Brownie19

Highsight is so much fun. Can you imagine signing Vlad for $300M+ a year ago coming off a 118 wRC+, 1.3 WAR season and just 1 great season under this belt? I mean Atkins would look like a genius if you just blindly ignore the red flags and risks involved with that decision. Can you imagine if they locked up Bo for $300M after the 2023 season? ohhh lots of fun. Yet fans still have the audacity to suggest Atkins is a moron for not having extended Vlad and/or Bo by now - not only ignoring the huge risks those would have been, but also ignoring that those players would have had to been willing to sign extensions.

Probably. I do remember a few years ago when it actually seemed like $/WAR was decreasing (I think when it was around $9M/WAR) - those days are likely over.

New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported that a Cody Bellinger trade to the Yankees is experiencing a hang-up due to money. According to Heyman, the Yankees are interested in adding Bellinger as their starting first baseman with the knowledge that his center field defense would also give them an insurance policy in case rookie Jasson Dominguez isn’t ready. However, the Cubs are “asking the Yankees to take on nearly the full $52.5M Bellinger’s due over the next couple years, and the Yankees are expecting more cash coming back.” The Yankees can certainly take on that level of contract, but with Christian Walker and Pete Alonso also still free agents, it’s possible that New York doesn’t feel the need to give up assets and take on all of Bellinger’s salary until they’re sure he’s the best and most realistic option for them.

ESPN’s Jorge Castillo reports the Yankees and Jonathan Loáisiga have agreed to a one-year contract with a team option for 2026. Loáisiga returns to New York where he’s been a key component of the Yankees’ relief mix since breaking into the majors back in 2018. The 30-year-old righty, who holds a strong 3.44 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 207/72 K/BB ratio across 219 2/3 innings (163 appearances) at the highest level, underwent elbow surgery back in April to address a right flexor strain and made just three appearances last season. He’s expected to be ready to contribute at some point in the early stages of next year.

More fake news.

Only bad things happen to the Jays. Don't put any money on it.

I know (although I don't think the pitching was really "elite"), but go look at the f***ing lineup the Royals were running out there. They pulled Yuli Gurriel out of retirement and put him directly into the starting lineup. It was bizarre and baffling how they could win so much with 1 superstar, 1 quality catcher, 2 elite starters and Erceg, who they got at the deadline for nothing...And their offense was better than Detroit's!

To be fair, Braden Montgomery is highly touted. Teel is further along, but they could very well think Montgomery is the centerpiece of this deal. 12th overall pick in 2024 14th overall pick in 2023 4th round pick in 2022, who hit at every level and had 500+ PA's in at AAA last year at age 22 lottery ticket arm in Gonzalez For 2 years of Crochet, I don't think it's a "terrible" return. There is a lot of unknowns surrounding Crochet also (along with huge upside).

I mean - I just watched the Royals and Tigers make the playoffs on the backs of like 2 quality hitters and a bunch of useless noodle bats. It "can" happen. I mean it won't in Toronto, but we have seen it recently.

Astroturf? It's not 1987 sir. Turf as evolved a bit.

His luxury tax AAV is only $8.3M this year. He's the perfect target for the Jays. He comes with club options for $20M in 2026 and 2027 also.

I think it's time to package up Ricky T and bring on Luis Roberts to play LF

Kirk and Varsho both showed a lot more with the bat in the minors and in previous seasons.

I just wanted to point out that you sound dumb for listing bat speed as your first metric. That's all. I agree that Gimenez can't hit and likely never will.

You know bat speed isn't a good predictor of success eh?

It was always unrealistic to expect the Jays to be out there landing multiple big name free agents and plugging holes with the perfect fits. That also would have likely put us in a difficult position moving forward. But I do hear what you're saying.

Man - that would certainly be a welcome sight.

OK - so you're firmly in the camp that believes overpaying FA's like Santander, Teo, Burnes, etc. is the way to go. We'll see how that plays out. I don't think building through free agency is the way to go. Never have (no matter how exciting it is to land a big name).

I agree, but it's also just a reality of baseball. Teams go in cycles. Our cycle was 2020-2023 and then a failed 2024. a 4 year contention window is solid, yet unspectacular. The window has closed, time to rebuild.

Raises the floor for next year and he "does" have potential to develop into a 5 WAR player if he can learn to hit as he enters his prime. They still want butts in seats and he's a 3 time GG winner. He also fills a hole at SS when Bo leaves. I suspect Horwitz has very little trade value.

Make up your mind. The cost for talent is astronomical. Do you want them to pay up for Santander or not? We're not getting him for 3 years $60M. You either want him for $100M+ or you think that's insane and they should stay clear of that time bomb. The Jays aren't adding 2 bats to this lineup. They don't have the money to spend and nobody wants to sign here anyway. If you ask me, we're preparing to sell. Gimenez is overpaid, but it won't matter when we are rebuilding. He can take over SS from Bo and hopefully help protect our new young pitchers (post sell-off) with good defense and if he ever figures out how to hit (he is just entering his prime), then he has 4-5 WAR upside and could become a tradable asset. We're not signing Burnes, we're not signing Teo, we're not signing Santander, we're not signing Joc. We're hopefully signing bounce back candidates and guys on short term deals that have value at the deadline. The only thing we have to offer to a FA is a starting position. Players wil come here on 1 year, prove it deals, but nothing more. We may also see more trades like this - just to shake things up and I do suspect we'll add a closer - simply because we offer opportunity to close, as that door is wide open. They'll hope the guys they add start out hot so people fill the dome early in the year to drive revenue, but let's be very clear - we're not contending in 2025 - we simply aren't.

Yeah - those f***ing morons couldn't see thru the 65 wRC+ production he was providing in AAA to see he was actually a 2.5 WAR player.

Justin Turner's available still isn't he?

It's hilarious that people question the addition of someone projected for 3.1 WAR season, but actually want us to sign Santander (probably for 4-5 years $100-$120M) to add his projected 2.5 WAR (119 wRC+ bat).

Edman is 4 years older. The reality is we're back to the point where nobody wants to sign in Toronto, so we can't just "go sign Edman for 5/70".