Carlos Danger

You need to check Southern California airports.

For those not old enough to remember. There was a moment of fan backlash when the Jays traded two of their most popular players, the "Crime Dog" Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez, for Carter and some guy 90% of the fans hadn't heard of, Roberto Alomar. Fans will get over it if they get a decent return and add to other areas of the Team. Winning solves all.

I would be very happy with Vientos, Acuna and Gilbert if we are asking for the world ;)

For the Jays to expect a trade haul equal to or better than Soto, appears to be overvaluing him on the trade market while internally undervaluing him on the FA market. I suspect that just like in many negotiations, the Jays are starting off high, but that the ask will eventually come down. Especially if they know, which they should be now, if they are too far off Vlad's ask in FA, It should be noted, we have gone from the Jays being adamant Vlad is not available for trade, to hearing rumors of teams inquiring, to now what the ask is....

Jim is crab walking.....

New MLB rumor may explain why New York Yankees and New York Mets failed in Roki Sasaki pursuit https://sportsnaut.com/new-york-yankees-rumors-reason-for-roki-sasaki-failure/ “In Roki Sasaki’s past meetings with teams, he has come across as a very quiet, very serious person,” Olney wrote in a post on X. “This is being interpreted by some teams as a sign that he might prefer to be in a place where he isn’t the center of attention. In a smaller market, or among more established stars.” That fear of the pressures of New York and a big market is understandable. Many more established players have failed under the bright lights in the big city. However, for months there have been rumblings of the Los Angeles Dodgers being a favorite to land Sasaki. LA offers just as much pressure as NY. Roki Sasaki contract (Projection): Five years, $9.5 million However, he would not even be the top Japanese star in Los Angeles with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto already on the roster. Those two stars would offer some unique home-country shade the Mets and Yankees can’t. But this may also explain why the San Diego Padres have long been seen as a serious contender. They certainly offer a smaller market club with big stars. But they also have Yu Darvish, a person who has been a mentor to Sasaki for years. Either way, the two West Coast teams had more to offer the talented pitcher than their East Coast counterparts.

I was daydreaming today and had an image of fat Vlad in Mets pinstripes (home uni). Dead serious.

I get that. Jim’s initial post framed it as a luxury tax issue or budgetary issue if a team signs Sasaki they won’t have money or will be passing the tax penalty threshold etc. I believe salary wise, Sasaki won’t even be eligible for arb for two years.

What am I missing on how an international FA signing would hold up normal FA signings and how it affects the Teams year end luxury tax????? You stated that Sasaki is holding up other(regular)FA signings?

I think Alonso and Vlad have a symbiotic relationship. The Mets would prefer Vlad. If the Jays can't/don't sign Vlad, the Jays trade to Mets and Toronto signs Pete. So Pete is getting f***ed by Vlad.

I thought the penalty was reduced international bonus funds or lower hard caps the next year? His actually salary would be very little wouldn't it? Plus the luxury tax isn't calculated until EOY. So, I don't think teams going after Bregman would need to wait until Sasaki signs? Or what am I missing??

Why, all he is really costing is International $. Very cheap!! Are you talking roster spots?

Great article about the FA process for Burnes and the Blue Jays role in it. The Jays let him keep a tablet…..😗 https://www.si.com/mlb/corbin-burnes-diamondbacks-free-agent-process?

That’s the guy’s name I was referring to- Frank Hermann. He is our Silver Bullet if there is one.

There is a connection or something with regard to the Rangers. A lot of industry insiders speculated the Rangers would be the third finalist vice the Jays. The Rangers also apparently have top notch facilities and amenities that equal or surpass the Blue Jays.

Then he would have gone to the Rangers or Cubs. Our connection is that Scout/FO guy he has known for years, plus probably a combo of the Ohtani pitch/ facilities, the city/Country and Kikuchi/Munuri saying nice things..

I literally said there are always IFs with pens. It just goes back to hope is not strategy. Hedging and quality late inning depth is integral to bullpen construct.

So, Sasaki technically has until the 23rd to decide. However, I am not getting the sense they would want to announce on a weekend (Unlike the Ohtani Saturday IG post). Then in the U.S Monday is a holiday. MLK day, Plus!!! The inauguration of President Trump. I don’t think it would be smart to announce on Monday. Next Tuesday to Thursday would really be screwing over teams waiting to dip into the IFA pool. Therefore, I am summarizing, we will hear a decision between today and Friday afternoon. I have been wrong once or twice though.

I agree looks much better now. I really liked the Sandlin pick-up. My issues is, there seems to be a lot more IF, then normal IF with pens. IF Hoffman stays healthy, If Yimi stays healthy, If Swanson returns to form.

I hope you are being sarcastic….

This makes the most sense and would be better for the overall Team! The domino that would need to happen is we sign Pete Alonso in conjunction with this move.

I know you are trying to put a good spin on it. However a few rebuttal points. If you have money San Diego and Orange County (Where Ohtani lives)!can’t be beat in comparison. The Blue Jays had one of the least amount of player days on the IL in MLB. The Orioles lost their elite closer and half their SPs, as did the Dodgers? Astros lost key SPs, the list goes on. I honestly can’t recall the numbers. However,, I looked it up during the Ohtana saga. There are more Japanese in SoCal area alone then Canada I think it was. Not sure if he would get more endorsement opportunity if he wants it, then SOCAL even with Darvish, Ohtani and Yamamoto in the area.

Just to set the tone. Sasaki went to dinner this past weekend in San Diego with Darvish, Jackson Merrill, and Machado. Might have been more, those are the only names I heard.

To clarify, he had two meetings with Toronto in Toronto? I thought he had Zoom meetings originally with like 8 teams. One FTF in TO and two FTF in San Diego? Am I incorrect?