2022 Toronto Blue Jays Off-season Thread

[Jiggy_12]

For those still doubting Varsho:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1606414422288760832

And with the shift now banned, look at the visual and imagine how much better his numbers should become.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1606446550007283714

[Jiggy_12]

Wow, this guy called this exact trade (except no Gurriel)

https://youtu.be/BFlLhp6JK8U

[Jason14h]

The bigger (as big) part of this trade is clearly the Jays think Jansen has the makings of a star as well and believe what they saw when he was healthy last year

[ben voyonsdonc]

I think the Jays see Jansen as a Pat Borders type of catcher. He’s a leader with a good rapport with the pitching staff and a good defensive guy. He is competent with the bat but isn’t flashy.

I don’t know if they see him as a star but I think the see him as a very valuable part of the team.

[bluejays]

I'm a broken record, but I think the trade should have been good enough to bring a star back. To deal a top 3 in ALL OF BASEBALL prospect and get risky player with mediocre offensive upside back, is really not that good a deal. I know we'll see some great plays, but I really can't see him saving that many runs in reality enough to overlook his poor batting. With that deal I'd think you'd be able to get Reynolds. Surely everyone is pointing to great defence, but I don't think great defence in the OF, especially LF, makes up for the run support lost from mediocre batting. Again, I think a year from now losing Moreno will hurt.

[Jason14h]

Maybe the Jays prefer him over Reynolds

Reynolds had a down year and less control , and produced less WAR

Why do you prefer Reynolds ?

[Roof-Daddy]

What is wrong with Varsho's batting lol?

He had a 106wRC+ last season, 118 wRC+ in the second half and is projected for 113 wRC+ in 2023. That is well above league average.

Also, last year's spray chart overlayed on Rogers center sees him hitting 30+ homers.

Plus he should see a BABIP bump with the shift rule changes.

That is not bad at all, especially when you combine it with elite defense and speed.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by bluejays

With that deal I'd think you'd be able to get Reynolds.

The rumor is Pittsburgh wants the deal to include a top prospect starting pitcher so it wouldn't be.

[Jiggy_12]

I’m not sure how some can think a 4.9 WAR isn’t a star player?

You don’t compile WAR by accident. He would have been the most valuable player on the Blue Jays last year. And his numbers will only improve without the shift

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by bluejays

With that deal I'd think you'd be able to get Reynolds.

You are over valuing the package. Varsho is more than fair.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by Inferno

The rumor is Pittsburgh wants the deal to include a top prospect starting pitcher so it wouldn't be.

Yeah. The Pirates have a high caliber young catcher in Henry Davis who they drafted at #1 in the 2021 draft. Moreno wouldn’t have moved the needle for them.

[Kasi]

If we could get Reynolds for Moreno than sure but likely no since Davis. I value Tiedeman over Moreno. But since we can’t get Reynolds for Moreno I’m more than happy with Varsho. And yes he’ll be playing LF primarily this year but he will be the backup CF. And next year likely be the fulltime CF.

[ben voyonsdonc]

I still don’t love the deal but it is what it is.

Last year, it felt like the Blue Jays were a shiny sports car that looked super powerful but when it drove it sort of sputtered and didn’t have the guts to drive as fast as you’d hope. Our car might be less shiny this year but hopefully will have the “guts” - a more balanced lineup, better fundamentals, shifted culture, and better defense - to succeed.

[Kasi]

We have a number of fly ball pitchers and not having so many doubles or triples drop in will help. Could save us a few close games.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Wow those are staggeringly bad numbers for Teo and Lourdes. Didn’t realize it was that bad.

[Roof-Daddy]

Yeah, they are really terrible outfielders.

The upgrade the Jays have made defensively is quite significant.

[Kasi]

Gurriel has neither speed or good instincts. Teo has the speed but awful instincts and jump. Varsho is not super fast but has elite jump and instincts. KK has both which is why he’s likely the best defensive CF ever.

[calculoso]

“Varsho is not super fast “

But has bunt singles

Seems fast enough for me

https://twitter.com/user/status/1606463657042640896

[Kasi]

His sprint speed is 69th percentile (haha) which is definitely above average but not elite by any means. If you read his interviews he actually credits his catching background with helping his OF defence because he has a good idea when the ball is hit where it should go. And his jump is 97th percentile which is amazing. It’s just nice at least for me to see a player maximize more limited athletic gifts rather than be fast but flub it. Teoscar had all the physical gifts to be an amazing defender but clearly never devoted himself to excel in it. He had the speed and a good arm but so many lazy routes and self inflicted mistakes.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Yeah, they are really terrible outfielders.

The upgrade the Jays have made defensively is quite significant.

I'm actually really happy reading all this. I do however hope we can still add a significant bat at some point this season.