2026 Toronto Blue Jays Season Thread

[EN FUEGO]

Originally Posted by 3thirty

I also think Bieber is better next year. Full offseason will help. He even said he wasn't 100% throughout the Jays run, but said he felt better as it went on.

Yeah, that is apparently standard for a TJ return, that once pitching full time again, it takes quite a while to fully get to 100 percent. They talked about this a lot on FOX/MLB Network/etc., how they were surprised how crisp he was already. Keep in mind he hadn't pitched in almost 18 months. I asked the AI machine about this.

First 1–4 weeks - Velocity may fluctuate; command is spotty; shorter outings; usually on pitch limits.
First 2–3 months - Velocity stabilizes; secondary pitches sharpen; workload gradually increases.
6–12 months after return to MLB Often when they “look like themselves” again. Some even improve beyond pre-injury level.

[Mathgod]

nvm

[Otto-matic]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article...ing-blue-jays/

Bench coach Don Mattingly leaving Blue Jays

[mile]

nm

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Trade for Skubal and sign Cease, then eat some money on Berrios and find him a new home, unless his injury is worse than we know about.

1. Skubal
2. Cease
3. Gausman
4. Bieber
5. Yesavage

That would more or less be my plan for the offseason... I'd probably try and get Skubal at the deadline thou where I think he's more likely to cost you an arm and a leg then an arm a leg and your first born child. That and extend Bo of course (but please move him to 2B eventually). If you can't extend Bo then try to get Bregman. I'll take Bassit back too... but only if he's willing to be the multi-inning bulk guy out of the pen. I liked how he looked in the Pen in the post-season and you probably want to manage Yesavage's innings over a full season (seriously... go find comparables for the jump in innings pitched, I think Yesavage pitched something like 60 more innings then he did his last year in college).

[browna]

https://www.threads.com/@richeisen/p...-doing-what-we

Hopefully Mattingly gets a managerial job again. I think over the first two seasons it was a good chance he could’ve been the next manager of the Jays. Maybe he thought that too.

But Schenider costing cheap and the relationship he has with Vlad and Bo likely overrode the struggles that the underperforming team had.

With being that close to the WS and maybe seeing he wasn’t going to be inline here anytime soon, time to find a place that would make him manager.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by browna

https://www.threads.com/@richeisen/p...-doing-what-we

Hopefully Mattingly gets a managerial job again. I think over the first two seasons it was a good chance he could’ve been the next manager of the Jays. Maybe he thought that too.

But Schneider costing cheap and the relationship he has with Vlad and Bo likely overrode the struggles that the underperforming team had.

With being that close to the WS and maybe seeing he wasn’t going to be inline here anytime soon, time to find a place that would make him manager.

That's exactly it. He was the 'break glass in case' scenario to slip him into the Manager spot if they decided to fire Schneider (Heck at the deepest depths of 2023 & 2024 I was calling for him to come in). This season has probably all but cemented Schneider's job for the next couple of years minimum and so Donnie Baseball doesn't have a path to the Manager's seat now.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

The other one they were rumoured to be trading is Steven Kwan. He's got a few years of arb left and is probably getting $8-10 MM in arb this year. Seems like a potential fit style-wise for the Jays, and maybe works as a back-door Bichette replacement (move Barger to 3rd, Clement to 2nd, Gimenez to SS and give Kwan RF).

He's not exactly 'hidden' given he's been a two time all-star the past two seasons and has gold gloves in each of his 4 seasons in the big leagues.

Kwan's excellent and exactly in the mold of what would work well with the Jays offense and defensive philosophy. During my time living in Ohio the past 3 years I have seen plenty of Steven Kwan ABs in the various games I have been to in Cleveland over the years. He's one of the most unique (in a good way) ball players out there. Defense has to play straight up with him because he hits the ball to all parts of the field against most types of pitching so he gets so many hit balls to drop between fielders, or sneak through holes in the infield. He's quick on the base paths and forces the other team to make defensive errors. And he's versatile in the field and plays decent defense.

[zukes]

Mattingly never really seemed like he had a job other than a respected lifer to talk to. He didn't really have a job, they'd always say, he told people when they may get into a game. He was clearly just on the staff as a safeguard.

Would he really take the Colorado job? That is a no win situation if I've ever seen one.

[SuperMatt18]

I wonder if dude just wants a year off too and to be available for if a job opens.

He looked heartbroken in that dugout.

Not playing in a world series as a player, and not winning one as a manager has always been held over him a bit.

To get that close and then not win it, especially with it being ripped away, had to just break him.

[bluejays]

Regarding Mattingly, I agree with what some said, that he was the backup manager potentially in the waiting. Now that the new hitting coach Popkins has come in and been given credit for turning the team around, I’m pretty sure he feels left out and the lost man in all this. I don’t blame him if he feels like he has more to give. It takes a lot of balls to walk away and he seemed like a good man. I hope the best for him.

Regarding some of you hoping they get Cease, Skubel, AND Bo? You guys crazy? There will bidding for each of them. Truly, realistic beet case will be to get Bo. To get all would require a lot in prospect capital as well as dollars. This leadership team rarely does the most obvious thing and I don't think they do it here either.

[activeStick]

Took time off after game 7 until now. Awesome seeing Bieber come back on his option! Hoping Bo comes back. Also, I start seeing it at the end of the season and it continued into the playoffs, but I saw a Santander finally finding his game before his injury and I'm thinking he's going to have a really solid year next season for the Jays.

[Blaster86]

If Bo comes back, I think you see one of the top end free-agents take a chance on a shorter term deal similar to Correa's deal in Minnesota (though as a first choice and not a fall back option like Correa).


My pessimistic outlook at the start is definitely coming around right now.

[browna]

I’d say the Padres job for Mattingly but I don’t know if he wants to see and battle the Dodgers for the next 3-5 years.

But yes, often I thought he should be manager for the Jays. Each series, even this season, very very dubious management decisions cost them one game per series. Combined with cold bats and anemic offense most of 2023 and the playoff loss, and all of 2024, for the payroll the Jays have, results not good enough.

For reasons mentioned and because if they fired Schenider, the buck stopped next at Atkins which was also an issue that the executive wanted to avoid.

One of the most beloved Yankees, and the most popular and famous guys in baseball in the early 80s and he just missed out of their first WS since the late 70s back in 1996. He retired offseason 1995 so he could watch his kids grow up instead.

I think he took a different role this year and when it’s a guy like Bichette, the would’ve been league leader in hits like Mattingly was who’s the one to console him and give the last visual of Mattingly as Blue Jay, pretty fitting.

A little odd that Mattingly’s hat in that clip with Bo has the post season logo on it, not the WS one.

[bluejays]

I missed the Shapiro PC 45 mins ago. Anything interesting mentioned?


Atkins' is coming up in 15 mins.

[carmenshoes]

Just curious if Bo doesn't sign with the Jays where is he likely to sign?

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by carmenshoes

Just curious if Bo doesn't sign with the Jays where is he likely to sign?

To me most logical is the Yankees. They can afford him, need a SS, and it hurts their direct competition (the Jays).

[browna]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I missed the Shapiro PC 45 mins ago. Anything interesting mentioned?


Atkins' is coming up in 15 mins.

98% of the time those guys talked without saying anything. They won’t change now, it will only get worse with this success.

Besides giving platitudes to players and coaches and a departing Mattingly, cozy up to the fans in Toronto and Canada.

Shapiro now has accomplished and surpassed the revenue goals set out for him for the renovated Rogers Center plans that were enacted. Full renewals and additional memberships sold to the expensive clubs for next year so people could enjoy the WS this year. He’s set and has a new contract coming.

Atkins will be even more smug than he used to be. There’s credit be had in some regards thanks to the result, but it can be argued he’s looked good thanks to unheralded players having better then expected as part of a team environment.

But his big recent acquisition Santander was a zero factor. They dragged their feet on Vladdy and questioned his worth 10 or less months ago. Hoffman fell into their lap after two teams passed on him. Could’ve used another bullpen arm in the playoffs. This team succeeded this season in spite of the roster construction, not because of it.

But yea both those guys are now safe for two or three years, easily, even if out of the playoffs each of the next years.

Originally Posted by bluejays

To me most logical is the Yankees. They can afford him, need a SS, and it hurts their direct competition (the Jays).

Agreed. I think Bo does want to stay (not as much as Vlad did, but enough) but he wants to be paid big time. If the Rogers and Shapiro get at all cute witg questioning his value as they did Vlad, Bo won’t have the patience and will have the Yankees knocking on the door first.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by carmenshoes

Just curious if Bo doesn't sign with the Jays where is he likely to sign?

Dodgers could use a 2B.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by browna

Agreed. I think Bo does want to stay (not as much as Vlad did, but enough) but he wants to be paid big time. If the Rogers and Shapiro get at all cute witg questioning his value as they did Vlad, Bo won’t have the patience and will have the Yankees knocking on the door first.

The Atkins conference was very very quick. He did position something interesting re: Bo. Complimented his athletic ability and pushing through then said they're not engaged yet in talks because he's earned the right to get to free agency and they are respecting that. To me that tells me he really wants to see what's out there as they left it too long. IMO he's every bit important as Vlad. I didn't like Vlad's 14 year contract, so if he's seeking that I'd pass. As long as he's committed to fitness I'd give him some solid dollars. The term is really scary though. I really hope nobody gives him more than 7 years.