Key22

Swept by Boston and Baltimore and lost 3/4 to the Yankees - the game we won we we were shut out through 9. Bassitt stole us a game. We beat Atlanta but their defence lost them their games rather than us actually beating them. Garcia is a $5m dollar reliever that Houston let walk away because they didn't feel he was worth that - in other words, he wasn't good enough to make their pen. He's our number 2/3 arm. I know some are slaves to WAR but BP arms matter. But big arms in the pen are tough to get and our farm isn't brimming with talent to trade.

I think we should not worry too much about next year. We have a pretty big payroll and I don't believe they're at the limit. We should have a lot of contracts coming off the books no? Ryu Belt KK Chapman (That's 50 million). Hell, why not make a run at Ohtani - $440 million/10 years with $6 million leftover - sweet.

Looking at Manoah's last few starts I am reminded of Ricky Romero who was terrific and then just seemed to lose it. Tell me I am worried for no reason.

It's also okay to have a bat-first shortstop - it's not the end of the world. I would take a Derek Jeter any day. It would be great if you could have a Jeter Bat with Ozzie Smith's defence - but that's likely not to be.

Be careful with the bonuses guys - Jeter won 5 Gold Gloves.

Maybe we should do one of those 3 way trades like AA. Trade for SF or SD prospects - send prospects to third team to get what we need. 3-ways are fun.

Thanks, guys - this makes me feel much better about KK. Watching Zimmer at the plate was downright excruciating and taking three roster spots with JBJ, Tapia, and Zimmer was irritating.

Is KK all that much better than JBJ though? Isn't JBJ also a light-hitting excellent defensive CF? And JBJ isn't hurt. So not sure about paying a LOT more money to KK when JBJ could probably be had for peanuts.

Free spending owners can take these risks because if the Mets, Dodgers, Padres, Rangers, Yankees get it wrong and Senga is a complete pile of crap - they can eat the contract and immediately sign another player to a 5 year $100m contract. Teams like Toronto have to get it right - when they sign someone and they stink it up - they can't just replace the player with another big contract. I mean the Jays actually are in better position than most teams - they are sort of in that second tier where they can replace 1-2 players they screw up on. Being very in on Verlander and probably offering him $40m+ a year indicates that. The first tier spenders don't mind signing 11 year contracts to players who may only be worth it for 5-6. The frustrating thing with Kikuchi is the guy clearly has electric stuff - I mean Berrios too - Berrios had some really good outings where he looked completely unhittable last year and Kikuchi was also dominating in spots. And then the next game they would get utterly blasted. If someone can get these guys to regain consistency - our rotation would be pretty awesome. Maybe a new pitching coach - or "another" pitching coach would help. Bring in whoever was his coach in Japan. Hire Minnesota's coach - pay him double.

My only concern so far is that this team as it stands now is considerably WORSE than the team on the last day of the Post Season. We are down Stripling's rather excellent year We are down one major RHB in Teo. We replaced JBJ and Zimmer's defence with KK but he's a lousy hitter. So you don't really gain anything here - at least nothing that moves the needle. If you trade Kirk or Jansen - you lose even more office. I am not upset at the Jays - You can't do much if another owner or two get nutty like the Mets but I don't see too many avenues to improve. They would need to sign at least someone as good as Stripling and a bat that is at least as good as Teo just to remain as good as they were at the end of the season. One bullpen arm isn't moving the needle much. Conforto is nice in theory but anytime a guy misses an entire season with a shoulder problem - well - it's tough to get too excited that you're getting some sort of all-star on day one. He's sort of a guy you get when you're out of better options. If he is 100% great but if he was he'd probably be signed by now. Good news is that Ryu is off the books after next season.

Nimmo would have helped. Keep seeing the names drop off the board. Are we now into dumpster diving mode for mediocrity like Conforto?

I said this before but if you are giving $300/10 you give that money to a much better all-around player by the name of Carlos Correa. You then trade Bo for a package of other needs like your lefty/switch-hitting CF and a couple of shutdown relievers. It's also tough to pay Vlad with his body type and the fact that he is a 1b and basically just a big bat. If they were willing to trade Teo for a reliever and a lotto ticket why would they want to pay Vlad $30m a year for a decade? Teams seem to be willing to pay Shortstops who can play solid defence and also hit a lot. Those contracts make some sense. In fact, I would be fine with an elite gold glove Ozzie Smith type of defender at SS and find the offence elsewhere as the prices are lower.

The last time the Jays won the world series they had the highest payroll in baseball. Just saying - if the Jays are not a top 5 spending club they're probably not winning anything. And we don't have the benefit of top 3 draft picks every year for half a decade to improve internally.

I was thinking about Carlos Correa -- He's a better overall shortstop than Bichette is he not? Why not sign him to a $280/8 year deal - Bo and Vlad are going to cost in this vicinity only Correa is a better shortstop. Then you have Bo as a pretty massive trade chip to get you a starter and a "miss bats" reliever and some prospects. Or you move Vlad (ditto Bo's contract) move Bo to 2b and find a competent 1B bat. When Atkins talks run prevention and then has one of the worst defensive shortstops in the league manning the most important defensive position maybe you have to think outside the box.

Free Agency has largely just begun - who is to say the Rangers don't add 3 other top 15 free agents? If they add Verlander, Rodon and Judge and two of the top remaining relievers - they're going to be contenders. Oil state - limitless money it seems. No taxes so more bank for free agents. They went crazy last year - so you never know how nutty they will go.

I am not all that convinced by either one or the money they will cost. Vlad keeps pounding the ball into the ground. If he is a 1.000 OPS guy then yes you back up the brinks truck for him. If he is a .850 OPS hitter for a chubby first baseman - then he's basically a Teo and maybe you give him a $125m five-year deal. Bo is kind of a Derek Jeter - one of the worst defensive shortstops in baseball but has a good bat. But he's hardly a complete player. If you're going to dole out $300 million - I want all-star calibre on both sides of the ball. A guy like Judge for example is a solid enough fielder and a huge bat - that's a guy you pay obscene money to. I'd be more comfortable giving Judge $300m/8 than $300m/10 to Vlad or Bo. Ie; I would take a run at Judge or Correa. Trade Vlad or Bo for other areas of need (starting/pen/CF/SS). It's kind of important to have very good defence at shortstop - Chapman may be making up for left-side defence but I'd rather have a complete player at SS. And if Bo isn't signing here then you don't have to placate him with regards to position - put him at 2nd or CF.

Blair and Barker on the deal - barker notes that both managers (Montoyo and Shneider benched Teo) for some poor play - perhaps this contributed to them parting ways with Teo. Perhaps stuff the fans don't see. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/blair-barker/id541972447

One thing to keep in mind was the bit about "many teams were interested in Macko" - if true then they will still be interested. With a weak farm system the Jays now have a trade chip in Macko to sweeten the pot of other deals they are interested in making. A Kirk+Macko package for example.

Why not just release Ryu to create an extra spot on the 40-man? Ryu is unlikely to return before the all-star break and probably won't be all that effective when he does return. Unless the Jays have to keep him for insurance payout purposes I don't see why you would hold onto him.

The Phillies are a horrible defensive team - and they don't pass the eye test - every time I see that team they seem to kick it all over the place. Didn't seem to hurt them - look where they are - give me a big offence and strikeout pitchers - you don't need no stinking defence.

The thing the reviewers probably noted was that Sanchez's leg blocked the plate before he actually caught the ball - there was no clear path to the plate for Merrifield- the Minnesota players say there was a path to the plate but there was none. If the leg didn't block the plate Merrifield would have beaten the tag. Anyway - we get plenty of crap calls that go against us so it's nice to get one for a change.

Jeff Blair seems clueless and he owns a show! LOL

Thanks - with Springer being made of glass - it makes sense. He's definitely a big upgrade over Zimmer and adding a base-stealing element never hurts. The bottom line is he makes the team better. As do the pitchers we landed. Mitch White looks to be an interesting under-the-radar get here as well. Stripling has worked out well so you never know. And certainly, a guy like Bass is an upgrade over the likes of a Beasley. Not a terribly exciting deadline but the team is better now than yesterday.

Help me understand Merrifield - he has a .290 OBP - .643 OPS and -0/2 WAR and is -0.4 Defensive War - he bats right is 33 years old and signed through 2023 making $ 7 million this year and $6.5million next year with a $500k buyout and $18 million option for 2024. So not only is he a negative defensive player who can't hit and bats right, but he's also going to cost $ 7 million a season. I know Zimmer is a walking strikeout but is this seriously the guy! Max Castillo looked pretty good as a swingman who could pitch 4-5 innings from the pen (who can replace Stripling when he leaves for more money in the off-season). Max is throwing mid-90s fastballs with a good breaking ball - and throws strikes. Max has 6 years of control. And you send Samad Taylor on top? Merrifield was an all-star last season and he can steal bases - so did he just have a terrible start to the season and he's been playing much better lately?

Insurance - in case a starter gets hurt or falters - His numbers are actually quite good even with the dip in fastball and K numbers - doesn't walk many or give up bombs. He's been better than Berrios or Kikuchi this year so not a bad get if the cost is pretty low.