2020 Blue Jays Season Thread

[JTech780]

Of the big fish, I want Bauer and Lemahieu the most, but Realmuto is close behind. Lindor would be a great add, but only if you can get an extension signed. I don't know why, but I don't really want Springer. I know he fills what might be the most pressing need, I would say SP is the most pressing need, but I think he is a candidate to fall off a cliff production wise. I am just not sure I would give him a big contract.

The best bet might be to go after a few smaller guys like Turner, Brantley or Ozuna, and use some the prospect capital to go after some pitching like Sonny Gray or Carlos Carrasco.

I think the offense will be there from guys like Bichette, Biggio, Guerrero Jr., Tellez, Gurriel Jr. and Hernandez. I just don't think they have near enough innings from the starting rotation. Ryu and Pearson are great but I am not sure how many innings you will get from them. After that Ray is the only other guy who is probably a lock for the rotation and he is wildly inconsistent. Then you have Kay, Roark, Hatch, Stripling, Thornton and Zeuch all in the running, but none of those guys are going to get you deep into games. Last season they relied on expanded rosters to get them through the shortened season. This season is looking to be a longer season and they probably won't get to the advantage of expanded rosters. If they don't get more innings out their starters they are going to wear out the bullpen before the All-Star break.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

For sure, I think SP is a more pressing need as well. If it's Springer or upgrading SP, it's a pretty easy call. But they can do both. I think Springer is a 'nice to have' not a 'have to have' but as a UFA there's no assets to give up. Sign him, trade Grichuk for assets, upgrade SP, maybe sign Realmuto, there's tons of options. If you can upgrade anywhere you should do it.

[Roof-Daddy]

Yeah, I'm kind of off the Lindor wagon now. As a player union rep he is going to command a massive contract to re-sign or else he'll just go to free agency after one season. Then you consider the more than likely humongous acquisition cost just to trade for him.

I'd rather sign Ha-Seong Kim and see if he can transition to MLB and quickly become another solid young piece to add to the core, and a fraction of the cost of Lindor.

Then use the $$ to shore up other bigger weaknesses on the diamond. Like adding Springer to CF, adding a big SP arm or two, as well as a high leverage BP arm just in case Romano is a flash in the pan.

[bluejays]

Nothing more to add than to say that the order of preference for signings is Realmuto, Springer, Lemahieu. Catching position may make the biggest difference right now, and while I don’t like spending dough on OF, I think Springer will be consistent. Lemahieu I could see being a flash in the pan. It’s not based on anything factual, just my suspicion.

[flamingred89]

I really don’t want Springer. Not because he’s a bad ball player, or that he wouldn’t be an upgrade, I just don’t want any Astro stink on this team. Similar to Marchment on the Flames I just don’t think I could cheer for a cheating cheater.

My score App just told me that the Jays are pushing really hard for Lemahieu. Can’t go wrong with a 2 time batting champ with gold gloves in his back pocket.

Im fully on board with Realmuto too. If you can solidify the middle infield, Catching, and add a SP I’ll be ecstatic. There’s enough offense in the outfield to make up for the defensive liabilities.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Quite frankly I’ll take any of those players on the Jays. They’re all exceptional at their relative position and would bring a much needed level of maturity to this Jays line up that too often looked like a AAA team on the bases or on D. I have no order of preference as they’re all incredibly talented players and would instantly bring credibility to the Jays.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by fleury

Nothing more to add than to say that the order of preference for signings is Realmuto, Springer, Lemahieu. Catching position may make the biggest difference right now, and while I don’t like spending dough on OF, I think Springer will be consistent. Lemahieu I could see being a flash in the pan. It’s not based on anything factual, just my suspicion.

The only reason I would put Lemahieu ahead of Springer is because he is a much more consistent hitter. He isn't a big swing and miss guy, which Springer is more so and the Jays have enough swing and miss bats in their lineup IMO. I also like the way Lemahieu goes about his business, he is very focused and professional, just goes comes to the park and puts in the work.

I also like his versatility around the infield. I think Biggio is very capable in the outfield and could be an everyday player out there.

I really like Realmuto as well, I like Jansen and Kirk, but I keep waiting for Jansen to break out offensively and I am not sure Kirk is ever going to be great defensively, Realmuto is great offensively and defensively. He would also add a lot of leadership to the locker room.

[GreenLantern2814]

MLB free agency is so goddamn boring.

[bluejays]

Personally I don't get what's going on with MLB free agency this year. What are guys waiting for at this point? Wouldn't the best offers have been made at this point? There aren't any white knight teams coming out of nowhere to offer something to blow everyone else out of the water, so why the wait?

[Roof-Daddy]

At least Kim has a deadline of Jan 1st to sign somewhere, hopefully when he does that sparks a bunch of the infielders to sign somewhere.

Several teams have made offers apparently, Texas and Toronto among them confirmed. He also had dinner with Ryu and stated that he thought starting his MLB career with Ryu as a team mate would be a very positive thing.

[flamingred89]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

MLB free agency is so goddamn boring.

Yep. It's unbelievably boring. Made even worse by baseball writers pretending like they have something to do and spreading rumours like wildfire. Usually there's a few signings during the first week of FA. Then a few more during winter meetings. But this year crickets.

Pitchers and catchers are due to report in 6 weeks so something has to give soon.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

The Blue Jays have been seemingly connected to just about every major free agent, yet The Toronto Star’s Gregor Chisholm makes the “bold prediction” that J.T. Realmuto will ultimately land with the team. There’s some process-of-elimination logic here, as Chisholm feels that George Springer will sign with the Mets and DJ LeMahieu will re-sign with the Yankees, leaving the Jays without either of what seem to be their top two targets. From Realmuto’s perspective, the Mets’ deal with James McCann may have already eliminated the most likely candidate for his services, as it isn’t yet clear if other potential suitors like the Phillies or Nationals are willing to meet Realmuto’s asking price. With Realmuto in the fold, Toronto could then use its young catching surplus as trade chips to address other needs.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/...blue-jays.html

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/...blue-jays.html

I think that would be perfect, though other accounts early on had him in Philly. I’d love what he could bring to the Jays. Having an elite catcher is rare.

[transplant99]

Snell dealt to the Padres for 4 prospects.

Dude is locked in for 3 years.

[bluejays]

Blake Snell to the Padres. Should’ve probably seen that coming considering the stable of prospects the Pads have amassed in recent years. I’m now even more scared of Tampa because surely they’ve got a ton of good prospects back.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I'd rather have Snell out of the division and take my chances with the 4 prospects as a Jays fan.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

The Blue Jays are among the teams that have made an offer to free agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim, reports Daniel Kim of ESPN (Twitter link). It’s said to be a proposal of at least five years in length. Daniel Kim reported earlier this week that Ha-Seong Kim was mulling multiple five-year offers.

Kim can play anywhere in the infield and has raked over six-plus seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization. Last season, he hit .306/.397/.523 with 30 home runs in 622 plate appearances for the Kiwoom Heroes. The club posted him earlier this month. MLB teams have until January 1 to work out a deal.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/...seong-kim.html

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Looks like the Jays might be the bridesmaid.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1343582641791102976

[Roof-Daddy]

Conflicting reports out there.

I fully expect to be left utterly disappointed.

If he doesn't go to TO though, him going to the Padres would be better than him picking an AL team I guess.

[flamingred89]

Padres going all in again. They could be scary good. Or, as the baseball gods have shown before with teams loading up in the offseason, they could be expensively mediocre.

At least there is some movement now and hopefully some more dominos to fall.