2023/24 Blue Jays Off Season Thread

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Lol, LA weather and lifestyle (which he's already a part of) vs "being followed by a country" (the players don't ever factor that in, they just play in Toronto and enjoy the mention that they play to a whole country)? He's already a Dodger, we're just facilitating his negotiation.

Boston and NY could be used to leverage just as easily. It’s obviously unlikely, but something is appealing to him, which could very well be the national fanbase and global marketing appeal. Hard to see what else would keep them in the mix

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Lol, LA weather and lifestyle (which he's already a part of) vs "being followed by a country" (the players don't ever factor that in, they just play in Toronto and enjoy the mention that they play to a whole country)? He's already a Dodger, we're just facilitating his negotiation.

You're saying that like Toronto is a #### hole in the summer, when he will be on the team.


I agree, the Jays are likely punching up here but it's not as lopsided as you think.

[Roof-Daddy]

Baseball free agency sucks lol

I got visions of Ohtani, Yamamoto, Soto, et al just dancing around my head.

Waiting....waiting.....waiting.....

Bieber likely getting moved as well, and apparently open to an extension.

[bluejays]

Safety wise, Toronto is tons safer than LA from what I hear. Tax wise they're a wash more or less, but as far as I know Ohtani is single. From a single young man's point of view, Toronto is terrible. I can say that with confidence.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Safety wise, Toronto is tons safer than LA from what I hear. Tax wise they're a wash more or less, but as far as I know Ohtani is single. From a single young man's point of view, Toronto is terrible. I can say that with confidence.

Not if you ask NBA players (re single life). Shaq called TO his favorite city to visit for this reason.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Safety wise, Toronto is tons safer than LA from what I hear. Tax wise they're a wash more or less, but as far as I know Ohtani is single. From a single young man's point of view, Toronto is terrible. I can say that with confidence.

A charismatic, handsome, half-billionaire unicorn athlete will do just fine anywhere he goes.

[Beninho]

Maybe, just maybe, he does not love LA? I lived in Southern California for years, living in LA is not for everybody. Traffic is terrible, it’s always hot (some people like seasons, I know crazy), tons of tourists year round, everything is always busy. I did not live in LA but know plenty of people who have and it just really is not all that it is cracked up to be. I would way rather live in San Diego compared to LA. Toronto has a far more vibrant downtown core than LA. Downtown LA is frankly pretty terrible, the area around Dodgers stadium is pretty bad. It would not surprise me that a non-American who grew up in a big city could potentially find living in Toronto more appealing. Toronto is far more similar to Osaka and Yokohama where Ohtani grew up playing in than LA is. I don’t think Toronto would be wasting time if he hasn’t shown at least a little bit of interest in the team and city. Just a thought.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Beninho

Maybe, just maybe, he does not love LA? I lived in Southern California for years, living in LA is not for everybody. Traffic is terrible, it’s always hot (some people like seasons, I know crazy), tons of tourists year round, everything is always busy. I did not live in LA but know plenty of people who have and it just really is not all that it is cracked up to be. I would way rather live in San Diego compared to LA. Toronto has a far more vibrant downtown core than LA. Downtown LA is frankly pretty terrible, the area around Dodgers stadium is pretty bad. It would not surprise me that a non-American who grew up in a big city could potentially find living in Toronto more appealing. Just a thought.

The city Ohtani's from has a population similar to Red Deer. He's not from a big city at all.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

The city Ohtani's from has a population similar to Red Deer. He's not from a big city at all.

Whoops, i miss remembered that lol. Swear I thought he played in Osaka. Well I guess we are ####ed then.

I would pick Toronto to live in than LA personally. But who cares what I think. But LA is not THAT amazing.

[Roof-Daddy]

Jays really need to get Soto from the Padres.

By all accounts they are cutting costs and he is certainly available and the Jays need a left handed power bat that can play LF.

It's a no brainer IMO.

Value wise I was looking at it on baseballtradevalues website and I could see them getting it done with Manoah and a couple mid value prospects, providing the Padres think Manoah can bounce back. They are in dire need of cheap SP.

Something like Manoah + Toman + Zulueta for instance.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Jays really need to get Soto from the Padres.

By all accounts they are cutting costs and he is certainly available and the Jays need a left handed power bat that can play LF.

It's a no brainer IMO.

Value wise I was looking at it on baseballtradevalues website and I could see them getting it done with Manoah and a couple mid value prospects, providing the Padres think Manoah can bounce back. They are in dire need of cheap SP.

Something like Manoah + Toman + Zulueta for instance.

I don't think the cost will be that cheap. Tiedmann will be the start but I think it'll be more. I think the Yanks were rumored to be making the biggest push.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I don't think the cost will be that cheap. Tiedmann will be the start but I think it'll be more. I think the Yanks were rumored to be making the biggest push.

Going to be interesting to see.

I don't think one year of Soto is worth that much to be honest. He's a Boras guy too, so very unlikely he gets extended before testing free agency.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Going to be interesting to see.

I don't think one year of Soto is worth that much to be honest. He's a Boras guy too, so very unlikely he gets extended before testing free agency.

Is he already going to be a FA? Yikes. Paying a high price would be a major gamble. Manoah would be enough.

[Roof-Daddy]

Yeah Soto has only one year left. Time flies.

However, as I type this I just read a report where the Padres are asking for Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez from the Yanks for Soto, so I guess we'll see what we see. That is a HUGE asking price.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Beninho

Maybe, just maybe, he does not love LA? I lived in Southern California for years, living in LA is not for everybody. Traffic is terrible, it’s always hot (some people like seasons, I know crazy), tons of tourists year round, everything is always busy. I did not live in LA but know plenty of people who have and it just really is not all that it is cracked up to be. I would way rather live in San Diego compared to LA. Toronto has a far more vibrant downtown core than LA. Downtown LA is frankly pretty terrible, the area around Dodgers stadium is pretty bad. It would not surprise me that a non-American who grew up in a big city could potentially find living in Toronto more appealing. Toronto is far more similar to Osaka and Yokohama where Ohtani grew up playing in than LA is. I don’t think Toronto would be wasting time if he hasn’t shown at least a little bit of interest in the team and city. Just a thought.

Of all the big American cities that people say they would love to live in I think LA is the worst

I get the appeal of New York. Las Vegas would be fun as a single man in your 20s. Same with Miami...but LA is brutal IMO. San Diego is the much nicer city in SoCal.

No centralized downtown core with any real appeal. Crime is bad and the city always feels dirty to me. Traffic is horrendous, like terrible. Really the major benefit LA would have for him is if he wanted to get into Hollywood more.

The Dodgers were always the most likely destination, but it's also quite possible he's sick of living in LA

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Of all the big American cities that people say they would love to live in I think LA is the worst

I get the appeal of New York. Las Vegas would be fun as a single man in your 20s. Same with Miami...but LA is brutal IMO. San Diego is the much nicer city in SoCal.

No centralized downtown core with any real appeal. Crime is bad and the city always feels dirty to me. Traffic is horrendous, like terrible. Really the major benefit LA would have for him is if he wanted to get into Hollywood more.

The Dodgers were always the most likely destination, but it's also quite possible he's sick of living in LA

Yeah, if I was ranking the socal teams from a "where would I like to live" perspective it would be Padres, then Angels, then Dodgers.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Jays really need to get Soto from the Padres.

By all accounts they are cutting costs and he is certainly available and the Jays need a left handed power bat that can play LF.

It's a no brainer IMO.

Value wise I was looking at it on baseballtradevalues website and I could see them getting it done with Manoah and a couple mid value prospects, providing the Padres think Manoah can bounce back. They are in dire need of cheap SP.

Something like Manoah + Toman + Zulueta for instance.

Jays are not getting Soto ! You need to accept it 😜

[bluejays]

I personally am betting San Francisco comes in and sweeps in to collect Ohtani. They have money to spend, and are pecking at making it large and would love to sweep in and take one from LA. I also can't see Ohtani betraying his old LA team for a new LA team.


As for Toronto, I maintain the best course of action is to retool by trading one of Vlad or Bichette to get back a ransom. Understanding politics and the need to sell seats, I get the Ohtani appeal, but with the team so shallow, the answer for longevity isn't one silver bullet (Ohtani), it's to spend across the board to get multiple players. The silver bullet approach is wrong from a winning team perspective. Fun story, but will not create a winner. Again, too many holes.

[Roof-Daddy]

Hmm interesting take, not sure about all the holes you are seeing, there really isn't that many.

Rotation and bullpen are deadly with a capital D, and deeeeeep, also with a capital D.

Top 5 catching tandem in MLB
Bo, Vlad, Springer, Varsho were all positive contributors despite some of them having down years.
Plugging up 3B, 2B and LF will not be that hard to do.
Especially with Biggio, Espinal, Schneider, Horwitz, Orelvis, Lantigua and Barger kicking around.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

I also think if you were to get a player like Soto or Ohtani or both (let me dream!), having that kind of protection in the order will naturally make Vlad better.