As MLB’s offseason continues, here are three things worth keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Go, Padres nearing deal?
It was reported yesterday evening that right-hander Woo Suk Go of the Korea Baseball Organization’s LG Twins was nearing a deal with the Padres. According to Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News, Go reportedly took a flight to San Diego overnight to finalize the deal with the Padres. Go’s posting window expires this afternoon at 4pm CT, meaning an announcement should come today if a deal is completed. In addition to Go’s salary, the Padres would be responsible for a posting fee paid to the LG Twins as compensation for Go’s services. Go, who sports a 2.39 ERA over 275 1/3 innings of work since the start of the 2019 season, figures to occupy a late-inning role for the Padres alongside fellow overseas signing Yuki Matsui.
2. Blue Jays presser:
As noted by Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins is expected to address the media at 9am CT this morning followed by recent signings Kevin Kiermaier and Isiah Kiner-Falefa later in the day. The press conference comes on the heels of a December that saw the Blue Jays connected to many of the league’s top free agents including Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Cody Bellinger, and Matt Chapman. Since then, however, Toronto has come up short in their bids for both Ohtani and Yamamoto while the signings of Kiermaier and Kiner-Falefa seemingly cast doubt on the club’s odds of landing Bellinger to play center field or reuniting with Chapman at third base. Will today’s presser provide additional clarity regarding Toronto’s pursuits of a the two biggest bats left on the market?
3. Jensen resolution incoming?
Right-hander Ryan Jensen was designated for assignment by the Marlins two weeks ago to make room for right-hander Roddery Munoz on the 40-man roster after Miami acquired him from the Pirates in a minor trade. Typically, a player can only be DFA’d for seven days before they must be assigned, but the clock is paused for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. That would leave Jensen likely to see a resolution to his DFA sometime today. The former first-round pick has been claimed off waivers twice in the past six months, but if the he passes through waivers successfully the Marlins can outright Jensen to Triple-A and retain him in the organization headed into the 2024 season without utilizing a 40-man roster spot.
Juggy
Wow LA now San Diego this into the world baseball classic
neo
International players make up a large contingent of MLB players. Did you arrive from 1984 recently?
avenger65
Where would bb be without Hispanic players? Although it does seem like SD and LAD are cornering the market on Asian players. SF has one, but I have every confidence that they’re still on the running to win the NPB/KBO race on the west coast.
neo
If the league was interested in competitive balance, there ought to be some sort of draft or waiver priority to govern talent entering from international professional leagues. Given their own preference, international players will most likely seek the most popular teams to them, all else being equal. Teams that are in prime locations, teams that have stronger history and trust.
But it becomes like any free agency, where talent that is established professionally can make their choice.
greg1
So, Ross Atkins is going to get up and say “we really put our best efforts into landing the biggest FA’s in the market, and we were right there until the end as we were a serious consideration for them”. “That just show that premium players are looking at Toronto as a viable option, and we’re confident we’ll land that big fish next time”.
He says all of this while introducing Kevin, Isiah and three other “Brandon Belt” quality players.
Jays really need to move on from the Shapiro/Atkins era before they run out of arb time with guys like Bichette and the Jays become the Detroit Tigers of the early 2000’s.
Old York
@greg1
The Jays need to sell high on some of their assets and start rebuilding again. Otherwise, they’re going to end up like the CWS where they have a bunch of underperforming stars on their team.
Yogajonny
Exactly York. This team is the poster child for a rebuild. Sell now and build for the future. Shiny new renos be damned. This team is not in a good place. Time to swallow some pride and rebuild right.
Digdugler
Only young guy that has lots of value is Bo. They sold Moreno for peanuts and Manoah/Vlad/Kirk have very little value. Sadly, they cant really sell right now. All the Starter signiings actually have a lot of value. Kooch/Berrios/Gausman and Bassiit
MoneyBallJustWorks
rebuild a playoff team with a top 5 rotation last year? yes the prospect pool could be better by rebuilding but this team is not the White Sox.
Now could I see the pieces start shifting if they are out of the playoff race this summer? for sure. then you consider moving Bichette and/or Vlad to maximize the return, Bassitt, Berrios and anything not in the compete window down the road, but this team is a decent IF and 2 bats away (and maybe a bullpen piece) from being right near the top of the division.
each team in the East still has question marks.
Os – can the rotation be as good as last year (and they still need to add to it)
Sox – aren’t competing
Yanks – again rotation ???
Rays – pitching depth could be a problem.
I don’t love Atkins or Shapiro either but they can’t tear down now. that being said, they can’t sit on their throne and talk about how close they were. They need to address the teams weaknesses before it’s too late this offseason.
Digdugler
Yea, the team is 3 everyday players away from competing, but they dont have the cap space (luxury cap) to sign 1 let alone 3 and they wlll not be spending $300M.. And they just wasted money on KK and IKF! (KK is a fine signing in a vacuum but given doesnt fill a need the cap space is better spent elsewhere).
If the Jays sign 3 everyday players in the next month, I will eat my jorts.
its_happening
Two issues, Moneyball. One, not enough hitting (anymore), and the window closing up.
Jays are one injury at SP away from last place in the AL East. Which is too bad because being last in the East could easily put them top 2 in the Central.
Jays need a bat. Someone to protect Vlad and hope he turns it up a little. If Vlad learns how to run on the bases that is a bonus.
Travis’ Wood
3 everyday players away from competing? The team with the 5th highest projected 2024 WAR in the league?? You sound foolish lol
its_happening
Travis – you just proved WAR is unsubstantial in measuring true worth of a baseball player. Not to mention projections are not reality, much like WAR. Nobody should care what their accumulated WAR is when they’re staring at 4th in the AL East.
Digdugler
WAR Doesnt work like that in reality, there are diminishing returns. KK/Varsho/IKF only provide defensive WAR, if you dont win a game, they will not actually have 10 wins between them as they have negative offensive WAR.;
its_happening
Dig we saw that with Varsho killing rallies nearly every game and losing close ones. He was not an asset like people say. WAR is a big reason.
Travis’ Wood
That’s not how WAR works digdugler. Pretty sure Fangraphs takes their offense into account. Not sure what point you’re even trying to make. Winning the game doesn’t impact WAR whatsoever….?
Yogajonny
This is not a WS team and will not be refsrdless of how the rest off off season goes. Our veteran pitching staff deserves better than a rebuild. That’s the only reason not to tear it down.
Yogajonny
Moneyball, that is an incredibly optimistic take on the state of this franchise.
Whyme
Yes they are losing Whit, Belt and Chapman all above average players. We haven’t improved we’ve regressed even in the pen we are losing Hicks and also RYU who pitched well when he came back from TJS. So tell me how the Jay’s are this so called war leaders?
Dustyslambchops23
Ryu pitched 50 innings last year, Hicks 25.
Whit was one of the worst players in baseball August on, Chapman was equally awful at the plate after June.
Outside of Chapman’s defense, all of that is replaceable pretty easily
MoneyBallJustWorks
competing for a world series, not the division.
MoneyBallJustWorks
yoga the Diamondbacks made the series against arguably better competition in the NL and with an inferior pitching staff. The Jays are not that far off considering the whole division is basically similar to last year other than Soto (but it came at a pitching cost). The Yankees are banking on Rodon and Nestor being better/more healthy, Os banking on their rotation being as good as last year (without a lights out closer mind you), the rays are expecting to ray, while the Sox are still lacking in pitching.
I’m not saying the Jays are great now, but a Soler addition or a Pederson&Soler addition help make the difference for the division.
yes offense is their current problem but that can still be somewhat addressed. all this being said, the Jays are very volatile and could be #1 on the east or #4 depending on moves, health and coaching.
its_happening
O’s young players are looking to take another step forward with reinforcements coming. They are the team to beat. No projections can measure the level of talent they have coming.
Fever Pitch Guy
Yoga – Maybe if they can win one more game this season, they can finish with a 90-72 record and win the WS just like Texas did last year?
JoeBrady
WAR Doesnt work like that in reality,
=====================
I assume that, if you add up hitting (which includes fielding) and pitching fWAR, the sum of the two would be highly correlated to total wins.
Is that not correct?
its_happening
No NL division is better than the AL East.
its_happening
Not always, Joe. Otherwise, the projections stating the O’s are finishing 4th in the AL East would mean a large step backward for them. And, your Red Sox will be dead last.
I don’t know about you, but experience in watching baseball would dictate these projections aren’t accurate. Has Fangraphs published how many they’ve gotten wrong the last 10 years? Doubtful.
We DO know Baltimore has talent still up and coming to the show. A full season with Gunnar. Projections don’t factor midseason trades, callups, other acquisitions or injury. If that makes me anti-WAR, then I guess that’s me.
Ducey
Shapiro and Atkins have redeveloped Dunedin into one of the league’s best facilities, paid their minor league players more than others, redeveloped the stadium in Toronto, and went over the first tier of the cap.
They have convinced ownership to spend money. That has been rare, and should be appreciated
And they take their shots on big names, unlike most GMs.
They also built a strong pitching staff and the games best defense last year. They got skewered by an underperforming offense last year, when most of the same group was great in 2022.
And the offseason isn’t close to being over.
So Go quit your whining.
Old York
@Ducey
I’m looking at the metrics. They don’t look good for 2024. Toronto is not going to be competitive this year.
Canuckleball
Not really sure how you can tell how well they’re going to do this season since they haven’t finished constructing their roster, nor has many other teams
Stealing Signs
@Old York & Greg 1
Is the offseason over? Are they prohibited from signing FA’s or making trades? JFC I swear Jays casuals are some of the most ignorant baseball fans on the planet.
Yogajonny
There is no one in free agency that can fix this team and any trade of consequence is gonna deplete the shoddy farm. I would love Louis Robert but not for the price of Ricky T +. Rebuild and do it right.
Stealing Signs
Not if they trade from the ML roster & get ML players in return.
Canuckleball
@ Yogajonny
–1B/DH platoon with Vladdy–
Bellinger
Teoscar Hernandez (probably not but ya never know)
Jorge Solar
J.D. Martinez
Rhys Hoskins
Justin Turner (also backup 3B)
Seems to me there are plenty of free agents still out there who could help the Jays
Digdugler
The Jays need 3 players to form a team. 3B, they dont have one. If IKF is your starting 3B, you will not make the playoffs. An offensive outfielder. Jays quadrupled down on defense signing KK again, so they need a 4th OF to play like 80 games in the OF, Varsho cant play against lefties (or righties). A DH/1B, They dont have a DH, Vlad is bad defensively so you want a DH that can also play a decent 1B.
So getting 2 of those guys you mentioned AND an MLB 3B would be an off season save.
But at the end of the day, if Vlad is still bad and Springer has another bad year, the team is just bad.
Travis’ Wood
Old York are you trolling? The team with the 5th highest projected WAR for 2024 isn’t going to compete and should rebuild?? Again I seriously Hope you’re trolling cause otherwise your tales are straight up embarrassing
Old York
@Travis’ Wood
This is the period for them to do it. They’ve been unable to advance past the first round of the playoffs since 2020. This core isn’t helping them win and management has not spent their funds properly to the point that they’re close to exceeding the tax threshold and apparently unwilling to go beyond it.
Travis’ Wood
Haven’t spent their funds properly?? Almost every single free agent signing they’ve made has been successful…. Again they’re projected to be EXCELLENT next year and you think they’re not even gonna compete?? What “metrics” are you looking at the lead you to such a wild conclusion? The playoffs are random and if you’re holding that against the front office you simply don’t understand how baseball works
Old York
@Travis’ Wood
Oh well, I guess I just don’t understand baseball… Best of luck to your Blue Jays team going 162-0 this season. I see it a different way.
Travis’ Wood
Correct, you don’t. And no they aren’t going 162-0 but yes they will be good. This isn’t complicated
its_happening
Dig I’m thinking OF bat (let’s say Bellinger for argument sake), a RH outfield bench bat (Bader – Kiermaier is getting hurt), and if they go with IKF at 3B, they need a bat at 2B.
Springer/Vlad DH.
That 2B bat would need to come in the form of a trade.
Yogajonny
The first problem w your suggestion is named Cody. Signing him is a bonehead move that any franchise will almost immediately regret.
its_happening
That is why I said “for argument sake”. Jays need a big bat and I doubt they will trade for it.
Fever Pitch Guy
Canuck – Duvall as well.
Canuckleball
@ Fever Pitch Guy
I was just running down the top 50 free agent list and picking off the guys that would fit the bill. There are certainly other options beyond that, as well.
The Jays need a more impactful DH than Belt. His 136 ops+ looks great on paper, but it was propped up by a lot of walks and those are only valuable if his teammates hit him in, which they rarely did. They need a more homerun focused DH
GRE
ShapiRo and Carry on useless Gm Atkins , have done a decent job at the rebuilding of the bars and restaurants in the organization.
They HAVE NEVER EVER BUILT an ELITE Baseball TEAM EVER !!
Ducey, STOP Sugar Coating these 2 Clowns !!
its_happening
Ducey, any Jays fan who’s actually happy with the results of the Jays truly dislikes the Jays. The criticism is warranted considering the squandered opportunities since 2020, whether giving up small pieces for no good reason in 2020, going in from a weak position in 2021, being too late to address 3B and CF and SP to looking at losing Bo to free agency…yeah, I understand the frustrations.
But to tell people to quit whining shows you haven’t paid much attention to the Jays the last decade or three.
its_happening
At some point we have to examine ownership and the board. This is a hybrid of Ricciardi and AA. Everyone wants to glorify the Anthopoulos era when, in fact, his tenure was a failure up until the Tulo trade with Colorado.
Shapiro to his credit has done a terrific job with Dunedin and the Rogers Centre.
Let’s face it, Atkins will be replaced by another similar type. Wouldn’t be surprised if San Fran fired Farhan in less than 6 months only to see him be the next GM of the Jays. It’ll be the same song and dance we’re used to. Time to look at the very top before we start crucifying Atkins.
Digdugler
3 Brandon Belts! That would be amazing. You will be lucky to get 1 800+ OPS DH
terrymesmer
You minimize the fact that the Jays have an excellent rotation, 4/5 of which came from outside the organization. You don’t acknowledge the Jays were the best defensive team in MLB in 2023, according to Rawlings. You forget the Jays got their shiny “playoff tested” superstar slugger three years ago: George Springer.
Springer declining was predictable but they did it anyway — and stupid fans who think stars never age, they loved it! But that signing got them a modest 8.4 WAR over three seasons and zero playoff wins. Now Springer is 34 years old and will likely have less WAR in 2024 than Davis Schneider.
Springer 2023: 683 PA, 2.1 WAR
Schneider 2023: 141 PA, 1.8 WAR
its_happening
How many playoff wins has playoff-tested and best defensive team plus rotation had over the last 4 years, Terry?
Are we supposed to be as blissfully ignorant as you to the fact that the Jays need a couple of strong bats? Are we to believe the Jays SP will be every bit as healthy in 2024 as 2023? Are we hanging our hopes on Davis Schneider? You seem to want to with the WAR reference. Does that mean he’s the starting 2B?
I dont think you have a case to call fans stupid with your comment here.
KingKat
Bah. Once they missed out on the elite options, it made all the sense in the world to pivot to value options instead of setting money on fire with overpayments on second tier options like Bellinger and Chapmam. Atkins’ actually crossed more things off his list than most of the GMs and he’s done so without compromising his ability to keep adding.
Troy Percival's iPad
Another frustration of being a Red Sox Fan is that Go would be a clear bullpen upgrade despite shaky control in Korea and would be one of the hardest throwers on the team despite only throwing 95
thecrocusesareinbloom
If the Red Sox only have limited money to spend, the bullpen is not the area they should be focusing on. We already have two highly paid relievers at the back end; we don’t need more.
JoeBrady
This feels like complaining for the sake of complaining. Depending on how Breslow constructs the staff, if Houck and Whitlock are in the BP, then we have 8 RPs better than Go, and 7 of them are righties. And that doesn’t include Pivetta.
And if we were going to add another RP, we would probably add another lefty.
Go would look like a very poor fit for this RS team.
deGrom/Langford Texas Ranger
Go Jansen and Go Blue Jays on Opening Day! should be the title
Dustyslambchops23
Man I don’t like Atkins at all but not signing Ohtani and Yamamoto is not a good reason, they were both destined to play in LA and both took considerable concessions to make it happen, its not a reflection of the jays.
jays have signed Springer, Ryu, Gausman, Bassitt, in recent FAs, the ability to add to the core during this window has not been a problem. It’s the core performance itself as well as poor drafting and development. So if you’re going to call for Atkins head it should be about that.
Yogajonny
Exactly. This core is rotten. If they can’t extend Bo, they gotta blow it up. Let vladdy walk after 2025 or trade him now for whatever they can get.
MoneyBallJustWorks
letting Vlad walk for nothing is the single DUMBEST thought possible here.
Yes he has his flaws, but 20+ teams in the league would be interested if he was an FA. They need better coaching however. What this team needs is an experienced winning manager who can get through to younger talent. Montoya and Schneider were just bad choices.
Yogajonny
Vladdy is not who you think/hope he is.
Digdugler
Well he didnt do his best to help the team win. Obviously the problem is Vlad being bad, but at the deadline he could have filled holes to help the team instead he chose not to….and the Jays were swept yet again. So yes, the “core” (Vlad) is the problem, but he is not doing his best with what he is given and he is not trading the core…which would be a rebuild move but I would be fine with it; Then again, Vlad and Manoah have no value so not much he can do there.
GRE
Vladdy is a BUST….
he flat out DOES NOT Hustle !! And , is brutal running the bases….He needs to be traded…NOT WORTH $20 mil this year at all !!
Dustyslambchops23
He’s still not even 25. Calling him a bust now is insane.
its_happening
So is calling 6 years $150-mil for Chapman and you did.
Can Vlad run the bases well too, or is that a problem?
Dustyslambchops23
Did I miss the Chapman signing to prove otherwise ?
Yogajonny
Exactly gre
its_happening
You will, much like most of your opinions.
Dustyslambchops23
You sound like a fan. Funny that I can’t remember ever interacting with you, but you remember my opinion months later.
A bit sad. But when Chapman signs with the Giants for 100mm plus I’m not beyond gloating.
its_happening
When it’s absurd it’s hard to forget.
Did I miss the Giants signing Chapman? Had to ask to point out your hypocrisy.
The Big Yo
Jensen to the A’s
GRE
Why is ATKINS STILL HERE ???
CaseyAbell
So did everybody track Go’s flight to San Diego like Ohtani’s (fictional) flight to Toronto?
MoneyBallJustWorks
I just saw “Go to San Diego” and figured it was a tourism ad.
Travis’ Wood
Blue jays have the 5th highest projected WAR for the 2024 season. Everyone complaining and saying the should rebuild(???) just don’t have a clue how to evaluate baseball players and teams lol
its_happening
Because Jays fans see Bo and Vlad leaving after 2025 unless the Jays go all out with a $250-300 mil payroll the next 3-5 years. But again, cite WAR like it actually tells us something. Reality says if baseball people bet on where the Jays finish in the division, it’s 3rd or 4th.
They’re not better than Baltimore, jury is out on Tampa and the Yankees just improved their OF. Boston will have something to say. So unless the Jays want to pay luxury penalties, rebuild is on the table with a bad 2024 start.
Travis’ Wood
So you don’t believe in projected WAR so instead you’re relying on what the betting public would choose?? LOL…. They could easily be the best team in the division. You’re mad cause they MIGHT lose Bo and Vladdy after TWO more season?? Get outta here dude you sound incredibly spoiled and ignorant. “They’re not better than Baltimore”. Based on what? Lol rebuild
its_happening
Sorry kid I should have been specific:
Travis you don’t have a clue how the Jays roster is constructed nor do you know baseball because you resort to a flawed mathematical equation that carries zero reliability except for the machine you worship – whatever that is. In sum, you believe something that isn’t true to be fact.
Again, Jays aren’t rebuilding and aren’t the best team in their own division. They need a bat or two. Despite what your WAR God says, what you believe isn’t fact or truth. But thanks for providing nothing to this conversation much like your citation of WAR.
Travis’ Wood
LOL so you don’t believe projection systems that have PROVEN to be more accurate than human estimates yet you’re relying on which teams people would bet on??? Lol just admit you don’t have the first clue what you’re talking about. You not only sound stupid but you’re openly admitting to it…. Yikes!
its_happening
Proven?
Oh boy.
Someone needs to tell you you are clueless. Allow me. You’re clueless. I don’t want to be mean but the fact that you can’t carry a conversation without a fangraphs reference says all we need to know. If you believe the Jays are better than the Orioles then you need help. Because you’re saying that with your bogus “knowledge”, as the Jays have a higher projected WAR than Baltimore.
Good luck.
Travis’ Wood
It’s a fact dude. Projection models like Fangraphs are significantly more accurate than human estimates…. Yet you’re unwilling to do a single second of research, you don’t understand basic baseball analysis and you’d rather rely on which teams people would bet on. It’d be hilarious if it wasn’t so embarrassing for you…. You can try to turn the tables on me but it’s abundantly clear that you don’t understand very simple baseball concepts that most people have understand for years. Maybe try doing a single google search about projection systems before responding again, you sound dumber with each additional comment lol
its_happening
You haven’t provided proof. Do that, I’ll change my mind. I promise. Go.
Dustyslambchops23
You won’t change your opinion because you’re not capable.
You don’t hate advanced analytics because you disagree with them, you hate them because you’re not able to understand even the basics.
terrymesmer
Dude, why are you so mad at the clouds?
its_happening
Dusty, provide proof and I will be swayed. I brought mine relating to Baltimore’s WAR being less than the Jays (projected). It’s your turn.
If you can’t or won’t, sit this one out.
its_happening
Nobody is mad. But if you believe the Jays’ 5th highest WAR means automatic playoff berth and even division title, Jays should stop acquiring players right now. If you don’t believe that, then I have an argument.
Not about who’s mad.
KingKat
Dude, you provided even less. Don’t like WAR? Fine then, what is the superior evidence that you provided? Nothing but an inflated faith in the value of your own opinion? Cool, cool.
KingKat
Nobody believes that a WAR projection is a guaranteed anything. That’s not how probability works and what’s probable now only becomes more probable if you add more to the WAR projection of the team and even then nothing would be guaranteed. No one in their right mind would argue against that. If WAR projections need to guarantee results to prove to you that have value than no wonder you don’t believe in them but that’s only because you refuse to grasp probability as a concept.
its_happening
Ok, if you’re high on WAR, tell us what the Jays would receive in a trade for Varsho.
Take away your emotional attachment to WAR, not one of you provided anything beyond an emotional response. You say “nobody believes”, yet both Travis and Terry pump out WAR arguments throughout this thread.
Which is it?
The superior argument is everywhere; offense, defense, durability – this can’t be quantified into WAR. Otherwise let’s crown Davis Schneider. Discussions go beyond WAR. Way beyond it.
KingKat
Emotional attachment my ass. You can find charts that show the relation between projected WAR and the actual wins and loses of teams and the relation is extremely close season after season. It’s not full proof but on aggregate it can easily outperform any human guess work. The dogged determination with which you want that to be false doesn’t make it so.
its_happening
“It’s not full proof”.
Exactly.
Your emotional response, the first line in your reply, also proven. Thank you. You made it very easy. No determination needed, although I’ve determined your assumptions on human guess work says you do not have a clue how baseball people formulate and gather information to make so-called “guess work”. But hey, you want the work done for you – I guess.
Travis’ Wood
You’re clueless dude. Nobody is saying WAR will guarantee anything. Just that it’s significantly more accurate than someone random opinion…. Come on dude do a single google search if you actually want to understand. You clearly don’t
its_happening
Kid, I understand WAR more than you do. Why? Because those who know WAR and understand it don’t need to recite it over and over with no substance like you have in this comment section.
You have:
-Argued the Jays, right now, are better than the Yankees and O’s
-Believe Varsho is high-value despite the fact he’d met little in a trade
-repeated the Jays 5th highest WAR
Learn baseball. You’ve said nothing. Attacking me for accurately exposing what you don’t know is your issue. Use google.
Digdugler
LOL Atkins just said IKF/Espinal are their 3Bs this year.
its_happening
He also said to Tulo that Gurriel was the starting SS in 2019 in November 2018. But yeah, explosive bats there.
Magicsnakebite
Does that mean Schneider and Biggio are their second basemen? I hope Hoskins and Pederson are part of this backup plan
its_happening
First part yes. Cavan/Schieder era is here.
Jays need another OF IMO. They have injury questions with KK, Springer and even Vlad. Having an OF with Varsho playing CF would help. Having Springer DH more would help. Giving Vlad a day here and there to DH will be necessary.
KingKat
A DH that can slot into an OF corner as the next signing seems practically inevitable.
its_happening
Where’s your WAR to prove that? Uh oh!
See? We didn’t need WAR to conclude the Jays need a bat.
Jacksson13
Those teams that passed GO will collect $200.00 !!
Whyme
Jays currently are losing 47 hrs and genius Atkins said they might get 1 player LOL Complete failure.
JoeBrady
Part of the problem I see with the TO FO is that they were proclaiming they were in on Ohtani and YY. That implies that they had like $325M-$470M in funds available.
As a RS fan, I am biding my time until all the FAs are signed. But if they don’t sign anyone, they will be excoriated, and rightfully so, for saying they were going full throttle.
Same with TO. If they said they were in on the $470M Ohtani, and walk away with the $15M IKF, they will look like buffoons.
its_happening
Not necessarily. I agree with your take, but they have an out.
Ohtani generates X amount of revenue for the Jays along with a generation of new fans. No other player brings that to Toronto.
The other argument; Ohtani would have been a front-line SP in 2025 to replace Kikuchi or a trade involving one of the other starters. That, along with the profitability, justifies the cost of Ohtani.
stymeedone
This was a bad year for needing MLB FAs. The few at the top were vastly overpaid due to the drop off. Most, if not all of what’s left has major question marks. You could gamble on Bellinger, but may end up with the next Baez. IKF may not be exciting, but you know what you’re getting and aren’t breaking the bank.
KingKat
Yes exactly. The idea that they should have just spend the money “anywhere” and expected the same value back is just faulty fan logic. Pivoting to budget options made all the sense in the world and it’s incredibly frustrating to see so many fail to grasp this. This has actually been a pretty shrewd offseason from Atkins so far but you would think it was practically apocalyptic the way some are talking.
Melchez17
Jays will probably lose more free agents next year too…
Danny Jensen
Yushi Kikuchi
Trevor Rogers
Yimi Garcia