2026 Toronto Blue Jays Season Thread

[bluejays]

If Bo wants to play SS I'd be weary, but at 2nd I don't see any problem at all. Generally across the league those who play 2nd play for their defence. Bo doesn't need the crazy range and he provides offence. I think in the past he got injured or was playing through injuries which decreased his production. I don't know if anything he's experienced is chronic, but I do echo there are injury concerns. This year he put on some weight and it didn't seem like muscle. So I am concerned about his longevity. But at 2nd base I think we would have a strategic advantage over many in the league because most just put a defensive specialist there with no expectation of offence. Bo can play average D but be great at bat there.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

I hate you.




By a lot of talk, you mean proud Jays hater and known agent mouth piece and over-all windbag Ken Rosenthal speculating he took the player option to avoid teams giving him a full medical. The thing the Jays did when they traded for him so has happened in the last 6 months.





The main reason they did this is because Berrios can't pitch. He may be a Jay, but he won't be a starter on this team outside of a string of injuries if he's here.





I think that's a fair estimation and where Louis Varland steps in. It won't be Berrios. It can't be Berrios. They won't do that to me.

They can, they will, and they did it before.

[Jiggy_12]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1996437828117692733

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

https://twitter.com/user/status/1996437828117692733

I think they are really trying to do it. Push all the chips in, land Tucker and match a Bo contract and follow up the amazing 2025 season with $350 million or so payroll for one year, then in 2027 a bunch of money comes off the books but they'd still have a solid nucleus to build.around with Vlad, Tucker, Bo, Kirk, Cease, Yesavage, Ponce, Giminez, Barger, Clement etc etc.

If they can dump a good chunk of the Berrios contract they have over $100 million coming off the books in 2027 and get back under any luxury tax thresholds and reset, but still have a pretty good team. And hopefully back to back world series appearances with one win.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I think they are really trying to do it. Push all the chips in, land Tucker and match a Bo contract and follow up the amazing 2025 season with $350 million or so payroll for one year, then in 2027 a bunch of money comes off the books but they'd still have a solid nucleus to build.around with Vlad, Tucker, Bo, Kirk, Cease, Yesavage, Ponce, Giminez, Barger, Clement etc etc.

If they can dump a good chunk of the Berrios contract they have over $100 million coming off the books in 2027 and get back under any luxury tax thresholds and reset, but still have a pretty good team. And hopefully back to back world series appearances with one win.

Agreed. They have a wave of momentum right now. Might as well use it and push all the chips in.

On a side note, it's nice that some signings have come quick and Jays fans don't get dragged through the mud from agents and Insiders just for leverage.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

Agreed. They have a wave of momentum right now. Might as well use it and push all the chips in.

On a side note, it's nice that some signings have come quick and Jays fans don't get dragged through the mud from agents and Insiders just for leverage.

Yeah for sure, shoring up the starting pitching so quickly was massive. To retain Bieber, and add Cease and Ponce all before the winter meetings really.sets them up nicely.

As for a bat, I really don't think Bo is going anywhere unless the Jays decide not to match the best offer he gets. I highly.doubt he wants to leave the Jays, he just wants to maximize this contract.

[JTech780]

Here is a list of big name position player potential free agents for 2027:

Yandy Diaz (Vesting Option)
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Ozzie Albies (Club Option, ATL most likely picks this up)
Nico Hoerner
Brandon Lowe
Max Muncy
Alec Bohm
Ronald Acuna Jr. (Club option, ATL will pick this up)
Luis Robert Jr. (Club option, CWS most likely picks this up)
Randy Arozarena
George Springer
Ian Happ

I post this just to say, that I don't think there is going to be anybody with the same impact as Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette available next year, so if I am the Jays I am going all in this year on those two. Though Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ certainly fit the mold of what the Jays were putting together last year.

It might be a long shot to get both Tucker and Bichette, but until they sign I am going to hold out hope for both. Mind you if I had to choose I would take Tucker, he is a top 10 player in baseball. If Bo is adamant that he plays SS, I am not interested.

[3thirty]

This could be a crazy offseason, but years of being the bridesmaid has me not counting chickens yet...

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by JTech780

Here is a list of big name position player potential free agents for 2027:

Yandy Diaz (Vesting Option)
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Ozzie Albies (Club Option, ATL most likely picks this up)
Nico Hoerner
Brandon Lowe
Max Muncy
Alec Bohm
Ronald Acuna Jr. (Club option, ATL will pick this up)
Luis Robert Jr. (Club option, CWS most likely picks this up)
Randy Arozarena
George Springer
Ian Happ

I post this just to say, that I don't think there is going to be anybody with the same impact as Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette available next year, so if I am the Jays I am going all in this year on those two. Though Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ certainly fit the mold of what the Jays were putting together last year.

It might be a long shot to get both Tucker and Bichette, but until they sign I am going to hold out hope for both. Mind you if I had to choose I would take Tucker, he is a top 10 player in baseball. If Bo is adamant that he plays SS, I am not interested.

yeah, that list isnt great. This is the year to make a splash. And the Jays seem to have the deck stacked in their favour for once.

[flamingred89]

Winter meetings start in 3 days. Should see a domino or two start to fall in the next few days.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by JTech780

Here is a list of big name position player potential free agents for 2027:

Yandy Diaz (Vesting Option)
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Ozzie Albies (Club Option, ATL most likely picks this up)
Nico Hoerner
Brandon Lowe
Max Muncy
Alec Bohm
Ronald Acuna Jr. (Club option, ATL will pick this up)
Luis Robert Jr. (Club option, CWS most likely picks this up)
Randy Arozarena
George Springer
Ian Happ

I post this just to say, that I don't think there is going to be anybody with the same impact as Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette available next year, so if I am the Jays I am going all in this year on those two. Though Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ certainly fit the mold of what the Jays were putting together last year.

It might be a long shot to get both Tucker and Bichette, but until they sign I am going to hold out hope for both. Mind you if I had to choose I would take Tucker, he is a top 10 player in baseball. If Bo is adamant that he plays SS, I am not interested.

Yeah, yuck. Ok, go get Bo and Tucker/Bellinger please.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I think they are really trying to do it. Push all the chips in, land Tucker and match a Bo contract and follow up the amazing 2025 season with $350 million or so payroll for one year, then in 2027 a bunch of money comes off the books but they'd still have a solid nucleus to build.around with Vlad, Tucker, Bo, Kirk, Cease, Yesavage, Ponce, Giminez, Barger, Clement etc etc.

If they can dump a good chunk of the Berrios contract they have over $100 million coming off the books in 2027 and get back under any luxury tax thresholds and reset, but still have a pretty good team. And hopefully back to back world series appearances with one win.

There may not be

A: a luxury tax
B: a season

After this year

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

There may not be

A: a luxury tax
B: a season

After this year

All the more reason to swing for the fences in 2026 IMO

[zukes]

The Yankees and, to a lesser extent, the Red Sox are crying poor. The league is pushing for a salary cap and Rogers clearly knows they will only have to spend big once as when baseball comes back in 2028 or 2029 there will be a salary cap.

I hope someone invents a sport to keep us busy in the dog days of summer.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by zukes

The Yankees and, to a lesser extent, the Red Sox are crying poor. The league is pushing for a salary cap and Rogers clearly knows they will only have to spend big once as when baseball comes back in 2028 or 2029 there will be a salary cap.

I hope someone invents a sport to keep us busy in the dog days of summer.

Only baseball could be dumb enough to lose a year when they have all this momentum in rating and NBA is failing

So you know 100% it is happening

[JTech780]

If the Jays land Tucker, they will have a lot of outfield depth. It will be interesting to see what they would do with that depth.

LF: Santander
CF: Varsho
RF: Tucker
Bench: Lukes, Straw
AAA: Schneider (2 options left), Loperfido (1 option left), Clase (out of options)

Varsho, Tucker, Lukes and Loperfido all bat LH too. I really want to see what Loperfido can do with more AB's, but the fact that he hits LH puts him at disadvantage.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by JTech780

If the Jays land Tucker, they will have a lot of outfield depth. It will be interesting to see what they would do with that depth.

LF: Santander
CF: Varsho
RF: Tucker
Bench: Lukes, Straw
AAA: Schneider (2 options left), Loperfido (1 option left), Clase (out of options)

Varsho, Tucker, Lukes and Loperfido all bat LH too. I really want to see what Loperfido can do with more AB's, but the fact that he hits LH puts him at disadvantage.

They also have Pinango and Schreck, both are lefties as well and both would be severely blocked but basically ready to debut in 2026. Pinango is rule 5 eligible and the Jays left him unprotected, so he might be gone in a couple weeks.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Pinango is rule 5 eligible and the Jays left him unprotected, so he might be gone in a couple weeks.

Yeah, I don't think he's in the long term plans even if they sign nobody.

Originally Posted by JTech780

I really want to see what Loperfido can do with more AB's, but the fact that he hits LH puts him at disadvantage.

I am actually really confident he finds a way to stick in the majors this year. I am pretty high on Joey.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Yeah, I don't think he's in the long term plans even if they sign nobody.





I am actually really confident he finds a way to stick in the majors this year. I am pretty high on Joey.

I am also a big fan of Loperfido, and I think he has all the tools. Unless the Jays move out Varsho, or there is an injury I am not sure where his spot will come from (if the Jays land Tucker).

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Only baseball could be dumb enough to lose a year when they have all this momentum in rating and NBA is failing

So you know 100% it is happening

Also, last time the Jays won the World Series, MLB had no winner the year after so maybe it bodes well for 2026 haha.