2025 Blue Jays Offseason Thread

[Randle McMurphy]

With all due respect to you as the moderator JaysRule25, I am not sure why the Varsho thread was locked? People were having spirited discussions on both sides. It is the best thread going, and now the Varsho talk has derailed this off-season thread.

Please unlock that thread. I believe everyone can debate in a civilized manner. No need for personal insults. We all can debate in a civilized manner since we know the thread will be locked otherwise. You said no more baiting and personal insults, and those rules will be followed by everyone. Thanks in advance.

It was locked because it devolved into a bunch of name calling and personal attacks, despite warnings. And had multiple reported posts over the past few days. Plus everything that needed to be said about Varsho has been said, it's just people repeating talking points. My advice would be to take it easy on the Varsho stuff for now and let's wait till a bit till everyone cools off.

I agree.

But since this is the off season thread, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to discuss possible options to replace Varsho’s anemic bat in the lineup, if possible.

Definitely easy to replace 20+ HR in 70+ games at the CF position. Very anemic stuff and yet only 8 CFs ever (Judge, Mantle, Griffey, Wilson, Mays, Jones, Anderson, DiMaggio) hit more HRs in a season than what Varsho was on pace to do in 2025 (45).

Which CF should they look to acquire that would be an upgrade?

[Parataxis]

With all due respect to you as the moderator JaysRule25, I am not sure why the Varsho thread was locked? People were having spirited discussions on both sides. It is the best thread going, and now the Varsho talk has derailed this off-season thread.

Please unlock that thread. I believe everyone can debate in a civilized manner. No need for personal insults. We all can debate in a civilized manner since we know the thread will be locked otherwise. You said no more baiting and personal insults, and those rules will be followed by everyone. Thanks in advance.

It was locked because it devolved into a bunch of name calling and personal attacks, despite warnings. And had multiple reported posts over the past few days. Plus everything that needed to be said about Varsho has been said, it's just people repeating talking points. My advice would be to take it easy on the Varsho stuff for now and let's wait till a bit till everyone cools off.

I agree.

But since this is the off season thread, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to discuss possible options to replace Varsho’s anemic bat in the lineup, if possible.

Personally, I think there feels like a BIG difference between something like "if we were to upgrade CF, who would be a good choice" vs trying to make every thread a new discussion about Varsho, and denigrating him as a player vs reasoned discussion.

[DelAbbot]

So this offseason thread turned into the Varsho thread? Lol

Reminds me of the Raptors realgm - don't let TWO have their dedicated thread, all threads become TWO threads

[s e n s i]

So this offseason thread turned into the Varsho thread? Lol

Reminds me of the Raptors realgm - don't let TWO have their dedicated thread, all threads become TWO threads

where else should we be talking about one of, if not the best defensive outfielder in baseball.

time to unlock the behemoth OG Varsho thread.

[brwnman]

There is no 100+ mph ball that goes 376 (with an xBA of .660) that "shouldve been caught" lmao it wouldve been a HR in like 5 parks.

xBA =/= catch probability. For all his faults on the offensive side, Varsho is generally one of the best at getting reads on the ball and taking an efficient route to the ball. He wasn't in the playoffs and he wasn't on that play.

Let me give you three routine plays with 100+mph that go at least 376 ft just in one game alone. The homerun in 5 parks is irrelevant since we're not playing in those parks.

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sporty-videos?playId=052e0143-4c7e-333c-9e25-72b50a46bd85

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sporty-videos?playId=be967437-7987-3ea9-a503-f1c2b9fd0a8e

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sporty-videos?playId=b1abb68c-305c-32b9-a517-45fbad9e00c0

These are the plays that the author (Baumann) was referencing in his articles... routine plays. They just look more impressive if you're not actually watching the game because of "xBA" and "100+ mph" - context was severely lacking on those plays.

What was the catch probability of that Ohtani play then? Lol because that ball ended up hitting the wall in the gap. Im sorry if Varsho isnt coming close to that ball nobody is. Definitely wasnt a routine play ill tell you that.

I don't have catch probability on that play (don't think statcast makes it available for every play or it may be under the paid subscription), and it wasn't a routine play. But my counter-point was, there are balls that are 100+mph off the bat that go >376 ft that are routine plays and should be caught. As for this specific play, yes, I believe Varsho should have made this play. If his read is better and takes a more efficient route, he gets to that ball on his feet.

Im sorry if Varsho isnt coming close to that ball nobody is.

And there are other CFs in the majors that would make this play. One of them on his very team. Because Varsho doesn't have top-end sprint speed, he relies on good reads and routes to get to the ball. When he misjudges (like the one in this play), he doesn't have the speed to make up for it. But when you make comments like "if Varsho isn't coming close, nobody is" - that's not a serious discussion. It's simply not true. Even if you consider this a 5* catch; PCA, Rafaela, Clarke, VSII, Bader, Jacob Young, Straw, Meyers all have better chances of making that play and likely do.

[duppyy]

Hope we can get someone that can steal bases well, like Tampa with that Simpson guy, he was annoying when he got on base.

[brwnman]

Let's not call Varsho "Noodle Arm" just yet. Varsho had a good arm before last season. He had shoulder surgery, which does sap throwing strength. But usually with proper rehab and conditioning you can get it back. I'm hoping Varsho's arm is at least average or better next season.

With all due respect to you as the moderator JaysRule25, I am not sure why the Varsho thread was locked? People were having spirited discussions on both sides. It is the best thread going, and now the Varsho talk has derailed this off-season thread.

Please unlock that thread. I believe everyone can debate in a civilized manner. No need for personal insults. We all can debate in a civilized manner since we know the thread will be locked otherwise. You said no more baiting and personal insults, and those rules will be followed by everyone. Thanks in advance.

It was locked because it devolved into a bunch of name calling and personal attacks, despite warnings. And had multiple reported posts over the past few days. Plus everything that needed to be said about Varsho has been said, it's just people repeating talking points. My advice would be to take it easy on the Varsho stuff for now and let's wait till a bit till everyone cools off.

Timely. Lock the thread when Varsho struggles (like after the Seattle series) and now after he was exposed for losing the WS for the Jays. Reopen the thread hoping people forget by next season, or maybe after his first HR! But there's no cooling off, it's been 3 years. People are dead-set in their viewpoint by now.

[DelAbbot]

So this offseason thread turned into the Varsho thread? Lol

Reminds me of the Raptors realgm - don't let TWO have their dedicated thread, all threads become TWO threads

where else should we be talking about one of, if not the best defensive outfielder in baseball.

time to unlock the behemoth OG Varsho thread.

He certainly isn't the best defensive outfielder. But he also certainly isn't deserving of all the venting angry posts.

Like Buffett once said "There are no bad stocks, only bad prices": Varsho on 1-year deal of $10M batting 8th is still best value we can get for the CF position this offseason.

Varsho on a multiple year extension batting 5-6th, I'll bring out the pitchfork with the rest of Noodle-Arm brigade.

[bluerap23]

can we pry Diaz from the Mets?

How we feeling about Shapiro extension?

[Madvillainy2004]

Hope we can get someone that can steal bases well, like Tampa with that Simpson guy, he was annoying when he got on base.

Stealing isnt that important tbh, the Jays and Dodgers had like 5 stolen bases combined the whole playoffs. That should be the last thing anyone is worried about.

[ItsDanger]

Speed on basepaths reduces double plays and increases run potential.

[DelAbbot]

Who cares about stolen bases, unless you can consistently get on base and play defense. Chandler Simpson has .326 OBP, and bad defense and that's why his fWar is only 0.7 despite hitting .295.

He's the new Michael Bourn

[Madvillainy2004]

Who cares about stolen bases, unless you can consistently get on base and play defense. Chandler Simpson has .326 OBP, and bad defense and that's why his fWar is only 0.7 despite hitting .295.

He's the new Michael Bourn

Brewers offensive value was lifted a lot by them being the fastest team in the league. Only it didnt matter cause nobody could actually get on base against elite hitting.

[Randle McMurphy]

Read on Twitter

Bang. Get a closer who will hold the game 7 WS lead next year.

[Raps in 4]

How we feeling about Shapiro extension?

I hate it, but he's going to get it. Ed loves him, and after a (lucky) WS run, he won't have second thoughts about giving him a lifetime extension.

I'd love it if he at least overhauled the scouting department and replaced Ross, but that won't happen either. We're destined to be a bottom-tier scouting and development organization forever.

[Raps in 4]

Read on Twitter

Bang. Get a closer who will hold the game 7 WS lead next year.

Thank ****.

[Raps in 4]

Who cares about stolen bases, unless you can consistently get on base and play defense. Chandler Simpson has .326 OBP, and bad defense and that's why his fWar is only 0.7 despite hitting .295.

He's the new Michael Bourn

Brewers offensive value was lifted a lot by them being the fastest team in the league. Only it didnt matter cause nobody could actually get on base against elite hitting.

Exactly. The last thing any team should be doing is trying to imitate that poverty franchise.

[Raps in 4]

So this offseason thread turned into the Varsho thread? Lol

Reminds me of the Raptors realgm - don't let TWO have their dedicated thread, all threads become TWO threads

where else should we be talking about one of, if not the best defensive outfielder in baseball.

time to unlock the behemoth OG Varsho thread.

The problem is less Varsho and more that we have too many Varshos on the team. Trading some defense for offense would be beneficial.

[LoveMyRaps]

Read on Twitter

OH BABYYYYY

[LoveMyRaps]

Read on Twitter

Bang. Get a closer who will hold the game 7 WS lead next year.

I remember during the season I posted here that he'd cost us a game in the playoffs.

He proved me wrong.... until game 7 of the WS and then he ended up proving me right.