jaysblue

Yeah he has nice tools. Would be sweet if he could turn into something for the Jays!

For example, JH was downplaying the Burnes acquisition and saying the Orioles never really had a good rotation to begin with lol. Even before they added Burnes, they had Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish (3.8 fWAR last season), Dean Kramer (decent back-end of the rotation guy), and Albert Suárez has been a nice find (approaching 2 fWAR this season). They also had some guys who they lost to injury like John Means and Tyler Wells (who were both decent when healthy). Overall, their rotation wasn't that bad. I think we all agreed that the Orioles needed to add an ace/No. 1 starter and they did in Burnes during the offseason.

He really does for some weird reason lol. He does the same thing with the Braves.

Zach Eflin posted a 4.9 fWAR season last year at the age of 29, pretty similar to Gausman. Yes he has regressed a bit this season, but sure I still consider him a front of the rotation arm who definitely starts games in the Postseason. Eflin would be the de fecto No. 1 starter on the Jays this season. Let's not underestimate his contributions!

LOL it's true though. The bashing the Orioles get on here is astounding. Last time I checked, they're 0.5 games back of first place in the AL East and look to be serious World Series contenders. Instead, I'm reading comments on how their rotation wasn't that good to begin with from the same people who praised the Jays rotation as one of the best in baseball lol. Give me a break dude!

Kirby Yates having a really darn good year at 37-years-old. 70 K's in 48.1 innings along with 22 saves. Shocked the Rangers never tried to shop him at the deadline. Great seeing Daniel Hudson as well having success with the Dodgers. Despite his injuries and not being able to start anymore, he carved out a really nice career out of the bullpen.

Eflin is an elite arm when healthy. Yeah the rest aren't anything special. Rogers and Soto likely were just for depth. I doubt Rogers pitches in an ALDS or ALCS game unless two or more of their arms are on the IL. They could have got a better bat than Eloy. Don't really understand that trade.

Yeah just asking a question for some baseball discussion, chill. Sure it would be cool to see Votto get on the first ballot! If he doesn't, he likely gets on in his second or third year. But yeah he's a no doubt Hall of Famer regardless.

Burnes only a "good" acquisition? I bet if the Jays acquired Burnes last offseason, you would be salivating and kissing the floor Atkins walks on lol. Orioles actually have a decent rotation. It's wasn't an expensive or aging one like the Jays entering the 2024 season. Included Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish (3.8 fWAR last season), Dean Kramer (decent back-end of the rotation guy), and Albert Suárez has been a nice find (approaching 2 fWAR this season). Let's compare that with the Jays current group this season? Burnes was definitely a great addition who solidified their rotation, and gave them a true No. 1 starter. As for the trade deadline, Eflin was a great addition, though sucks he landed on the IL. Rogers has sucked for them but he was brought in just for depth/back-end of the rotation. He's not pitching in the ALDS or ALCS at all as a starter anyways lol. He did post a 4.3 fWAR in 2021 so maybe they thought a change of scenery could make a difference. As for Eloy Jimenez, that was puzzling but I guess they thought if he got out of Chicago, maybe he recaptures that magic with the bat in his first two years up in the Majors. Would have went after a better bat if one was available.

Is Votto a Hall of Famer? First ballot?

Yeah would be awesome to see him age well like Barry Bonds did. Would be great for baseball!

I get the sense that a lot of other players, especially some vets, feel the same way about the front office. Bassitt was the one willing to speak out about it for whatever reason. I don't think this FO is transparent enough when it comes to communicating with players. Jeff Blair brought this up in one of his podcasts this week. Look at the Berrios situation from 2023 as an example. I still think that decision rubbed a lot of guys the wrong way. Imagine Gausman or Bassitt pitching in that game cruising along, and they get pulled in the 4th inning?

Time to buy Vladdy in fantasy baseball was back in May, but given all our dynasty leagues are members from the BJMB, nobody wanted to trade him. Same with Bo even right now.

Bassitt probably wants to be traded to a contender in 2025 if the Jays decide to just keep the status quo in the offseason and only make marginal upgrades. I'm sure he also was upset he never was traded at this years deadline. He definitely had an agenda with that Chris Rose interview.

Sounds like the Blue Jays of 2023 lol.

Yeah for sure. I think if he was up already with the Jays this season, or if the game was being played in Cincy, definitely would have been fitting. But for him to be called up just for one game with the Jays after spending his entire career with the Reds: if I'm Votto I probably want to be remembered as someone who played only with one team at the MLB Level. That's probably important to him. I see Votto just signing a one-day contract with the Reds and they give him a beautiful send off.

Wouldn't surprise me if he's a non-tender candidate this winter.

Blair has been talking about it everyday this week. Was saying when the Jays signed him, AA asked him what position he wanted to play and Vladdy said 3B.

Yeah but if I'm Votto, why would I want my last game to be in a Blue Jays uniform when I spent an entire career with the Reds?

I mean if Shi Davidi and Blair are even talking about it... Laika only believes what he wants to believe. He wears blinders and thinks he's always right.

Yeah I think Cincy will sign him to a one-day contract and he'll get a send off down in Cincy. Plus he gets to retire only putting on a Reds uniform for his entire MLB career. Toronto would have been a nice send off since he grew up in Etobicoke, but doesn't make sense calling him up just for one game and having a send off for him. If he was up during the season, for sure this would have been the perfect series to do something for him. Probably more meaningful to Votto if the Reds do it down in Cincy.

Yeah was really solid when he came back in 2017 and 2019. After 2020 he just disappeared. Shocked another team never gave him a flier afterwards.

Going to one-up you.

Gregor Chisholm is writing a piece as we speak!

Haha. Yamamoto as a 25-year-old arm who never even threw a pitch in the Majors got $325M from the Dodgers. Gotta think Soto being an everyday player gets between $500-600M.