glory

He would be the ideal fit for the Jays needs, but I can't see him signing with the Jays. Lindor is more likely. His final year of arb is going to be very expensive, and teams like the Indians are going to feel the Covid losses more than bigger markets. Almost a certainty that they'll trade him. What it would take to get him, and whether the Jays would pay (in prospects) for a rental, or pay him what it would take to keep him long term, is the question. But he definitely seems like a realistic target, and a great fit for the roster itself (vetrin presents at age 27).

They should have had him just play 3B this year since he had no time to learn 1B, and make the transition in 2021. They should just pick a spot for him and then work on his hitting.

I actually wouldn't mind the Marlins winning it all just for the sheer insanity of it. I doubt they get past the Braves, but no World Series winner would better represent 2020.

Yeah the NHL might as well not exist in mainstream America, so NBC hasn't helped them at all. I know CBS used to broadcast MLB many years ago (when the Jays were in the World Series), and they currently air the NFL, but don't know enough about the network to know whether that's even an option. I can't think of any cable networks off the top of my head since Fox and Turner are the big ones aside from ESPN/ABC. MLB does a poor job with marketing their sport, so they deserve blame, but man, watching that ESPN block, that network doesn't give a damn about baseball. They barely promoted it on the day they were airing 7 games, and very little effort was given when actually airing the games. The NHL has somewhat proven that not having ESPN's good side may not be beneficial to your league, so maybe MLB just needs to accept it and take the money, but not sure being on a network that either ignores you during the season or has announcers who spend all game telling you how great the game used to be is going to help the sport long term. Put Jeff Passan on baseball related shows as much as possible, that would be a start.

I really hope Money Hungry Manfred moves on from ESPN when that deal is up. The playoffs this year have been a joke. Relic announcers who sound like they haven't watched baseball in a decade, unenthusiastic calls for big home runs (see Tatis' HR's last night), stupid gimmicks in between games to distract from the actual baseball on the field, etc. Then, I looked at ESPN's YouTube page, and not a single baseball highlight in there FROM THE GAMES THEY BROADCASTED. Could have easily put the Tatis bat flip on their channel since I'm assuming MLB would be OK with that given it aired on their network, but nothing except LeBron and the NBA. I'm sure ESPN will offer the most money, but there has to be another network, either on cable or network (CBS? NBC?) that could do more to promote the sport and not see a major difference in total viewers.

Really pulling for the Padres here. I've seen enough of the Cards for the last two decades. Time for Tatis to carry this sport on his back!

Yeah I expect a bunch of trades/roster moves this winter, especially if the minor league contraction or whatever the hell that is ends up happening. Given where the Jays are in their competitive window (not quite a playoff team but maybe a few pieces away), it might make sense to trade prospects for big leaguers this winter. With Kirk on the 40 man, wouldn't shock me if Moreno is moved as I believe he is Rule 5 eligible.

I used his last 5 years. That's a pretty big sample. The 2015 season is irrelevant because it was six seasons ago and a complete outlier compared to the rest of his career. He's been ~100 wRC+ for the last five years. Some years a little better, some years a little worse, but that's what he's been. That's what he's likely going to be in a full time role, give or take. Maybe he pulls off a late career breakout at age 30, but I wouldn't count on it.

Yup. In that spot you go with Pearson, Bass, or Dolis. You don't save them for a save situation, or for the game the next day, you try to win the 1st game at all costs and worry about the next one when it happens. No guarantee the Jays win that game even if they held the Rays to 1, but would have liked their chances better with Pearson/Bass/Dolis than Cole.

2016-2020 2241 PA, 101 wRC+, .242/.290/.477, 5.8 BB% He's the same guy except now with less exit velo and less strike outs.

White Sox with Anderson, Robert, Jimenez, Moncada, Abreu, etc, is going to be fun to watch for years. Hope they can win this game.

A ~100 wRC+ bat in RF with above average defense (presumably, defensive metrics can fluctuate) isn’t a bad player, but it’s not a good one either. I’ll take Teoscar’s below average D in RF if he keeps hitting the way he has since June of last year over him. Another negative, and this isn’t Grich’s fault, is that management thinks he’s better than he is, so he’ll bat much higher in the lineup than he should. Even if you don’t believe lineup construction is that important, you don’t want a .290 OBP in one of the top spots even if he’s hitting for power. It’s probably a moot point since they don’t give him $50m only to dump him a year later, but still, CF will remain a problem as long as he’s there.

Defensively maybe, but not with the bat. CF and 3B (or SS with Bo moving to 3B but that's probably not happening yet) are the two spots where the upgrades could be significant. Grichuk may not be better than Hernandez at this point (still need to see Teoscar do this over a full season). He's the one guy in the OF you upgrade on.

If Bauer is willing to take a one year deal on a team that would promise him 40+ starts a season, then do it and don't look back. If he wants a long term deal, and let's face it guaranteed money in your 30's when every pitcher is potentially a pitch away from hurting themselves is going to be too enticing to turn down, then that promise becomes too much. As far as the OF, if Springer is out of the question, then I'm fine with a Bradley/Davis platoon in CF. Instantly improves the defense, and offensively should be a league average or better. Grich isn't going to want to be the 4th OF, which is why you try to move him this winter. Won't get much back, if anything, assuming anyone even values him at 3/30 over the next three years, but he shouldn't be starting in the OF on a playoff team. I wonder what it would take to get one year of Lindor? Probably doesn't make sense for where the Jays are, but man would that be fun to watch.

At the risk of people throwing s*** at me, I'm rooting for Yankees/Astros ALCS (biggest franchise in the sport versus biggest villain in the sport), and Dodgers/whoever. The best chance for baseball not to be ignored by mainstream sports media over the next month is to have at least those three teams in the final 4. Then obviously, Yankees/Dodgers in the WS. That's my "best for baseball" rooting interest. In terms of which team I actually like from a player standpoint, I'd root for the White Sox and Padres, though I don't expect either team (the Pads possibly without Lamet and Clev) going that far.

Agreed about Buffalo. The Jays having to play there in 2021 could definitely factor into how successful they can be in signing free agents. There's no guarantee that they'll be allowed to play in Canada by the start of next season, so convincing a (good) FA to sign with a team that might have to play in a minor league park some/most/all season could be difficult. Plus, if there is a minor league season, how do you juggle the AAA affiliate in Buffalo with the Jays having to play there? Unless the Jays play in Dunedin instead. Lots of uncertainty there. Of course, money talks. Anderson's option should not be picked up. As mentioned, there will probably be a slow free agent market after Covid, so $9m for someone like him would be absurd. Pay the buyout, and get someone better. Roark should be dumped, but don't think he will be. Over a 162 game season when he doesn't have to pitch against all East teams, he might go from awful to just bad. Plus the money isn't going anywhere, they have to pay him anyway, so unless he's traded for a worse contract belonging to a more useful player, they probably hold on to him. I've said before I think there's going to be a s*** ton of non tenders this winter. I wouldn't make any unnecessary financial commitment until I know what's available. The supply is most likely going to exceed the demand. That's where the Jays can really take advantage (assuming Rogers will spend).

Yeah, Padres/Dodgers would be a great series. Hopefully the Pads win the next two.

At least Chuckles saved Pearson for today's game rather than using him in a one run game last night.

Yeah it was a one run game and they went to maybe their 4th best option in the pen, while the Rays went right to their best.

That extra day of rest for Ryu did wonders.

Jays are definitely not there yet, but this was the worst possible matchup for them. The Indians rotation probably kills this offense too, but at least it wouldn't be at the Trop.

Jays prioritized "health" over winning in the final game of the season. They're getting what they deserve.

That's the ball game.

Really wanted Vlad at 1B, Shaw at 3B, and Tellez at DH.

Shaw against a 98 mph FB could be ugly.