2026 Toronto Blue Jays Season Thread

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Probably just doing their due dilligence, but the Jays met with the agent for Edwin Diaz yesterday. Diaz is seeking a 5/100 contract, will be 32 to start the year.

Tremendously valuable reliever coming off an excellent season, no question would improve the back end of the bullpen substantially for likely the next 2-3 seasons.

Heavy price for a closer.

I'd go $17/season tops for him. Can't spend that much on a closer. Can look elsewhere for a boost.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Probably just doing their due dilligence, but the Jays met with the agent for Edwin Diaz yesterday. Diaz is seeking a 5/100 contract, will be 32 to start the year.

Tremendously valuable reliever coming off an excellent season, no question would improve the back end of the bullpen substantially for likely the next 2-3 seasons.

Heavy price for a closer.

I mean obviously he'd be a great add. But I'd only want them to spend that money if they're willing to go over $300 MM. Because I'd rather have at least one top tier bat and one top tier starter over him.

Sportrac has his estimated market value at $18.3 x 4 years ($73MM), which seems more reasonable to me - I definitely don't want a 5th year on someone who will be a late 30s reliever at expiry.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I mean obviously he'd be a great add. But I'd only want them to spend that money if they're willing to go over $300 MM. Because I'd rather have at least one top tier bat and one top tier starter over him.

Sportrac has his estimated market value at $18.3 x 4 years ($73MM), which seems more reasonable to me - I definitely don't want a 5th year on someone who will be a late 30s reliever at expiry.

And the thing about relievers is, he could turn into a pumpkin as early as next season. We've seen it happen so many times before.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

And the thing about relievers is, he could turn into a pumpkin as early as next season. We've seen it happen so many times before.

Yup. BJ Ryan, young Romero last year, etc. they’re one injury away from ending it when throwing so hard and with movement. 4 years tops.

[Roof-Daddy]

Diaz would be fun to add, but they'd have to give up a comp pick and that's a crap ton of money to pay. They could realistically add two of the other really good high leverage arms for a similar AAV I'd imagine.

[jg13]

Myles Straw working on the Kyle Tucker recruitment

https://twitter.com/user/status/1989442104108748926

[Blaster86]

If Tucker comes and cites Straw's reaching out and talking up the city as a main catalyst, I want everyone who #### talked that trade taken out back and shot. Including me. If I openly #### talked it I am going against the wall too.

[browna]

Yeah Diaz would be great for a 2-3 year deal, maybe. It’s a need for the Jays but could they get a guy like Suarez from the Padres who has had had 75+ saves the last 2 seasons?

He’d probably be the same AAV as Diaz but maybe could get a 2 year deal for him as he’s 34.

The last reliever in Toronto who had a walkout was only able to use it a handful of times.

[Whynotnow]

I’m in the camp of getting the closer in season, they always seem to move at the deadline, the jays just have to be more agressive at that time to shore that up.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

I’m in the camp of getting the closer in season, they always seem to move at the deadline, the jays just have to be more agressive at that time to shore that up.

You also have a better idea for how the guy is pitching in the season.

[bizaro86]

Was looking at available atarters and was surprised to find that the Cubs gave a qualifying offer to Imanaga.

They turned down a 3 year $57 MM club option but made him a qualifying offer (1 year, $22 MM).

I think they're trying to snake a pick here, but I'm not sure that will work - $22MM x 1 seems like a better contract than he'll be able to get elsewhere, especially with compensation picks attached.

Another potential signee if they can't get Bo would Luis Arraez. Plays 2B so can replace him defensively and gets a lot of hits - has hit as high as 354 in the past. Had a bit of a down year (hit 292) and didn't get a qualifying offer from the Padres. Seems to fit their offensive style to me.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

I’m in the camp of getting the closer in season, they always seem to move at the deadline, the jays just have to be more agressive at that time to shore that up.

They also have to be in the position in the standings to need one in late July.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

You also have a better idea for how the guy is pitching in the season.

Yes, this is key for relievers.

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by browna

They also have to be in the position in the standings to need one in late July.

True, I just think they will have the ingredients for that already, but relievers are such voodoo and can be so different season to season so just go get one that you need at the deadline. Either way I’m good if they upgrade, Hoffman was pretty good in the playoffs but his Achilles heal of the home run reared irs ugly head and that’s an issue.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by browna

They also have to be in the position in the standings to need one in late July.

If they're not then I don't think an expensive FA closer would have been enough to put that over the top anyway.

[Roof-Daddy]

Apparently Sandlin was outrighted to the minors.

Cleared a spot on the 40 man and it's most likely he won't be offered a contract during arbitration. Most likely headed to free agency.

I guess they needed room on the 40 man and also thought his arb award would be too much, or maybe there was conflict of some sort between his camp and the jays FO.

Anyways, that's a shot to the reliever depth but they can certainly toss the money slotted for him towards a much better reliever hopefully.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

True, I just think they will have the ingredients for that already, but relievers are such voodoo and can be so different season to season so just go get one that you need at the deadline. Either way I’m good if they upgrade, Hoffman was pretty good in the playoffs but his Achilles heal of the home run reared irs ugly head and that’s an issue.

I get that but pitching and relievers especially are somewhat like starting goalies with ego and routine and having things stable.

I think if you’ve trusted one guy for 3.5 months of the season to close games for you, it’s hard (for the team and the player) to just drop him for a shiny new toy that is airlifted in to the clubhouse in mid July.

Obviously that worked with someone like Beiber who hasn’t pitched and was a starter, and Varland as a setup guy, but your true trusted closer needs to be your trusted closer. You risk losing the skills of that reliever if you replace him, for him to properly bounce back if he’s demoted and doesn’t pitch for weeks (look at Hoffman after his week long layoff because they played the Rockies, he gave up 4 walks to the Dodgers and HRs) if the new guy doesn’t work out.

Originally Posted by bizaro86

If they're not then I don't think an expensive FA closer would have been enough to put that over the top anyway.

Well that’s the thing. If they blow saves early, you need a guy sooner than July. If they are in a good standings position at the deadline then the closer has probably done his job just fine and replacing him seems unnecessary and/ or splitting duties may or may not work out for either the existing or the new guy, especially in season and it could blow up.

Schenider already didn’t trust Hoffman to close Seattle out in Game 5 and threw Little (and his career possibly) to the wolves. He didn’t have anyone he could really turn to though in the WS in the end so it had to be Hoffman.

Anyways, if a team is going to do a two reliever setup like the Jays would have with Hoffman (assuming he isn’t DFA’ed), that should be from the start of the season. Getting a guy like Diaz or Suarez and having Hoffman (and the new guy) have the offseason, spring training and the regular season to sort out the heirarchy, it makes it easier for the clubhouse and the players and manager to handle the situation, then dropping a new closer in after 90+ games.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by browna

Schenider already didn’t trust Hoffman to close Seattle out in Game 5 and threw Little (and his career possibly) to the wolves. He didn’t have anyone he could really turn to though in the WS in the end so it had to be Hoffman.

Anyways, if a team is going to do a two reliever setup like the Jays would have with Hoffman (assuming he isn’t DFA’ed), that should be from the start of the season. Getting a guy like Diaz or Suarez and having Hoffman (and the new guy) have the offseason, spring training and the regular season to sort out the heirarchy, it makes it easier for the clubhouse and the players and manager to handle the situation, then dropping a new closer in after 90+ games.

Hoffman was also incredible in Game 7 against Seattle which helped his cause in the World Series.

[Andrew]

Hey Kyle its your buddy myles..... click

Not sure if he is relevant.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by browna

I get that but pitching and relievers especially are somewhat like starting goalies with ego and routine and having things stable.

I think if you’ve trusted one guy for 3.5 months of the season to close games for you, it’s hard (for the team and the player) to just drop him for a shiny new toy that is airlifted in to the clubhouse in mid July.

Obviously that worked with someone like Beiber who hasn’t pitched and was a starter, and Varland as a setup guy, but your true trusted closer needs to be your trusted closer. You risk losing the skills of that reliever if you replace him, for him to properly bounce back if he’s demoted and doesn’t pitch for weeks (look at Hoffman after his week long layoff because they played the Rockies, he gave up 4 walks to the Dodgers and HRs) if the new guy doesn’t work out.



Well that’s the thing. If they blow saves early, you need a guy sooner than July. If they are in a good standings position at the deadline then the closer has probably done his job just fine and replacing him seems unnecessary and/ or splitting duties may or may not work out for either the existing or the new guy, especially in season and it could blow up.

Schenider already didn’t trust Hoffman to close Seattle out in Game 5 and threw Little (and his career possibly) to the wolves. He didn’t have anyone he could really turn to though in the WS in the end so it had to be Hoffman.

Anyways, if a team is going to do a two reliever setup like the Jays would have with Hoffman (assuming he isn’t DFA’ed), that should be from the start of the season. Getting a guy like Diaz or Suarez and having Hoffman (and the new guy) have the offseason, spring training and the regular season to sort out the heirarchy, it makes it easier for the clubhouse and the players and manager to handle the situation, then dropping a new closer in after 90+ games.

"Closer" is an anochronysm anyway. They should go with a committee approach for save situations and just use the best pitcher for any given set of matchups. Hoffman doesn't pitch well with too much rest or too little rest, so using him only in save situations is a bad idea. Then if you need to promise "cloaer" to someone in a trade you don't have an incumbent.