jaysblue

I’d revise my grade to an A- if things stand as they are, and an A+ if they’re able to add another impact bat. Either way, it’s been a tremendous offseason so far. Would I call it the best offseason in franchise history? That’s tougher. The 2005/06 offseason - signing Burnett, Ryan and Molina and trading for Glaus and Overbay - felt massive at the time, especially given how constrained the team had been financially in the years prior. The 2014/15 offseason, with the signing of Russell Martin and the acquisition of Josh Donaldson, was another landmark stretch. And the 2021/22 offseason - bringing in Kevin Gausman and trading for Matt Chapman - would also rank very high for me. This offseason absolutely belongs in that conversation, and depending on what happens next, it could climb even higher.

Yeah, it really shows the Jays are serious about getting back to the World Series and committed to adding another impact bat. That’s great to see. It’s also why I don’t think they’re done. Whether it’s exploring the remaining free-agent options like Bellinger or Suarez, or pivoting to the trade market, it still feels like they’re intent on adding impact offense. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone to the lengths they did to try to land Tucker.

There are still some interesting free agents available. Obviously Bellinger stands out, though he’s likely looking at a similar structure to Bichette - a short-term deal with a high AAV - so that’s probably the expectation if they go that route. Suarez is also still available and could be a solid alternative as a power bat. He’s capable of providing 3–4 WAR, is somewhat underrated, and could likely be had on a one- or two-year deal without a crazy AAV. In that scenario, Okamoto would play mostly in left field. Luis Arraez would be an excellent on-base bat at the top of the lineup, though there isn’t a clear defensive fit. You definitely wouldn’t want him playing second base. As mentioned yesterday, the Jays could also look to add another arm via free agency to boost overall team WAR. That would likely require either trading one of their current pitchers or moving to a six-man rotation. There are still plenty of arms available - Framber, Giolito, Gallen, Bassitt, Scherzer, Verlander, etc. - though it’s hard to see this happening unless the Jays trade an arm or someone like Scherzer or Bassitt is open to a hybrid rotation/relief role, or if Scherzer signs with the understanding he’ll pitch only part of the season. Otherwise, they’d have to go the trade route.

The offseason isn’t over, and I still think the Jays add a bat either through free agency or a trade. As things stand right now, I’d give them a B+ for the offseason. If they’re able to land a true impact bat, that would push it into A+ territory for me. If they were able to sign Tucker or bring Bo back on top of the earlier moves they made, that would’ve been an A+ offseason in my books.

Not a bad idea. I think the Pirates try to somewhat compete this season. Though if they think Oniel Cruz is broken, he could be available. Jays and Pirates also have a trade history.

Okamoto would have sold more jerseys for the Dodgers at a fraction of the cost lol.

Framber would move the needle during the 162 game season, though who in the rotation are you kicking out? The other issue is that you’re almost certainly not getting him on a 1–2 year deal. Given his age, workload, and the market for frontline starters, he’s probably still looking for something in the four to five-year range minimum. And while Framber would obviously be a nice addition, I’m not sure a pitcher (given the rotation as is now) makes as immediate of a difference as adding an elite bat like Tucker or Bo would have, especially in October. In the postseason, you’re really only running with three or four starters anyway, whereas a top bat impacts every game. But yeah open to signing him, though not sure where he fits unless the Jays trade someone.

I think that undersells the versatility a bit. He’s not an everyday shortstop, but being able to credibly cover 2B, spot at 3B, and play the outfield still has real roster value especially over a long season when injuries and matchups come into play. It’s more than just “emergency-only” coverage. And while the defensive metrics aren’t flattering, the appeal isn’t that he’s a plus defender or burner on the bases. It’s that he provides steady on-base skills and offensive competence in roles where the lineup can otherwise become a dead zone. You’re not acquiring him to be flashy. You’re acquiring him to raise the floor and reduce volatility across the roster.

I'm shocked they didn't go after Bellinger instead. He fits their roster better. Like I mentioned earlier, the Mets likely made this move more in response to the Bo–Phillies rumors.

I think this is exactly where the market is heading. Short-term, high-AAV deals are starting to make more sense for both sides, especially for players whose value is concentrated in their prime years. You’re paying for what you reasonably expect to get, rather than guessing what a player might look like at 31–35 and hoping the back end doesn’t hurt too much. For teams, it reduces long-term downside and keeps payroll flexibility. For players, it maximizes earnings when they’re closest to peak performance and avoids being locked into below-market AAVs early in their careers. There also seems to be a growing comfort on both sides with less predictability but cleaner risk allocation. Pitchers are probably the exception here. Given how prone they are to serious injuries and surgeries, it makes sense that many still prefer the security of longer-term deals rather than short-term, high-AAV contracts.

I get the concern about tools, but this is where production vs. aesthetics gets blurred. Donovan isn’t flashy, but the bat has clearly played. He posted a 119 wRC+, which is meaningfully above average, while Clement put up a 98 wRC+ in what’s widely viewed as his best offensive season. Giménez, meanwhile, was at 70 wRC+. Over a full season, both Clement and Giménez carry very real downside with the bat. Donovan’s value isn’t about raw power, bat speed percentiles, or highlight tools. It’s about consistently getting on base and not giving away plate appearances. That matters over 500–600 PAs, especially when you’re trying to avoid lineup dead zones. And the versatility matters. Donovan can play third, short, second, and the outfield, which makes the “who are you benching?” question less zero-sum. It’s not about permanently sitting Barger or Ernie. It’s about reallocating playing time, managing matchups, and insulating the roster against regression and injuries, which inevitably happen over a full season. He doesn’t lower the ceiling; he stabilizes the floor and keeps the lineup from cratering when the bottom half goes cold.

This is why you shouldn't get too emotionally attached to players as a fan. Watching Bo here was fun and it's too bad him and Vladdy couldn't win a Championship together, though it is what it is. Move on. Bo isn't paying your mortgage.

That’s fair based on the projections, and I agree it’s probably a modest upgrade in terms of raw WAR -something like 0.5 to 1 win on paper. That said, the value isn’t just in the aggregate WAR. Donovan raises the floor offensively, brings strong on-base skills, and offers real positional flexibility, which helps with lineup construction, injury coverage, and optimizing matchups over a long season. Those marginal gains can matter more than they look, especially once you factor in depth and variance.

Fair enough. I probably should’ve been clearer with the wording. I didn’t mean “panic” as a negative in terms of value or impact. I agree it’s a reasonable deal and clearly makes the Mets better. My point was more about the timing (Tucker signing with the Dodgers and the Bo/Phillies rumours) and context of the move - especially given that they already had Lindor and Semien locked into the middle infield, with Polanco at first base. It’s still a lot of money, though, and a high AAV like that for a player like Bo can understandably make some people uncomfortable. Otherwise, the short-term, high AAV outweighs the long-term risk.

Never said it was an overpay. I agree with the logic. You’re effectively paying for three prime seasons (ages 28–30) without committing to the back end of a long-term deal, where the risk of decline is highest. At $42M, that’s reasonable for that level of production on a short term deal, and I wouldn’t consider it an overpay. I meant “panic” more in the sense of missing out on Tucker and wanting to prevent Bo from signing with the Phillies, which is why the Mets stepped in with a higher AAV.

Ranger Suárez signed for 5 years just a couple days ago. I think Cease still signs a 5 or 7-year deal from someone. Pitchers are more inclined to seek long-term deals rather than short-term contracts, given the inherent injury risk.

Yeah I think the Mets figured they had to keep Bo away from Philly at all costs, especially after they missed out on Tucker signing with the Dodgers. Definitely a panic signing IMO.

Trade Berrios for Semien now 😂

Forgot, the Mets also signed Jorge Polanco to play 1B haha.

Spanky's insider source was wrong.

Also, I bet the Bo/Phillies rumours even pressured the Mets more to make this move. They probably figured sign Bo and keep him away from the Phillies, regardless of which position Bo plays for them.

That’s fair in terms of the overall offensive line. They were roughly league-average bats. I think the “breakout” label is more about role and expectation than raw production. Both Lukes and Clement significantly outperformed what they’d previously shown at the MLB level, especially given how they were used. The concern isn’t that they can’t remain league-average in the short term, but that league-average production looks different when those players are asked to hit higher in the order or shoulder more responsibility due to injuries or regression elsewhere. That’s where adding another impact bat helps. Not because Lukes or Clement are bad players, but because it limits how much you have to rely on them.

I expect Bellinger to sign somewhere this weekend.

Seems like the Mets made a panic move. Likely takes them out of the competition for Bellinger and Suarez now.

Doesn't make sense. Mets have Lindor at shortstop and Semien at second base. Where would Bo play? Third?