Blue Jays 2024
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I'm dating myself.
While Chico Escuela ruled SNL, Labatts hired Arte Johnson (Laugh In) to promote their new expansion baseball club. It has to be said, Professor Weirdschmalz did a great job.
Weirdschmalz? LOL. That's almost as good a name as Sheisskopf from Catch-22.
TBH, I actually don't remember that Arte Johnson gig. But it must have been "Verrry Interethting".
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My favorite minor league baseball name is Craig Smajstrla.
I saw him play when he was a Buffalo Bison, (Cleveland Indians' AAA team), in the penultimate game played at the War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, possibly exactly 37 years ago today, but certainly +/- 1 or 2 days. Buffalo native Matt Winters had two home runs for the Omaha Royals, and he signed my scorecard after the game.
Craig was 0 for 3 in The Show as a September call-up by the 1988 Houston Astros, but he did score a couple of Big League runs as a pinch runner.
I saw him play when he was a Buffalo Bison, (Cleveland Indians' AAA team), in the penultimate game played at the War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, possibly exactly 37 years ago today, but certainly +/- 1 or 2 days. Buffalo native Matt Winters had two home runs for the Omaha Royals, and he signed my scorecard after the game.
Craig was 0 for 3 in The Show as a September call-up by the 1988 Houston Astros, but he did score a couple of Big League runs as a pinch runner.
Can you please pronounce that for me? Knowing your thoroughness, I suspect that you will.
"Suh-ma-struh-luh", (the J is silent). Astros broadcaster Milo Hamilton called him "Mr Buy a Vowel".
Here is how I see the Jays re-tool this winter going. (I'm not sure if I would go the re-tool route - I'd rather build a sustainable 90 win model, rather than a team that if things go well wins between 85-92 games, but not every year.
1. Starters - I assume the Jays are going to roll the dice with the current starting rotation / org depth, and invest all their FA resources into bats and the bullpen.
Gausman, Berrios, Bassitt, Francis, Rodriguez, Manoah, Tiedeman, Bloss + perhaps a 5th/6th starter type FA signing is what I suspect they will roll with, And it could work if all things work out well, or if one of Rodriguez, Manoah, Tiedemann take a nice step up from what they contributed this year.
2. Bullpen - I think they will try to acquire at least 3 quality relievers - to add to Romano, Green, Cabrera. They will not tender Swanson. At least 1 will come via FA, and at least one via trade. Relievers don't take the resources that a bit or starter does to trade for (especially in the offseason), so I can see them trading 1 or 2 of the following (Wagner, Loperfido, Jimenez, Steroid Boy, Horwitz, Barger). They may have a surplus of that B level prospect.
3. Bats
a) I think they bite the bullet and sign Guerrero to something start with a $3 (as in $300 million+)
b) They keep Bichette - they don't sign him long term nor trade him. His trade value is not that great anyway. He is on a very reasonable contract for 2025 ($12 million), so if he comes back plays well and they lose him so be it if they are in contention. Another way to look at is, how much trade value would you give up at the 2025 deadline to acquire a player like "good" Bichette. Now you don't have to give that up to get a pending FA at the 2025 deadline. It might be best just to keep him, then accept the compensatory pick when he leaves. Long term it might not make the best sense for the team, but for re-tool it is probably the best.
c) They go hard after Anthony Santander as the big target of their FA spending.
d) Whether they go after Santander or not, they try to get at least two very solid bats. The other bat might be targeted via a trade, They won't spend any money on starters, and they can trade prospects to get a cost controlled reliever.
1. Starters - I assume the Jays are going to roll the dice with the current starting rotation / org depth, and invest all their FA resources into bats and the bullpen.
Gausman, Berrios, Bassitt, Francis, Rodriguez, Manoah, Tiedeman, Bloss + perhaps a 5th/6th starter type FA signing is what I suspect they will roll with, And it could work if all things work out well, or if one of Rodriguez, Manoah, Tiedemann take a nice step up from what they contributed this year.
2. Bullpen - I think they will try to acquire at least 3 quality relievers - to add to Romano, Green, Cabrera. They will not tender Swanson. At least 1 will come via FA, and at least one via trade. Relievers don't take the resources that a bit or starter does to trade for (especially in the offseason), so I can see them trading 1 or 2 of the following (Wagner, Loperfido, Jimenez, Steroid Boy, Horwitz, Barger). They may have a surplus of that B level prospect.
3. Bats
a) I think they bite the bullet and sign Guerrero to something start with a $3 (as in $300 million+)
b) They keep Bichette - they don't sign him long term nor trade him. His trade value is not that great anyway. He is on a very reasonable contract for 2025 ($12 million), so if he comes back plays well and they lose him so be it if they are in contention. Another way to look at is, how much trade value would you give up at the 2025 deadline to acquire a player like "good" Bichette. Now you don't have to give that up to get a pending FA at the 2025 deadline. It might be best just to keep him, then accept the compensatory pick when he leaves. Long term it might not make the best sense for the team, but for re-tool it is probably the best.
c) They go hard after Anthony Santander as the big target of their FA spending.
d) Whether they go after Santander or not, they try to get at least two very solid bats. The other bat might be targeted via a trade, They won't spend any money on starters, and they can trade prospects to get a cost controlled reliever.
I feel like they'll get outbid on Santander. I can see a team like Boston or Phili swooping in and outbidding us. The good news is, I think the Dogers are done spending for a while, and I think Soto stays in NY be it a Yankee or a Met, so those teams might be out on the big Spending. So possible places where Santander ends up is Toronto, Phili, Boston, Atlanta or St.Louis. I think whoever misses out on Santander goes after Tyler O'Neil or or Teo. Lot's of good bullpen arms out there in this year's FA market, so I think they definitely put some money into that. David Robertson, Garcia, Clay Holmes, Kirby Yates just to name a few. It looks like the Jays 2025 payroll is currently at 122.5 million if I'm reading this right. https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2025/sort/cap_total2/dir/desc
The current payroll is 217.6 million, https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2024/sort/cap_total2/dir/desc
I'm not sure exactly how this works in terms of what's being retained, vesting options, yada...yada..
My guess is they add about 50 or 60 million? Maybel like one 25-30 million dollar player, and a few 15 million dollar players?
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Sounds good.
Asuuming Bochette returns to form they will have two star hitters but you need three . All contenders do.
They were planning on trading the young talent before they acquired it so now they are playing them to increase their value
They need a catcher as well .
Long term mega dollar deals can be a disaster but they have to do it if they plan on contending.
Could be a mess next year if pitchers go down as pitchers do
Asuuming Bochette returns to form they will have two star hitters but you need three . All contenders do.
They were planning on trading the young talent before they acquired it so now they are playing them to increase their value
They need a catcher as well .
Long term mega dollar deals can be a disaster but they have to do it if they plan on contending.
Could be a mess next year if pitchers go down as pitchers do
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- Jun 15, 2004
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We are seeing teams not giving Vladimir Guerrero anything to hit because he has no protection in the order. So pitchers are nibbling on the corners, and Vladimir is swinging at borderline pitches not putting good wood on the ball. Whereas four months ago he was just swinging bad pitches with no plan….. he desperately needs a 30 home run plus guy right behind him. Someone batting next to give pitchers something to think about. Someone with a presence.
Philip
Philip
- Jun 15, 2004
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I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, in fact I need to pinch myself to even believe I’m saying this, but I think I’d rather see the Blue Jays sign this guy instead of Teoscar. How perfect would this bad ass switch hitter cleanup guy be….
Philip
