jaysblue

Sign him to a minor league deal and have him in Buffalo as insurance. Wouldn't be a bad idea. I would like to see a team give him a long look as a reliever. Think his stuff can play out there.

Last time I checked, Merrifield was ready to play 162 games with KC. He doesn't control what the Canadian Federal Government does at the border. Now being on Toronto, hope everything is resolved now for obvious reasons.

What was stopping him from doing his entire job before? Was there anything in the contract he signed?

Yikes that long ago? I was way off haha.

I made that post before Toronto made those last minute deals at the deadline for Merrifield and White. As well, I said the Bass and Pop were solid adds for the Blue Jays. Mahle is a significant improvement to this rotation if the Blue Jays were able to acquire him. He was a solid No. 2 or 3. Like you even said, would have been nice to add an impact arm like Rodon or Mahle or Cobb if the Jays could have.

I think his last season was 2019 or 2020 if I'm not mistaken.

Mahle though is a better arm than Mitch White. Mahle has the potential to be a solid No. 2 or 3 in a rotation. 210 K's last season in 180 innings and is only 27 still.

With the 14-day rule in effect, then yes he would miss a couple of games once the Jays come back to Toronto.

In the United States, they never asked to show proof of vax to fly within the country. It's only to enter the country as a non-citizen since November. As for Canada, they scrapped those stupid rules and now anyone can travel by plane or train. However, non-citizens still need to be vaxxed coming here and unvaxxed Canadian citizens still have to quarantine on return to Canada. Igelesias has a US work visa most likely, so if he didn't leave the country, likely didn't effect him. I think even if he left, he might have been allowed back in but not 100% sure.

I couldn't see the Jays just settling on Bass and Pop. Happy to see them get White and Merrifield at the end.

STFU meat!

I think any team that makes the Postseason can be considered a World Series contender. Do I think majority of the teams who would make the Postseason are better than the Blue Jays right now? Yes. Yankees and Astros are superior teams in the AL. Dodgers, Padres, Braves, Mets are superior teams in the NL. Other teams like the Twins, Rays, Mariners won't be easy as a Wildcard matchup. I said Toronto did well at this deadline and did improve but they didn't add really an impact arm like a Rodon or Castillo which I think could have really helped and take this team to the next level.

B I wouldn't give them an A. For those posters who did, clearly they're being homers. I think the Jays improved nicely without giving up much in terms of prospect capital. I think Bass and Pop were solid additions to the bullpen. Mitch White is a solid No 4/5 starter who is under control and gives the Jays some depth if a starter goes down to injury or if Kikuchi implodes again. I do like Whitt Merrifield. He has been a consistent 3-4 WAR player who I think will benefit from a change of scenery and I think his speed in the Postseason will be a difference maker. Plus he's under control again in 2023 at a very reasonable salary that doesn't break the bank. What keeps me from giving the Blue Jays an A? Well like CarlosDanger said earlier and made a valid point, a lot of the Jays competition did get better and acquired some better pieces. As well, I think we all would have loved to have seen the Blue Jays trade for a real impact guy like a Carlos Rodon to really bolster the rotation in the Postseason. Imagine going into a series with Gausman, Manoah and Rodon + Berrios as a No. 4. I think acquiring a SP like Rodon would have made the Blue Jays a more dangerous team in a short series and given them a better chance against another top team. Lastly, I think another BP arm would have been nice, someone with a high K% and late inning experience. You can never have enough pitching down the stretch and in the Postseason. Though another factor was the vaccine requirements to enter Canada. Maybe guys like Castillo, Rodon, Cobb or other relievers or players couldn't come here and weren't willing to get the vax afterwards which made things a lot tougher for Atkins. So I would give him the benefit of the doubt if that was the case.

Why is he an anti-vax idiot?

Did you just say Tapia platoon in CF? C'mon man!

Vin Scully was a legend. Would stay up late to watch west coast games just to hear his voice. Very sad to hear this news. RIP.

He can get J&J which is just one shot, but yeah waiting the whole 14 days thing is stupid. Blue Jays are home next on August 12th anyways, so Merrifield will be able to join the team on their road trip!

Mitch White is probably better than Kikuchi haha.

Yeah definitely a buy low and you have to hope maybe Merrifield in a Jays lineup and hitting at Rogers Centre, he can return close to his glory days. Last season he was still solid, posting a WAR above 3.

I think in a perfect world, we all would have loved an impact starter like Carlos Rodon, or Alex Cobb or Luis Castillo, though it wasn't the most important if the price tag was too much. I'm happy the Jays added a No. 4/5 starter in White who actually can be quite decent and isn't a two month rental. To me, there is no difference in White and Syndergaard. Thor was a previous ace and former Jays farmhand, so he would have came with more fanfare. Otherwise, White is the more valuable asset. As for the bullpen, I like Bass and Pop, though agree another arm with high K% would have been nice. Merrifield can play 2B/CF and is a game changer on the base paths which I think will be a huge plus in the Postseason. Obviously would have preferred someone like Ian Happ or Joc Pederson, though Merrifield will suffice. Wish the Jays could have dealt another arm instead of Castillo, since he makes for a good swingman or 7th starter lets say if an injury happens or Kikuchi self destructs.

Regardless, Merrifield is a nice bat and player to have especially in the Postseason. Don't think he was a huge priority though at least he gives the Jays a 2B/CF and someone with speed who could hit atop of the lineup when Springer isn't playing. I definitely think he's better than a 90 wRC+ he's posted thus far. Outside of his 2020 and rookie season, he always has posted a WAR above 3 so he's been a proven bat. He's not the same guy he was in 2018/2019, though he can still be a solid contributor IMO. Plus his speed can be a huge asset in the Postseason. I would rather start and give ABs to Merrifield instead of Tapia or Zimmer.

Who knows, maybe Merrifield goes all Matt Carpenter for the Jays!

He needs to get on first first before he gets to third haha.

Agreed. Tough letting go of Castillo in this deal. He definitely is an arm who could help the Jays and make 3 to 4 starts in the rotation if somebody went on the IL.

I was watching one of the Dodgers games last week and was watching White pitch. He didn't look too bad and I did like his stuff. Definitely think he'll make a solid No. 4 or 5 starter and has team control which is a nice thing. Again, he's nothing flashy but in 15 games, 10 starts, has pitched 56 innings with a 3.70 ERA and 4.23 xFIP with a 0.7 WAR. Syndergaard on the other hand in 15 starts has a 3.83 ERA, 4.27 xFIP and a 1.2 WAR. So given contract, stats and even team control, White is a much valuable asset IMO. At least if a Jays starter goes down on the IL, White could hold his own in the rotation and give you a chance every 5th day.