Eat My Shatkins

Whatever the case, it sure looks as though the Jays are willing to go all in for 2026, one year in the highest luxury tax bracket and then reset again in 2027 when Gausman, Bieber, Springer, Varsho, Straw, Yimi can come off the books. If they can dump a portion of the Berrios contract the payroll for 2027 will come down around $100 million. And it's not like the team would be gutted for 2027 either. They'd still have some core pieces to build around and waves of talent coming up from the minors.

I think the Jays plan right now is to land Tucker, if they can do that I still think they might match whatever offer Bo gets up to a certain point and then run a high payroll for one season. I really doubt they are going to start trading guys like Varsho or Barger. Probably want to run it back but with reinforcements, not start cutting into the nucleus of the team. Guys like Berrios, Santander and Rodriguez is where they can cut some salary if they land all the big fishes they want to land. Almost $40 million against the luxury tax for those three, but they'd have to eat some of that money and attach some prospects to do it probably. Also, I only keep bringing up Sherzer and Bassitt because they've both made a f*** or money in their careers and both seem to want to come back badly enough that I could see them taking 1 year deals for cheap just to take another run at the world series and add to the pitching depth of this team. Bassitt has like $80 million career earnings and Scherzer well over $300 million. Both have publicly stated they want to come back, and Scherzer is running around doing interviews like hes still a Jay lol. Plus if they trade Berrios they can certainly use the depth. Remember, the Dodgers just won the world series in a year where they only got 197 regular season innings from Snell, Glasnow and Ohtani and then had them all ramped up and fresh for the playoffs, and steam rolled their way through the playoffs until they ran into the Jays. But we'll see i guess. Maybe I've just been huffing too much glue.

- world class facilities in Dunedin completed 5 years ago - world class facilities in Toronto completed 2 years ago - a contending team, been to the playoffs 4 out of 6 seasons, just went to the world series - one of the top spenders - most of last years team coming back, clubhouse is tight - already retained Bieber, signed Cease and Ponce Lots of reasons to come to the Jays, hopefully they show him the money and he signs. Dude has the 10th most fWAR of any position player in MLB the last 5 seasons.

I think Berrios is as good as gone and I don't think he'll be as hard to move as many seem to believe. I also think Scherzer will be back on a discounted deal. Maybe even Bassitt, but that seems much less likely. These guys f***ing love it in Toronto and desperately want to win a world series, especially with these other guys in the Jays clubhouse right now.

I can see that point of view for sure, but I can also see him 100% being willing to take a swing man role for 1 season before taking a full time rotation spot for the next two, especially when it's on a legitimate contender with arguably the best defense in MLB behind him. I really believe that the Jays are a VERY attractive destination right now for a multitude of reasons. But who knows, maybe the Jays do plan to trade Berrios after the free agent SP market has thinned out and open up a spot for him.

I'm interested to see how Rodriguez, Little and Fisher fare in 2026. All three started strong and faded to varying degrees later in the season, and then we're basically useless in the playoffs. Sure would be nice of they all found another gear going forward. I'm thinking barring injury or a trade Lauer and Ponce will be long men and spot starters to start the season. Ease Ponce in as a mutli inning reliever and occasional starter to keep guys more rested, and if he performs he's pretty much guaranteed a starter spot in 2027 and 2028.

Just pointing out the massive improvement in starting pitching depth from the start of the 2025 season. To think they ended up winning 94 games and going to game 7 of the world series starting out with that weak of SP depth, just imagine what they might do in 2026 if they can get Bo back and/or sign Tucker now that they have improved the stable of staring pitching that much in 9 months. And yes, it's going to spill over into the bullpen as well, where they started out the 2025 season with guys like Green, Swanson, Barnes and Dick Lovelady as bullpen options.

If the Jays are able to sign Tucker I could certainly see them absorbing some of Santanders contract and moving him. But I also could see them keeping him and moving him into a full time DH role starting in 2027 after George is gone.

Starters on the 40 man opening day 2025: Gausman Bassitt Berrios Sherzer Francis Lucas Bloss Macko Jays starters on the 40 man right now: Gausman Cease Bieber Yesavage Berrios Ponce Lauer Bloss Tiedemann Francis Macko Estrada Bastardo

I wonder if there is any juice left to squeeze out of Bowden Francis as a starter? Maybe they plan on using him in a bullpen role once again.

Eric Lauer was in the KBO in 2024. He wasn't nearly as successful in the KBO as Ponce, joined the Jays in 2025 and had a 1.4 fWAR season for us. Ponce has a 2.2 fWAR projection.

I believe we have a spot open and I'd drop Clase or Jiminez before Straw if money isn't a factor.

I find it funny coming in here reading all these posts dumping our depth when we don't even know what the Jays and Rogers are willing to spend. Remember last year when Varsho missed almost the whole first half and Straw put up 1.8 fWAR filling that hole in CF? Defense is a huge part of the Jays team building philosophy, and Straw is probably the Jays 2nd best defensive OFer. Unless his contract is going to keep them from signing a guy like Tucker or Bo just keep the depth.

Will anybody be that surprised if Ross the Boss signs Tucker and then packages Berrios, Taters, cash and a couple of our top 5 prospects for Marte?

Well, this off season is shaping up to be all kinds of fun isn't it? Biggest question mark for the Jays going into the off season was starting pitching and they got Bieber, Cease and Ponce all signed before the winter meetings. Boss Atkins killing it.

"Despite a current rotation of Cease, Trey Yesavage, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Eric Lauer..." Bieber?

Also I just want to say i think it's hilarious and awesome that the Jays have 5 legit starters already, plus Lauer and not only are they still apparently on the hunt for more, it also appears from player comments that they could probably sign both Bassitt and Scherzer today if they wanted to. That's no joke really, as Bassitt and Scherzer combine for over a 3 fWAR projection.

In my opinion, if the Jays land another legit starting option it means that Berrios is either still injured or the Jays and him are on the outs moving forward and they plan to find a trade partner to offload him once the free agent SP market has dried up.

I'm not a big fan of the Jays spending big on relievers, but if they are opening up the wallet and it won't limit their ability to spend elsewhere, then go and get Diaz for sure.

Wut? Don't play with me bro lol

Hmm. I wonder if that means the Mets and Diaz are not reuniting, or will Williams just be another late inning bullpen piece?

I'm not familiar with him either but hopefully he is a very well connected fellow. Apparently Justin's brother.

If we're being totally honest, at this point the Jays don't really have any clear needs. Anything they add at this point is merely piling on luxuries. Don't get me wrong, I hope they keep piling on until they've rocketed into the top luxury tax bracket, it's not my money and it would be fun and exciting. But the team is projected around 90 wins now with the addition Cease I think? 2nd or 3rd best projection in MLB at this point right? Team doesnt really have any gaping holes to fill.

Yeah maybe a bit much, I dunno. I could see him taking a hair cut and a reduced role as a depth guy just to come back. Seems like he just wants a shot at another WS and to be in a good environment for him and his family. I guess we'll see what happens, but the way he talks it just seems like him and the team have already agreed to something in principal.