jaysblue

I'm predicting a big August.

It's not good enough to contend IMO. They still need to make some big additions to compliment that core if they want to reach the Postseason.

Signing Vladdy to an extension (depending on dollars and years) would be a good PR move and look good for optics. After a disappointing season, would be some positive news at least that the Jays kept their young superstar around. As well, helps Rogers sell seats at the ballpark. Lastly, might help in free agency during the offseason with other FA's wanting to sign here since it shows the Jays are willing to keep around high talent and are willing to spend money to win.

Read reports that Vladdy was open to an extension here in Toronto, which is positive and means he likely won't be shopped. I still would move Bo if you can get 80-90 cents on the dollar for him. If teams are only offering 20-30 cents on the dollar, better to just hold onto him and hope he has a monster season in his contract year.

Yeah Crochet likely will be close to reaching his IP threshold. For a Postseason team, sucks that he would be limited down the stretch and into October.

Yeah would love see one of his starts in person. Hoping I can plan a 2-3 day trip down in August when he's lined up to pitch. Would also be cool to catch Jared Jones pitching in the same series as well.

If your defense is subpar at shortstop, you at least gotta hit. Turner and Seager at least can hit and provide elite offensive numbers. So you can live with their subpar defense. JP Crawford offensively this season has been horrible. Out of all the teams contending for the Postseason, I only count the Braves and maybe the Red Sox where Bo would be a fit. Given their shortstop situation, they have nothing to lose rolling the dice on Bo. I see the Dodgers at least going back with Betts at short or even if they move him to 2B, they likely go with a glove first guy at short since offensively they have enough bats elsewhere.

Gotta hope we see another one or two Kikcuhi performances like we did in San Fran the other night. There are definitely a lot of other solid starters available Flaherty, Crochet, Eflin, Littell and Fedde. Out of those five, would rank Flaherty, Crochet and maybe Eflin ahead of Kikuchi. Littell has another 1.5 years of control, so some teams will value that extra year. Fedde has been really good as well and has another year of control, but don't view him as a shutdown SP in a short Postseason series. He helps you more getting to the Postseason than in a short series. Whereas we saw Kikuchi the other night how he can flat out dominate when he's on. The plus with Kikuchi is he's a lefty out of that bunch, and innings won't be an issue for him. Whereas Crochet, who knows if he needs to be on an innings limit down the stretch.

So do the Pirates haha

I think Horwitz could be a similar bat to Frank Catalanotto at the MLB level, with a higher OBP and maybe perhaps a bit more power.

The shortstop trade mark is pretty weak. It's really too bad that Bo wasn't hitting this season close to his career averages or else you definitely could have had a big bidding war for him. The only other shortstops available I think are Paul DeJong and maybe Ha-Seong Kim if the Padres decide to sell haha. Would still roll the dice on Bo over someone like DeJong if I'm a team contending for the Postseason. Kim would be a nice pickup if he's made available. Braves could really use an upgrade over Arcia at shortstop. Red Sox maybe as well over Rafaela but I don't see them trading for Bo. Dodgers could use a shortstop if they decide to move Betts over to 2B once he returns (Roberts hinted at it). But the Dodgers could go with a glove guy at short and add offense to other spots in the lineup, and be alright.

Did a same game parlay with Pirates winning and Skenes getting 7 K's haha. Would love to make the drive down to Pittsburgh this summer to catch one of his starts!

Yeah that would really suck. Gotta hope Bo at least finishes 2024 strong so at least he would have some value in the offseason.

Yeah especially if he's not hitting. For a Postseason team, Bo would be a small reclamation project right now. You hope he turns things around in August and September so there are no concerns with his bat heading into 2025.

If he gets traded and ends up all of a sudden going on a tear with his new team, you definitely know something is up. I don't think he plays like this during a contract year. Maybe wanted to get traded dating back from last season and decided to not giving his 100% this season to try and force his way out.

See if they would take Berrios as well. Kikuchi though would be a terrific fit with the Dodgers.

Great time to buy low lol.

If we could get 2022 Springer back offensively, that would be swell!

2004, 2009 and 2013 were depressing years in my books. 2004 because coming off an 86-win season in 2003, and with some youngsters like Wells, Hinske, Phelps, O-Dog as a core, I was excited heading into the 2004 season. Thought they would have built off that 2003 season but everything went wrong from the get go in 2004. Doc wasn't in Cy Young form and injured, bullpen sucked despite some additions in the offseason, it was Delgado's walk year as well and every Jays fan knew the team didn't have the money to re-sign him. Phelps ended up sucking even more and traded for Erik Crozier lol. Hinske was awful as well and never returned to his 2002 ROY form. 2009 because the Jays came off a solid 2008 season, but they lost AJ Burnett after he opted out, and the season already had a damper knowing that McGowan and Marcum were going to miss all of 2009 after getting injured during the 2008 season. It was Doc's last season in Toronto, and we kinda all knew he was going to be traded in the offseason. Their starting rotation in 2009 was awful after Doc. Wells was awful in 2009 and Rios ended up being traded that summer. Recall that was the season he was outside of the ROM and had that interaction/argument with a fan "Who gives a Fawk." It was cool to see Adam Lind and Aaron Hill have breakout years offensively. 2013 because AA made a bunch of big moves and it looked the Jays were ready to take that next level. Dickey was never in Cy Young form, they had injuries, Lawrie never amounted to anything, Josh Johnson was toast lol. Depressing season considering the high expectations after that busy offseason the Jays had and with guys like Bautista, EE already in the fold.

Sucks they blew a win for Kikuchi after that performance he had.

I know the Jays really don't have many options out of the pen. When I saw Trevor Richards coming out of the pen, he looked scared. In my head, I said to myself he doesn't look that confident and is going to blow it. Then Dan Shulman makes the comment on how Richards only save was a 3 inning save in a 14-7 game and how a save in a 1-run game is much different lol. Perfect sequencing haha. Sucks because they could have squeezed out a win. If Richards doesn't hesitate and fields the ball, game over likely. As well, with the winning run on third, you gotta be darn careful that you don't spike that changeup. Wasn't Chad Green available? Just a perfect way to sum up the Jays season.

Yeah I don't think it makes sense to trade Bo when his value is this low. Not even sure if Postseason bound teams would want to pay a high price for him at the deadline anyways, given the season he's had. Best for the Jays to either move him in the offseason or at next years trade deadline in hope he builds back up his value.

Yeah the Braves outfield could use another bat with Acuna out the entire year and Harris II also on the IL and struggling offensively. Kelenic has been really solid for them. Harris II should return sometime after the All-Star break, though they could upgrade over a Duvall/Rosario platoon. Springer wouldn't be a bad option for the Braves, though doubt the Braves take on the rest of his contract unless Jays ate some money. Like you said, they really don't have a bad contract to move in a deal like this.

Yeah trade guys on expiring contracts. Gausman and Bassitt are moveable, though would prefer keeping them for 2025. Would move Berrios and try to escape that contract if you could more than anything. Wouldn't trade Bo or Vlad unless blown away like you said. Hope they both come up big during their contract years in 2025, which would help the Jays contend or at least improve their trade value. Vlad is too valuable for off-field reasons as well like you said.