2026 Toronto Blue Jays Season Thread

[edslunch]

The good news is we can pretend that Santander is the big FA signing this season.

[Yanda]

I dont see any scenario where there isnt a lockout after this season regarding a salary cap. Hopefully the Jays can capitalize this season while the team is in their prime.

Who knows what the 2004-2005 Calgary Flames could have been capable of, we were 1st in the division the following year

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

He could literally play these three years and just walk away with more career earnings than almost every 2nd base to ever play. He maximized his value. The 30+ portion of his career is all gravy.

Reports are that the Phillies offered him $200MM over 7 years. So he needs to make more than $74 MM for his 31-34 year old seasons for taking this to have been the right choice. If he plays 3rd and isn't great defensively I could see him being a scapegoat in NY and that could end up with lower total earnings. I'm not saying I feel sorry for the guy financially, but I think it's possible the 200 over 7 years turns out better.

This is a real "bet-on-yourself" contract, even more so because it has player opt out options each year. So if he thinks he can get more next year he could opt-out and try again. The FA class the next couple of years isn't that strong so if he has a good year that might work in his favour.

[Jiggy_12]

How incredible does the Vladdy contract look now?

If he made it to free agency, after that display he put on in the playoffs...

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

How incredible does the Vladdy contract look now?

If he made it to free agency, after that display he put on in the playoffs...

Yeah. After he torches the Yankees Steve Cohen would just show up with a blank Point72 check and ask him what number he wants. They needed a 1B this year as well, so it would have been a fit.

I honestly think he would have gotten a billion dollars after that playiff performance.

[browna]

From what’s reported, Bo also has opt outs after year 1 and 2.

Because of that and the move to third, definitely smells of Bo chasing the short term money from a desperate owner seeing red for missing out on Tucker less than 24h earlier.

Bo plays one year at a base he never has, struggles as anyone would, doesn’t like the situation, fans get on him and the disjointed Mets stink and don’t make the playoffs again.

Oh well, he can put up with that experiment for a year, collects $42M, opts out asap and back to open market and maybe the Jays next year, making 25-35% more this year than he planned, with no commitment.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by browna

From what’s reported, Bo also has opt outs after year 1 and 2.

Because of that and the move to third, definitely smells of Bo chasing the short term money from a desperate owner seeing red for missing out on Tucker less than 24h earlier.

Bo plays one year at a base he never has, struggles as anyone would, doesn’t like the situation, fans get on him and the disjointed Mets stink and don’t make the playoffs again.

Oh well, he can put up with that experiment for a year, collects $42M, opts out asap and back to open market and maybe the Jays next year, making 25-35% more this year than he planned, with no commitment.

Yeah, this was absolutely a desperation move from not winning Tucket by NYM.

[browna]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Reports are that the Phillies offered him $200MM over 7 years. So he needs to make more than $74 MM for his 31-34 year old seasons for taking this to have been the right choice. If he plays 3rd and isn't great defensively I could see him being a scapegoat in NY and that could end up with lower total earnings. I'm not saying I feel sorry for the guy financially, but I think it's possible the 200 over 7 years turns out better.

This is a real "bet-on-yourself" contract, even more so because it has player opt out options each year. So if he thinks he can get more next year he could opt-out and try again. The FA class the next couple of years isn't that strong so if he has a good year that might work in his favour.

It is not a bet on yourself contract at all. It’s a no lose contract.
One season, playing out of position, playing in NY?

Every team interested in him this year will be interested next year when he opts out as even if things go horrible (and he stays healthy) on the Mets, there is easy justification why things didn’t go good in 2026, and beside the question on his motives for going to NY for money only, he’s still going to be just as valued as a talent.

He won’t make $42MM AAV likely this time next year, but he basically got $13-15MM more for 2026 than anticipated, so his next contract can be the 6 or 7 at $180MM and he can basically have a 7 year $220MM contract which is more than the Jays or Phils were offering today if he committed for those 7 years.

And if there is a work stoppage next year, he doesn’t opt out and forces the Mets to pay him another $42MM when they get back to ball later in the summer of 2027.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

How incredible does the Vladdy contract look now?

If he made it to free agency, after that display he put on in the playoffs...

He probably would have got a billion dollars.

Not even joking.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

How incredible does the Vladdy contract look now?

If he made it to free agency, after that display he put on in the playoffs...

Honestly, it doesn't look good. 15 years! The AAV is pretty high but beyond 7 years it'll be an albatross.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Honestly, it doesn't look good. 15 years! The AAV is pretty high but beyond 7 years it'll be an albatross.

Length doesn’t matter - Just NPV (Net present value)

Using a 8% discount rate it’s about a $320 million NPV contract

Tucker just signed for $200 million NPV

So for $120 million in today dollars you get Vlad for another 11 years . Pretty outstanding if you ask me vs contract being signed today

[Inferno]

Michael Kay getting in a arguement with fans over how much better the Blue Jays got this offseason. What a clown.

https://twitter.com/user/status/2012282343164162188

[Jason14h]

I think there is an argument whether they got better

They got a lot of ? In. Cease has been very hit and miss , and 2 guys who were great outside of NA carry a lot of ?

I like Rogers and think he’s very low risk , but there’s a lot of range of outcomes to the offseason .

I wonder if they bring back Max or Bassit still .

Also the whole Berriois situation needs to be resolved

[Roof-Daddy]

There is always question marks but the Jays pitching staff is miles ahead of last years (on paper) and it's not even close.

Cease
Full year of Bieber
Full year of Yesavage

They made it so strong that it's pushed Berrios and Lauer into swing man, bullpen, #6 & #7 starter roles.

The bullpen is deep enough that Fisher, Fluharty and Rodriguez aren't even on the 26 man at the moment.

[Jason14h]

I don’t count Bieber and Savage as offseason moves

They were both here last year .

They are certainly better with those 2 though then before

[browna]

Plus it’s not clear that Beiber will be ready for Opening Day.

Bichette obviously a solid hitter.
Bassitt a solid starter.
Scherzer a nice to have but hopefully the WS run gave the entire roster some of the experience he provided.

On paper they are probably better. Bullpen still could be an issue.

Team unity which seemed like a real thing last year, and probably helped with all the come from behind wins, even just one less would’ve had them had to play a Wild Card series and may not have had the gas to get to the WS, nevermind Game 7, but that chemistry can’t be manufactured though, no matter how much the media will make it a feel good narrative.

Would Tucker and or Bichette change any of the above? Probably not. Being better on paper doesn’t mean they’ll get anywhere near the same agonizingly close place they got to in November. Santander needs to step up, and everyone else has to be pretty close to how they were last year. Expectations already were playoffs at very least given the payroll, and now with $300MM spent, it’s more than just a “just get in”.

[Yanda]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I don’t count Bieber and Savage as offseason moves

They were both here last year .

They are certainly better with those 2 though then before

While they arnt offseason moves I think we might see a second gear with a full offseason for Bieber and Yesavage really had no impact on our regular season last year.

[Jiggy_12]

Are the Jays better? Not a debate IMO

The off season is far from over, but that aside:

Santander literally can’t provide less value. So that’s bound to be some sort of a neutral to positive.
Okomoto is (hopefully) a very small step down from Bichette overall (2.5 projected WAR vs 4.0). That number does not factor in the positional versatility advantage we gained.

Cease is a massive acquisition
Rogers should help the pen but admittedly that’s more of a wildcard as bullpen guys are finnicky
Ponce looks solid

Bieber for a full season hopefully healthy
Trey for a full season
Vladdy actually had a down year last year, so the odds are his numbers improve
Varsho missed over half the year, likely that doesn’t happen again
The door is currently open for Loperfido to bust through
Barger should hopefully continue his upward trajectory

Springer probably regresses substantially
Kirk probably regresses minimally
Clement probably regresses minimally

Scherzer and Bassitt reunions still possible

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Are the Jays better? Not a debate IMO

The off season is far from over, but that aside:

Santander literally can’t provide less value. So that’s bound to be some sort of a neutral to positive.
Okomoto is (hopefully) a very small step down from Bichette overall (2.5 projected WAR vs 4.0). That number does not factor in the positional versatility advantage we gained.

Cease is a massive acquisition
Rogers should help the pen but admittedly that’s more of a wildcard as bullpen guys are finnicky
Ponce looks solid

Bieber for a full season hopefully healthy
Trey for a full season
Vladdy actually had a down year last year, so the odds are his numbers improve
Varsho missed over half the year, likely that doesn’t happen again
The door is currently open for Loperfido to bust through
Barger should hopefully continue his upward trajectory

Springer probably regresses substantially
Kirk probably regresses minimally
Clement probably regresses minimally

Scherzer and Bassitt reunions still possible

Better from when ?

End of the season ? I think it can be debated .

Cease had a 1.1 War last season, Bassit had a 2.1

2 players who have never been MLB regulars are complete unknowns how they adapt to MLB talent

Bo out with a 3.5 WAR last season

Rogers I love and his 2.5 war should solidify the bullpen

So we’ve added 3.6 and sent out 5.6 with the unknowns being Okamoto and Ponce being the wild cards

Also Berrios was 1.5 and Lauer was 2.2 so one of them will be “replaced”

So effectively we need Okamoto and Ponce to provide between 3.5 and 4.5 WAR to break even on the offseason changes….

I think that’s debatable at least if they will

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I don’t count Bieber and Savage as offseason moves

They were both here last year .

They are certainly better with those 2 though then before

For how many innings those two guys pitched for the Jays last season you might as well count them as off season acquisitions.