2020 was the Covid year so any baseball was gravy. I would say it was fun because there were no expectations. So I agree with Connor Pee Pee. Each season has been a disappointment to some extent because the front office has failed to put together a complete team that clicks on all cylinders at any point. It just hasn't happened. At best they have looked like a B contender. Not disappointing would mean serious division contention, or least a couple of months in there where they look like an elite team.

Facts. This guy runs a baseball team. He's basically at the pinnacle of masculinity. Bunch of guys on this forum who do data entry or make sandwiches try to say that he is low T. smh

Not necessarily Very possible all teams just see his as a PR nightmare. He's an objective PR nightmare after all...

I'd probably do it. Even if Ohtani never pitches again, he's two years younger and has louder tools... Ohtani has 40/20 projections basically and Mookie is more of a 30/10 guy, and his wall scraper % is probably decently high. Greene is sneaky good now and has better wRC+ projections than Cruz and is obviously safer... of course Cruz has massive upside but you know.

Don't think Shapiro ever claimed or promised they would build a great farm system. His comment about "waves of prospects" can be interpreted differently. Every decent MLB team needs a consistent pipeline but that doesn't mean they ever need an elite farm system, necessarily. There are a number of consistently successful teams that rarely have great farm systems. Shapiro's criticism of AA was mostly based on the over-aggressive path to building that led to the required rebuild from 2017 on. I think Atkins and Shapiro believe Toronto has the resources to never need to enter a full rebuild. Say what you want about the last few years, which have of course had disappointing results on the whole, but they have avoided horrible long term commitments while remaining competitive. Springer's deal is up after 2026, and Berrios' deal while it runs through 2028 is not bad at all considering his 2023 resurgence and his age (not old!). Gausman is a big asset right now on his contract. Lot of focus on the Vlad/Bo window but even if these guys walk, that just means that Toronto will have like $42.5M in freed up payroll space after 2025 to court a huge free agent or two. Also, Bassitt ($22M), Green ($10.5M), IKF ($7.5M), Romano (Arb3), Mayza and Swanson are off the books after 2025 if not extended, so lots of money will be freed up. Also Turner and Kikuchi and KK and Yimi and Jansen and Richards ($47M) freed up after this season, we will see how much of that is recommitted in 2025 to arb raises and free agents. Teams go down the tubes when they have sandbag commitments or dead money, and a s***** farm. Toronto has a middling farm system right now but the financial outlook at the MLB level is pretty solid, IMO, in a long term sense. So if they keep spending money intelligently, year over year, there aren't a lot of worries. The farm system could tread water, Vlad and Bo could walk after 2025, and Toronto could still compete in 2026. It's a distinct possibility. One big free agent replaces Bo... a waiver claim 1B replaces Vladdy based on his 2023 performance. Actually developing some elite prospect talent would certainly help take the team from an 88-92 win team to that 98+ win team everybody wants, though.

I wonder what a drunk, candid Ross Atkins at his cousin's wedding would say about their actual strategy and approach.

Kirk and Paddack are still keepers anyway but please pretty please just cut Winker

Big deal It sends a message And every cent counts

I don't know what you mean Lux will be 2B/SS soon, Dodgers say he is their shortstop as of now

s*** Logan Gilbert is the best Gilbert

Drew Gilbert? That's kind of a weird package for Cruz. Lux blows and Stott is fringe

no, but he signed a MiLB deal with in invite to spring training

He needs his butt hurt

I don't agree with Shi It is perfectly fine for Toronto to go to arbitration with Vlad. Most of the time you want to avoid the process, but Vlad needs a kick in the pants anyway so let him have it.

He's pretty close to Varsho at the dish though, haha

Brewers would need a solid prospect for Adames, or at least two 45 FV types. He's nowhere near Burnes in value (doesn't have the upside) but he is solid. Schneider straight up is close. Kendry Rojas + Brandon Barriera is a prospect example. Horwitz + Barger, third example more MLB ready package. Manoah straight up works too but lol.

RHH OF Free Agents who project for positive WAR: Soler (DH) Pham Taylor Merrifield Kike Profar (Switch) Anderson, Brian Grichuk Duvall Lewis (DH) Grossman (Switch) I hate most of these players. I like Pham and Taylor but they are probably looking for $10M and a starting role somewhere. Wonder how small of a contract some of them might sign though... Grossman made $2M last year. Maybe Toronto ends up spending $2M or $3M on one of these bums. Brian Anderson has a certain allure, because he owns a 3B glove. Same with Kike I guess.

DRS #1 UZR #4 OAA #10 I think when you go through the players and just think about them critically, common sense lines up more with OAA. Like, you've got Bo Bichette, a fringe-average SS, an old right fielder, a meatball catcher, and Chris Farley at first base... yeah KK and Varsho are studs and Chapman was still really good but that doesn't seem like best in class total defense to me.

Not by much, I guess the main point is that the defense wasn't even elite in 2023. It was... worse than the offense? Compared to the league. lol

Last year's team was unwatchable but most of that was a) bad luck happening in front of your eyes, and key players underperforming in really frustrating ways It's very possible for a baseball team to be built around pitching and defense, with an adequate offense, and be entertaining and watchable! Good defense is fun. Quality pitching is fun. I'm just not entirely sure the Jays will have a good defense anymore.... KK and Varsho are elite, but then what? Jansen and Kirk are good by the metrics but not exactly toolsy. IKF should be elite at 3B but you give up a lot of offense to get that. Springer, Bo, Vlad are fringe-average at their positions I guess. Schneider is an unknown but we should assume he's not a good defender. Biggio is just whatever. Espinal is no longer a slick glove. Horwitz, you don't want on the field. A lot of the AAA guys sound like 2B, or positional nomads. A LOT kind of depends on the defensive season that Bo Bichette has, I guess. Fitting for a shortstop.

I think in AA he was 3B and SS then up in AAA he was playing 2B more But that could have been due to who was on Buffalo with him.

He was definitely a "generational prospect" and is a HOF but I would say that his MLB career hasn't been quite as phenomenal as some people hoped.

ZIPS projects Davis Schneider for 12.9 WAR from 2024 through 2027