2023/24 Blue Jays Off Season Thread

[browna]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Verdugo to the Yanks. That's an interesting move. May end up being an underrated move by NY. I hate the guy, but he gets on base and can be clutch.

Yanks and Red Sox making a trade means anything is possible.

[browna]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Jim Bowden speculating Verdugo will be part of the Soto package.

Makes a lot of sense.

[Roof-Daddy]

Come on Ohtani make your pick.

If it's not the Jays they need to go after Soto before he's gone too, and to a frigin rival no less.

A lot of speculation the Yanks will get Yamamoto.

Imagine missing Ohtani and then rhe yanks get both Soto and Yamamoto? Lol

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Come on Ohtani make your pick.

If it's not the Jays they need to go after Soto before he's gone too, and to a frigin rival no less.

A lot of speculation the Yanks will get Yamamoto.

Imagine missing Ohtani and then rhe yanks get both Soto and Yamamoto? Lol

Yeah, that's the fear here. The Jays pitching was great last year but the Yanks among others are going to bolster everywhere they can and will probably spend to do it. While I don't think a Soto deal goes down until after Ohtani signs (as the Padres would be wise to hold on to get a team like the Jays desperate and up the ante), I do not know what the Jays could do should the above scenario happen? Getting one Bellinger at an inflated amount of years is crazy. Going in with the same characters is also nonsensical. I go back to what I was saying a few weeks ago that you have to assess the possibility of dealing Vlad or Bo for a large package and come back in a couple years. Relying on pitching when your division bolstered is a tough proposition.

[ben voyonsdonc]

I bet the Jays have put their best offer out there for Soto even while they pursue the Ohtani sweepstakes. I would love Soto to be a Jay - preferably a newly re-signed Soto - but I think we are still underdogs to get him.

Other than Ohtani and Bellinger, there isn’t any other big game that I’d want to hunt in free agency. I wouldn’t want to break the bank on Chapman, Candelario, etc with long term deals. That means getting some more reasonably priced replacement level guys and looking at the trade market for bigger pieces.

[howard_the_duck]

Shi implying it's down to the Blue Jays and Dodgers.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article...-jays-history/

[Roof-Daddy]

I read a tweet today that claimed the Padres were happy with the Jays offer for Soto, but that the Jays wanted more than just Soto in the deal.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Shi implying it's down to the Blue Jays and Dodgers.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article...-jays-history/

Yep, it's the Dodgers. Was always going to be. Player and agent just doing final leveraging from the Jays to get the biggest deal they can from the team he was always going to.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I read a tweet today that claimed the Padres were happy with the Jays offer for Soto, but that the Jays wanted more than just Soto in the deal.

The dirty Yanks can make a deal for Soto with big time prospects knowing that they are best positioned to re-sign him. The Jays would likely see him as a one and done type player.

[SuperMatt18]

The contract structure would likely be full of player options would it not...like the contract is going to be 10 years and $550-$600M but I'm sure it will be full of player options.

The ability to have player opt out options actually makes me think the Jays have a better shot. Sign with the Jays, and if you end up hating Toronto you'll just opt out in 2 seasons and teams will line up for you then.

[bluejays]

I know it’s Ohtani mania and reasoning goes out the window but I strongly think giving anyone $600M over ten years and not having any team options, is a ridiculous proposition. Imagine he hurts his arm and can’t play to his batting level anymore while also totally can’t pitch. It’s baseball and it’s conceivable. If it were to happen early in his career the Jays would be on the hook for an immovable contract. Interest would wane on him media wise as well. There should be an out clause at six years or something. Nobody can have it all.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

The contract structure would likely be full of player options would it not...like the contract is going to be 10 years and $550-$600M but I'm sure it will be full of player options.

The ability to have player opt out options actually makes me think the Jays have a better shot. Sign with the Jays, and if you end up hating Toronto you'll just opt out in 2 seasons and teams will line up for you then.

If their training facilities are all they’re cracked up to be, slugging in Toronto and rehabbing his arm under the Jays care may be very appealing to him.

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I know it’s Ohtani mania and reasoning goes out the window but I strongly think giving anyone $600M over ten years and not having any team options, is a ridiculous proposition. Imagine he hurts his arm and can’t play to his batting level anymore while also totally can’t pitch. It’s baseball and it’s conceivable. If it were to happen early in his career the Jays would be on the hook for an immovable contract. Interest would wane on him media wise as well. There should be an out clause at six years or something. Nobody can have it all.

It will likely be either one of the most amazing deals in baseball or the worst……definitely a high degree of risk here.

He’s gotta make a decision soon, too many pieces will start to move and the jays hanging in in Ohtani only to lose out the dodgers is one thing, but if it costs them other players or moves that’s a double whammy.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Come on Ohtani make your pick.

If it's not the Jays they need to go after Soto before he's gone too, and to a frigin rival no less.

A lot of speculation the Yanks will get Yamamoto.

Imagine missing Ohtani and then rhe yanks get both Soto and Yamamoto? Lol

I don’t think Yankees can afford Yama and Soto . Yama is going to get close to 40 million a year . If they got both plus filled out roster they would be way over the tax threshold before resigned Soto and approach the all time record the Mets set last year (and the Mets dropped guys at the deadline to save $)

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/new-york-yankees/payroll/

I actually think Boston will get Yama, YaNks Soto, and unfortunently Dodgers Ohtani

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

If their training facilities are all they’re cracked up to be, slugging in Toronto and rehabbing his arm under the Jays care may be very appealing to him.

Too bad Vlad, Manoah, and Kirk haven’t used those facilities at all.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Too bad Vlad, Manoah, and Kirk haven’t used those facilities at all.

It was reported Guerrero is spending the winter in Dunedin. He's obviously not happy with how last season went which is good news.

[JBR]

Make it so Cashman. The Boss would approve.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

The contract structure would likely be full of player options would it not...like the contract is going to be 10 years and $550-$600M but I'm sure it will be full of player options.

The ability to have player opt out options actually makes me think the Jays have a better shot. Sign with the Jays, and if you end up hating Toronto you'll just opt out in 2 seasons and teams will line up for you then.

A 600 million dollar deal with player options seems like a terrible deal for a team to take. Essentially the team takes all the risk. If he is better than expected, he opts out in a couple years. If he gets badly hurt, then they are stuck with a very bad contract for 10 years.

[KelVarnsen]

Steve Phillips believes Toronto Blue Jays are the current 'favourites' to land Shohei Ohtani
https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/steve-phillip...tani-1.2045281

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

A 600 million dollar deal with player options seems like a terrible deal for a team to take.

I'd be fine with it. Fine with it vs. a deal of the same length without Player options... Ohtani's deal is going to be like 10-12 years... frankly the potential to not have to pay for the back half of that length of a contract seems preferable so sure give him opt-outs at the 3/6/9 year marks if he wants. I'll take that deal all week long and twice on Sundays if I'm the Jays.