jaysblue

I'm picking him up in the LOD.

Hicks is only 27 though, has plus-plus stuff, coming off a very good season as a high leverage reliever and the Giants are going to experiment with him again in the rotation, so it's different. If Hicks sticks in the rotation and puts up 2-3 WAR seasons as a starter or better, Giants have a bargain over those 4 years. Blue Jays weren't ever going to experiment with Hicks in the rotation. If he has to return back to the bullpen, they likely still get a 1 - 1.5 WAR reliever if he stays healthy. Even at the end of his contract, Hicks will only be 31-32 years-old. Green on the other hand is coming off a major injury and is 32-years-old. Obviously you wouldn't go 4 years with someone like Chad Green.

I wonder if others said the same thing about Gausman and Rodon when they both went to the Giants.

Yeah I like the deal both for the Giants and Hicks. San Fran has had great success with SPs who have good stuff, in their late 20's and who are looking to bounce back. Look at examples of Kevin Gausman, Carlos Rodon, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, etc. Hicks at $11M AAV isn't that bad at all. If he fails as a starter, you just convert him back to being a high leverage reliever.

I think majority of the posters on here have said the same thing. Not groundbreaking top secret stuff like this Andrew Havok thinks it is.

Yeah if the Jays are going to manage most games like they did in Game 2, they need to build on their strong bullpen. Hader definitely would be a nice replacement over Hicks and even better. As well with the bullpen, we can't assume and expect every BP arm from last season to repeat their success in 2024. Bullpen arms are volatile from year-to-year.

Yeah Yankees will be tougher and better than last season. Even stated that several times over the summer and early fall. You can never count them out, especially after a rough 2023 season, you knew they were going to make some big moves. Adding Soto, along with Verdugo, Grisham and Stroman isn't bad. Their rotation of Cole, Cortes, Stroman, Schmidt, and Rodon is very good. If Rodon is healthy and returns to his 2021/2022 form, watch out. All they really need is a 3B like Chapman and add to their pen, then they are pretty much set.

Yeah so far the Jays haven't made any moves this offseason which makes me say "they are definitely better than last year." Right now if things stay the status quo, only way they're better is if certain players have big bounce backs. They still have time to add, so hoping they could get one of JDM or Hoskins or Soler on the right deal and make a splash in the pen like with a Josh Hader. KK and IKF were nice depth pieces, but even still if both get around 400-500 PA, likely looking at 2 WAR max if lucky. Need to make up for the lost WAR from Chapman to IKF, if the Jays plan on having IKF starting a majority of games at third. Also, need to still replace Belt and other pieces like Hicks. Right now, I don't see them being anything more than an 88-90 win team.

Stroman to the Yankees on a two-year deal.

Raps vs. Clippers tonight. Tough always playing a back to back especially after last night's max effort.

Yeah Kole Calhoun is a good comparison if we're talking worst case. Granderson is a great comp as well. Might sneak in a random 40 HR season somewhere for sure.

If Varsho can turn into Kyle Schwarber or Max Muncy with his bat, I think we all would take that along with his superior D. He still has a lot to prove before we consider him a consistent 4-5 WAR player. Even after an awful season in 2023, he still posted a 2.3 WAR. He's entering his age 27 season, so he either stays as a 2 WAR type of guy or he fulfills his potential of being a 4-5 WAR player like he was in 2022. Let's hope he improves his offensive numbers and that his 2022 season wasn't a fluke. Not writing off Varsho just yet, but if he doesn't turn things around in 2024, I'll start to be worried.

With all the arms available, shocked some of these arms are getting 2-year deals worth that much in terms of AAV like Giolito, but I suppose some of these teams banking on their upside. Manaea was a 3 WAR pitcher in 2021 and wasn't as bad as his ERA indicated last season. Plus Citi Field helps as well. If he opts out, means he had a 3 WAR season. So benefit to both him and the Mets. If he's average like 1.5-2 WAR, it's not the end of the world.

Higher percentages that he gets a rotation spot with the Angels versus a team like the Blue Jays. A lot of these types of arms will sign with teams like the Angels, Rockies, A's, Nationals, etc.

Yeah the offense isn't Oakland A's bad obviously and if some of the key bats bounce back, this lineup takes a big step forward. But we can't just leave that to chance, when there are bats out there on the FA market who could still help like JDM, Hoskins, Pederson, Turner, Teo, Soler, Duvall, etc. Even if the key guys bounce back, with one or two of those FA bats, that's even better. Need to improve the lineup anyway possible within reason and it shouldn't be ignored heading into next season especially after what they saw in 2023. In terms of the Rogers Centre, if it's environmental due to the new renovations, wouldn't that blame be put on Shapiro? This FO is filled with geeks, so you think they would have been able to adjust to those environmental conditions understanding the impacts of the new dimensions. I guess that takes a year or two of data still. But regardless, if they knew the new renovations were going to have a negative impact on the offensive environment at the Rogers Centre, why even make the renovations when this team is in their prime window years of contention? Like why mess that up? To appease the casual fans so they could sit up at the Corona Rooftop? As for the teams mental health and skills department, 100% agreed. Baseball is a very psychological and mental game. Maybe hitting at the Rogers Centre, living up to his fathers name, and pressure of winning maybe is impacting Vlad's performance when he plays at home. I used to be a big John Lannon fan when he was with the Nats. He could fix anything.

Yeah or Evan Longoria if the team decided to bring in a vet with some pop to maybe get 300 or so AB's. I don't want to see IKF starting 150+ games at 3B and his bat penciled in the lineup every single day.

With IKF being in the fold, Jays could roster Polanco and play him at 3B and 2B occasionally. He doesn't have to start 140 or 150 games at 3B with IKF here. Likely could get him in for 60-80 games at 3B, and use IKF as a defensive replacement later in games.

I think Jorge Polanco becomes a Blue Jay this month. He would be a great fit here. Could play him between 2B and 3B. Nice switch hitter as well to have in the lineup. Twins don't have a spot for him in the lineup, so they for sure move him.

I don't mind Soler, but he does comes with some more risk especially if you sign him to a 3 or 4 year deal. Would prefer either JDM, Hoskins or Pederson on a one-year deal.

Would have been nice to have Brantley here as a DH/LF but not sure Brantley would have been a great fit with the Jays after the KK signing. They need some power now, so hopefully they add a bat who could DH and/or play sparingly in the OF with 30 HR potential. Still think they need two more bats - someone like Pederson, JDM or Hoskins for the DH spot and another outfielder RHB with some pop like Duvall or Grichuk. Not opposed to Soler but would rather target guys like Pederson, JDM or Hoskins who likely would sign a 1-year or 2-year deal max.

Was at the Kings game last night, which was a lot of fun. Paid $225 CAD for seats 9 rows up next to the Leafs bench. Those seats at the Scotia Arena would be easily +$500 each.

Big applaud for Dick Pole. He is the hero this board needs!

RJ averaging 18 PPG, 4 RBP, 2 APG so not bad at all offensively. I'm assuming defensively he isn't that great when on the floor. DeMar DeRozan type upside though at least?

Juan Pierre was a fun player. Slap hitting corner OF who could steal a ton of bases. As a kid in the early 2000's always liked him. Had some great years with the Marlins!

I would bet the under 1.5 fWAR with Green next season.