2022 Toronto Blue Jays Off-season Thread

[Kasi]

Don’t mind this at all (depending on price of course) as the Tapia replacement. Basically we know the fourth OF is going to get about 400 AB and play a bunch of CF. He’s still a good defender. He hits left and still has a solid bat. Once Nimmo was out he was likely the best CF available and it won’t lock us in to anything stupid.

Edit: looking at last 3 years he’s played just over 200 games and has 5 fWAR. Say he plays 100 games and gets 2 fWAR. I’d be quite happy with that.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Seems like a JBJ replacement. Not going to move the needle at all but at least the expectations for any offensive contribution is very low.

[Kasi]

Last three years he’s like a 95-100 WRC player. He’s not great sure but he’s not underwater either.

Edit: Apparently Dodgers were pushing hard for him too but he wanted to stay out east. Makes me feel a bit better if the dodgers were in on it since they have good player evaluation.

[Roof-Daddy]

Better than giving an 11 year deal to Brandon Nimmo

Hopefully they sign Gallo or Conforto too, to 1 year pillow contracts.

[JTech780]

Kiermaier’s bat isn’t great, but he is a ++ defender and still has 93 percentile sprint speed. The biggest impact will be the leadership and the “run through a wall to win attitude” he brings with him. This is a guy gamer and competitor and I think that will rub off on the rest of the team. A huge get.

Still need to add another bat preferably a lefty power bat. Also need at least one more starter.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by JTech780

Kiermaier’s bat isn’t great, but he is a ++ defender and still has 93 percentile sprint speed. The biggest impact will be the leadership and the “run through a wall to win attitude” he brings with him. This is a guy gamer and competitor and I think that will rub off on the rest of the team. A huge get.

Still need to add another bat preferably a lefty power bat. Also need at least one more starter.

If he's the 4th OF, I have no problem with it at all. To keep him as an everyday player, I do have a problem as he's not ideal to get on base. Once he's on base, with the extra focus on the pitch clock and larger bases this year he could be good to steal a bunch. But again, depends on his role. I do think they're aiming for Springer to transition to a corner OFer, and it scares me if he's an everyday player (though he should be better in the "new MLB").

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Galakanokis

Hoping he's the 4th outfielder. Tapia, Zimmer replacement. Only 32 but not much gas left in that tank.

Best guess this is the Zimmer replacement, bench player nothing more.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by bluejays

If he's the 4th OF, I have no problem with it at all. To keep him as an everyday player, I do have a problem as he's not ideal to get on base. Once he's on base, with the extra focus on the pitch clock and larger bases this year he could be good to steal a bunch. But again, depends on his role. I do think they're aiming for Springer to transition to a corner OFer, and it scares me if he's an everyday player (though he should be better in the "new MLB").

Agreed, as a bench player its okay,

If this is everyday player, this is a really under whelming crappy move...

[Roof-Daddy]

They signed him because he's an above average centerfielder and George Springer has missed 100+ games the last two seasons with injuries and seems to always be banged up.

KK also put up 1.1 WAR last year in 60~ games, and it's rumored to be a 2 year deal north of $20 million.

I hate to break it to you, but if he's healthy, he is going to be IN the line up a lot more than he won't be, more than likely. Especially if they don't bring in another OFer.

He's more like a Tapia replacement, and he is a pretty big upgrade on Tapia so that's good.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

They signed him because he's an above average centerfielder and George Springer has missed 100+ games the last two seasons with injuries and seems to always be banged up.

KK also put up 1.1 WAR last year in 60~ games, and it's rumored to be a 2 year deal north of $20 million.

I hate to break it to you, but if he's healthy, he is going to be IN the line up a lot more than he won't be, more than likely. Especially if they don't bring in another OFer.

He's more like a Tapia replacement, and he is a pretty big upgrade on Tapia so that's good.

Maybe, however Tapia was a 4th outfielder who played due to injuries

If the Jays want to contend, they need to bring in a bigger name outfielder who is left handed and hit for average and produce.

Player signed is fast, good defensively, however he is going to have a low average...

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by flambers

Maybe, however Tapia was a 4th outfielder who played due to injuries

If the Jays want to contend, they need to bring in a bigger name outfielder who is left handed and hit for average and produce.

Player signed is fast, good defensively, however he is going to have a low average...

True, but the Jays had one of the best offenses in baseball last year (despite Vlad being way less productive than the previous season), offense isn't really something they need to be worried about adding.

Having said that, I'd still love to see Conforto or Gallo on a one year deal. Both guys will be looking to prove themselves and may also benefit form the banning of the shift being left handed pull hitters.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

True, but the Jays had one of the best offenses in baseball last year (despite Vlad being way less productive than the previous season), offense isn't really something they need to be worried about adding.

Having said that, I'd still love to see Conforto or Gallo on a one year deal. Both guys will be looking to prove themselves and may also benefit form the banning of the shift being left handed pull hitters.

Jays should be trading for the Pirates disgruntled fielder...

I am quite curious to see who they will sign/acquire in terms of a starting pitching

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by flambers

Maybe, however Tapia was a 4th outfielder who played due to injuries

If the Jays want to contend, they need to bring in a bigger name outfielder who is left handed and hit for average and produce.

Player signed is fast, good defensively, however he is going to have a low average...

Disagree.

If they want to contend they need pitching, pitching and more pitching.

Teams get just stupid on offensive players every year, yet it always seems to come down to pitching IMO.

They have 2 really nice pieces right now, another who could really make it 3 starters above average and then...nothing but hope-sos and maybes.

At LEAST one more starter, 2 would be better, a bit of a revamp in the bullpen.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Disagree.

If they want to contend they need pitching, pitching and more pitching.

Teams get just stupid on offensive players every year, yet it always seems to come down to pitching IMO.

They have 2 really nice pieces right now, another who could really make it 3 starters above average and then...nothing but hope-sos and maybes.

At LEAST one more starter, 2 would be better, a bit of a revamp in the bullpen.

Of course they need starting pitching, that's a given

However, they also need to upgrade their outfield.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by flambers

Of course they need starting pitching, that's a given

However, they also need to upgrade their outfield.

They just did

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by flambers

Of course they need starting pitching, that's a given

However, they also need to upgrade their outfield.

Defensively, i would argue that is what they just did with Kiermaier.

The Jays were 2nd in MLB last year in runs scored. They lost a good one in Teoscar for sure, but not that huge a loss as far as overall offense goes that the season is lost without adding another bat. Of course if they can get a power LH bat it would help, but its just not the priority at this point IMO.

Get a couple more arms and see how it goes. If you need to find offense there might be some on the farm or add at the deadline. For now though any big money deals have got to address the biggest need.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Defensively, i would argue that is what they just did with Kiermaier.

The Jays were 2nd in MLB last year in runs scored. They lost a good one in Teoscar for sure, but not that huge a loss as far as overall offense goes that the season is lost without adding another bat. Of course if they can get a power LH bat it would help, but its just not the priority at this point IMO.

Get a couple more arms and see how it goes. If you need to find offense there might be some on the farm or add at the deadline. For now though any big money deals have got to address the biggest need.

If this is their every day fielder, Jays will drop in runs scored category

Its going to be difficult to add a good starting pitcher...

My guess its going to be a #3 or #4 type of a starter

[Kasi]

Yeah hard to see them getting Rodon. Maybe they try and get Senga? More likely they get someone like Stripling or Syndergaard or one of the other 3/4s out there.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Kasi

Yeah hard to see them getting Rodon. Maybe they try and get Senga? More likely they get someone like Stripling or Syndergaard or one of the other 3/4s out there.

I'm pretty sure they tried to get Senga but he didn't even come to Canada for a visit.

He's said he's going to announce his decision on some Japanese show and he's down to either the Mets, Padres or Cubs.

So disappointing that the Jays never seem to be able to land these type of free agents.

[Roof-Daddy]

The Mets with Cohen trying to buy a championship as owner of his childhood team and the Padres trying to be as good as the Dodgers have completely turned the market on its ear. They are in on all the high profile guys out bidding stupidly for their services.

Boras must absolutely love these two organizations right now.