Jays24

No, you fail the test.

I believe most can agree that we essentially have the same team but swapped Semien/Ray/Matz for Chapman/Gausman/Kikuchi. Now I understand the easy answer could be the top 3 finalist and CY Young winner from last year but I think the answer is a bit more complicated than that. First, you'd have to assume that Ray/Semien would be able to replicate the same year after cashing in on their performances. Then you have to be an optimist and believe Chapman has more room for improvements and will be hungry for his big pay day exactly like Semien was prior to joining us. You'd also have to consider factors like Semien being a 2B, which created a hole for us at 3B whereas a player like Chapman plugs that hole and let's Biggio play in his more suitable position at 2B. So ultimately, which trio of players would you want on this team going forward if money wasn't a factor for the Jays? And if you feel the answer is Semien/Ray/Matz, do you feel we're a worse team than last year? Or do you assume the uptick in our young players should easily cover the downgrade and more?

I wouldn't say it's by design but it just speaks to the demograph of the rest of Canada vs the GTA. Not trying to turn this into a race thing but colored folks are more interested in basketball while baseball is primarily a white folk game with some exceptions of course. It is what it is. The Raptors during their championship run were drawing bandwagoners all across the country and pulling in ratings that no one thought was possible for basketball in this country. The Jays would clearly do the same but it would be more expected.

Raptors are massive regionally (GTA pretty much) with some fans sprinkled here and there throughout the country whereas the Jays are massive nationally. There is no comparison there and I'm saying that as a Raptors fan first and foremost.

That's exactly where I'm at with our team. I don't want us to deplete our farm to have a 2 year run and then struggle to restock the big league team with adequate pieces. If we can agree to an extension with JRam then I'd toss Biggio into that trade package.

Chapman battling for the number 2 spot in there order! Like I said, he will bat 5th at worst to start the year. After that, it will all be performance based.

Guy stayed on her for a loonnnggg time loll

JRam + prospects for Kirk is the offer right now.

Ultimately Ray and Semien left for the biggest pay day just like most 1 year players would do regardless of the "environment" you've created. 1 year trades make sense when you're at the end of your contending window or truly feel that player puts you over the top. I just felt there were ways to mitigate of having to give up a comp pick for a 1 year deal like going after Miller/Pederson harder. Especially when we're already stuck with Grichuk for the 4th OF role.

Conforto would be great but I just couldn't see our management giving up a comp pick for 1 year of him. Just doesnt seem like great asset management unless you hope to keep Conforto for the long haul. We could have been more aggressive with Pederson/Miller if we were that interested in a 1 year deal for a lefty OFer. And just because we have those picks means you get rid of them. We have made some trades that have slowly takem away from our farm system and probably plan to do more trades doing the same in the future (maybe Ramirez, etc.).

A little too late for Pederson now. We were rumoured to have gone after him so I'm just saying that we should have offered more to him or Miller rather than lose a pick for 1 year of Conforto. I just cant see this management making a shortsighted move like that.

But still... just because you're getting 2 comp picks shouldnt mean you throw one away for a 1 year rental who would be your 4th OFer at the moment. While he'd be a great add, I think it would have more sense to slightly overpay Pederson to platoon here in this scenario. Or we trade for Ramirez and just make Biggio that guy lol.

Dammit... still don't get why a team like the Red Sox would trade Betts in the prime of his career. They must have thought he wasn't going to keep up his high level of play or something.

Out of curiosity, what did Semien project to hit last year before the season started? I think anyone that puts him 2nd is assuming he's closer to the 2019 version than last years. You also have to account that there are egos involved so there is 0 chance he bats 7th unless hes an utter disaster this Spring. He will definitely bat 5th at worst and then let the season decide where he goes from there imo

Giving up a comp pick for 1 year of Conforto? The Semien deal was awesome because we didn't have to give a comp pick and actually got one for him. We'd have to sign him to a 2 year deal at least in order to make it worthwhile imo. Otherwise, we would have been better off overpaying Pederson by a few mill to platoon instead.

The more ive thought about it, the less im for trading a bunch of prospects for Ramirez. Kirk/Groshans/Pearson is as high I'd go, which still includes 3 top level prospects. Springer Ramirez Vlad Bo Teo Chapman Gurriel Biggio Jansen Let Biggio be the 10th man who let's others rotate through the DH spot. That's easily the best Jays lineup of all time.

Exactly my thoughts. People had Semien batting 6th/7th before the season started last year. If he looks great in spring training, he will go 2nd. If not, he bats 5th. Springer Chapman Vlad Bo Teo Gurriel Kirk Grichuk Biggio

I was just thinking of Hamilton as a Dyson replacement. Both suck at the plate and should only be used for defense and pinch running. Obviously if we can find a more complete player then we should do so.

Agreed, that's the type of guy we need on our bench.

Well... there goes the 1 year deal dream. We're not giving up a comp pick for that.

I will judge Martinez's first at bat as to whether I want to include in a future Ramirez trade lol.

This would be horrible news since both teams are our direct competition for the top spots in the AL. Hopefully Shatkins can come over the top on a 1 year deal here. Is there a comp pick attached with Story?

I'm shocked with the Correa deal. I'm surprised he didn't take the Tigers off and just asked for an opt out clause after 3 years or something. This is the definition of "betting on yourself" so hope it works out for him.

I was about to respond to this too but the thread got locked for some reason lol. He put up 27 in a massive park in Oakland. He'll get to 30 in his sleep as long as he stays healthy.

Guys, we're getting Story to play 2B and Biggio will become our left handed 4th OFer while also being able to play some backup IF