Jays 2026 Thread

[Toronto Passions]

Bassitt is almost certainly not happening, and Fairbanks went from possible to very unlikely after Rogers signed. (I think Fairbanks and Rogers were in the same tier that they were looking to sign 1 pitcher).

Bassitt's has had predicted salaries in the 2/35 range from multiple sites. Could Bassitt do that swing role well? Sure he could do it well, but its mutually not a fit:
a) Jays have no interest in paying a swing man 2/35, especially when they already have 7 candidates for starting spots.
b) Bassitt has zero interest in being a swing man. He wants to be a starter as he is still competent in that role. He did the bullpen thing because it was the PLAYOFFS. That is who he is. He liked it here, but there is no longer a mutual fit between both parties. He will find a playoff contender like the Cubs/Astros.

I'd gladly be proving wrong, because he could do the role, but he rightfully has higher aspirations.

Pete Fairbanks I have seen predicted at 2/18. I think he was certainly a strong consideration for the Jays, but once the Jays signed Rogers that likely was going to be it for the pen for right handed pitchers. Jays already have 4 leverage relievers that are righthanded. (Hoffman, Varland, Garcia, Rogers, and even Fisher). Fairbanks biggest issue is his medical condition that makes him struggle when the weather is cooler.

Jays have 7 starters already. (Gausman, Bieiber, Yesavage, Cease, Berrios, Ponce, Lauer)
We also have 4 leverage relievers (Hoffman, Garcia, Varland, Rogers) and 11 other options for 4 spots deeper in the pen(Little, Fluharty, Tiedemann, Lee, Yariel, Nance, Miles, Bastardo, Lauer (LR), Berrios (LR), Fisher)

I don't think they are adding another big piece to the pitching staff. If they do add a moderate piece my guess its a lefty reliever. Would be glad to be wrong but I think Cease, Ponce, Rogers was their big moves. They will assess what they have and I would expect them to add a pitcher at the deadline.

I watch a few podcasts on YouTube with regularity and nobody ever mentioned Fairbanks medical condition when talking about him as a potential signing. I just googled him yesterday and yes, indeed he has a medical condition with his nerves and cold weather. I never knew that.

I'm really big on chemistry. I think team chemistry is so unbelievably important. I really hope the Blue Jays work something out with Chris Bassett… I was watching Lindsey Dunn on her new podcast talk about how much money Chris Bassett and his wife donated to the Jays care foundation… We're talking close to $1 million. He is definitely invested in the city of Toronto. I really feel like he was the backbone of team chemistry along with guys like Nathan Lukas and Ernie Clement. Number crunching analytics and statistics really tells you nothing about how important these guys are for clutch moments and team chemistry. That's what I have always felt Ross Atkins doesn't fully grasp. This goes back to the Hernandez trade and the impact it had on Guerrero's development.

Philip

 

[maurice93]

I watch a few podcasts on YouTube with regularity and nobody ever mentioned Fairbanks medical condition when talking about him as a potential signing. I just googled him yesterday and yes, indeed he has a medical condition with his nerves and cold weather. I never knew that.

I'm really big on chemistry. I think team chemistry is so unbelievably important. I really hope the Blue Jays work something out with Chris Bassett… I was watching Lindsey Dunn on her new podcast talk about how much money Chris Bassett and his wife donated to the Jays care foundation… We're talking close to $1 million. He is definitely invested in the city of Toronto. I really feel like he was the backbone of team chemistry along with guys like Nathan Lukas and Ernie Clement. Number crunching analytics and statistics really tells you nothing about how important these guys are for clutch moments and team chemistry. That's what I have always felt Ross Atkins doesn't fully grasp. This goes back to the Hernandez trade and the impact it had on Guerrero's development.

Philip

I didn't know about Fairbanks problems until about 2 weeks ago. I don't think it was widely discussed previously or I was oblivious to it. I guess it wouldn't be a problem for home games.

Agree with you on the chemistry. Bassitt may have been a leader for the staff, and there as a great bond between the starting pitchers last year, and now perhaps 3 of them are gone. (Bassitt, Scherzer and Berrios). Bassitt recruited Free agents. Hopefully Gausman and Bieber could be good leaders this year. Cease doesn't seem like a diva, so hoping that bond that existed between the starters still carries forward. The vets were good for Trey and Lauer last year.

Straw and Clement were apparently huge on the hitter's side, and I assume Lukes as well. We were also helped by the fact that our hitting "stars" are not assholes , but perhaps not elite leaders either -- they all meshed well - Springer seems to be the life of the party. Vlad can perhaps at times lose focus, but he is not a bad guy. Bo is too quite to be a strong leader, but again a good guy.

 

[Toronto Passions]

and I assume Lukes as well.

One moment I'm calling him Nathan Luca… Then I call him Nathan LUKA... poor guy. Passed up upon most of his career, overlooked until recently… And then me calling him by the wrong spelling lol.

Philip

 

[Toronto Passions]

I consider myself to be an avid baseball fan but I had no clue what FIP stood for, until I googled it.

Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) | Glossary | MLB.com

You guys are too heavy on the analytics man. Like Buck Martinez says "analytics has never made anyone a better player. Trust your eyeballs." . Even Joe Carter said during that press conference regarding analytics "what??… huh ? I just cared about bringing those runners in man. That's all that concerned me." Lol

Philip

 

[onomatopoeia]

Blue Jays Designate Justin Bruihl For Assignment

Free agents Bo Bichette, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt are not on the 40 man roster. If any of them are re-signed, some other player will have to be removed.

 

[maurice93]

Blue Jays Designate Justin Bruihl For Assignment

Free agents Bo Bichette, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt are not on the 40 man roster. If any of them are re-signed, some other player will have to be removed.

A lot of pitchers that are possibilities that would not be major losses if picked up on waivers. - Bastardo (who still must be treated like a Rule 5 in 2026), Schultz, Lee, Macko, Estrada, Nance. My guess is that Schultz or Macko might be the one to go.

 

[Trevor Wong]

Blue Jays Designate Justin Bruihl For Assignment

Free agents Bo Bichette, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt are not on the 40 man roster. If any of them are re-signed, some other player will have to be removed.

The Jays aren't messing around. There getting rid of a lot of relievers from last year's roster.

 

[Trevor Wong]

Blue Jays Designate Justin Bruihl For Assignment

Free agents Bo Bichette, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt are not on the 40 man roster. If any of them are re-signed, some other player will have to be removed.

I highly doubt that the Jays will re-sign either Scherzer or Bassitt.

 

[onomatopoeia]

A lot of pitchers that are possibilities that would not be major losses if picked up on waivers. - Bastardo (who still must be treated like a Rule 5 in 2026), Schultz, Lee, Macko, Estrada, Nance. My guess is that Schultz or Macko might be the one to go.

I think they'll keep Macko, if only to be able to say that they didn't get nothing for Teoscar Hernandez.

 

[Toronto Passions]

I think they'll keep Macko, if only to be able to say that they didn't get nothing for Teoscar Hernandez.

If they lose Macko then Ross Atkins can win us a World Series, and then can be shot. Execution style.

Getting rid of one of our top 10 RBI men in club history for absolutely no reason. I've never really forgiven him tbh for letting a still productive 33-year-old Edwin walk. Extending Guerrero was a corporate decision… Ross has apparently bad relationships with his current roster to offer extensions.

Philip

 

[onomatopoeia]

I highly doubt that the Jays will re-sign either Scherzer or Bassitt.

I don't think so, either. I was only pointing out that Free Agents don't occupy a 40 man roster spot on any team, until they sign. The Jays have a full roster at the moment. Anyone that they add with a Major League contract requires that someone from their 40 man be removed, either by trade, waivers or DFA.

 

[Zoot Allures]

If Bo goes that will impact jays loyality

he and vlad and Springer are the face of the team

Bo is also the best hitter in MLB just doesn't have a lot of power because he sacrifices power to hit to the opposite field

he takes pitchers deep into count and doesn't strike out and gets walks

is that not the Jays philosophy?

 

[Trevor Wong]

If Bo goes that will impact jays loyality

he and vlad and Springer are the face of the team

Bo is also the best hitter in MLB just doesn't have a lot of power because he sacrifices power to hit to the opposite field

he takes pitchers deep into count and doesn't strike out and gets walks

is that not the Jays philosophy?

I just have a feeling that Bo won't be resigning with the Jays. I think the Jays are more likely to sign Kyle Tucker.

 

[Zoot Allures]

I just have a feeling that Bo won't be resigning with the Jays. I think the Jays are more likely to sign Kyle Tucker.

they will not sign both and tucker fits the jays with low strikeout ratio and has more power, better defense but Bo is the better pure hitter and I want Bo back it just will not be the same team

 

[roadhog]

Blue Jays Designate Justin Bruihl For Assignment

Free agents Bo Bichette, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt are not on the 40 man roster. If any of them are re-signed, some other player will have to be removed.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2001393420619698316

 

[Zoot Allures]

Atlanta has signed an infielder so that means Boston or the Jays for Bochette

He seems to be flexible on the second base question and why not? He wanted to be at short as they get paid more, but with a long-term deal, the future is set.

I bet on Jays. Why pack up and move when the Jays are the best team?

Canadian or American city? Canadian all the way.

Bochette needs to move fast, or the Jays may sign someone else, giving Boston the upper hand in negotiations.

Jays want him as he is the face of the franchise with Vlad and Springer.

 

[onomatopoeia]

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

This guy uploaded many old baseball movies on December 27, and there may be more to follow. He's previously uploaded a lot of vintage post season video.

Here are a few of the movie titles added on Saturday:

The Pride of St Louis, (1952), It Happens Every Spring, (1949), One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story, (1978), The Bingo Long All Stars and Travelling Motor Kings, (1976), Bang the Drum Slowly, (1956).

 

[bggolfingmaniac]

NPB star Kazuma Okamoto, Blue Jays agree to contract - Sportsnet.ca

Man the Jays are spending money...

 

[roddermac]

NPB star Kazuma Okamoto, Blue Jays agree to contract - Sportsnet.ca

Man the Jays are spending money...

I think this is the ending of Bo Bichette in Toronto.

 

[tml]

NPB star Kazuma Okamoto, Blue Jays agree to contract - Sportsnet.ca

Man the Jays are spending money...

Is this bad news for Ernie Clement?