burlingtonbandit

Varsho xwOBA by season .288 37GP .323 95GP .298 151 GP .303 158 GP 9.2 WAR Grisham .368 59 GP .309 132 GP .296 152 GP .326 153 GP 8.5 WAR total Both of them are the same age, Varsho certainly is the better defender but given Grisham is the 2nd piece in a big trade and the Jays traded away Moreno for Varsho, you would hope Varsho would be a lot better.

Yeah Stanton certainly looked terrible last year. I still think you bring him to ST and then evaluate then. Never know what injuries will happen either.

I wonder if the rumours of the Jays shopping Varsho was because the Jays were thinking about a plan of Soto and Grisham. Grisham could have replaced him in CF without much of a dropoff.

I would have Judge in RF and Soto DH unless Judge was nursing an injury. He's actually pretty good defensively. Soto in that huge LF isn't a great fit defensively either.

That's actually a pretty funny joke by Boras that I bet a lot of people didn't get.

Grisham is a solid get as 2nd piece. He's not too much different than Varsho and could be a guy who does well with the short porch. Not really sure why the Yankees got Verdugo though, Grisham is a better fit in CF.

Its actually pretty good down by the dome in June-August since you're by the water, way less humidity. Not even kidding you go up to Bloor Street and it feels a lot warmer. I can guarantee this also has nothing nothing to do with Ohtani's FA choices lol.

Ohtani 2nd.

Ah the joke opportunity was too good to pass up. I thought it so good, it would fly around here....unlike his helicopter

Don't want to sound too pessimistic but could the Jays be getting used a bit as leverage to drive up the price for LAD? His agency tries to be so secret so no one really has any idea but maybe the Dodgers get worried he's going to pick the Blue jays so they increase their offer. Now taking a PJ all the way to Dunedin, FL would be absolutely insane if it was just about increasing a contract offer so I can't really see that lol. To me the biggest advantages the Blue Jays have are: Player development complex in Dunedin and TO, Ballpark dimensions in TOR (More HR for LHH) and the marketing potential of the entire country. Not sure the city really matters too much, if he has SF on his list. As long as the city isn't a Hell hole I doubt he cares.

Kobe used to take a Helicopter to his games all the time in LA.. Although that plan did end up crashing and burning in the end...

Exactly... basically what I said as well. Although I don't think any players live here in the offseason (tax purposes much better off in Florida, Arizona etc) so the s***** weather in the winter probably doesn't make a difference.

I live right across from the Dome and after games the Cavan Biggio's of the world get hounded by autographs, good luck with Ohtani being able to walk across to a different condo building. Not to mention I don't believe a guy who by all accounts is super private would want to live in building with a ton of other residents. Youd have other residents wanting to take pictures with you in the elevator and crap. At the same time Toronto has less travel you also have customs to deal with which is a hassle and adds to the "travel time". Its not like these guys are walking though Pearson but even the special customs office adds time. LA and Toronto are probably the 2 worst traffic cities in NA so not sure either makes much difference lol. He probably has a driver in either case in a comfortable luxury car so not like he is sitting there yelling at idiots who cut him off on the Gardiner lol. If you're asking me personally I'd much rather live in LA than Toronto. But I'm not sure it matters that much, during the season these guys spend almost their entire day at the ballpark. They have what 10 off days a year in their home city?

I personally wouldn't care just because there would be so much excitement/buzz. Even a 12/500M deal is very risky and a high chance that he doesn't perform to that contract. If you look at WAR he's been worth just over 31 WAR in 6 years for his 24-29 age seasons. Is he going to get 30 WAR over the next 6 years when he's older? Coming off 2 TJS there's a ton of risk on the pitching side of it. Also have to wonder how his legs will up hold down the road after pitching and hitting for so many years. He could be a Stanton/Pujols for his last 3-5 years but the next 5 years would be so exciting it' be worth it. Just the though of him wearing a Blue Jays cap into the HOF gets me giddy.

Lol I'd say the Jays "leaks" are worse if anything. There were some details about the pitch to Ohtani where as Dave Roberts literally stated the obvious common sense. Not that I think either makes any difference in Ohtani making a decision about where he wants to go. And if it did I think would be a big problem in itself lol.

I also don't really buy the sentiment that since Toronto is in Canada and a hockey town that Ohtani would be able to live more freely compared to an American market. In fact I think it would be the opposite. LA has so many more famous people than Ohtani while if he goes anywhere in Toronto he's getting recognized. When Kawhi went down to Niagra Falls he basically got mobbed by people wanting to take pictures. Not to mention you'd have the Canadian media, the US media and the Japenese media all following him here. Biggest advantage the Blue Jays have are the new facilitates in Toronto and Dunedin so I would think that would make up a large part of their sales pitch.

If the Dodgers thought that Robert's comment was the difference of them signing Ohtani or not they would fire him on the spot and hire someone else and say "well now he's gone so there you go"

You mean the same FO that just this past season would leak stuff about Manoah? And to the point now where some people think the relationship is beyond repair..

The fact that the source suggested the team is willing to go well north of $500 million US (and yes, headed towards a billion Canadian) puts them squarely in the mix monetarily. The rest is up to the specifics of what Ohtani wants beyond becoming an extremely rich athlete. Well the above quote seems to suggest the source was pretty well connected in Ohtani's pursuit. I mean you could say its a lot more specifics than Roberts saying the obvious "yeah we met with him", which everyone knew anyways. To think Ohtani is going to base his decision on either of these is ridiculous. If he wants to go to the Dodgers, hes going to go to the Dodgers, if he wants to go to the Jays he's going to go to the Jays... Watching fans squirm about the mention of their favorite team meeting Ohtani is hilarious.

If they trade Varsho who is going to play CF?

So the Jays are out since someone leaked this then? “Now it feels a little bit like the show The Bachelor, waiting to see if we get picked,” the source said of the Jays’ involvement in what has become the hottest story in sports and the anticipation of waiting for an answer. The source said that during the courtship, Ohtani has expressed his affinity for Toronto and in particular has enjoyed a city that is generally calmer and quieter than many bigger U.S. urban areas, including Los Angeles. https://torontosun.com/sports/baseball/toronto-blue-jays/rogers-all-in-on-blue-jays-pursuit-of-global-superstar-shohei-ohtani-source

Yup, guess he will retire now.

Well Atkins just commented on Ohtani's free agency saying they don't know when he will make a decision lol. Guess Jays are out too.

Don't think its any secret. Same with Lebron James (which ESPN did a story on) and probably lots of NBA/MLB/NFL players. The doping technology is way ahead of the testers. And if all these Olympic athletes are doping to try to win medals you don't think other sport athletes are when there are millions and millions of dollars to be made?

Its hilarious people thinking Dave Roberts saying we spoke to him is going to be a deciding factor. Ohtani isn't making a life altering decision about his future based on a manager talking to reporters.