2025 Blue Jays Offseason Thread

[Parataxis]

Do people see Addison Barger as just a random guy who got on a hot streak in the playoffs? Or as the future in RF (or 3B)?

There has to be some limits on the budget this season. No way I want to blow on Tucker. What makes him worth the bag?

He didn't just get hot in the playoffs though. He had a fantastic stretch of the season. And in the early part of the season, even though his numbers weren't great, his fundamentals suggested that his numbers should be better (and then they got better)

[bluerap23]

Barger looks legit to me. He has been a good prospect for a while but everything clicked for him this year. I think he has a bright future, BUT, there have been plenty of guys that had a good rookie season that they were never able to duplicate, so proceed with caution. Same goes for Lukes. That's why you cannot consider these players when making decisions about the Tucker's of the world. If you end up having 1 or 2 guys too many that is fine. Helps when injuries happen and when guys age out (springer).

[Madvillainy2004]

Barger looks legit to me. He has been a good prospect for a while but everything clicked for him this year. I think he has a bright future, BUT, there have been plenty of guys that had a good rookie season that they were never able to duplicate, so proceed with caution. Same goes for Lukes. That's why you cannot consider these players when making decisions about the Tucker's of the world. If you end up having 1 or 2 guys too many that is fine. Helps when injuries happen and when guys age out (springer).

Its a good problem to have, if you have Tucker + Bichette you just figure out some sorta platoon situation with Barger/Clement/Gimenez/Satandar. Springer probably is gonna need some rest days as well + injuries happens. Hell we just had a WS run where IKF/Myles Straw started multiple games for us.

Kyle Tucker is a superstar and you make the rest of the pieces fit around him.

[JCP11]

Do people see Addison Barger as just a random guy who got on a hot streak in the playoffs? Or as the future in RF (or 3B)?

There has to be some limits on the budget this season. No way I want to blow on Tucker. What makes him worth the bag?

Barger looks like he will be a very good player and I don't think his good play in the playoffs was random. He's been getting better and better since last year. When he would hit a wall he would make adjustments and go on another streak. He started the playoffs cold but finished strong. He even started to hit left handed pitchers in the WS. He has the tools and the work ethic to be damn good player and I would also add, you don't hit the best pitchers in the MLB with luck. As we saw Lukes and Varsho disappeared as the playoffs went on and competition got tougher while Barger got better.

[Boogie!]

Get a closer please

[LLJ]

Do people see Addison Barger as just a random guy who got on a hot streak in the playoffs? Or as the future in RF (or 3B)?

There has to be some limits on the budget this season. No way I want to blow on Tucker. What makes him worth the bag?

He's only 25 and had a very nice season. I'd be pretty optimistic about his future, moreso than someone like Lukes who spent most of his career in the minor leagues up until recently and got hot for a bit in the early rounds.

[Madvillainy2004]

Get a closer please

Seen lots of outside analysts link us to Devin Williams, would probably be my pick over say Diaz who wants 100+ million.

[Boogie!]

Get a closer please

Seen lots of outside analysts link us to Devin Williams, would probably be my pick over say Diaz who wants 100+ million.

Devin Williams who was just horrible with New York? Is he even an upgrade over Hoffman?

Just checked his stats… at least he doesn’t give up home runs I guess and he does have a positive track l record…

[Randle McMurphy]

Get a closer please

Seen lots of outside analysts link us to Devin Williams, would probably be my pick over say Diaz who wants 100+ million.

Devin Williams who was just horrible with New York? Is he even an upgrade over Hoffman?

Just checked his stats… at least he doesn’t give up home runs I guess and he does have a positive track l record…

Just sign Fairbanks

[Madvillainy2004]

Get a closer please

Seen lots of outside analysts link us to Devin Williams, would probably be my pick over say Diaz who wants 100+ million.

Devin Williams who was just horrible with New York? Is he even an upgrade over Hoffman?

Just checked his stats… at least he doesn’t give up home runs I guess and he does have a positive track l record…

His underlying metrics were pretty good and he almost to a hilarious degree underperformed his xERA + xFIP. Id trust the track record and underlying metrics but I think theres other options so im not married to Williams.

[Mehar]

MLB offseason notes: Which way for the Twins and Rangers? - The Athletic

The deal with Fairbanks

The Tampa Bay Rays traded numerous players at the past two deadlines, from outfielder Randy Arozarena, third baseman Isaac Paredes and reliever Jason Adam in 2024 to righty Taj Bradley, infielder José Caballero and catcher Danny Jansen in 2025.

Yet, for all their activity, the Rays never parted with closer Pete Fairbanks. It’s not that they were terribly attached to him. They just could never get the return they wanted, according to sources briefed on their discussions.

The difficulty in trading Fairbanks helps explain why the Rays declined his $11 million club option. Their other choice was to exercise it, carry him into the offseason and attempt to move him after the top free-agent relievers came off the board.

The Rays, before making Fairbanks a free agent, found that few teams are willing to take on a salary that high for a reliever this early in the offseason. The Baltimore Orioles were an exception, re-acquiring Andrew Kittredge last Wednesday knowing they would exercise his $9 million option.

For the Rays, getting stuck with Fairbanks at $11 million if they again failed to move him later in the offseason would have been an unacceptable outcome. Even under new ownership, the team is expected to continue operating on a limited budget.

Fairbanks, who turns 32 next month, had an expected ERA last season in the top 11 percent of the sport. He ranks among the top four in Rays history in saves, strikeouts and appearances. But while he avoided the IL last season, he has a lengthy injury history, including Raynaud’s syndrome, which disrupts the blood flow to his fingers and affects his grip on the ball in cold weather.

Some teams that play outdoors in cooler climates might consider him a risk, especially if they are intent on playing in October. But even in a free-agent market that includes closers Edwin Díaz, Devin Williams and Robert Suárez, Fairbanks should attract considerable interest, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays among his expected suitors.

Maybe it was me, but I was caught off guard and bit surprised the Rays declined the club option for Fairbanks. He would be a guy I would target also, along with Williams and Suarez. Not a fan of paying Edwin Diaz 100 million, so any of these three guys would be my choices for 2026 Closer.

[scuervo1]

MLB offseason notes: Which way for the Twins and Rangers? - The Athletic

The deal with Fairbanks

The Tampa Bay Rays traded numerous players at the past two deadlines, from outfielder Randy Arozarena, third baseman Isaac Paredes and reliever Jason Adam in 2024 to righty Taj Bradley, infielder José Caballero and catcher Danny Jansen in 2025.

Yet, for all their activity, the Rays never parted with closer Pete Fairbanks. It’s not that they were terribly attached to him. They just could never get the return they wanted, according to sources briefed on their discussions.

The difficulty in trading Fairbanks helps explain why the Rays declined his $11 million club option. Their other choice was to exercise it, carry him into the offseason and attempt to move him after the top free-agent relievers came off the board.

The Rays, before making Fairbanks a free agent, found that few teams are willing to take on a salary that high for a reliever this early in the offseason. The Baltimore Orioles were an exception, re-acquiring Andrew Kittredge last Wednesday knowing they would exercise his $9 million option.

For the Rays, getting stuck with Fairbanks at $11 million if they again failed to move him later in the offseason would have been an unacceptable outcome. Even under new ownership, the team is expected to continue operating on a limited budget.

Fairbanks, who turns 32 next month, had an expected ERA last season in the top 11 percent of the sport. He ranks among the top four in Rays history in saves, strikeouts and appearances. But while he avoided the IL last season, he has a lengthy injury history, including Raynaud’s syndrome, which disrupts the blood flow to his fingers and affects his grip on the ball in cold weather.

Some teams that play outdoors in cooler climates might consider him a risk, especially if they are intent on playing in October. But even in a free-agent market that includes closers Edwin Díaz, Devin Williams and Robert Suárez, Fairbanks should attract considerable interest, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays among his expected suitors.

Maybe it was me, but I was caught off guard and bit surprised the Rays declined the club option for Fairbanks. He would be a guy I would target also, along with Williams and Suarez. Not a fan of paying Edwin Diaz 100 million, so any of these three guys would be my choices for 2026 Closer.

The Rays’ board mentioned that he lost velocity on his fastball and that his strikeout rate decreased last year. From 2022–23, he averaged 99.1 mph and 13.76 K/9, while in 2024–25, he averaged 97.3 mph and 8.77 K/9. They also noted that he gave up a lot of home runs during the second half of last season.

It might be coping, but still there could be a reason he wasn’t re-signed.

[polo007]

Read on Twitter

[GameChannel]

I'm much more wary of Cody Bellinger than some here apparently. I think some here are overrating him.
Do some not remember that Cody Bellinger was essentially a pure salary dump last offseason, and that was when the total salary exposure was just about $32M .. $25M + potentially a $7m buyout. Now you are going to pay him 5/175 to play an average CF?

His OPS+ his last 4 years have been 81, 139, 111, 125. Some will say throw out the 81 as an outlier -- fine. But then you have to throw out the 139 as well, because his peripherals (Hard Hit% etc) suggested it was an extremely lucky year,

So what he is as a 110-125 OPS+ guy, who can play center field, but is now an average defender at that position.

If there is no better bat available, it far better to stick with Varsho in 2026 (although don't extend him either), and then look at new options again in 2027 in FA.

If we sign Bellinger, it won't be to play CF. He'll be in one of the corner positions.

Noted, and that would be more acceptable -- although some have proposed getting rid of Varsho in 2026, and placing Bellinger in CF which would seem crazy to me.

Although a 110-125 OPS player in a corner OF spot getting paid $30M+ still seems like a crazy price to pay.

I want no part of Bellinger - CF or Corners.

[polo007]

What we’re hearing at MLB’s GM meetings about the trade market for starting pitchers - The Athletic

Díaz looking for Díaz money

When Edwin Díaz signed his five-year, $102 million contract with the New York Mets in November 2022, it was the largest in history for a reliever. Díaz, though, reached that agreement before becoming a free agent. By opting out of the final two years and $38 million of that deal, he essentially created his first — and potentially last — chance to test the open market.

Díaz, who turns 32 in March, is coming off one of his best seasons, one in which he produced a 1.63 ERA with a 38 percent strikeout rate and 8.1 percent walk rate in 66 1/3 innings. The deal he wants, according to a person briefed on his wishes, is essentially the same one the Mets gave him the last time.

The Athletic’s Tim Britton wrote, “the Mets need to bring back Díaz, however much it costs.” Mets owner Steve Cohen and his wife, Alex, might agree — they are said to be huge fans of Díaz. President of baseball operations David Stearns, however, is known for his discipline. And the free-agent market is deep in late-inning relievers, from Devin Williams and Robert Suarez to Ryan Helsley and Pete Fairbanks to Luke Weaver and Raisel Iglesias, among others.

Díaz, though, is a pitching version of Pete Alonso, proven in New York (Williams and Helsley, not so much). Other teams might be reluctant to meet his salary desires, particularly when the acquisition cost also would include a draft pick after the Mets extended him a qualifying offer. But imagine Díaz on the Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers or Atlanta Braves, among other clubs. Difference-makers of his caliber are difficult to find.

[Boogie!]

MLB offseason notes: Which way for the Twins and Rangers? - The Athletic

The deal with Fairbanks

The Tampa Bay Rays traded numerous players at the past two deadlines, from outfielder Randy Arozarena, third baseman Isaac Paredes and reliever Jason Adam in 2024 to righty Taj Bradley, infielder José Caballero and catcher Danny Jansen in 2025.

Yet, for all their activity, the Rays never parted with closer Pete Fairbanks. It’s not that they were terribly attached to him. They just could never get the return they wanted, according to sources briefed on their discussions.

The difficulty in trading Fairbanks helps explain why the Rays declined his $11 million club option. Their other choice was to exercise it, carry him into the offseason and attempt to move him after the top free-agent relievers came off the board.

The Rays, before making Fairbanks a free agent, found that few teams are willing to take on a salary that high for a reliever this early in the offseason. The Baltimore Orioles were an exception, re-acquiring Andrew Kittredge last Wednesday knowing they would exercise his $9 million option.

For the Rays, getting stuck with Fairbanks at $11 million if they again failed to move him later in the offseason would have been an unacceptable outcome. Even under new ownership, the team is expected to continue operating on a limited budget.

Fairbanks, who turns 32 next month, had an expected ERA last season in the top 11 percent of the sport. He ranks among the top four in Rays history in saves, strikeouts and appearances. But while he avoided the IL last season, he has a lengthy injury history, including Raynaud’s syndrome, which disrupts the blood flow to his fingers and affects his grip on the ball in cold weather.

Some teams that play outdoors in cooler climates might consider him a risk, especially if they are intent on playing in October. But even in a free-agent market that includes closers Edwin Díaz, Devin Williams and Robert Suárez, Fairbanks should attract considerable interest, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays among his expected suitors.

Maybe it was me, but I was caught off guard and bit surprised the Rays declined the club option for Fairbanks. He would be a guy I would target also, along with Williams and Suarez. Not a fan of paying Edwin Diaz 100 million, so any of these three guys would be my choices for 2026 Closer.

Only concern with Fairbanks is he’s not a strikeout guy.

I can’t believe we didn’t take a flyer on Chapman last year. Imagine how we would’ve done with him as the closer.

[Boogie!]

Read on Twitter

We better be going all in this year man. I still can’t believe we botched such an amazing playoff run by some out of players. Vlad and clement were amazing I doubt they replicate anything close in any postseason in the future.

Arozarena for example had the postseason hits record a few years ago, which clement beat, but this year arozarena looked horrible.

[WuTang_CMB]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[Michael Bradley]

I feel like there's a very good chance the Jays end up with Tucker. If you look at the Dodgers recent history, they don't give more than 5 years to a player unless it's a super elite level player (Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Yamamoto). Everyone else seems to be 5 years or less. I don't think they go 8-10 years on a Tucker deal, which is probably smart on their part, but it would probably make the Jays the favorites in that scenario. Tucker is a LHB that doesn't strike out, puts the ball in play, draws a ton of walks, and has 30 HR power. He's pretty much the perfect skill set for the Jays needs. I think both him and Bo over an 8-10 year period is not going to age well, but screw it. If there is a salary cap after 2026 then it probably means 2027 never happens, and if there isn't a salary cap after 2026 and it's more of the same (with harsher penalties to tax payers) then the Jays can just go about their business and shed payroll where necessary. Go all in for 2026.

[linery88]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Torontobluejays/comments/1ov4bw5/bannon_the_jays_a_league_source_said_are/