MLB Free Agent Season

[maurice93]

yip, stupid owners trying to buy a winner again. Glad I sold my share of the Jays 2024 season tixs. Didn't miss attending an MLB game or watching on the tube either. Same select teams always in the playoffs for the past decade plus. Waste if time and money IMO. MLB SUCKS!

There has been quite a bit of variance in the AL though in recent years.
Kansas City, Detroit, Cleveland, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Baltimore are all low to moderate payroll teams that have made the AL playoffs in 2023 or 2024.in

Toronto is a top 8 spender in baseball. We are not the top spender, but we are up there. Enough budget to be a consistent top finisher in the AL if we had better management and player development - we need more pre-arb and arb players contributing at high levels in MLB

Its a Shatkins issue not a payroll issue, because we are competitive in terms of payroll.

 

[maurice93]

I was surprised to see that the Phillies gave Romano 1/$8.5. (Was actually higher than his projected arb number of $8.0 million). That being said, I "think" I am glad we didn't give that to him. Said "think" because let's see how Shatkins spends there reliever money.

There are a decent amount of high leverage relievers out there, but Romano coming in at 8.5 (and Chapman earler at 10.5), shows that relievers will not be cheap this offseason.

 

[The Oracle]

Vlad Sure. Bo, no way. His future contract value is overrated by some - he is not an elite MLB player. Good (at least prior to 2024), but not elite. The contract signed by an elite player like Soto will have zero impact on his future contract.

At one time Bo's value was because he was a "great hitter for a SS". Now there are many SS that have surpassed or equalled or nearly equalled his 2023 offensive performance (let's ignore his 2024 one as an outlier) and they can actually field. This really hurt his contract potential.

At this point does Bo actually want to play in Toronto?

I've always felt he was a second baseman. Love to see him in pinstripes with that hair and beard off.

Of course we would gladly take Vlad as well.

Losing Soto hurts but that contract?...Jesus.

 

[tml]

I was surprised to see that the Phillies gave Romano 1/$8.5. (Was actually higher than his projected arb number of $8.0 million). That being said, I "think" I am glad we didn't give that to him. Said "think" because let's see how Shatkins spends there reliever money.

There are a decent amount of high leverage relievers out there, but Romano coming in at 8.5 (and Chapman earler at 10.5), shows that relievers will not be cheap this offseason.

Jansen got the same deal from Tampa.

 

[tml]

At this point does Bo actually want to play in Toronto?

I've always felt he was a second baseman. Love to see him in pinstripes with that hair and beard off.

Of course we would gladly take Vlad as well.

Losing Soto hurts but that contract?...Jesus.

How will Soto's departure affect Judge?

 

[The Oracle]

How will Soto's departure affect Judge?

They will go all in with free agents...Names being mentioned are Christian Walker, Alex Bregman, Pete Alonzo.

There's a thought they might try and trade for Cody Bellinger. The Cubs might want to get out from underneath his contract.

A left handed hitter behind judge would be preferable. Judge will be 33 in April. They have to move him off centre soon.

The Mets out bid the Yankees by 45 million in the end. Soto is a pure mercenary. Also a potential HOFer.

Yanks believe Jasson Dominguez is their next superstar. They don't have much at AAA that stands out.

Calib Durban might end up at second. They moved on from Gleber Torres it seems.

 

[Insidious Von]

Don;t fret about Juan Soto, he's a wingnut, his Mets team-mates will hate him soon enough. That's what happened in San Diego.

The Jays are condemned to scrape their asses at the bottom of the AL East. Ed Rogers is too feeble to make the tough decision to fire the Shatkins. Vlady's gone, maybe they can trade him for Bob Uecker.

 

[maurice93]

At this point does Bo actually want to play in Toronto?

I've always felt he was a second baseman. Love to see him in pinstripes with that hair and beard off.

Of course we would gladly take Vlad as well.

Losing Soto hurts but that contract?...Jesus.

I don't think either side (Bo or the Jays) want to make a long term commitment to each other right now
I think the best thing the Jays can do is just keep Bo, let him play it out in 2025 and hope he plays better as he fights for a contract. If the Jays compete great, if the Jays don't compete, his trade value might go up at the deadline. He is a good player, but nowhere near an elite player, so the Soto stuff has no impact on him,

Regarding Soto, if we keep the perspective in the scope of 2025 only (and what $50m gets you for 2025 only) it made sense for the Yankees to pay him $50m especially since the Yanks window with Judge and Cole is not going to be open that much longer.. Of course the term is a major issue, and it rightfully had to be considered by the Yanks. Its not the $50m AAV that bothers me, its the massive term.

As an example would you trade, for 2025 only, Juan Soto for Willy Adames + Luis Severino (or Kikuchi). Because that is what $50million gets you in 2025.

I also think Boras, Heyman are throwing a lot of crap right now about the Yankees having a chance to match -- I don't buy it at all ... yes the Yanks could have matched, and then the Boras camp would have went back to the Mets to re-up. I don't believe anything was a "final' match and I think the Yanks saw that.

 

[The Oracle]

I also think Boras, Heyman are throwing a lot of crap right now about the Yankees having a chance to match -- I don't buy it at all ... yes the Yanks could have matched, and then the Boras camp would have went back to the Mets to re-up. I don't believe anything was a "final' match and I think the Yanks saw that.

'' If this was of the utmost importance, and the future of the franchise hung in the balance with Soto’s decision, how did the Yankees let themselves get outbid? Well, because they seemingly didn’t have a say in the matter — Steve Cohen just wouldn’t stop. The Mets owner made big waves as soon as he took over the franchise, washing out the stains of the Wilpon Era almost immediately with a spending spree that brought in superstars and ushered in a 100+ win season. While things didn’t quite gel the way they hoped and they had to retool briefly before launching themselves back into contention this year, Cohen made good on all of the owners’ fears before they voted to accept his bid for the Mets: He’s incredibly rich, passionate about investing that money into the team, and if he wants a guy bad enough, he’ll do whatever it takes to win him over. The Yankees are MLB’s most valuable franchise, but no other owner has nearly as much cash on hand as Cohen, one of the 100 richest people in the world point blank. ''

'' To wit, this wasn’t a mere $5 million difference in offers, as originally reported. Cohen’s final push featured a $75 million signing bonus, so Soto will average $61 million in AAV over the first five years of the deal, far more than the Yankees’ $47.5 million AAV submission. He’s getting more present-day money due in part to Cohen’s readily-available wealth, and with one simple contract decision in 2029, this actually becomes an even more staggering $805 million deal for Soto. ''

 

[countd]

'' If this was of the utmost importance, and the future of the franchise hung in the balance with Soto’s decision, how did the Yankees let themselves get outbid? Well, because they seemingly didn’t have a say in the matter — Steve Cohen just wouldn’t stop. The Mets owner made big waves as soon as he took over the franchise, washing out the stains of the Wilpon Era almost immediately with a spending spree that brought in superstars and ushered in a 100+ win season. While things didn’t quite gel the way they hoped and they had to retool briefly before launching themselves back into contention this year, Cohen made good on all of the owners’ fears before they voted to accept his bid for the Mets: He’s incredibly rich, passionate about investing that money into the team, and if he wants a guy bad enough, he’ll do whatever it takes to win him over. The Yankees are MLB’s most valuable franchise, but no other owner has nearly as much cash on hand as Cohen, one of the 100 richest people in the world point blank. ''

'' To wit, this wasn’t a mere $5 million difference in offers, as originally reported. Cohen’s final push featured a $75 million signing bonus, so Soto will average $61 million in AAV over the first five years of the deal, far more than the Yankees’ $47.5 million AAV submission. He’s getting more present-day money due in part to Cohen’s readily-available wealth, and with one simple contract decision in 2029, this actually becomes an even more staggering $805 million deal for Soto. ''

Not a fan of long term deals like this after 10 years skills will be declining. i guess you have to do it if you want to land a superstar!

 

[tml]

Jays have reportedly signed Yimi Garcia to a 2 year $15 million contract.

 

[The Oracle]

Jays have reportedly signed Yimi Garcia to a 2 year $15 million contract.

Yankees will see your Garcia and raise you with Max Fried

Yankees sign lefty starter Max Fried to eight-year, $218 million contract

Forced to pivot from Juan Soto, the Yankees capitalized on a market strength by signing the erstwhile Atlanta southpaw.

www.pinstripealley.com

 

[Primetime21]

Sources: Jays trading for Guardians 2B Gimenez

The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a deal with the Cleveland Guardians for All-Star second baseman Andres Gimenez, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

www.espn.com

 

[tml]

Take that, Oracle. All that Soto stuff was a smoke screen to divert everyone's attention away from these guys.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/articl...g-trade-with-guardians-for-2b-andres-gimenez/

 

[onomatopoeia]

I think the Jays would be better with the three pitchers Cleveland acquired for Horowitz.

 

[Toronto Passions]

Take that, Oracle. All that Soto stuff was a smoke screen to divert everyone's attention away from these guys.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/articl...g-trade-with-guardians-for-2b-andres-gimenez/

Sandlin sounds promising. I don’t necessarily agree with this move however. I thought Spencer Horwitz would’ve made a fabulous number 2 hitter from the left side.

Philip

 

[onomatopoeia]

The Jays nabbed Angel Bastardo from the Bosox in the Rule 5 draft today. Angel is a 22 year old RHSP from Moron, Venezuela. He was 0-5 with a 5.36 ERA in 10 AA starts in '24. That's a Venezuelan two days in a row.

Other Venezuelans who have played for the Blue Jays include Fred Manrique, Alexis Infante, Robert Perez, Maicer Izturis, Dioner Navarro and Omar Daal.

 

[Dartman]

Soto really only signed a 5 year contract. Because he has a out clause after 5 years. And he will opt out for more money then

 

[Toronto Passions]

0% chance that Vlad gets $50 million and unlikely that it hits $40 (might get close).

Naw! 100% Vlad gets at least 500 million. I don’t even think there’s a chance in hell he signs an extension anymore and he must want to test free agency at this point.

This moronic administration led us to believe that Jordan Romano’s arm was about to fall off. And then the Phillies go ahead and sign Romano for 8 million or whatever it was? These guys are constantly acting like they’re the smartest guys in the room and that they somehow dictate the flow of baseball administration, yet in reality, they are completely clueless. This president and GM are single-handedly or double handed lead or whatever you wanna call it, destroying baseball in Toronto. That’s the reality of what’s really happening.

Philip

 

[The Oracle]

Take that, Oracle. All that Soto stuff was a smoke screen to divert everyone's attention away from these guys.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/articl...g-trade-with-guardians-for-2b-andres-gimenez/

What's your opinion on this one?