2021 Blue Jays General Discussion Thread

[Kin]

Yeah, mostly likely.  There haven't been any corroborations or clarifications.  Probably was just a mixup but still, those rumours are out there.  Would be a great addition especially given the trades it would also necessitate.

Maybe. I think the only guy you'd have to trade there is Grichuk and I don't think he's valuable enough to land a big piece. Yeah you could move Gurriel and use Brantley in Left as opposed to DHing but that feels like a downgrade. And even then, unless you're seriously planning on Kirk as an everyday Catcher you don't have a spot for him in the line-up.

I get the appeal of using Gurriel to try to land a pitcher better than any of the FA's available(except Bauer, who I don't want anyway) but I might rather the Jays try to sign Taijuan Walker and/or James Paxton and roll with the line-up as is.

 

[Kin]

https://twitter.com/thehazelmae/status/1351935496629460999

Now this has legs.

 

[L K]

https://twitter.com/thehazelmae/status/1351935496629460999

Now this has legs.

Some fine legs indeed.  What a 24 hour move on the offseason. 

Just to keep the party rolling:

https://twitter.com/jflan816/status/1351926966161723392

 

[bustaheims]

https://twitter.com/thehazelmae/status/1351935496629460999

Now this has legs.

The Jays lineup is getting scary for opposing pitchers, for sure. Brantley adds another solid all-around bat, while being a reasonable defender, as well (not good - pretty close to average, which is still an upgrade for the most part). Another starting pitcher or two, and some depth adds here and there, and we're in good place for the coming season.

 

[L K]

Time to fire Hazel May

https://twitter.com/thehazelmae/status/1351956672013598725

 

[bustaheims]

Time to fire Hazel May

https://twitter.com/thehazelmae/status/1351956672013598725

Could be just semantics, as the deal is contingent on passing a physical or has only been agreed to in principle, etc.

 

[Highlander]

We just signed Springer, good for the Jays and Rogers are willing to spend the $$$$$$

 

[bustaheims]

Time to fire Hazel May

https://twitter.com/thehazelmae/status/1351956672013598725

Could be just semantics, as the deal is contingent on passing a physical or has only been agreed to in principle, etc.

Or not. Appears as though he's staying in Houston.

https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/1351998674801479684

 

[L K]

Well that's disappointing.  Mostly because it takes away a good avenue to improve the rotation.  Back on the Bauer + Walker train for me.

 

[Highlander]

Springer is a much larger signing than Brantley.  And Brantley is 33 at least Springer is 31.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Any chance it opens the door for other big names to be interested in Toronto again?

Between this and the Ryu signing I'm not sure you could fairly say that big name free agents are less interested in Toronto than any other team as a rule and I don't know how many more guys like that you could credibly expect the Jays to sign.

But, you know, if the Jays start winning and they have more money to spend...sure.

Yeah, I've sort of always been of the impression that Toronto was less attractive(until they start going all in)..which I suppose goes against what I'm asking...So, never mind. The joys of being a fan that only sort of pays attention.

 

[Kin]

Another thing to consider is that while the Jays have payroll flexibility now, and could be generous on some short term deals, they are going to want to be able to re-sign a lot of the guys they have to team-friendly extensions so they probably can't go too crazy right now.

 

[Kin]

re: Brantley I'm now seeing some people, credible people, saying the Jays weren't even close to signing him. I wonder what happened there.

 

[Deebo]

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1354205917768806404

He had a huge 2019.

Like 3rd in MVP voting, 7.6 fWAR huge.

Slow start in the shortened season, but finished strong. Could be a massive addition.

Big salary but only 1 year.

 

[bustaheims]

Solid defensive addition, too. Could be a huge add if he recovers some.

 

[Kin]

I really like this as a one year no risk move. Semien has played some 2B and 3B as well as primarily SS so he gives the Jays options when constructing lineups.

A downside is the lineup is very right-hand heavy but there are worse problems to have.

 

[Kin]

Blue Jays make a weird trade, dealing Yennsy Diaz(Who MLB has as their #26 prospect), Josh Winckowski(#27) and Sean Reid-Foley for Steven Matz from the Mets.

Matz was terrible last year but in the two years prior was a serviceable back of the rotation guy.

 

[L K]

Between Stripling/Ray/Hatch/Thornton/Borucki/Merryweather/Kay/Roark they have a junk load of 4/5 starters.  Still hard to say if Pearson can be reliable as a 2/3 so the Jays really need one if not two reliable starters otherwise even a phenomenal offense will fall flat

 

[bustaheims]

Blue Jays make a weird trade, dealing Yennsy Diaz(Who MLB has as their #26 prospect), Josh Winckowski(#27) and Sean Reid-Foley for Steven Matz from the Mets.

Matz was terrible last year but in the two years prior was a serviceable back of the rotation guy.

Yeah. Don't love the addition of Matz. He's been mostly an averagish pitcher through his career, with a couple terrible seasons, including 2020. He does provide a LH option out of the pen, if that's where he ultimately ends up, though.

Not super fussed about what the Jays gave up. Don't think any of three pitchers they gave up will turn out to be much more than okay relievers.

 

[Kin]

I know the hope for some is they add two more starting pitchers with Walker and Paxton being the guys most mentioned as free agents. If they do that, or add one guy and trade for another, then Matz is gravy. That said, it seems weird when you figure they're probably near their spending limit for the off-season to add Matz at 5 million so maybe this means they're only targeting one guy?