jaysblue

Yeah they have to make a tough decision eventually with Scherzer and also maybe with Springer if it means making an upgrade to the lineup around the trade deadline.

Matt Chapman would be a nice target and would clearly improve the infield defense. The issue is fit. Adding Chapman would likely force Okamoto to move to DH, which means the Jays would either have to bench Springer more often or play him in a corner-outfield spot. Unless they are comfortable with that kind of roster shuffle, I don’t see Chapman as a particularly clean fit. I’d also be open to bringing back Robbie Ray, but I’m not sure he’s a major upgrade over Corbin. That said, if the acquisition cost were minimal, he would raise the floor of the rotation for the rest of the season and provide useful insurance in case of another injury. The rotation already looks pretty solid with Cease, Gausman, Bieber, Yesavage, and Corbin as the No. 5 starter, plus SWR, Miles, and Scherzer as depth options. If the Jays do decide to add another starter, I’d rather see them target a more meaningful upgrade. Otherwise, adding an elite arm to the bullpen might be the better use of resources.

I’d rather have Luis Arraez leading off as the DH than Springer. His offensive profile feels like a pretty natural fit with this front office’s MO and Atkins’ broader philosophy: low strikeout rate, elite contact skills, and a hitter who consistently puts the ball in play. He would also be a practical way to add real WAR to the lineup without requiring the same type of prospect capital it would take to acquire someone like Yordan Alvarez or Byron Buxton. The defensive fit is limited, but as a leadoff DH who can occasionally cover first base, Arraez makes a lot of sense. He would give the Jays a different look at the top of the order and help lengthen the lineup without forcing a major roster overhaul.

I like Jung Hoo Lee’s bat as well, but the fit is a little harder to see given how many corner-outfield types the Jays already have when everyone is healthy. Ideally, the Jays’ outfield would have Varsho in centre, with some combination of Barger, Lukes, Sanchez, Pinango, and Springer rotating through the corners. Springer would also likely need to play some outfield if the Jays brought in another bat who had to DH regularly. Unless the Jays were willing to move off Varsho or significantly reshuffle the roster, I’m not sure Lee makes a ton of sense. He’s a good player and would bring a useful offensive profile, but the path to regular playing time is crowded. There’s also the contract factor, as Lee can opt out after 2027, which could complicate the value proposition in a trade.

They have some intriguing pieces, but I’m not sure how cleanly they would fit into the Jays’ lineup. Luis Arraez would be a strong target and a worthwhile addition. He puts the ball in play at an elite rate and would bring a useful contact-oriented bat to the top of the order. The fit is a little tricky defensively, though, as he would likely need to DH or occasionally play first base. So far, he’s hitting .319/.352/.435 with a 118 wRC+ and 2.5 WAR. Matt Chapman also isn’t having a bad season, though the Giants would likely need to absorb some of his contract to make a deal work. Acquiring him would probably push Okamoto to DH, but Chapman would further improve the infield defense and give the Jays another bat with some pop. That said, it still feels unlikely. Jung Hoo Lee is having a terrific offensive season, but the Jays’ outfield is already pretty crowded, especially once Varsho and Barger return. Rafael Devers could be an interesting change-of-scenery candidate, but the Giants would need to eat a significant portion of his contract. He has been an elite bat before and would give the Jays a legitimate middle-of-the-order presence. The downside is that he would almost certainly have to be used strictly as a DH.

Last season, Fisher posted 0.8 fWAR over 50 innings, along with an 11.16 K/9, 2.70 ERA, and 3.02 FIP. He’s already shown he can be an effective reliever. Even this season, he’s been asked to fill a variety of roles, whether as an opener or as a late-inning option in the 7th and 8th. Given that track record and versatility, it’s not unreasonable to think he could handle more leverage, especially when guys like Varland or Rogers are unavailable.

Fisher’s outing yesterday looked bad, but before that blowup - which honestly still wasn’t as ugly as some of Hoffman’s this season - he had a 2.70 ERA, 3.43 FIP, and 9.57 K/9. Yes, he’s probably overperformed a bit, but he’s still been solid. He’s also young enough that you can reasonably hope he grows into a higher-leverage role, especially with the question marks around Yimi's health and Hoffman’s implosions. Hoffman has definitely been unlucky; nobody is denying that. But when Hoffman blows up, it gets ugly fast. His strikeout rate is still elite, which is why his FIP is always going to look better than his ERA, but the meltdowns are still real. That said, since his last implosion, he’s actually looked a lot better in a different role - and if that doesn’t tell you something, I don’t know what will.

Agreed. Vlad has been a huge disappointment so far in 2026, and the people who had concerns about his consistency when the Jays handed him that contract weren’t wrong. Those concerns were legitimate. That said, I’m not going to judge the entire contract based on 2.5 months and call it one of the worst in sports. A hot one- or two-week stretch could change the look of his numbers in a hurry. You just have to hope Vladdy still has a couple of 5-6 WAR seasons in him, which he’s definitely capable of. Anything less would be disappointing, though.

Or Yordan!

I think you’re taking what I said a little too far here. I’m not saying Schneider should be criticized no matter what he does. Yesterday was exactly the kind of situation I was talking about - Varland and Rogers weren’t available, so you’re working with limited options. I had no issue with Fisher being used in the 9th. He’s been one of the Jays’ better relievers and should be trusted in high-leverage spots when the top options aren’t available. But that also speaks to the bigger issue: the Jays need more than just Varland and Rogers as reliable high-leverage arms, otherwise you’re eventually going to burn those guys out or get stuck in tough spots late in games. The starters also need to go deeper, plain and simple. Given the state of the bullpen, there are going to be nights where you may have to stretch guys like Gausman or Cease for an extra couple of outs, even if it’s not ideal. My point with Hoffman is more about his role going forward. I’m fine with him pitching in the 7th or 8th, and even the 9th in an emergency if they’ve exhausted other options. But based on the season results, I’d prefer Fisher over Hoffman in that spot right now. That’s just where I’m at. I’m a Hoffman fan too, but you also can’t keep putting him in situations where he’s more likely to fail. Since his last blow-up, he’s looked much better in the 6th/7th/8th inning range, and that lines up with where he had success with the Phillies as well. To me, it’s pretty clear he’s better suited for that kind of role rather than being the primary 9th-inning guy.

Vlad has a solid .280 BA and .372 OBP, but yeah, the lack of power has been abysmal. The funny thing is, one small hot streak where he hits 4-5 homers in a week would make his numbers look a lot better. But as of right now, he’s on pace for the worst offensive season of his career. Vladdy is getting paid to mash, not slap singles around. Hopefully he can have a huge second half, because the Jays really need his bat to come alive.

Given how weak the AL has been, the Jays just need to get on a roll and they can cement themselves in one of the Wild Card spots. And with the Yankees losing Judge long term, plus the possibility of the Rays cooling down, the AL East still isn’t completely out of the question. The Jays would obviously need to go on a big run to put themselves into that conversation, but if they can get within 4-5 games by the beginning of August, that would be a nice position to be in. If they’re sitting in the third Wild Card spot, or only 1-2 games back, and their core guys are relatively healthy, they should probably add. I wouldn’t want them to just keep the status quo. The only way they should sell is if they’re 5+ games back of the final Wild Card spot and dealing with several key injuries, which would make a comeback much harder to pull off. But if they’re still where they are now at the end of July (around 1.5 games back) I think they should add. Standing pat shouldn’t really be an option.

Yeah, with Varland emerging as the closer, Hoffman shouldn’t see the 9th inning again unless it’s an emergency. He’s better suited for the 7th or 8th, which is where he’s had most of his success - especially during his time with the Phillies before signing with the Jays. The Jays don’t need to cut bait with Hoffman. They just need to adjust his role, and I agree they probably waited a bit too long to do it. He can still be a real weapon out of the bullpen in the 7th or 8th inning if he figures things out. So far he's looked good since that huge implosion.

Yeah definitely not as sharp as it was last season. Noticed back in April.

I trust the Blue Jays front office and medical team more than you when it comes to whether Kirk could play or not.

I wonder why the Jays struggled to score runs 😂

Varland and Rogers are both likely unavailable. Might have to turn to Fisher or Miles if it's a save situation.

I need to add a Miz jersey to my collection!

Vladdy career .625 average against Schlitter on the bench (albeit small sample size). Kirk 3 for 3 yesterday and not DHing. I guess easing him in since he just returned and since the Jays likely don't want to use two catchers in the same game.

Has aged like fine wine. One of my favourite hitters!

Scherzer is likely only in line for a handful of starts until Bieber returns. I doubt the Jays are planning to rely on him for the rest of the summer unless more injuries pop up. I’d be interested to see them try Max out of the bullpen. Maybe, in shorter 1–2 inning bursts where he can empty the tank, he could still be an effective weapon in relief. As for Springer, I don’t think they can simply hand him the DH spot anymore. I’d like to see him get some part-time work in the outfield while moving down in the lineup.

I think Brandon Valenzuela has quickly become one of my new favourite Jays. He’s stepped up in a big way with Kirk out and really looks like he could be a key piece of this team long term. Falling behind 0-2 against Duran and then taking the ball the other way for a walk-off single? That’s just awesome! He’s becoming one of the most likeable Jays right now - right up there with Ernie Clement. It’s been really fun to watch Valenzuela emerge this season, and I hope he keeps it going. Honestly, I might need to get a Valenzuela jersey haha.

Nah, especially with the summer months kicking into full swing. A bunch of casual fans already bought up tickets and flex packs, lol. Plus, Torontonians need something to do in the summer, and a Jays game is an easy day or night out - rooftop patios, $20 beers, the whole thing. Maybe in September if the Jays completely fall out of it. But right now, with how weak the AL has been, they’re still only 1.0 game back of the final Wild Card spot and 8.0 games back of the Rays, who have started to struggle a bit themselves. Even with all the Jays’ issues, the season isn’t over by any stretch.

Hopefully he can Hatch on somewhere else soon.

The Dodgers recalled Nick Frasso from Triple-A Oklahoma on Saturday 😂