2022 Toronto Blue Jays Off-season Thread

[bluejays]

I could be wrong but isn’t Bauer now a free agent? There’s no way he signs for a minimum. Also no way a team doesn’t sign him when everyone can use a pitcher. They’ll sell it that he wasn’t convicted of anything blah blah, but rest assured a team will sign him. It’ll probably be at a discount but I’m thinking one of those Bay Area teams or the Mets just does it.

[ben voyonsdonc]

I hope the Jays stay a million miles away from Bauer. I expect that they will.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I could be wrong but isn’t Bauer now a free agent? There’s no way he signs for a minimum. Also no way a team doesn’t sign him when everyone can use a pitcher. They’ll sell it that he wasn’t convicted of anything blah blah, but rest assured a team will sign him. It’ll probably be at a discount but I’m thinking one of those Bay Area teams or the Mets just does it.

Hmmm..not sure.

If Bauer is released, another team could sign him for the major league minimum of $720,000, with the Dodgers responsible for the remainder of the $22,537,635 he is owed.

[transplant99]

Bauer was designated for assignment, which means the Dodgers have until 2 p.m. ET Thursday to find a trade partner. If they can't, Bauer will be placed on unconditional release waivers. If he clears those, which is considered the likely scenario, he will become a free agent the following day.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...r-trevor-bauer

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

The funny thing is that Bauer essentially screwed himself over with his whole "flexibility over security" policy. Normally, a pitcher of his calibre would have signed a 6-8 year deal but he might have hit the end of the line now as far as big paydays go.

Also, my prediction is Houston picks him up.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

The funny thing is that Bauer essentially screwed himself over with his whole "flexibility over security" policy. Normally, a pitcher of his calibre would have signed a 6-8 year deal but he might have hit the end of the line now as far as big paydays go.

Also, my prediction is Houston picks him up.

Could be - I have no idea what Houston's ethical position has been since their cheating scandal. They brought in a respected manager, they got rid of all their executives involved, and while some players are dislikeable, they're not the same team they were before. After losing Verlander they could chase him, but I just don't know what their ethical position is for bringing these guys anymore. Jays just won't do it as the standard was set once Osuna did what he did.

[Strange Brew]

The Astros have less need for pitching than any team in the MLB. Going into the year with 6 solid starters and the bullpen that dominated the playoffs. While Crane signed off on the Osuna deal I have to believe they want no part of this. I certainly hope they don’t.

From a baseball POV it only makes sense if they have a trade lined up with one of their starters. But seems like that market is done for now.

[browna]

Is Bauer still any good? Does he even care enough at this point?

It’s been a while since he’s pitched. That would be what to figure out in step 1 and 2 for any remotely interested team.

He can collect $22M of Dodger money now that he’s cleared of issue, and not have to ever be concerned about having a handful of mic’s stuck in his face or reporters trying to dig into the situation. Can’t see him doing that for playing for the league minimum.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by browna

Is Bauer still any good? Does he even care enough at this point?

It’s been a while since he’s pitched. That would be what to figure out in step 1 and 2 for any remotely interested team.

He can collect $22M of Dodger money now that he’s cleared of issue, and not have to ever be concerned about having a handful of mic’s stuck in his face or reporters trying to dig into the situation. Can’t see him doing that for playing for the league minimum.

The guy has an ego and would have something to prove. He's obviously not a good person, but as a world class pitcher who is super competitive I have no doubt at all he'd come back just to show up his last team. Now that I think of it if he's trying to shove it to the Dodgers, SF has money to burn as does the Padres. If those teams are going for it I could see it.

[calculoso]

Brandon Belt, 1B. 1-yr $9.3m

https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article...ar-9-3m-deal/?

[Kasi]

Very nice signing. That’s our DH and occasional 1B/LF we’ve been looking for.

[flamingred89]

A couple low risk, medium reward deals with KK and BB. Jays seem to be eying financial flexibility in the next few years. A push to sign Bo and Vlad. Or if they don't end up signing a way to go scorched earth sooner than later.

[browna]

Belt is exactly the player I was talking about earlier in the thread as far as a clubhouse vet who's had WS success before. Bonus points as a lefty.

[bluejays]

What I really like about Belt is the singular stat (which generally not a fan of), that, "he ranked in the 97th and 90th percentiles by BB% in 2020 and 2021 respectively". While I don't know where he fits in day-to-day, when you need a guy to step in and just get on base he seems to be the type. I really appreciate guys with plate discipline. I doubt it amounts to much if he's a bench guy, but if he gets enough at bats to be comfortable, he could be someone to get on base or wear out opposition pitchers. The swing for the bleacher guys who just hack are annoying to see when things don't go well (aka: Teoscar). I've mentioned it a few times before but years ago what KC had was special where they wanted to on-base you to death. TB does the same thing generally. If they could replicate that more the team would be fundamentally better.

[Kasi]

Basically they gave Teos OF reps to Varsho and KK and his DH reps to Belt. I figure Belt and Kirk both get 60+ games at DH next year.

[bluejays]

Their bench in more recent years was bad to awful. This seems to be a step in the direction of adjusting that.

[Kasi]

Considering on a random night the bench could be like Merrifield/Espinal, Belt, Biggio, one other that’s not bad. Pinch hitting could be a useful strategy this year. Also after last year only having Biggio hitting left we now field 3-4 lefties.

[Roof-Daddy]

This signing puts the Jays into the luxury tax.

I was thinking they might be done because they were hanging out right below the threshold but now I'm thinking they will still be adding because if you're going to go over you might as well plug all the holes they might still have.

Quite the bench they are building.

Belt has one hell of a bat. He could potentially MASH in Rogers.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Belt has one hell of a bat. He could potentially MASH in Rogers.

Well... at least had, he hit like #### last year. Yeah, yeah... injuries etc. etc. if GM's were overflowing with confidence that they'd get 2021 Belt he wouldn't be signing a 1 year sub10M contract.

Not sure how he'll hit in Rogers. The air/humidity should help but they're doing a big reno and it remains to be seen if or how the OF dimensions will change.

Not a big fan of this. Varsho was really ineffective against lefties last year and Kiermaier isn't a good hitter. I don't like our best sub option in the OF against southpaws being Whit Merrified. If the Jays don't get closer to 2021 Belt then they've confined themselves to that to get a guy that's inferior to using Jansen/Kirk as DH.

________________________

This looks like the team (I'd like another proven southpaw for the pen personally) so the 2023 Blue Jays:

Varsho
Kiermaier
Springer
Chapman
Bichette
Biggio
Guerrero
Kirk
Belt
Jansen
Merrifield
Espinel

Manoah
Gausman
Bassit
Berrios
Kikushi

Romano
Bass
Swanson
Garcia
Cimber
White
Mayza
???? (Gage/Pearson/Richards/Pick-up)

Oh... and Ryu at some point presumably.

Thoughts?

[ben voyonsdonc]

The pickup of Belt seems to make Biggio even more superfluous. Gotta be the end of the line for him as a Jay. Maybe he can be moved for some bullpen help.