jaysblue

I'll go with the Padres upsetting the Cubs tonight.

Keep an eye out on Air Canada flights to Tokyo Haneda and Narita this fall. Atkins could be on one!

This has to be one of the best days for sports. Every Wild Card game today, along with an opening slate of NHL hockey! I'm just watching sports all night!

When you look at majority of the Jays lineup this season (qualified min playing time PA's): Varsho: 78 wRC+ (6th worst) Clement: 80 wRC+ (8th worst) Gimenez: 81 wRC+ (10th worst) Guerrero: 95 wRC+ (24th worst) Straw with an 83 wRC+ over 300 AB, so could throw him in there if you would like. Overall, that's 3 everyday players who got significant playing time here in the Top 10 worst wRC+ in all of baseball. That can't happen again.

I think Barger has the potential to hit around 25-30 HR's, but he also has the profile as the kind of bat who could struggle putting up a 100 wRC+ / 700 OPS and be awful. Think other power/bust bats like Matt Wallner, Brenton Doyle, Mickey Moniak or JJ Bleday, etc. They could either be solid or awful.

Spanky is a man of his word. He's always paid up, so not worried.

How many HR's can Vladdy be penciled in for?

Spanky, you can send me that e-transfer anytime for our Clement bet. No rush though.

I think they need an upgrade at 2B, whether that means going after Jazz, bringing Bo back if he opts out, trying to work out a trade with the Mets, or looking at someone like Lowe or Arraez. Clement should go back to being more of a super-utility guy who gets around 300–400 ABs rather than being counted on as the everyday second baseman. In left field, I’d love Suzuki, but I could also see them putting together a solid platoon with Lukes and another right-handed bat. Hell, bring back Randal Grichuk haha. As for the rotation, I definitely think they add another arm. Maybe it’s a reunion with Gausman, bringing Bieber back on a pillow contract, or signing someone like Boyd, Eflin or Flaherty, as others have mentioned in this thread. Ideally, though, I think they could still use another elite arm to pair with Dylan Cease. I’m just not sure how realistic that is. Over 162 games, a healthy rotation of Cease, Soriano, Yesavage, Gausman or Bieber, and Ponce should be good enough to get you through a season. But in a short playoff series, I’d still feel a little uncomfortable with the options after Cease. Right now, they don’t really have that true 1A or strong No. 2 behind him. Maybe Yesavage becomes that guy. We’ll see.

Some other interesting ex-MLB arms who had success in Japan and who could potentially come back to the MLB: Forrest Whitley Anderson Espinoza Pedro Avila Spencer Howard

Most likely. They love to baby him and are afraid to hurt his feelings. If Vlad continues to struggle next season, they better move him down in the lineup.

Yeah it would have to be a favour, taking a discount to stick around. Scherzer already has shown he's willing to take a discount. Not sure if George does. Especially since he sold his place in Toronto, I don't think he's coming back. Do you think a team signs Springer to a one-year deal around $12-15M? As an aging DH coming off a bad season? Goldy signed for $4M last offseason to stay with the Yankees, so I don't see Springer demanding anymore than $7-8M on a one-year deal if he still wanted to play.

If Scherzer agrees to another $3M contract, I think it doesn't hurt to bring him back for that as an insurance arm who can make 10-15 starts for you. As for Springer, if he comes back at around $5-6M to DH, I think you entertain that.

Gotta love Mad MAX. I know he sucked for the most part during his two seasons here, but he had some big games and battled. Awesome seeing a future Hall of Famer here and happy I was able to see him pitch last August against Kershaw at Dodgers Stadium.

Bring in Hoffman as well... never mind 😂