jaysblue

You would think based off the season he's had thus far, he could easily get $100M over 3 years if he were a FA. Maybe even more on a shorter term deal. So $37M AAV for him over the next three seasons isn't that bad. Jays are one the few teams who can take on that kind of salary. Other notes: 2028 Club Option: $20M (contains no buyout) 625 Innings Pitched or 1 Top 5 Cy Young: $30M 725 Innings Pitched or 3 Top 5 Cy Youngs: $37M 2028 Becomes a $37M Player Option if: 160+ IP + Top 5 Cy Young + Healthy in 2027

Finally helping my fantasy team now lol. The days of arms like Roy Halladay finishing 10-12 games per season or going 7 innings minimum are gone lol.

Ross Atkins at the trade deadline:

deGrom actually makes a huge difference this season if he's added to the rotation. Just got to pray he stays healthy lol. If the Jays add deGrom, they instantly become World Series contenders IMO. It would feel really good to have deGrom start two games in a DS or CS series.

This is why pitching depth is so important. Jays bullpen depth options have actually been solid when they've been called up from Buffalo. I know when everyone is healthy, the Jays don't have enough room to roster everyone (like we've been discussing who in the pen gets cut when Yimi or Burr etc get back), but in baseball that's never the case usually lol. Adding bullpen reinforcements before and at the trade deadline wouldn't hurt IMO, especially if the Jays can't land a top starter. If the Jays are only going to allow their SP's pitch once/twice through an order in a Postseason game, will need a deep bullpen to finish off the games.

You would think they would have learned from that mistake, but who knows lol.

10-game winning streak exactly what the doctored ordered. Tough loss today but you can't win them all. Lets hope we take 2 of 3 or sweep in Sacramento!

I'm never watching another game. I'm done with this team!

Yeah nothing against Vladdy, he's having a decent season but imagine if he was playing like a superstar like he did in 2021 and the second half of last season? Would definitely be considered World Series favourites.

Fire everyone! 😂

Berrios Keller Gausman Bassitt Lauer Scherzer Manoah Francis Nice depth for sure if Keller is added. Tough right now in terms of who you would lock into the Jays Postseason rotation other than around 2 names. I guess depends on how everyone is pitching and who has been dealing leading into October. Like for example, if Scherzer puts together a string of starts like he did vs. the Yankees on June 30th, you have to factor him into the rotation. But yeah that's a huge IF haha.

People tend to forget that Bednar is already 30 and last season looked toast. Granted, he's bounced back big this season so that's a plus, but couldn't care about how much control a 30+ year old reliever has left. He is only under control for one more season anyways, so not crazy about giving up a top guy like Nimmala + more to get Bednar included in a deal. As for Keller, he has control for three more seasons and Atkins historically has liked trading for players with control. $16.9M in 2026, $18.4M in 2027 and $20.4M in 2028, which is quite reasonable if he continues to post 2-3 WAR seasons. Pirates might want to rid themselves of that contract anyways, so who knows what they ask for. Keller is a solid arm, but he's no different than what the Jays have right now IMO with Berrios, Gausman and Bassitt. He's a solid mid-rotation arm and in essence replaces Bassitt for next season. As well, Jays would save money with Keller since signing a similar starter likely would be around $20M+ AAV per season. You can never have enough pitching especially down the stretch, so Keller would be a nice addition. Not an ace by any means, though he could start a Postseason game for sure and maybe Pete Walker could untap some more potential from him.

Yeah this team has been its most competitive when they've had teams solid offensively (2015, 2016, 2021 and now currently). When the Jays have had elite pitching and no bats (for example, 2008, 2022, 2023), things were frustrating at times and those teams were never really able to go on a run like we saw the other teams and this years team has done. Makes you want to conclude that it's more important to have a very good lineup that could also field very well, over elite pitching during the regular season. If this team could add deGrom to the top of the rotation, this Jays team becomes a serious World Series contender.

Ironic that when the pitching staff has been lights out in the past (whether it was earlier this season or in 2023 for example), the hitting was mediocre during those stretches. During those time periods, the team never really went on a run like they have over this last month. Things just feel different and the results in the standings show.

Winning streaks like this make all the difference! Something we haven't seen in years.

Is Ricardo Rincon available?

Great start to the road trip! Let's finish out the first half strong by beating up on the White Sox and A's!

Also, not many other contenders can take on his $37M AAV like the Blue Jays would be able to. Rays, Brewers, and Tigers are out for sure. Yankees, Mets, Dodgers and Phillies likely can't add on that future salary anyways. Maybe the Giants, Cubs, & Padres in the NL I suppose. Possibly the Astros if the Rangers trade within the division? Mariners rotation is already deep enough as is and don't need any SPs.

I suggested deGrom as a potential trade candidate last week. Rangers would be smart to move him and shed that salary. $37M AAV each season though and his injury history could be a concern. Otherwise, would be fun to watch him at the top of the rotation and pitching in the Postseason. Another obstacle: deGrom has a full no-trade clause, so not sure if he would want to pitch in Toronto.

Ideally an ace would be a huge help, however the limited options available and acquisition cost might not be viable. Sure, you might be able to acquire a reclamation project like Sandy Alcantara or Zac Gallen, though there is no guarantee the ship could be righted with them in such a short time window. Would target high leverage relievers instead if the Jays can't acquire a top of the rotation arm.

I would boot Green, no questions asked. Sandlin has options as well. Also, a lot could still happen over these next couple of weeks in terms of injuries/IL stints. Always better to have more reinforcements/options than being left scrambling down the stretch. If the Jays don't add an elite/top-of-the-rotation starter, I think they need to add another high leverage arm or two since they're going to be riding their BP hard in a Postseason series, especially if they only allow their starters go 4 to 5 innings.

Taylor Ward would be a nice RH bat and the Angels likely would move him. This season: 20 HR's, 59 RBI, 115 wRC+ and 1.8 fWAR so far in 87 games. Defensively he's not a huge liability in LF and you could always sub in a better defensive outfielder later in games.

I was thinking of Bryan Reynolds the other day as a potential trade candidate, though like Brownie mentioned that contract is the deterrent. Plus not sure he ever returns to being a 5-6 WAR player like he was 2021. His numbers have been regressing each and every season and is going to be on the wrong side of 30.

Trade Deadline Rotation Arms Top of the Rotation arms: Chris Sale (if made available and healthy) Brandon Woodruff Freddy Peralta Top of the Rotation arm reclamation projects: Sandy Alcantara Walker Buehler Zac Gallen Middle of the Rotation arms: Seth Lugo Merrill Kelly Luis Severino Zach Eflin Nick Martinez Andrew Heaney Tyler Anderson Edward Cabrera (only 27 and has club control)

Keep the streak going! White Sox have been playing a bit better as of late lol, but regardless got to take advantage of these series against the White Sox and A's before the All-Star Break to pad up the division lead!