InsideThePark

Sign Rodon, Trade Jansen+ for Nootbar, Moreno+ for Carroll, Kirk+ for Burnes, sign Contreras

So is Gabby Moreno

IMO Moreno Tiedemann O.Martinez Barriera Barger Toman Zulueta Doughty Macko G.Martinez Robberse Kasevich Jimenez Horwitz Santos Lopez Juenger Carter Palmer Britton Beltre TJ Brock Pinto T.Morris Van Eyk Machado Dallas D.Brown Palmegiani De Jesus Groups of 5 are not tiers, just easier to see visually and quickly which number everyone is without numbering.

This is a good deal. We're likely getting a CF via our catchers trade(or signing Nimmo) so I'm not even slightly concerned about needing to fill the Teo hole. It will happen. The status quo wasn't going to cut it defensively in the outfield. Keeping Teo(14 million) and signing a free agent equivalent to Swanson(probably 8+ million) would have been 20 million dollars more expensive. That's almost enough to sign Rodon. A catchers goes out to bring in A CF(Nootbar, Varsho, Thomas, Carlson, Reynolds, Carroll, etc) who's fairly cheap and you've essentially got Rodon, Swanson, and a starting CF for the same price and Teo, some FA pen arm and Moreno rotting on the bench or in AAA(or traded for lets say Pablo Lopez). Defense gets better, pen gets better, and money is opened up for an upgrade where we need it. I liked Teo but he didn't have the value that some people thought. Yes he can mash baseballs but he's getting older, has 1 expensive year left and is bad defensively. We got back more than he's worth IMO. Varsho, Rodon, Swanson > Teo, Lopez, Chris Martin

I don't even understand what you're trying to say punishing them players? Gun to their head? What do you mean. Stop talking in code and just come out with it already.

I literally said what I suggest, they get 1 more year of rule 5 eligibility? Leo Jimenez shouldn't have been eligible until this year. Gabby and Orelvis Martinez not eligible until next? Should HS players be eligible 3 years after their draft because college players are?

MLB gives HS players 1 more year before rule 5 eligibility than college players because obvious it's going to take a 21 year old college draftee less time to develop than a 18 year old HS draftee. Wouldn't the same logic apply when you're looking at 16 year old IFA signee versus a HS draftee? 80% of IFA players signed at 16 years old are in A+ or lower at 20 years old. HS draftees that age are still 2 years away from eligibility. College players are 4 years away and not even drafted yet. Teams are having to make decisions that cost actual MLB depth players a job because teams can't afford to lose their 2 million dollar prospect who's still in A ball. This isn't good for the teams, and it shouldn't be great for the PA either as guys are losing jobs in favour of prospects. The rule 5 was put in place to prevent hoarding MLB ready talent. That doesn't apply to 20 year old prospects in A ball so why are they eligible? What's the issue with 3 years for college, 4 for HS, 5 for IFA?

It's really dumb that IFA players only get 4 years prior to be rule 5 eligible. College players sign around 21 years old and get 3(until age 24). HS players sign around 18 years old and get 4 years(until around age 22). IFA players usually sign at 16 and also get 4 years so they're eligible at 20 years old. How many IFA guys are ready by then? It's extremely rare. Not to mention the pandemic that delayed development from the 2017-2019 IFA classes. IFA players signed before age 18 should get 5 years before they're rule 5 eligible.

The way the relief market is shaping up you're better off buying a #4 starter and making them a relief pitcher. Andrew Heaney for closer anyone? Poor Ross Stripling finally managed to semi-breakout as a starter and turns out in this market he'd make more money as a good reliever.

Why would Jays ownership push back? Because Atkins told them he needs money to sign someone to replace Bo if he's doing it? I don't see ownership having issue with only the Acuna/Bo part, it's only like 10 million more this year and cheaper long term. Bo is one of the faces of this franchise, but Acuna will become that very quickly too if not instantly

With the rumour that Corbin Burns could possibly be available( ), and the above Morosi comment it's time to me to go into fantasy land. This is likely over budget at 220 million not counting Ryu, but trade values are in brackets from baseball trade values, free agent predictions from ESPN, and arb estimates from MLBTR Bichette(94.1) for Acuna(94.1) Moreno(61.4) + Teo(8.7) + Kasevich(8.4) for Corbin Burnes(78.4) Sign Correa 8 x 33.1 Sign Andrew Heaney 2 x 10 million Sign Taylor Rogers 2 x 7 million Trade Richards for some prospect Non tender Tapia, Zimmer, Thornton White and Pearson optioned to AAA for now Springer, Correa, Acuna, Vladdy, Kirk, Chapman, Jansen, Gurriel, Espinal Lopez, Merrifield, Biggio, Horwitz Burnes, Manoah, Gausman, Berrios, Heaney Romano, Rogers, Bass, Garcia, Cimber, Pop, Mayza, Kikuchi

Morosi has this earlier, Jays analysis starts halfway through, mostly catching, but an interesting Bo/Acuna + FA SS segment. Bo and Acuna have identical 94.1 median values on BTV. 1 for 1 trade then sign Correa/Turner, trade a catcher for a top end starter, sign a good pen arm and win 158 games next year

I don't expect much early action but I wouldn't say this is the reason why. When you protect a prospect from the rule 5 they stay on your 40 man indefinitely. So when you sign a free agent later that prospect is still there taking up a 40 man spot. Both the prospect and the free agent will be on the 40 man when the season starts. The order doesn't really matter. Protect the prospect then sign the free agent or sign the free agent and then protect the prospect it's all the same. If anything getting all your work done within the 5 days would give you a better idea of how much room you have to protect rule 5 prospects so you know how many you can protect rather than add too many and be looking for a roster spot for a free agent later, but obviously doing an entire offseasons work in the first 5 days isn't realistic as this is the opposite of the NHL free agent frenzy and everyone waits.

Saucedo and Lawrence already waived. Saucedo claimed, Lawrence clears and is outrighted. The spots are already being opened. Surely Thornton has to be next as a non tender. Tapia too.

I only see 31 guys on the 40 worth keeping. That's room for 5 protected guys and 4 free agents. I don't think they'll go full scorched earth on Thornton/Hatch/Kay/Saucedo/Lawrence. But I'd prefer every single one of Orelvis, Barger, Zulueta, Gabby M, and Horwitz to those guys. Perhaps keep 2 of them, that leaves 33 guys on the 40, 38 after they protect 5 guys next Tuesday. Realistically 2 free agents is reasonable. Anyone added to the pen replaces someone, we're likely trading a catcher for either a starter or an outfielder. So you're not looking at too many pure adds that doesn't also have a minus. 1 starter and maybe a position player. We only have 3 free agents leaving after all and 1 of those was brought in in September

Hiraldo for sure won't be protected. I don't even think the Jays would care if he were taken. With the influx of middle infielders behind him he might not get much playing time anyway. He's mostly busted and I figure he won't be in the organization by the 2024 season. Hernandez I don't think they'll protect given he didn't have the greatest end of last year and for some reason they didn't even give him a look at any point when they probably should have. I could see some team taking him though given proximity to the majors and pen arms are the easiest guys to stash. They protected Jimenez last year so I do expect them to protect Gabby this year but I do see the point that corner outfielders in A+ have very little place to hide on a MLB roster. I just like the upside so much I'd hate to lose him and some bad team might be willing to take the hit just to get him in their system. I would guess we go with 5 guys both Gabby and Orelvis Martinez, Zulueta, Barger, and Horwitz. But it probably depends on which fat they're willing to cut off the 40 man, there's enough that they can do 5 I think.

In the rule 5? Orelvis, Barger, and Zulueta for sure. Hopefully Gabby Martinez. Maybe Horwitz, Tanner Morris, or Hernandez pending how many spots they have available.

I'm surprised Bo's number is that high TBH. Vlad's this past year was what just over 7? After an almost MVP season. I figured Bo would be around 5

Locks: Jansen, Vladdy, Biggio, Bo, Chapman, Springer, Teo, Kirk, Merrifield Tapia Manoah, Stripling, Gausman Romano, Mayza, Bass, Garcia, Cimber, Richards, Pop, Phelps Lock if Healthy: Gurriel, Espinal My other selections: Moreno, Berrios, Zimmer If Gurriel, Espinal isn't healthy: Bradley, Gage Outside Chance: Merryweather, Kikuchi, Lopez I assume they'll take Bradley over Zimmer, but neither should be starting, and Zimmer is a better runner and defender for a late game replacement. I would probably take both over Tapia if Gurriel was healthy but that's not happening

I'd rather not option guys who haven't been optioned before this season. It's just burning an option year you might need down the road for very little benefit. The 5 guys currently on the roster that have been optioned are White, Pop, Lopez, Moreno, and Biggio. The 3 position players are for sure each playing at least 1 game tomorrow, and you're limited to the number of pitchers you can carry so it's probably only the 2 arms that will go down between games. Kikuchi, Lawrence, Merryweather, and Gage should be enough for game 2 anyway I would think. I'm not burning an option year on say Cimber or Mayza so I can use Thornton for an inning as well.

I'm not too concerned with the important position players playing 1 game tomorrow. My concern is the pitchers. I guess you start White in game 1, use Pop in game 1 and option them both between games(You can still put Pop on the playoff roster despite the option). Recall Merryweather, Gage and Lawrence, 1 of which is the 29th man, along with Kikuchi in game 2. That covers most of the 18 innings you need. If Phelps or Richards has to go an inning each it's not a big deal but please don't use the best pen arms. If the Cardinals win tonight and the games literally become meaningless it would be nice if they just said screw it and cancelled 1 of the games though.

Stupid decision to go pen game today. They're now going to have to go pen game Friday after the 5 games in 4 days against Tampa. They could have got away with just 1 pen game against Tampa and that's it. I know you want your best pitchers against Tampa but 2 pens games are worse than 1

Theft Nelson gotta go out and let everyone know how important he is again just in case anyone forgot

Pujols, I mean pujols

I don't care how many HR's he hits, how many pop ups did he have? /s