The Wait Will Soon Be Over [Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Extension] - Hector Gomez

17 hours ago, Jays24 said:

I just wish they figured this out before free agency started.  There were tons of other free agent 1st baseman available and the market for a Vladdy trade would have been much hotter.  

In the end, I think Rogers steps in to meet Vladdy's requirements together a deal done tonight, we'll soon find out. 

Get a big season out of him then trade him for big haul at deadline 

And this is why I'll always 'care' more about my fantasy team that I will the Blue Jays.  Hard to get and stay emotionally invested in a team when we can't count on the owners to consistently invest in a winning team.  Yeah, I know they have the 8th or 9th highest payroll in MLB and they have the misfortune of playing in the AL East, but they can't/won't sign the impact players needed to take this team to the next level.  They will perennially challenge for the last two WC spots at best and no more.

1 hour ago, Jimcanuck said:

Currently 5th highest.  Criticizing Rogers' salary commitment is misplaced.  The team issue is an inability (or bad luck) in developing prospects.

I didn't criticize their salary commitment; if fact I highlighted it in my post.  I freely admit they are not stingy with the pocketbook when building the roster with important complementary players (Berrios, Bassitt, et al). 

I said "they can't/won't sign the impact players needed to take this team to the next level" and I stand by that statement.  They have struggled to land impact players time and again. Ohtani, Soto, Sasake, Burnes.  For whatever reasons....taxes, Canada, playoff chances...FAs are simply reticent to ink with the Jays.  We need an anchor...a Bryce Harper...a Bobby Witt.

We know there is no help coming from Buffalo...not in 2026 or in 2027.  The only way to extend this window is through extensions or free agency.  And knowing that we have struggled to sign impact FAs, we needed to re-up with Vlad.  Would it have been the best value?  Likely not.  But that's not the point.  Its the commitment to winning that FAs other than Santander are not seeing.  They see we won't pay our one signature superstar who stated he ardently wanted to stay here his entire career.  They see we haven't even approached Bichette.  And I suspect that's what they're not liking.

Does it suck to have to overpay a player to a massive contract that you know they likely won't earn over 12 years?  Yeah it does.  But that is what it takes to compete in todays big market-dominated MLB.