Jays 2026 Thread

[Butler1000]

I heard from another source, I forgot where, that Bichette's decision had a lot to do with the artificial turf at Rogers Center and his leg injuries. Either way money talks, and the Blue Jays should've locked him up years ago.

Personally, I think they put too many eggs in the Kyle Tucker basket and they didn't really have a backup plan after he signed with the Dodgers. A very talented team stumbled upon Ross Atkins lap unexpectedly, and like I've always said this man has no understanding of team chemistry. Doesn't extend people properly, doesn't know how to maintain the relationship and doesn't know how to manage chemistry. Classic example.

But on the flipside if Springer, Santander and Okamoto have good years I think we'll be just fine. Clearly, the Blue Jays brought in Okamoto once they realized Bichette's asking price.

Philip

I don't think Tucker was ever coming here. And I don't think Bo was going to stay either. He was not going to get that money here. It's that simple.

And you can't buy team chemistry. It has to happen organically. You can never tell who and how players will mesh. I think right now the culture is really good, and that will result in the newbies buying in.

I like our pitching just fine, its just a matter of filling out the bullpen now.

And hitting. Santander and Okamoto are the two keys. Good years and we get our 2nd shot at the Dodgers.

 

[Toronto Passions]

And you can't buy team chemistry. It has to happen organically. You can never tell who and how players will mesh. I think right now the culture is really good, and that will result in the newbies buying in.

I know. My point is Ross Atkins is too much of a number crunching geek. Analytics poster child he doesn't know how to recognize and maintain key components to team chemistry. I also have always felt since Teoscar Hernandez that his relationships with agents and players to extend, suck.

Philip

 

[Trevor Wong]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013048258923200732

 

[Trevor Wong]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013340689497513990

 

[Trevor Wong]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013270585598492835

 

[Toronto Passions]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013048258923200732

oh buddy, look up Angel Hernandez on YouTube. You won't believe some of his calls.

Philip

 

[Toronto Passions]

 

[roadhog]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013271273410081029

 

[roadhog]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013646469421510797

 

[Trevor Wong]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013643436830711873

 

[Trevor Wong]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013730756393128117

 

[Toronto Passions]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired of Bellinger being on the free agent market and available the last three years in a row this is getting ridiculous. Because he keeps opting out, hoping that he'll recapture his MVP form so he's hoping to squeeze more money out of any signing. It looks greedy and it's annoying. I like how the Yankees are getting firm with him and his greed.

Philip

 

[tml]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013643436830711873

Too bad they didn't mic up Billy Martin and Earl Weaver back in the day.

 

[wawa]

Cody Bellinger resigns with the Yankees.

Cody Bellinger Reportedly Re-Signs With Yankees

The New York Yankees have reportedly re-signed Cody Bellinger. Bellinger was the top free agent hitter available, and he reportedly had interest from the Yankees, New York Mets, and the Toronto Blue Jays. Yet, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reported on Wednesday that Bellinger and the Yankees have...

ca.sports.yahoo.com

 

[Trevor Wong]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2014041229122555917

 

[Trevor Wong]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2014049560134316420

 

[ohmygod89]

Bellinger will earn close to $85M over the first two seasons, before opting out again and doing it all over. To get more that half after two seasons was great work by his agents.

Mets traded for Luis Robert Jr, giving them 2.5 OF.

 

[maurice93]

Bellinger will earn close to $85M over the first two seasons, before opting out again and doing it all over. To get more that half after two seasons was great work by his agents.

Mets traded for Luis Robert Jr, not give them 2.5 OF.

5/165 with no options would have been more than fair for someone who has been so inconsistent.

Not a great deal for the Yanks due to the options. Limited upside to 2 years only, and full 5 yera downside for a player that was bad in 21/22, and average in 2024 to the point that in December 2024 the Cubs were simply salary dumping him that winter.

If he is good he gets 2/85 for his services and leaves / goes back to market.
If he is bad they are stuck with overpaying years 3-5.

 

[maurice93]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired of Bellinger being on the free agent market and available the last three years in a row this is getting ridiculous. Because he keeps opting out, hoping that he'll recapture his MVP form so he's hoping to squeeze more money out of any signing. It looks greedy and it's annoying. I like how the Yankees are getting firm with him and his greed.

Philip

He has been on the market after 2022, 2024, and 2025, but this was actually the first ever year he opted out. Although it could happen again after 2027 or 2028 season with this new deal. He has been available for low FA cost (after 2022) or low trade value (after 2024) due to disappointing seasons, and chose not to opt out in 2024 due to an average season. But now that he had a good year he struck on this latest option. Options have lots of value which Boras and Bellinger are showing.

After 2022 he had no choice. The Dodgers made no effort to resign him.
And he could have opted out after 2024 season, but was so average that year that he wisely chose not to opt out. Cubs simply looked for somebody to take on his contract.

Regarding the Yankees getting firm, so much for that! They got bent over pretty good here, and Boras and Bellinger did well for themselves. They just gave him a FRONT-LOADED deal with opt outs after year 2 and year 3 - which of course limits their upside. And they get the downside if he struggles which he has done at times.

 

[maurice93]

People that have seen my posting history know that I am not as high as Bellinger as others. I would have accepted this type of deal if it happened, only because this is our window and spend now on the best hitter left (although he is inconsistent and seem to really benefit from Yankee stadium). But it was not a team friendly contract, so hopefully the Jays could use their financial might in some other way to help themselves this season -- of course that is made much harder when FA is done.