2023/24 Blue Jays Off Season Thread

[flambers]

For sure, it was a crap trade., For some reason the Jays moved the wrong Catcher.

However, what can be done to improve this team is the key.

With the following positions players leaving, Jays have an important off-season

Chapman
Belt
Keirmaier
Merrifield

With not a great UFA class this season, it could be a difficult offseason

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by flambers

For sure, it was a crap trade., For some reason the Jays moved the wrong Catcher.

However, what can be done to improve this team is the key.

With the following positions players leaving, Jays have an important off-season

Chapman
Belt
Keirmaier
Merrifield

With not a great UFA class this season, it could be a difficult offseason

Not sure they moved the wrong catcher but they moved the only catcher that has value. Teams see Kirk for what he is, flash in the pan, and Jansen has no value. They just forced a trade they didn't have to make because they felt Gurriel were not serious. But that's on management. You all see how serious and thriving he is now after just one season.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Not sure they moved the wrong catcher but they moved the only catcher that has value. Teams see Kirk for what he is, flash in the pan, and Jansen has no value. They just forced a trade they didn't have to make because they felt Gurriel were not serious. But that's on management. You all see how serious and thriving he is now after just one season.

Definitely the wrong catcher in my view, huge mistake.

Jays should have passed on the trade

Worked on something else.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by flambers

Definitely the wrong catcher in my view, huge mistake.

Jays should have passed on the trade

Worked on something else.

Fully agreed. Last year when the trade was made the argument around here was that other teams were in on him and his value was what it was (Varsho). But when Moreno was brought up they should've passed and let another team get Varsho. He was an advanced stats darling with the hope he could get his bat better. The fact they gave up not only Moreno but Guerriel as well was a crazy overpayment. I said at the time, Varsho was as much of an experiment as Moreno, but Moreno being a catching prospect, with position scarcity was worth holding onto. Guerriel+ for Varsho I could've seen but to get two, I'm not sure I'll get over it anytime soon. It's aggravating just typing this. We've seen this enough times now with Atkins. He's simply not a great negotiator when it comes to dealing IMO. It's definitely going to be a hard uphill off-season to make a few things happen. Ideally I'd have liked if he was fired and Shapiro take the reins in the off-season as GM, but in lieu of that, I want to see him correct what he's done wrong. With no prospects affording to be dealt, no increase in allowable spend allowed, and teams knowing your bargaining position, it's going to be damn hard to overcome. They simply can't roll this back though. I can see Vlad being on the block because they don't have much else they can deal of value at the moment. It's kind of a shame Atkins has left the cupboards this bare.

[jayswin]

Someone said it in the MLB thread last night, but ouuuuch.

Semien, Gurriel, and Moreno combined for 11 RBI tonight.

[Inferno]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1720170218012496315

[Blaster86]

Holy ####, thank god.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Interesting.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1720259831813099692

https://twitter.com/user/status/1720260436832981174

[bluejays]

Merrifield is a solid 2nd baseman. Ideally a bench player though. I have no thought on this. He's not worth $18M though, so I'd rather use that money elsewhere.

[KelVarnsen]

He cooled off big time late in the season

[flambers]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Merrifield is a solid 2nd baseman. Ideally a bench player though. I have no thought on this. He's not worth $18M though, so I'd rather use that money elsewhere.

Guessing he does return, but at a more reasonable rate.

[Jason14h]

He was benched for the playoffs , can’t see him returning

[Roof-Daddy]

Keep Green, preferably on the two year option.
QO to Chapman, he likely won't accept but if he does then you have another year of a quality 3B who is well above replacement.

Let the rest walk.

[Party Elephant]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

He was benched for the playoffs , can’t see him returning

I wouldn't mind a Biggio-Schneider platoon at 2B.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Keep Green, preferably on the two year option.
QO to Chapman, he likely won't accept but if he does then you have another year of a quality 3B who is well above replacement.

Let the rest walk.

Might as well qualify Chapman for the free pick. I can't imagine he takes that though - he's the only quality 3B free agent, so he'll likely get a premium.

[bluejays]

I'm guessing the Jays will make a play for Chapman based on the market (but he ultimately will sign with a team who will overpay). Again, it's going to be a tough off-season to overcome the deficiencies. Because of where they plugged themselves, and given their previous approaches, they'll probably try and go for a couple guys on the rebound and hope they work it out.

I don't like the above approach but given this years' market, I can't foresee them doing anything else. Trades will happen but it won't fill all the gaps, so it's probably the approach of signing a couple guys who want to redeem themselves while exploring trade options for others. Aside from Ohtani and Bellinger on the hitting side, the FA market is bare. I'd simply stay clear of both because they're going to get monster overpay contracts (but it would be nice to tap to see what they're going for).

[bluejays]

Also as good as the pitching was this year they'll have to upgrade there as the other contender teams catch up on that.

Frankly, with Bauer's accuser falsely accusing him, I'd entertain Bauer here. He'd have the upside of an ace, so what could go wrong? We jumped on him as the accusations were terrible but now that the circumstances were in no short terms, nefarious, I'd go for it.

They should also get a Hicks replacement.

I'd go back and see what Guerriel is asking. This year he was healthy so perhaps he turned the page. He'd also help relate to Vlad (if Vlad isn't dealt).

Brantley on DH would be nice as well.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by bluejays

They should also get a Hicks replacement.

I'm hoping they sign Hicks. I think his velocity gives the bullpen an extra dimension that makes it more effective overall, and effectively gives us two closer type arms.

[bluejays]

Prior to last season I didn't think Romano was an elite closing arm. I can see the argument he is though, but I don't think he's top tier in movement. He does tend to get the job done but they need a backup for sure. Hicks could be the top velocity arm available. I'd like to see him back but this year with so many high payroll teams not making it, the FA market will be a bloodbath, so I can see him getting a bigger deal elsewhere. Agree on the principle though.

[ben voyonsdonc]

I’ll be interested to see what the Jays do with Mitch White. He looked like a potential quality arm in his last few outings in triple A. They’ve invested trade capital and development capital in him but they’d need to add him to the roster to avoid the rule 5 draft.

If he can be that swing guy that can eat innings in the pen or pick up the odd start, that would be really useful considering how thin the starting depth has been beyond the rotation.

We really haven’t had a 6-7 starter in a few years and, with an aging Gausman, Bassitt, and Kikuchi, they are going to need guys who can come in and make spot starts.

As unlikely as it seemed a few months ago, I think they should add him to the roster.

For Jordan Hicks, I’d love to keep him but the Atkin Jays are notoriously frugal in spending on their bullpen. They treat their bullpen arms like a lot of football teams treat their kickers…get cheap guys who they can maximize value and with the unpredictability of bullpen arms, then move on from them. It makes some sense because long term bullpen arms are quite rare. Guys like Anthony Bass catch lightning in the bottle and then turn into pumpkins. I expect Green’s option will be the biggest bullpen contract that they sign this offseason.

Hicks’ stuff is just sick. His lack of command needs to be addressed because a team can find 100mph under rocks these days. He’ll get a handsome contract for sure this off season but I don’t know if he’ll ever truly be a guy teams will fully trust to come in the highest leverage situations.