Sorrow

Unless Davis Schneider is used properly, facing RHP and not only LHP, there isn’t a point in rostering him. If he does get traded and gets everyday at bats somewhere I’d bet he rakes.

My preference is Jazz for various reasons. Younger, not trading prospect capital, doesn’t have draft pick compensation attached unlike Lowe. He’s a really solid defender and an above average hitter and base runner and you likely don’t need to have him until he’s 37.

It doesn’t hurt to meet with him. It’s slim to none he signs but if you make another team spend more that’s fine.

That’s actually insane BTS lol. On another note Rich Harden has my favourite all time pitch in the spluckle which was either a knuckleball that split or a splitter that knuckled.

Honestly not having Santander and just eating the cost likely makes it easier to sign players to improve the team as a whole. I dont imagine this is anywhere near enough for the Jays to use the clause that’s in all MLB contracts to fight the PA to void the contract if Wander Franco was barely enough to get that done.

Apparently Sato has a 95th percentile sprint speed at 29.5ft/s in the NPB so him being able to play the OF has some appeal. Though his complete package does have some warts. There’s some thoughts in podcast land that the Jays may avoid signing any QO player and go hard on a Japanese pitcher, Sato, Arraez and a RHH OF to platoon with Barger.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Jays sign the short fat hard thrower out of Japan and Sato while trying to trade for a 2B improvement with someone like Ketel Marte.

I think I’d take a flyer on Tyrone Taylor for the backup CF roll if he’s open to it. Schneider hits RHP significantly better than LHP both in the MLB and MiLB. In 2025 the only player on the team that hit righties better was Springer and that’s with like a 100 PA cut off. I do think he runs a real risk of being non tendered and I think Clement does as well.

Cleveland was on the hook regardless but even if you brought him back at 6.25 and he still makes 8 between the two payments hits a smaller luxury tax hit.

I think Grichuk makes sense but it would really only make sense as a dedicated platoon with someone like Barger who has massive question marks. I personally think we need one everyday OF like Suzuki or Arozarena and a platoon piece to work with Barger. In an ideal world you’d sign or trade for a utility play in the mould of Spencer Steer to platoon with Barger but also cover a bunch of different positions off the bench in place of requiring 5 OFs and Santander on the roster.

I’m not surprised he’s probably one of the top three or four starting pitchers on the FA market.

I’d love Jazz Chisholm Jr, but if he’s too expensive I’d take a flyer on Torres if he’s available relatively cheaply. Best case scenario he’s a fine starting 2B and worst case he’s an incredible weak side of a 2B platoon with someone like Smith, he crushes lefties and we struggled against lefties horribly this year. If you end up keeping Clement it’s as a utility player covering all 4 IF and giving Gimenez games off at SS against tough lefties.

I think if you pencil Barger as a bit of a utility player who gives you some 3B against RHP and RF against RHP and maybe some DH time and Santander as a DH and COF you’re okay. With that being said you need an improvement at 2B and one of the corners as an everyday player. I think a Clement and Smith platoon at 2B would work and someone like Suzuki in a corner means you can at least start the season with Barger and Santander doing something but you need a platoon mate for Barger who shouldn’t be playing everyday.

When it comes to Moreno the Jays tried to shop Jansen and Kirk as well but teams only wanted Moreno. Jansen at the time was one of the best hitting catchers in baseball and Kirk had a markedly better minor league stat line and wasn’t as much of a work in progress defensively. Yes signing KK made Varsho a bit more useless after the trade and they should have prioritized a corner bat but you can’t choose who will actually sign with you in free agency. It would obviously be nice to have Moreno today but I have zero issues with Kirk as the starting catcher. He’s generally healthy, he’s the gold standard defensively, he has a great bat.

As others have said I think an upgrade at 2B is necessary but a bench of Smith and Clement backing up the IF and one of the corners isn’t bad. I do think Suzuki is someone the front office should push for in a corner, and Arraez or Lowe at 2B would be a nice upgrade. its going to be an interesting off season.