jaysblue

Trying to keep up with all the trade action since being in Europe, but looks like the Jays had a real active trade deadline and moved everyone on expiring contracts, including some other valuable pieces like IKF. Looks like they got solid returns for everyone and did very well.

Glad I got a 2nd rounder for him in the LOD haha.

July 22nd, 2022: Blue Jays vs. Red Sox at Fenway. Sydney Sweeney threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Blue Jays won 28 to 5! She is the best!

Yeah they had the pitching and offensively were one of the best teams in baseball. Sucks that they failed to adequately address the bullpen in time.

Yeah they had their window of opportunity like you said from 2021 onwards though never full capitalized or took advantage of that competitive window. Not all the fault of Atkins, but he could have done more IMO to address some of the issues on the roster during those years. Just never was able to take that next step. I still think the Jays could be competitive in 2025, but that requires some creativity and a very proactive offseason.

Would have been interesting to see that team in the Postseason. Definitely the best Jays team we've seen in the Shatkins era.

I'm still seeing women's underwear ads from the Bay haha.

Yeah both Vladdy and Springer lately have looked way better. Vladdy has been really encouraging and looks like he could have a monster year in 2025. As well, if Spencer Horwitz can stick at 2B, that would be sweet. Varsho in CF just needs to be a 3 WAR outfielder who hits near the bottom of the lineup. Will take 25-30 HR's from him with his glove. Kirk/Jansen behind the plate is fine still. Ideally would love IKF in a super utility role, but if he's your starting 3B in 2025, just want to make sure you get two really good bats at DH and who could play a corner OF spot.

If the Jays decide to keep Bo, which it looks like given his ongoing injuries this season and plummeted trade value, might as well give this group one last chance in 2025 to contend. The Blue Jays however need to add in the offseason and can't keep the status quo. They need to address their offensive woes by at least adding two bats (a DH and corner OF bat), build back some BP depth and sign another starter to replace Kikuchi. Gotta hope that Vladdy and Bo have monster seasons in their contract year. Gotta hope Gausman can find his 2022/2023 form again. Can't afford a drop-off from Bassitt. Gotta hope Berrios can find his 2021/2023 form. Would be nice if the Jays could get a 3 WAR season from Springer. Cross fingers some of the BP arms like Romano and Swanson can put 2024 behind them.

I just cancelled my Apple TV+ free trial before expire FFS!

Downtown Toronto going to be a mess this weekend with the Jays and Indy going on!

First tweet is a positive. Bullpen needed Garcia back and hopefully the Jays can showcase him before the deadline. Second tweet, yikes!

Blue Jays should trade for him next offseason.

Haven't the last two days sucked without baseball?

Agreed, though there are some contenders that could still use Bassitt to get them there over the last 60 or so games.

Where is Ruben Amaro Jr now these days? Haha

Yeah I'm not really opposed to moving Bassitt in comparison to Vladdy, Bo, and Gausman. You can sign a similar FA arm in the offseason to replace Bassitt. If you can get something of value for him now, should do it because he might turn into a pumpkin at next years deadline and won't be worth much at all.

In terms of optics, selling off everything looks bad and would impact ticket sales, which is something Rogers probably doesn't want anyways. As well, that would mean 2025 would be a tough season to watch and it's not like the Jays have a promising farm system where they have position players and pitchers knocking on the door. Still would have to fill out the roster with FA signings. Also, not the best time to trade Bo anyways given his value is at its lowest. Best to hope he bounces back in 2025 so he can either help the Jays on the field or increases his trade value more at next years deadline. I think with a very proactive and creative offseason, the Jays could still be competitive in 2025. They still have decent pieces and Vladdy/Bo are both in contract years. Just can't keep the status quo and think this core is good enough. Need to add. I think Shapiro definitely is more hands on now in regards to the roster management. I think Atkins is a lame duck and is likely gone at the end of the season, so Shapiro is likely going to be the one calling the shots at the trade deadline.

I understand haha. It's from a good baseball friend of mine and he doesn't BS, so one of the few I trust. He's also in a couple of baseball circles as well and has even worked at the Rogers Centre before. But yeah, anything can emerge leading up to the deadline. If a team comes in with a very strong offer for someone like Bo or Bassitt or Gausman or Berrios, I'm sure Shapiro considers and would pull the trigger. I guess one of the positives to take away is that the Blue Jays plan as of this moment isn't to completely blow the whole thing up and they plan on giving it another shot in 2025 with the core they have under control. They definitely will be moving expiring contracts from the sounds of it, rather than players still with control.

Have you ever been in the CEOs box before? Just curious.

Again, twisting my words around and making it seem like I hate Shapiro in order to fit your narrative. Yes Brantley was the only piece that ever amounted to anything. I mentioned that I found it interesting since he was a PTBNL selected by Cleveland because Milwaukee made the Postseason. If the Brewers missed the postseason, Melvin was expected to select the PTBNL. Matt LaPorta was a huge flop considering he was ranked as one of the top prospects in baseball. Someone who coveted him in my early years of Fantasy Baseball so I know haha. Yes the rest of the package for Lee was garbage. Jason Donald, Lou Marson and Jason Knapp never amounted to anything. Never said anything bad about Carlos Carrasco.

My source isn't a lower level employee. One of my friends brother-in-law is family friends with the Rogers CEO and has gone to a lot of Jays games this season in the boxes. Shapiro came in one game and he overheard him talking with the CEO. Sure there is still the possibility that the the Jays out of nowhere move Bo or someone like Gausman, but that isn't in the plans at this time. Things could change obviously and something unexpected could definitely pop up closer to the deadline.

I never suggested anything about those packages for CC and Cliff Lee not being good. Was just revisiting them, asking the board what they thought and pointing out what players in the deal worked out. Was fascinating that Brantley was a PTBNL based on the Brewers making the Postseason that year. Otherwise, Cleveland doesn't get Brantley. Just found that part interesting. Never said Shapiro had a bad track record of executing trades when in Cleveland, so keep telling yourself that. I'm not judging Shapiro against AA. I love how you always bring up AA for some reason when having discussions with me lol. You're obsessed with this front office man and for some reason have a personal vendetta against AA, one of the only GMs in the last two decades that actually got the Jays close to a World Series in 2015 and 2016. Give it a rest.

Got some insider info from a friend and its reliable: Jays only going to trade players on expiring contracts at the deadline. So Vlad and Bo won't be traded at the deadline, and that makes it very unlikely Gausman or Bassitt are moved.

Plus he has an extra year of control at a reasonable cost. Bassitt is an arm that could help one of those teams in the Postseason and even during a 162 game season given his durability.