jaysblue

I agree I wouldn't go more than 2 years on Merrifield, though as well wouldn't pick up that mutual option at 18M. 18M for one year is a lot for a player like Merrifield and that money IMO could be better utilized towards a better player or pitcher. The Jays have to replace Chapman at third base, Belt at DH, KK in the OF, Ryu in the rotation, some BP pieces like Hicks, along with guys like Vladdy, Bo and others making more through arbitration. Hope that the Jays could fill Merrifield's spot internally or Atkins can swing a trade or FA signing for a utility/multi-position guy who could give you around 400 ABs and provide 2 WAR.

Turner was also a consistent 4-5 WAR player before 2022 and actually hit for some power, whereas Merrifield has been more of a contact/speed guy throughout his career. I don't think they're the greatest comparisons player wise, but definitely Turner's contract could be a benchmark. I think if there is a team that overpays, Merrifield will get close to 15M over 2 or 3 years. Ideally he's better around 10-12M if you could sign him for that.

Yeah high end he gets 2/30 or 3/45 if a team is really crazy. If that's the case, Blue Jays should just let him walk and fill his spot internally or go after another utility guy.

Yeah agree. This always happens with Blue Jays players who are having resurgent years and when they become FAs. You don't want to bid against yourself. Like even a couple of weeks ago, I think someone was even asking or suggesting if the Jays should offer Merrifield a QO at 18M haha. Merrifield has had a nice season and definitely deserves to be rewarded for it. But he isn't getting a huge contract like 3 years/40-45M at his age. He's reasonable at 2/20 or 2/25. If he asks for anymore, Jays should just move on.

Yeah no doubt he'll take the highest offer he gets. There could be a team that offers something even better than 2/25 but doubt there would be many. Reminds me a lot when Marco Scutaro became a FA. He was a veteran coming off a 4.3 WAR season at the age of 33 with the Blue Jays. Signed a two-year/12.5M contract with Boston and then afterwards signed a one year deal with the Rockies in 2012 and a three-year deal with the Giants in 2013 for 20M. Obviously given how contracts have increased over the last decade, Merrifield probably sits anywhere from 10-12M per season over 2-3 years.

His age is the deterrent Jay. It's not like he's in his late 20's or early 30's. So that impacts some of his value and new contract. There is a chance for some regression where he goes down to become a 2 or 1.5 WAR guy.

Looking to add a closer or two, as well as a top of the rotation starter (could be a veteran as well in their mid-to-late 30s). Have a lot of third baseman who could be moved - Jake Burger, Dave Schneider, Maikel Garcia, Encarnacion.

Lost Steve Matz to the IL. Has been awesome over his last 8 starts damn. Looking to make some upgrades on my roster. Could make an upgrade to my anyone in my lineup or looking to add a solid No 2/3 starter.

I think 2/25 brings him back for sure if he likes it here and it's pretty fair if he continues to be a 3 WAR player.

In 2021, remember the Jays played in minor league parks for 2/3 of their season. Someone made that point when talking about Vlad last year, forget who.

Yeah plus it's Opening weekend as well which should be fun. I think Bengals could make it to the Super Bowl this year. I'm still not sold on the Bills and the Bengals have proven they could go head-to-head against the Chiefs.

Also, one is in better physical condition than the other. Vladdy looks like he could go the Prince Fielder route, Freeman looks like he could still be an elite hitter into his late 30s.

You're one of the most stubborn and insufferable posters on this message board. In all of my history on this board, never came across anyone as insufferable as you, and you're not even a troll. Any criticism I make, you get triggered so easily. Can't even have a reasonable conversation with you because you're always wearing blinders and come up with excuses nonstop. Atkins can do no wrong in your view no matter what he does. Arguing with you is pointless because these discussions go nowhere. I'm done with you, Metafour, MaxSilver, and Stangstag when it comes to Atkins and this front office. You guys should keep sipping on your Wilner kool aid!

If you had to choose a Browns game to watch, who would you want to see them play: Bengals, Titans or Ravens?

Was watching the highlights last night and looked like the Mariners pulled off a miracle but glad the O's came back and won in extras!

Vladdy will never be the type of player Josh Donaldson was in his prime.

They definitely failed because they didn't even make the Postseason in 2021.

You just keeping proving my point lol. In baseball, things could change quickly. You can't pass up on an opportunity when it arises. Sure sometimes it could work and sometimes it might not. With the 2021 team, you had breakouts from Vlad and Bo, Springer was still solid and two years younger than he is now, Manoah had a breakout season, Semien had a huge bounceback, Ray won the AL Cy Young, Teo had a monster year offensively, you traded for Berrios and I could go on. Wasted opportunity. Like I just pointed out, Kirk has turned into a pumpkin, Manoah s*** the bed, Springer is starting to show his age, Vladdy regressed significantly. We're in 2023 now, which is only TWO years from their 2021 season. I'll even use the example with guys like Gausman, who right now is pitching at an elite level and is one of the best SPs in the game. Can he continue pitching at this high level moving forward? Hopefully he does, but who knows maybe he's a bit off in 2024 or 2025 like has a 4 ERA or is maybe only worth 3 WAR instead of 6 WAR. You need to take advantage of the present when you have these core pieces in place, healthy, in their prime and when they're performing at their highest level. Every season that goes by where the Jays don't win a World Series, that window becomes smaller and smaller.

You're insufferable when you use the excuse that everyone is cheating like to explain why the Rays were having success or why someone threw a no-hitter lol.

You really love defending Atkins and this front office at all costs haha. We might never see a better opportunity for the Blue Jays to go on a deep Postseason run. It would have been great to see what that 2021 team could have done in the Postseason given their lineup and rotation. We're already starting to see the window for Jays get smaller - Chapman is a FA after 2023 and will be tough to replace, Vladdy isn't the same Vladdy from 2021, Bo is a FA after 2025, Gausman, Berrios, Bassitt will all be a year older, Springer is showing signs he's slowing down, Kirk not living up to his expectations with the bat, etc. Right now, it even looks like making the third WC spot is going to be a battle until the last couple days of the season. Let's hope the Jays could get in and things start to click in October where they could go on a deep run. Anything could happen. So if we go by this logic all the time, I guess we can apply that with AA during his time with the Blue Jays as well. You always give Atkins a free pass when something doesn't work out, so we can do the same with AA haha.

Isn't that the job of the front office to know that his peripherals weren't as strong as in the past, so there could be a chance he implodes? There is a reason why Hand cost nothing to acquire in the first place. Given the roster they had that season, it would have been better to aim higher on a true elite late inning reliever. It's frustrating because that 2021 window was probably the best one the Jays had. Hicks hasn't been as sharp so far with the Jays. He's obviously still going to be used as the closer until Romano gets back. If he doesn't show signs of improvement, then yes he moves down the depth charts behind other guys like Swanson, Mayza, and Green (once and if he comes back). I have no issue at all with them trading for Hicks. He can be erratic at times as he has shown during his time with the Cardinals. Same thing happened earlier this season - Hicks started off awful, the Cards moved him into lower leverage spots to work on some things and he rebounded.

Lmao of course you defend the Brad Hand acquisition in 2021. The issue wasn't acquiring Brad Hand for nothing. Hand already showed signs of decline beforehand, which is why they got him for nothing in the first place. His FIP and other peripherals showed he wasn't the same top BP arm he was from before. The issue was rolling with him as long as they did thinking he was an elite reliever from his prime days. They put him in many high leverage spots which cost them games and cost them the Postseason by ONE game! It's frustrating because that 2021 team likely was the best team on paper Atkins put together that could have went on a deep Postseason run with that fearful lineup and excellent starting rotation. I never criticized the Hicks trade. I actually liked the trade. Sure Hicks can be wild and can implode as he has shown in the past. If he shows signs of that, you push him back out of high leverage situations. You don't keep running him out there in the 8th or 9th innings of a one-run game then.

Freeman is probably one of the most underrated stars in baseball. He's just one of the best well-rounded hitters in the game. Can contend for a batting title every season, gets on-base, can hit for power, can steal around 15 bases. Seems like he gets better with age, like a rare or exclusive bottle of wine haha. That contract he signed 6 years, $162 million through 2027 was a bargain.

Belt and KK were coming off awful seasons and injuries, so they were a risk when signed here which is why they came at discounts. Jays definitely got lucky that both worked out and have provided excellent value. Those deals could have went the other way where Belt and/or KK were useless. Though will give Atkins credit on those signings to patch up the roster. I think Merrifield at 2 years/$25M would be fair if the Jays decided to bring him back. His age is only deterrent though hopefully that discounts him versus a player in their early 30s.

It's okay, the Jays have an off-day tomorrow and Thursday haha.