2023/24 Blue Jays Off Season Thread

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by 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

He may be right, as he has connections being the former Mets GM, but he’s also paid by TSN. Given the cone of silence I’m inclined to believe anyone bringing odds is talking outta their butt as a best guess given the clues, vs. insider knowledge. I don’t believe there’s any insider knowledge whatsoever as Ohtani’s kept quiet. So Phillips is just playing to the audience he’s employed to talk to.

This really is something how it’s dragged on. Aren’t the Jays getting city connection jerseys this year? Would be nice to get his name on one of those upon any announcement.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by bluejays

This really is something how it’s dragged on.

It hasn't dragged on thou... I mean how many premium Free Agents sign before the Winter Meetings are done? Baseball free agency is a drag in general and this doesn't seem to be taking any longer then it should... yet (albeit it's making for a slower early period since more folk then usual are waiting on him to clarify the market).

[868904]

Originally Posted by Parallex

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.

I think the Jays would sell a billion dollars worth of Ohtani jerseys alone on the first week of signing him. That doesn't even include all the other marketing and money making schemes Rogers could have with Ohtani in the fold.

Financially, it makes sense for Rogers.

I just don't know if it makes sense for Ohtani. Also, do players want to play for a team that is run by analytics? Every player saw the Berrios fiasco. Ohtani's buddy Kikuchi was involved in it too. I can't imagine stuff like that sells very well.

I'd be shocked if the Jays land any of the prize free agents. They will get the scraps at an over market price though.

[Jiggy_12]

It's interesting to me the sentiment is the Jays won't/can't get big free agents.

Ryu
Springer
Gausman
Bassitt

Those were all top guys in their FA class

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

It's interesting to me the sentiment is the Jays won't/can't get big free agents.

Ryu
Springer
Gausman
Bassitt

Those were all top guys in their FA class

I believe the first two they had to out bid competitors by quite a bit.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I believe the first two they had to out bid competitors by quite a bit.

But they still got them. That's my point

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by 868904

I think the Jays would sell a billion dollars worth of Ohtani jerseys alone on the first week of signing him. That doesn't even include all the other marketing and money making schemes Rogers could have with Ohtani in the fold.

Financially, it makes sense for Rogers.

I just don't know if it makes sense for Ohtani. Also, do players want to play for a team that is run by analytics? Every player saw the Berrios fiasco. Ohtani's buddy Kikuchi was involved in it too. I can't imagine stuff like that sells very well.

I'd be shocked if the Jays land any of the prize free agents. They will get the scraps at an over market price though.

I bet Ohtani gets his own analytics department. Whatever the rules are today will change with a unicorn talent like this.

[Sylvanfan]

Whomever he signs with I have to imagine the contract clauses will be groundbreaking. I can see him wanting to have the chance to opt out after each of the first two years. If his recovery went well and he's going to pitch in 2024 I can see his camp wanting to hit the market again. Than if he does pitch and is close to this year...they'll want to see how much more can be had. It won't be dull.

[jayswin]

Decision by the end of this weekend, reportedly

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Soto to the Yanks? Ugghhhhh.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

But they still got them. That's my point

Cash is king. Is there a team in North America where nobody will join even at $25M more than the next bidder? I think the question is if the money is equal would players prefer to come to Canada. Generally the answer is no. For a variety of reasons including tax, weather, border crossing, familiarity with the states, etc. Obviously the city is great. I live here. We all know it’s a world class multicultural city. But unless overpaying it’s not high up on the list and that’s shown over time.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Cash is king. Is there a team in North America where nobody will join even at $25M more than the next bidder? I think the question is if the money is equal would players prefer to come to Canada. Generally the answer is no. For a variety of reasons including tax, weather, border crossing, familiarity with the states, etc. Obviously the city is great. I live here. We all know it’s a world class multicultural city. But unless overpaying it’s not high up on the list and that’s shown over time.

Let’s say all that is true. My point being, the Jays have shown willingness to do what it takes under this current regime to acquire top talent via free agency.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Let’s say all that is true. My point being, the Jays have shown willingness to do what it takes under this current regime to acquire top talent via free agency.

Agreed fully. I have never understood the hate on ownership to spend money. They’re earning most revenue in CAD and still spend in USD. As for Atkins and Shapiro, they’ve been able to sign FA’s I’ll give them that. Though I’ll also take away credit for their trading acumen and drafting though that’s another topic.

[Roof-Daddy]

Sounds like Soto to the Yankees is close to being done.

I sure hope Ohtani doesn't leave us at the altar here after "plan B" also gets eliminated.

[Roof-Daddy]

Doesn't sound like Ohtani is making his decision final until the end of the weekend....dang

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Doesn't sound like Ohtani is making his decision final until the end of the weekend....dang

It’s just Jon Morosi’s speculation more than anything. We all have considerations big and small. I just can’t see him holding up every team to play the look at me approach. We’re all just guessing as much as these reporters but I can’t see how he doesn’t make a decision by tomorrow evening. He’s handcuffing his own team in mind to let opportunities pass by. Jon is a classic speculator.

[howard_the_duck]

Yeah, I view Morosi as a bit of a Dreger equivalent. Lots of scoops thrown at the wall, ready and willing to give them to anyone, but low hit rate.

Hopefully it’s sooner.

[bluejays]

Definitely reading the Yanks are closing the deal on Soto. Great to have a potential young HOFer but the cost will be massive. In that regard I can see a light at the end of the rainbow in that the Jays don’t have much to give. If they can keep what they have in Tiedmann specially, great. If the cost was only Tiedmann and Manoah, that would’ve been good but give the rumours of 7 players swapping places looks like the Yanks paid handsomely.

[Roof-Daddy]

Apparently the Jays are one of 7 teams still in on Yamamoto

Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jays and two others

Just imagine for a second signing Ohtani and Yamamoto in the same off season to dang near a billion dollars total.

And then project the future rotation if Ohtani came back an ace still and Yamamoto was as advertised and was also an ace.

Jeebus

Ohtani, Yamamoto, Gausman, Berrios for 2025!! Get er done Ross

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by 868904

I think the Jays would sell a billion dollars worth of Ohtani jerseys alone on the first week of signing him. That doesn't even include all the other marketing and money making schemes Rogers could have with Ohtani in the fold.

Financially, it makes sense for Rogers.

I just don't know if it makes sense for Ohtani. Also, do players want to play for a team that is run by analytics? Every player saw the Berrios fiasco. Ohtani's buddy Kikuchi was involved in it too. I can't imagine stuff like that sells very well.

I'd be shocked if the Jays land any of the prize free agents. They will get the scraps at an over market price though.

Teams don't get jersey sale money other than retail markup in their stadium stores.