Quote:
Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus
As a franchise, if you're not going to pay Vladdy, then who are you going to pay big money and when? None of the external big fish want to play here, so where does it go from here exactly? Compensatory picks and a pretty blah pipeline that is nowhere near the high end of the league.
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This is the problem. They (Atkins and Shapiro particularly, the Jays in general) aren't going to convince too players to come.here even with an overpay. Especially now since all MLB players see how they are dealing with Vlad.
The Jays missed the window to sign him for cheaper, hell even Judge probably has a tinge of regret because he would get more than Soto if timing was a year later.
I've said it twice but I don't think Atkins and Shapiro are enamoured or ever have been enamoured with Vlad, really ever. Feeling is probably mutual. Rogers as an owner has given complete autonomy to Shapiro and Atkins and that's biting then in this case.
Vlad isn't the answer, but he's a big part of the solution, and the Jays can't be picky with top/impact players who wish to be a Blue Jay. But here we are.
That all said, I can see this salvageable. Atkins and Shapiro or at least Atkins, has to be gone this season. If that happens my guess is Vladdy signs. I think Vlad was thinking that these guys would be gone and he could deal with someone he trusts, which isnt this regime.
Only way that happens fairly quick is if the pressure from fans and media around this and the team, and maybe some crappy early season results. Even if it's a mid season punting I can see Vlad coming around if the front office (and Schneider) are overhauled.
Question is, that move and change of course has to come from higher that Shapiro. These guys, certainly Atkins, has lasted probably a full calender longer than expected, so they seem to have the trust of Rogers as owners. Is that eroded with this past offseason? And is there anyone above Shapiro that can properly figure a way to transition to a new routine without being overruled by Shapiro?