glory

Yeah I don’t think it’s a race issue exclusively when it comes to TLR. I’d imagine most of the young players on that team are disappointed. This is going to be a trainwreck.

The White Sox going to be unintentional comedy in 2021.

I think the Jays are definitely adding two more SPs. Best case it’s Bauer and then a cheaper option. More likely it will be two mid tier options (ex. Odorizzi/Paxton and Walker). Either way, I can’t see them entering the season counting on 2 of Roark/Stripling/Pearson as guaranteed rotation arms.

It takes two to tango in free agency. If Kluber signs for 1/6 in San Diego (for example), it doesn't mean he would have taken 1/8 from Toronto. The pitchers looking at "pillow contracts" will probably be harder for the Jays to sign (AL East, facing the Yankees/Red Sox/Rays all the time, and now no clue where they'll play home games). Ray just happened to be someone who spent a few months with the Jays coaches and obviously felt comfortable. It's why I suspect they might circle back with Walker at some point if other options fail.

I don't disagree with those who want to aim higher, I am in the same boat, but I don't think they make this move if they felt it took them out of other bigger players. They got Anderson early last season at around the same cost and still spent over $106m total ($35m in 2020 money) on Ryu, Roark, and Yamaguchi after that. This is probably a combination of "a bird in the hand" and possibly buying low on a mid rotation starter who actually wanted to come back. I have no idea if this will make a difference to other FA's, but players know that teams/owners are going to try to screw them more than usual this winter, so the Jays coming in this early in the winter and giving a player a contract that might be considered a bit of an overpay in today's Covid market certainly couldn't hurt in endearing them to other FA's. Doesn't mean they'll sign better players, but maybe gives the signal that they are one of the few teams that won't be as impacted by the Covid revenue losses.

I think 1/8 is a fair deal with upside. He is only 29, velocity went up post trade, and track record of a 2-3 WAR starter in the 5 years prior. Bit surprised he got $8 million though, especially this early in the off season. I guess the teams who have money to spend might view this off season like a normal one rather than waiting until March to sign players. It always takes an overpay to sign free agents, and a pitcher wanting to recoup his value signing a one year deal in the AL East where he doesn't know where he'll be pitching during home games probably warrants one as well. Either way, as long as this doesn't hinder spending on higher end free agents, it's a solid move.

At least the Jays were able to make a deal with Brodie before he lost his job.

If the Indians are such a hot mess financially, then maybe they'd look to move Ramirez, but $9m + 2 cheap team options for a MVP candidate can't be that expensive even by Cleveland standards. Plus once they move Lindor they should be fine from a payroll standpoint. Finding a pre-breakout star like Grisham would be great but harder to do that without a 2020 minor league season to go on. They'd have to really guess right. I'm sure the Jays can (and will) make some trades, but for a star at a position like CF or SS/3B seems really unlikely. I recall reading they were very close to trading for Joe Musgrove at the deadline but it fell apart at the last minute. I could see trades like that happening. Solid/mid-tier players with 2 years of control for prospect depth. A trade for a legit star with years of control left seems much harder. That's why I don't mind the free agent option, even if it means a slight overpay. Of course if they sign Bauer instead, then they can be a little more creative in finding the position players.

Which star CF/SS/3B with 2-3 years of control left figures to be available in a trade, though? Those types are usually not traded, and I don't really see a player that stands out as a realistic trade candidate. Acquiring someone like that would be great, and maybe the Covid related financial losses will make teams do stupid things, but that seems on the highly unlikely side unless I'm missing an obvious trade target. Would the A's be so cheap (and disgusting as an organization) to trade Matt Chapman? Ketel Marte has 2+2 left on his contract, not sure if the D-Backs would move him. I think it's far more likely to get an upgrade in free agency in one of those spots, and it won't cost you top prospects. Agreed on Bauer. Catering to his demands (pitching every 4 days) would actually help the Jays since Ryu needs more rest during the season, and we don't know how many innings Pearson can handle next year. Giving Bauer 40+ starts, if that's something that he wants, should be pretty easy as long as he stays healthy. If you told me the Jays sign Bauer and then do nothing else of real significance, then I'd be fine with that since 2-3 WAR players will be fighting for contracts this winter, so signing the best FA available and then cheaping out the rest of the way is probably a high win proposition in this market.

You're right that serious contention will depend on internal players taking the next step (Vlad, Bo, Biggio, Pearson, etc), but I think you can both wait for that development and improve the roster at the same time. The Ryu signing is an example of that. There's still 3 years left on that deal so it could easily turn sideways in the future, but it was a reasonable gamble to take on a player with front end ability. The Jays should be focusing on moves like that. I don't think any FA, even the top ones, are getting more than 5 year deals, either due to age or possibly by choice (Bauer). That fits right into the team's timeline with the current core group. I think this free agency + market is something the Jays need to take advantage of, assuming Rogers is willing to spend. Don't do the free agent equivalent of 2013 AA or anything crazy like that, but aim high, and see what happens from there. The bargains are going to be there either way due to league finances.

Slim, gun toting Vlad about to shock the world next season.

Turning Roark into Seager would be a good move, but not sure the Mariners would do it. While Seager's $15m in 2022 would become a player option with a trade, it's a team option as long as the Mariners keep him, so a Roark/Seager swap would save the M's about $6m in 2021 and that's about it. The Jays would likely have to throw something in. If the Jays took Seager's salary outright, then it shouldn't cost much, but if they are willing to go $18m on a player, then might as well try for DJ first who is better offensively and more versatile defensively.

Bauer trolling every fanbase but he’s a breath of fresh air for baseball. The off season is boring more often than not. At least Trev is engaging with fans and giving some anticipation/excitement for where he goes. More players should do this.

Out of all the QO players, DJ is probably the most realistic one assuming all it will take is an overpay to get him and he doesn't have a strict preference on location. Bauer will have a huge market, as will Springer, and Realmuto doesn't make sense as a target since Jansen might have some upside left and if not, Kirk is right behind him. Stroman is out for obvious reasons, and Gausman probably accepts it. If there is any year for the Jays not to put much weight on the QO, it is this one.

DJ would be my first choice as an acquisition. Hard contact, doesn’t strike out, draws walks, can play anywhere. Only downside is age (on a long term deal) but skill set is perfect for this team on just about every level. I don’t think he leaves the Yankees, and I think he ends up getting a bigger deal than MLBTR is predicting, but who knows what the market will look like.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/mlb-free-agent-predictions-2021.html LeMahieu would be great but I don't think the Yankees let him go that cheaply.

Cohen grew up a Mets fan. This is his dream purchase. He's not a corporate owner or an owner looking at the bottom line above everything else. This is a 60+ year old kid playing with his toy. Obviously he's not in this to lose a ton of money, but I think he's going to be super aggressive in putting a winner on the field.

Last winter was one of the busiest and most fun MLB off seasons in recent memory. This one (except for the Mets) might be the exact opposite.

According to Heyman, only the following players got QO's: LaMahieu Springer Realmuto Bauer Stroman Gausman

Cohen already hired Sandy Alderson back as the president of the team, so I'd be surprised if Brodie lasts much longer.

Steve Cohen is officially the owner of the Mets. Richest owner in the sport and didn't have to deal with the 2020 losses that every other MLB owner faced. Wouldn't surprise me if the Mets dominate the free agent market this year.

Not surprising.

For who is going to get the QO? Locks: Bauer, Realmuto, Springer, LeMahieu Maybe: Stroman, Semien, Brantley, Tanaka Can't really see any other borderline ones. Ozuna would have but he got it last year so he can't get it again. Of the four maybes, my guess is Stroman gets it, Semien doesn't (cheap A's), Brantley gets it, and Tanaka could go either way (depends on whether the Yankees want to be cheap or not).

I don't know about that. Grichuk would have been signing a one year deal even in last year's market that wasn't ravaged by Covid related revenue losses. He's not grossly overpaid for what he is, but the market hasn't been kind to 1-2 WAR types for years now. I don't see the Jays being able to move him without taking a bad contract back or eating up a lot of the money. Either way, having him on the roster definitely shouldn't prohibit the Jays from signing a better OF. If anything, the cheaper than normal FA market should push the Jays to upgrade the OF. Why start a 1 WAR CF out there just because of salary when 2-3 WAR players are probably going to get non tendered and/or will be signing inexpensive short team deals? Use Grich as a 4th OF or find a team with an equally bad contract that could fill another need (RP, SP) and make the swap. Or trade Hernandez at peak value, move Grichuk to RF, and then upgrade CF another way. Jays have options.