glory

Not sure that’s likely this off season unless an Arizona trade happens. Nimmo and Kiermaier are all that’s left in free agency. My guess is KK goes to the Dodgers, and Nimmo’s price is not going to be reasonable at all. Springer in CF for one more year isn’t the worst option but it’s looking increasingly more likely barring a trade. At this rate it wouldn’t surprise me if the OF pickup is a trade for Max Kepler. Free agency is expensive and with a lot of teams having money and actually trying to field a decent team, it’s basically the opposite of what the market was like in 2020-21 when the Jays were able to flex their muscles in free agency.

Walker getting 4/72 is crazy.

Heyman not only jumping the gun but typing "Arson Judge" is amazing. I hope trying to be first was worth his credibility dropping.

Heaney signing with the Rangers. No mention of the contract, but I'm guessing it's going to be way too much.

Heyman is a Boras mouthpiece, so take it for what you will, but if Bellinger wants anywhere near 1/20, then hopefully the Jays pass.

So the Jays reportedly made offers to Verlander, Heaney, and Gibson. Pretty much the entire spectrum of available pitching, from the top end, to the middle, to the lower end. Curious to see who they end up with. I'm guessing Heaney, but hopefully they are aiming a lot higher.

Yeah, I think Heaney will end up with the Jays, but I'm terrified of what the contract will look like given how the market is right now.

I'm guessing they increased the years to lower the AAV for CBT reasons, but holy s***, 11 years for a guy about to turn 30 is crazy.

Phillies getting Trea Turner according to Passan.

Verlander's deal with the Mets is 2/86 with a vesting option for the 3rd year.

Goes without saying, this makes a lot of sense for the Jays.

deGrom signed a below market extension with the Mets that had a s*** load of deferred money. I think he regretted that almost instantly and wanted to make up for it here.

Based on Atkins' history and the market itself, it's going to be a FA signing, if anything. The catcher trade will depend on a lot of other factors (where Contreras goes, where Murphy is traded, etc) that are out of his control, so that might come later in the winter.

I'm sure the Rays are going to turn Eflin into a much better pitcher, but if he's getting a $13m AAV over 3 years, then yeah the SP market is going to be expensive.

That's why turning one of the catchers into a CF is really the only way to restore some organizational balance. The Jays have 3 catchers and literally one OF signed beyond 2023 with nothing close in the minors. I think you could probably live with Nootbaar + a short term deal for someone like Kiermaier to bide some time, but ideally you turn a catcher into a long term CF, and then go year to year with LF until a longer term option presents itself.

Seems the Jansen/Nootbaar talk has surfaced because of (who else) Morosi talking about it on MLB Network. I doubt the Cardinals make that deal, but at least Morosi is talking about a deal that benefits the Jays this time, which is better than him trying to make Teoscar for Flexen seem like a fair deal a few weeks ago.

Yeah this type of role is probably ideal for Mattingly since he doesn’t have to feel emasculated by having to take orders from Atkins, while also possibly using him in a role where his strengths from a managerial standpoint can be used more effectively (whatever those strengths might be).

A trade with Jansen and Grisham as the main pieces seems pretty reasonable. I'm not sure the Padres do it because they only have 3 OF's on their entire 40 man roster right now, so they'd need to acquire an OF or two before they moved Grisham, but if they were to do that, then it fills needs for both teams and it's the type of deal one should reasonably expect in return for Jansen. Grisham seems more likely to post a plus 100 wRC+ than Bellinger is, and he comes with 3 years of cheap control from ages 26-28. Reality is, Jansen is not going to get any of the Arizona OF's, and likely won't get someone as controllable as Nootbaar. Best bet is to get a similarly valued and controlled player who fills an area of need. Obviously if the Jays did not have a catcher surplus, then Jansen would be an extension candidate right now rather than a trade chip, but since he is a trade chip, you have to factor in a lot of his deficiencies (health, lack of track record, control) into his value. He's probably not going to fetch as much as he should in a trade, which is why some have argued to trade one of the other catchers depending on the return.

The team has more big league catching options than big league outfield options right now. There will be another move. Whether the move is good or not remains to be seen but there will be a move.

I don't know if it's so much Bellinger love or just realistically looking at the options. Nimmo is going to cost something ridiculous like 5/120 or 6/130. Kiemaier is going to be 33 coming off hip surgery. FA market is not good for CF. Bellinger only wants a 1 year deal so even if he still sucks with the bat it's not going to tie the team down for years. With that said, the team definitely needs to add another OF even if they sign Bellinger, preferably one that is controllable. Next year's CF market isn't any better. I've always been on the "trade with Arizona" train, but I'm doubling down on it now. CF is hard as hell to fill, especially a LH CF. They have 4 LH CF and the Jays have 3 big league catchers. There's a trade in there somewhere. Just find it already.

If Bellinger can be a 90-100 wRC+ guy with his defense and base running, he'd be a pretty valuable player. Will the shift changes, Rogers Centre, and maybe some better health (if he's still battling issues) get him to that level? I have no idea, but as long as that's the expectation and not 2019 Bellinger, then it's probably worth the gamble on a one year deal. But yes, there is real risk of him being the same guy he's been in 2021-22. He wouldn't be available if there wasn't that risk.

Yeah, not only because of recent history (Semien), but the Jays have a s*** outfield aside from Springer. They'd play Bellinger everyday out of sheer necessity. I'm sure Bellinger/Boras both want it.