jaysblue

If the Jays sign Bellinger for over $200M, Chapman for over $100M and Teo or Soler for $60M, do you think they'll have the financial flexibility next offseason or the offseason after to sign an elite player or arm?

Exactly. The Jays could likely sign one or two outfielders mentioned above on one-year deals and they provide the same value as one of Teo, Soler or Bellinger would.

Haha nope. What I meant by payroll flexibility heading into next offseason was in regards to not signing any long term deals that could hinder their spending on next years FA class and focus on one-year contracts instead. I stated the Jays should sign Hoskins or JDM and give them $20M or w/e they want for one-year. I also said it would be nice if the Jays could trade for Polanco or Adames to play 3B as well. That's not punting the 2024 season.

Merry Christmas, Happy Festivus, and Happy Holidays to everyone on the board.

Payroll flexibility heading into next offseason would be my main focus so I would definitely target players to one-year deals which likely could be done. Blue Jays could still roll out a really solid team if they went that route, especially since we have to expect some of their main bats like Vladdy, Springer, Varsho, and Kirk to bounce back somewhat. I would sign one of Hoskins or JDM to DH to a one-year contract. Give them between $18-22M. I would sign two outfielders with one of them being a defensive specialist who could play CF whether it's KK, Bader or Taylor. Like Term said, can't just forget about defense and I agree. Sign someone to pair with one of them like Duvall, Pederson, Pham or Hicks. Would take a look at a reclamation project like Meadows or Gallo if the Jays have the roster space. As for 3B, I think the trade market is probably the best bet. Would either target someone like Polanco or Adames or Moncada. If the Jays decided to go with someone risky like Moncada or one of the other weaker FA's or someone in-house, wouldn't mind signing a vet bat at 3B like Evan Longoria who you could give 200-300 PA's as some depth. If the Jays had to trade Kikuchi or Manoah for a 3B or for something else, would sign someone like Montas, Paxton, Alex Wood or Lauer to a one-year deal. Would sign an arm like Jake Junis for rotation depth and as a BP arm if there is roster space. Would have to trade an arm like Richards most likely or just wouldn't bring in another bench bat like Longoria or someone so would carry 13 bats and 13 pitchers if Richards is kept. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Lineup: RF Springer SS Bichette 1B Guerrero Jr. DH Hoskins or Martinez LF (Pederson or Hicks or Kiermaier or Meadows or Gallo with Duvall or Pham or Taylor or Bader) C Jansen / Kirk CF Varsho 3B Polanco or Moncada 2B Biggio / Schneider *Lineup changes/flexibility depending on which bats are playing* Bench: C Kirk/Jansen 2B Biggio/Schneider OF second half of the platoon who isn't starting 2B/SS Espinal 3B Longoria =14 bats Rotation: Guasman Berrios Bassitt Kikuchi or one FA SP Manoah or one FA SP Romano Swanson Mayza Green Garcia Cabrera Junis =12 pitchers

Entertaining game with the Bills and Chargers tonight. A lot closer than expected and Chargers put up a good fight. Glad the Bills came through and got the W. Let's go Cowboys! Put $100 down on Cowboys for tomorrow!

Raptors pretty much stuck in limbo. This team is lucky if they sneak into a Play-In game and even if they do, they likely get eliminated in the first round if they make it through. Or they come in 11th or 12th, and not even get a high pick. Best to just trade Siakam, OG and Trent at the deadline, since they're not going anywhere with these guys anyways. Trade Dennis Schroder and Poeltl as well if you could. Build around Scottie Barnes. No point in winning between 30-35 games.

Feel sorry for the Leafs fans who drove down to Buffalo to watch that garbage!

I saw Manuel Beltre play when I was in Dunedin last summer.

I never said to sit out the market. I just said the Blue Jays should target players on one-year deals, so they have more money available for next offseason when the FA crop is a lot better in terms of elite players/pitchers. Even BTS pointed out the second tier of FA's in next years class are even better. I'm all for signing Hoskins or JDM as a DH. Even if you have to "overpay" for them by a couple of million. Would only be a one-year deal, so that 20 or so million would be wiped off the books. Same with LF, where there are plenty of options of players who could sign one-year deals and provide solid value. You could even likely turn to the trade market as well let's say if the Jays prefer a bat like Kepler over some of the free agents. 3B will be the toughest position in 2024 to fill like I said. I would be down if Chapman came on a 3-4 year deal worth $20M AAV, but if he's sitting out for $100-150M, not worth it. Trade market is likely the best route and hope you can get a 2-3 WAR player to cover 3B, and make up for that lost WAR Chappy would provide elsewhere.

Exactly. Atkins and this FO have done a superb job at adding WAR to their rosters with stopgap solutions in the past and just recently last offseason, and I think they could do it again. They likely could sign Hoskins or JDM or Turner as a DH to a one-year contract, and like we've discussed there are still plenty of options for LF as well. They don't need to spend $200M+ on Belly. 3B is really the dark hole. The hope is they could bring someone in who could provide 2-3 WAR. You'll have to make up the extra WAR that Chapman would provide somewhere else on the roster.

You're making it seem like LF will be a tough position to fill in 2024, when in reality it won't be. Depends on who the Jays want and how much they're willing to spend. You can target someone like Teo (not sure exactly if he gets a 1 year deal or a 3-4 year deal), or go after one of the stopgap solutions mentioned previously in these threads. 3B is really the dark hole heading in 2024. Trade market is likely the best route whether it's Adames or Polanco or maybe an infielder from Cincy or if JD Davis becomes available from the Giants.

Fails as in meaning winning the World Series? I think it will come down to how this teams looks during the course of the 162 game season. If they struggle in some areas and are a borderline WC team again like they were in 2023 which exits in the WC round, most likely. If the team looks much better over 162 games than they did in 2023, I think that will be the deciding factor. Even if they have an early WC or ALDS exit.

Facts. Nobody really in the farm system who could be used as assets to make a big trade, other than Tiedemann but he alone isn't enough. The remaining players in this free agent class aren't going to move the needle a whole lot, even if you spend $300M on Belly + Chapman. If the Jays want to be a 95-100 win team, it will all come down to what Vladdy the Jays get in 2024, and hoping for bounce backs from some key guys like Kirk, Varsho, Manoah and Springer. They could add some wins but they don't have to spend over $300M and tie themselves up financially long term to do so.

Where did I say punt 2024? The Jays could still build a very competitive roster without having to spend over $300M combined on both Belly and Chapman.

Dodgers sign Ohtani and Yamamoto: "Salary Cap needed!" If the Blue Jays signed Ohtani and Yamamoto: *crickets*

The Jays would have to spend over $300M combined on Belly and Chapman, which won't move the needle much and likely prevent them from signing anyone else next off-season or after. They have to replace Bo and Vladdy as well after 2025.

Yup the problem like you says it ties up that money from being able to sign or trade for someone else down the road, next offseason or the offseason after etc. The Blue Jays aren't the Yankees who could just ignore the bad contract. If the Jays sign Belly to $200M, likely will limit them from signing another top FA and plus this team will likely be losing Bo and Vladdy after 2025.

I do agree with Jonn to an extent regarding Bellinger. Jays could really regret handing him a contract close to $200M or more. The Jays aren't the Yankees who could just write off the bad contract and not care. Belly's contract if he under performs during it could setback this team in the long term and prevent them from signing other elites FA's in future offseason's. Look at Springer's contract - we've already finished Year 3 of 6 and the last 3 years of his contract look worrisome after the season he just had. Belly is a risky FA to sign to a long term contract given his streaky track record and stats. The time to sign him was last offseason like the Cubs did for one-year at $17.5M where they managed to get a 4 WAR season from him. Also, add to the fact that the Jays would be signing Belly to play in LF and occasionally in CF when Varsho isn't playing. Better to just sign Hoskins to a one-year $18-20M contract as a DH for his pop and target another bat for LF. Save that money for a better FA down the road.

Cook was amazing against the Cowboys. Bills definitely riding some great momentum. If they get into the Playoffs, the AFC is wide open. Only Baltimore is really a threat

I wonder if Teoscar is open to signing a one-year deal or does he think he could get a 3-4 year deal now since LGJ got 3 years from the D'Backs. If we could sign Teo on a one-year deal, sign me up! Hoskins or JDM at DH, with Teo in LF are both sweet additions offensively and stopgap solutions! Duvall would be an excellent 4th OF option/platoon guy. Posted 1.9 WAR last season in 92 games and some nice pop.

Aren't Schneider and Biggio most likely heading into 2024 at 2B? Yeah the other guys you mentioned are nice depth options, but I wouldn't write in their names as starters just yet. Doesn't hurt to sign some FA's who you think could bounce back and provide value to cheap one-year deals. If they don't work out, then you have Lopez, Barger and Orelvis who you could bring up. Taylor definitely would be a nice add as a 4th outfielder, agreed. I don't think Bellinger should be offered a blank cheque however because the Jays lost out on Ohtani. Like Max said, if they lower their demands and his contract could be similar to Springer's or maybe a bit more, then not a problem. Yeah 3B is really the black hole on this team right now. Trade market seems like the best route. Adames would be nice if the Brewers are open to moving him. Bregman would be my target next offseason for sure.

Did I say Vlad would be traded straight up for Soto?

Why don't you offer up some names or potential stopgap targets?

Why don't you start throwing some names out there and brainstorming rather than criticizing only? Heck, even when I suggested back in October or earlier in the offseason that San Diego could be looking to move some players to shake things up like Soto and possibly Machado/Tatis, you said those ideas were ridiculous.