They should have beat Boston to the punch and nabbed Garrett Crochet.... they have so many position prospects that is where they had to make a consolidation move to get a big pitcher.
The 2025 Toronto Blue Jays
- Thread starter Toronto Passions
- Start date
Creating some positivity here for the Jays in 2025. (not that there is not room for negativity als)
The 2023 Jays, a frustrating offensive team compared to 2021 and 2022, still won 89 games. So let's compare the 2025 Jays to the 2023 Jays.
5 Same Starters in Lineup - I think you can expect similar or perhaps even a tad better production in 2025 from these guys, just due to Vlad who had a mediocre 2023 offensively, and Kirk who was not good in 2023 either.
C Kirk
1B Vlad
SS Bichette
OF Springer
OF Varsho
Kirk, Vlad, and Varsho were all better in 2024 vs 2023. Vlad had a really mediocre 2023. Bo went down in 24, and Springer went down in 24.
4 Changes in Starting Lineup - Similar level of production from these 4 is quite possible.
Chapman / Clement
Belt / Santander
Merrifield / Gonzales
KK / Wagner
Belt and KK were actually quite productive in 2023, but if Santander can bash he can certainly be a bit better than Belt. Gonzales is a nice upgrade over Whit. Clement is a downgrade obviously, although Chapman in 2023 was not that good. Hope Wagner can be our Horwitz type bat this year. Gonzalez had a huge 2022, that maybe he can get back too.
I think they can possibly be a draw in 2025 production vs 2023.
Starting Rotation
2023 vs 2025
Gausman / Gausman
Bassitt / Bassitt
Berrios / Berrios
Kikuchi / Francis
Manoah+Ryu / Scherzer
Bassitt + Berrios were similar in 2023 and 2024, so its reasonable to expect 2025 to be similar to 2023.
Kikuchi was solid in 2023, but Francis we saw in second half can certainly match that productivity.
Gausman was great in 2023.... can't expect him to do that in 2025. Gausman 2025 is a big downgrade vs Gausman 2023
Manoah + RYU had a combined ERA over 5.00 in 2023, If Scherzer can get to 140+ innings this should be an upgrade.
I think its possible that the rotation production is as good in 2025 as 2023. Gausman won't be as good, but lots depends on Francis and Scherzer.
Bullpen
By the end of 2023 the Jays were running a very nice bullpen. Hicks + Romano at the end were solid. Swanson + Mayza were also very good as the 3+4. They were also getting production from #5-#7... Garcia (who was frustrating in 2023), Richards, Jackson, Genesis was a good bottom half.
The Bullpen was very bad in 2024. Should be much better in 2025 (Garcia, Sandlin, Hoffman), but I don't think its mearly as good as it was at the end of 2023. That being said some of that production in 2023 came via trade (Hicks, Cabrera). Jays if contending will probably look to add a bullpen arm.
Summary
Offence and Starters should be similar, with some upside potential (and of course downside as well).
Biggest decline is the Bullpen which was really rolling for the Jays by the end of 2023.
On offence I think we should be as good in 2025 in 2023, if we get good Vlad.
Of course will need a big Bo bounce back (he was so bad in 2024 that he has to at least improve). Nothing is ever certain on other guys but a nice year from Wagner, and a bounce back from Gimenez would be nice. Of course I also see a scenario where we have a .195 hitting Santander with about 30 HR's and low OBP... which is not a good player.
Starters really depends on Francis and Scherzer.
The 2023 Jays, a frustrating offensive team compared to 2021 and 2022, still won 89 games. So let's compare the 2025 Jays to the 2023 Jays.
5 Same Starters in Lineup - I think you can expect similar or perhaps even a tad better production in 2025 from these guys, just due to Vlad who had a mediocre 2023 offensively, and Kirk who was not good in 2023 either.
C Kirk
1B Vlad
SS Bichette
OF Springer
OF Varsho
Kirk, Vlad, and Varsho were all better in 2024 vs 2023. Vlad had a really mediocre 2023. Bo went down in 24, and Springer went down in 24.
4 Changes in Starting Lineup - Similar level of production from these 4 is quite possible.
Chapman / Clement
Belt / Santander
Merrifield / Gonzales
KK / Wagner
Belt and KK were actually quite productive in 2023, but if Santander can bash he can certainly be a bit better than Belt. Gonzales is a nice upgrade over Whit. Clement is a downgrade obviously, although Chapman in 2023 was not that good. Hope Wagner can be our Horwitz type bat this year. Gonzalez had a huge 2022, that maybe he can get back too.
I think they can possibly be a draw in 2025 production vs 2023.
Starting Rotation
2023 vs 2025
Gausman / Gausman
Bassitt / Bassitt
Berrios / Berrios
Kikuchi / Francis
Manoah+Ryu / Scherzer
Bassitt + Berrios were similar in 2023 and 2024, so its reasonable to expect 2025 to be similar to 2023.
Kikuchi was solid in 2023, but Francis we saw in second half can certainly match that productivity.
Gausman was great in 2023.... can't expect him to do that in 2025. Gausman 2025 is a big downgrade vs Gausman 2023
Manoah + RYU had a combined ERA over 5.00 in 2023, If Scherzer can get to 140+ innings this should be an upgrade.
I think its possible that the rotation production is as good in 2025 as 2023. Gausman won't be as good, but lots depends on Francis and Scherzer.
Bullpen
By the end of 2023 the Jays were running a very nice bullpen. Hicks + Romano at the end were solid. Swanson + Mayza were also very good as the 3+4. They were also getting production from #5-#7... Garcia (who was frustrating in 2023), Richards, Jackson, Genesis was a good bottom half.
The Bullpen was very bad in 2024. Should be much better in 2025 (Garcia, Sandlin, Hoffman), but I don't think its mearly as good as it was at the end of 2023. That being said some of that production in 2023 came via trade (Hicks, Cabrera). Jays if contending will probably look to add a bullpen arm.
Summary
Offence and Starters should be similar, with some upside potential (and of course downside as well).
Biggest decline is the Bullpen which was really rolling for the Jays by the end of 2023.
On offence I think we should be as good in 2025 in 2023, if we get good Vlad.
Of course will need a big Bo bounce back (he was so bad in 2024 that he has to at least improve). Nothing is ever certain on other guys but a nice year from Wagner, and a bounce back from Gimenez would be nice. Of course I also see a scenario where we have a .195 hitting Santander with about 30 HR's and low OBP... which is not a good player.
Starters really depends on Francis and Scherzer.
Last edited:
More Yankee problems..Gerrit Cole is scheduled to have a MRI on his elbow.
He got hammered in his last start and reported having pain in his elbow.
Vladdy is being reasonable.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/guerrero-jr-comments-hint-at-big-ask-in-talks-with-blue-jays/
https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/guerrero-jr-comments-hint-at-big-ask-in-talks-with-blue-jays/
Scherzer looking really good during the spring through 3 outings.
9 Innings, 3 hits, 0 Walks, 14 K's.
Of course its just spring, and one of the big questions is his health.
9 Innings, 3 hits, 0 Walks, 14 K's.
Of course its just spring, and one of the big questions is his health.
"I know the business. I lowered the salary demands a bit, but I also lowered the number of years … I'm looking for 14 [years]. I would like 14, 15, even 20 if they give them to me, but doing it the right way.”
The decline usually starts after 32...So why would any team sign a player to term that would take them to the player's 40th year?
IMHO, the Jays would be totally "dumb" to sign Vladdy to a 14 yr contract!!
Yankees also having potential Stanton injury problems!!
Yankees' Stanton dealing with severe injuries in both elbows, surgery on table
Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton has been dealing with severe injuries in both elbows and if surgery is needed then it would be season-ending.
They better resign Bo and Vladdy with that bare a farm system.
It's not like they're attracting a lot of free agents.
Nobody expects him to be worth the same money in 15 or 12 or even 10 years. They don't care. They sign them for the here and now and the increased revenue that a competitive team can bring. Give the team 5-8 years of peak performance and they'll have gotten their money's worth.
Look at all of the long term huge contract deals being done now. That's the way the business is currently conducted. And the way things are going, in 14 years, Vladdy's contract will be looking like peanuts.
Until there's a salary cap, there's no need to talk about what contracts are logical or not. We can see for ourselves that insanity reigns supreme.
The average fan has been priced out of going to games for a while now....Great business model
Most of the really long baseball contracts don't work out well for the signing team. Either they end up stuck with an overpaid older player, or they have to eat a large portion of the remaining guaranteed money if they can find a taker.
Several of the players who fit one of these two scenarios, (Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Chris Davis, Prince Fielder, Joey Votto), were first basemen.
Imagine where the 2030 Blue Jays might be, if 10% of their salary budget for the following ten seasons was going to the Yankees, to pay part of Vlad's feed bill.
Uhmm. Have you looked at the price of Leafs tickets?
News flash Sir Auricle, the average fan is being priced out of every single major league sport regardless of the business model. So singling out baseball's model is being myopic.
As I said, I believe they need a salary cap, but until then, this this is the reality of baseball salaries. Pony up or deal with mediocrity. The Jays have among the deepest pockets in baseball so who gives a fuck if they're overpaying a 38 year old?
Vladdy is not worth it to the Jays to sign a 14 yr contract. Vladdy's "heavy' body type will make the Jays lucky to get two more yrs out of him!! That is if the Jays sign him, after this season?? It's like in Pro tennis. Milos Raonic and Bianca Andreescu had to retire from Pro tennis because both their body types weren't conducive to playing pro tennis, for the long term!! When Milos was playing, he was always getting injured!!
Bianca had one awesome year in 2019, when she won the US open and Indian Wells, but then she's never been the same since. Bianca has been injured ever since, because of her "heavy set" body type, compared to other women elite pro tennis players!!
Last edited:
IMHO, the price of Leaf tickets and the price of Jay tickets are totally different!! The Leafs aren't going to sign Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner to contracts until their 38 yrs old.....LMAO
Vladdy's ask of just below $600M was way outside of market for a first baseman. I don't blame the Jays for not biting. At the same time, as I mentioned before I think part of Vlad's big ask was that he wanted to be on a contender, and the Jays have yet to prove it (now that part I blame on Toronto management) So he threw out a huge number which is understandable. I don't think he gets that figure on that open market in winter 2025, but now of course the risk is you are competing against 3 or 4 other teams.
You can't just throw away 2022 and 2023 as if they have never happened and only look at the great (2021 and 2024) He is not at the level of a Judge, Soto, or Ohtani who have been far more consistent)
You can't just throw away 2022 and 2023 as if they have never happened and only look at the great (2021 and 2024) He is not at the level of a Judge, Soto, or Ohtani who have been far more consistent)
Price of Jays concessions.....LMAO
www.blogto.com
.
Someone went on a rant about 'outrageous' food prices at Toronto's Rogers Centre
One Toronto Blue Jays fan went on an online tirade over the cost of grabbing a bite to eat at the Rogers Centre, sharing a now-viral video highlighti…
www.blogto.com
