General Blue Jays Thread

polo007 · Post #2121 » by **polo007** » Thu Dec 15, 2022 12:16 am

polo007 · Post #2122 » by **polo007** » Thu Dec 15, 2022 1:21 am

The Blue Jays need outfield help. Here’s a look at some options | The Star

Here’s a closer look at some of the options — expensive and affordable — that the Jays might consider for one of their last spots on the roster:

Michael Conforto (free agent): Conforto is the best “fit” of anyone on this list. The 29-year-old missed all last season after injuring his shoulder but if the medicals check out his left-handed bat could be exactly what this team is missing. Conforto has an elite-level .873 on-base plus slugging percentage in his career vs. righties and three seasons with at least 27 homers. The native of Oregon has experience at three outfield positions, but most of his work has come in right. He was projected to earn $15 million by MLB Trade Rumors and if the Jays can still afford that he would be a perfect complement to their right-handed lineup.

Michael Brantley (free agent): While Brantley’s bat would look great in the lineup, his lack of defensive versatility would present problems. Heading into his age-36 season, Brantley makes the most sense at designated hitter and the Jays don’t have much of an opening there unless they decide to trade Alejandro Kirk. When healthy, Brantley also plays left field, which the Jays could accommodate if they were willing to shift Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to right and bring Kiermaier off the bench. Brantley missed the second half of last season with a shoulder injury, but he still has a potent bat with a .303 average and .795 OPS over the last two years. Brantley also was projected to earn $15 million by MLB Trade Rumors.

David Peralta (free agent): If the Jays don’t have enough cash to sign Conforto or Brantley, they could turn to someone like Peralta. The 35-year-old hit 12 homers with 59 RBIs across 134 games for the Diamondbacks and Rays last season while posting a .731 OPS. Most of his production comes against right-handed pitching with a career slash line of .294/.350/.486. Peralta earned $7.5 million last season and might be available for cheaper this off-season.

Joey Gallo (free agent): The Jays were frequently linked to Gallo before he was traded from the Rangers to the Yankees midway through the 2021 season. Since then, it has been a tough go for the 29-year-old native of Las Vegas. Gallo performed terribly in the Bronx, and he wasn’t much better after moving to Los Angeles. Gallo is the epitome of a high-risk, high-reward player with three 38-plus homer seasons and if a team believes the stroke can be rediscovered, he becomes an ideal buy-low candidate. The Jays could use a bit more certainty but if some of the other solutions aren’t realistic, he might be considered. Gallo earned $10.25 million last year and should be available on an incentive-laden deal.

Bryan Reynolds (Pirates): Reynolds recently requested a trade from the Pirates but according to all reports Pittsburgh’s asking price has been extremely high, as it should be. The 2021 all-star is coming off a bit of a down season, but he has three years of control remaining with a career .281 average and .842 OPS. The Kiermaier signing likely is an indication that the Jays don’t intend to get involved in these sweepstakes because Reynolds is a durable and proven everyday centre fielder who doesn’t require a $9-million backup.

Daulton Varsho, Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy (Diamondbacks): The Diamondbacks have a surplus of outfielders and a need behind the plate. The Jays have too many catchers and not enough outfielders. Sounds like the framework of a deal to me. Varsho possesses a ton of power and should be the top target while Thomas is a formerly ranked top prospect who is still just 22-year-old. The Jays assuredly would have to part with Kirk or Gabriel Moreno in one of these deals but if they acquired the right outfielder, it would plug a hole for years to come.

Ian Happ (Cubs): The Jays were rumoured to be a potential landing spot for Happ at least year’s deadline but a deal never materialized. The Cubs have since started to retool and may no longer be as inclined to trade away the pending free agent as they once were. Happ has played some centre field, but he’s considered a below-average defender and is better utilized at the corners. He’s not an ideal platoon partner for Kiermaier, yet the bat would be a decent enough fit and Happ could be lifted late in games for a defensive replacement so he can’t be entirely ruled out.

polo007 · Post #2123 » by **polo007** » Thu Dec 15, 2022 9:42 pm

Read on Twitter

polo007 · Post #2124 » by **polo007** » Thu Dec 15, 2022 9:48 pm

Read on Twitter

polo007 · Post #2125 » by **polo007** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 1:47 am

Watch on YouTube

Kevin Kiermaier Joins Hot Stove Signed 1-Yr/$9m Contract With Toronto

Premiered 10 hours ago

Kevin Kiermaier Joins Hot Stove Signed 1-Yr/$9m Contract With Toronto

Post #2126 » by **Cyrus** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 2:41 am

Sounds like we are done in the OF market. Maybe adding a 4th or 5th type outfielder but certainly not Brantley or confordo, etc.

I wonder if we even trade a catcher at this point and If it'll be for OF. Might be for a pitcher.

linery88 · Post #2127 » by **linery88** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 8:27 am

Cyrus wrote:Sounds like we are done in the OF market. Maybe adding a 4th or 5th type outfielder but certainly not Brantley or confordo, etc.

I wonder if we even trade a catcher at this point and If it'll be for OF. Might be for a pitcher.

Jays will not be trading any of their catchers unless they get something good in return.They are holding all the cards here.
Right now... Its only something good for Jansen,something better for Kirk,and something great for Moreno.

bluerap23 · Post #2128 » by **bluerap23** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 1:32 pm

Cyrus wrote:Sounds like we are done in the OF market. Maybe adding a 4th or 5th type outfielder but certainly not Brantley or confordo, etc.

I wonder if we even trade a catcher at this point and If it'll be for OF. Might be for a pitcher.

We should expect to see A LOT of Biggio and Merrifield in the OF.

C Court · Post #2129 » by **C Court** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 1:55 pm

So Tabler’s contract was not renewed. He didn’t quit.

Read on Twitter

SharoneWright · Post #2130 » by **SharoneWright** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 2:47 pm

C Court wrote:So Tabler’s contract was not renewed. He didn’t quit.

Read on Twitter

Top off-season move.

Schulman and Buck in their correct roles, as PBP and colour, are an excellent tandem.

Lateral Quicks · Post #2131 » by **Lateral Quicks** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 4:44 pm

SharoneWright wrote:
C Court wrote:So Tabler’s contract was not renewed. He didn’t quit.

Read on Twitter

Top off-season move.

Schulman and Buck in their correct roles, as PBP and colour, are an excellent tandem.

Seems like a good guy, but I was never a fan of Tabler's commentary. Dan and Buck is a great combo - looking forward to more of it.

ItsDanger · Post #2132 » by **ItsDanger** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 5:32 pm

Kiermaier is an excellent CF, but is a #9 hitter. Still think this lineup lacks in the #4-#5 slots. Got to think a trade is coming.

duppyy · Post #2133 » by **duppyy** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 6:00 pm

Kiermaier saying all the right things, just need to show it on the field.

Lateral Quicks · Post #2134 » by **Lateral Quicks** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 9:38 pm

ItsDanger wrote:Kiermaier is an excellent CF, but is a #9 hitter. Still think this lineup lacks in the #4-#5 slots. Got to think a trade is coming.

I think you can live with Kirk at #5 (a very good hitter, but not the power you're looking for at cleanup) but as it stands now he's the #4, with Gurriel and Chapman behind him. That's not ideal. A good lefty bat at #4 or #5 would be great.

polo007 · Post #2135 » by **polo007** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 11:09 pm

Read on Twitter

wamco · Post #2136 » by **wamco** » Fri Dec 16, 2022 11:50 pm

as of now?

kk takes teo spot
Whit takes tapia spot
Biggio/espinal platoon at 2nd
Kirk primary dh
Jansen primary catcher
Moreno to aaa until an injury to either catcher/trade
Bassit replaces stripling
Mako replaces lost draft pick
Swanson replaces Phelps (seriously has he retired? He is still good yet not a mumble about him that I have heard but I digress

Salary -
Bassit 21, kk 9, Swanson 2 is 32m -14 teo. 18m added in FA.
-assuming 40m was avail (Verlander) prob looking about 22m to spend but prob want to dip back down in salary next year to go back under CBT (depending on how this year goes, while acquiring a long term piece of OF).

So 1 year deal for SP5 and trade a catcher for OF That can bump Whit off OF4 and/or steal time from LGJ this year and step into a FT job in 2024.

And maybe move lgj for spending money. I really like the guy but you don’t lose much without him.(besides clutch hitting with runners on, but poor d and clumsy base running). It would shed 6m as well.

maybe trade Jansen for CF Thomas -save 4m
Sign cueto 1/14 (thor just got 12-13.5)
Trade lgj /merryweather/Richards for a rp/ save 7m
Sign conforto 1/16

That’s like 18m added when I feel 22 is avail.(not counting rp added for lgj)

I ran the numbers for that scenario .
I think it puts us in a good spot for 2023 and 2024, and keeps under CBT in 2024.

Coming off books after this season would be 83m (ryu, Cueto, chap, kk, bass, conforto, Whit, grichuck)

I see arby guys and existing contract raises for 2024 year raising payroll( from their 2023 salary) by 36m.

So 2024 payroll would be 47m lower than 2023.
Would need to shed 20m to get back under cap leaving 27m to spend to the CBT with the following holes to fill:

SP5 (internal)
Bass (internal)
Chapman (internal)
Utility (Whit role - internal)
OF4 (internal)
LF (external- ideally a trade for young, cheap option or 1 year contract to account for raises due in 2025 ; CBT raises 20m for that season though as well)

I don’t think it’s unreasonable for the farm to fill those holes listed in 2024. I also don’t think trading Jansen for Thomas, lgj for a reliever and signing conforto is outlandish asks either.

We’re in real good shape fellas. One where the treadmill feels better than it did when payroll was middle of the road.

Lateral Quicks · Post #2137 » by **Lateral Quicks** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 1:31 am

Lineup
RF Springer
SS Bichette
1B Guerrero
DH Kirk
LF Gurriel Jr.
3B Chapman
2B Espinal
C Jansen
CF Keirmaier

Bench
Merrifield
Biggio
Moreno
Lopez

Rotation
Manoah
Gausman
Bassit
Berrios
White

Bullpen
C Romano
RHP Swanson
RHP Garcia
RHP Bass
RHP Cimber
LHP Mayza
RHP Pearson
LHP Kikuchi

Biggest remaining needs in order:
- left-handed outfielder with some pop (Springer and Kiermaier are injury prone, and I don't want Whitfield getting 500 PAs)
- depth starter (I'm not comfortable counting on one of White, Kikuchi, and Pearson earning the spot, and if Berrios lays another egg then we're in real trouble)

We could also use a better LHP in the pen then Mayza, but this is more of a want.

wamco · Post #2138 » by **wamco** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 2:19 am

Richards has reverse splits if he makes the team over Pearson/pop.

I’d play espinal vs lhp and higher in order
Biggio vs rhp and swapped with Jansen in lineup

Lateral Quicks · Post #2139 » by **Lateral Quicks** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 2:18 pm

wamco wrote:Richards has reverse splits if he makes the team over Pearson/pop.

I’d play espinal vs lhp and higher in order
Biggio vs rhp and swapped with Jansen in lineup

Agreed on all points.

Jansen was our best hitter last year, but in a relatively small sample. If last year's power was for real, he could build a case for himself hitting somewhere #4-#6 in the order. That's if he isn't traded, of course, which remains a distinct possibility.

Hottie McShotty · Post #2140 » by **Hottie McShotty** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 2:30 pm

Cyrus wrote:Sounds like we are done in the OF market. Maybe adding a 4th or 5th type outfielder but certainly not Brantley or confordo, etc.

I wonder if we even trade a catcher at this point and If it'll be for OF. Might be for a pitcher.

Looks like it. I was hoping for a Brantley signing to DH. Would look really nice in this lineup, but this would take away ABs from Kirk.

Lineup
RF Springer
SS Bichette
1B Guerrero
DH Brantley
LF Gurriel Jr.
3B Chapman
2B Espinal
C Jansen/Kirk
CF Keirmaier