The Blue Jays have shown interest in free agent slugger Jorge Soler, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports. Toronto joins the Mariners, Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Nationals, and Marlins as clubs linked to Soler’s market at various points this winter.
It isn’t any surprise that the Jays have joined the fray, as Toronto has reportedly been looking into numerous free agent and trade options on the position-player side. With Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto now off the board, the Blue Jays’ adds have been limited to more defense-oriented pickups like Kevin Kiermaier and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, rather than any clear upgrades to what was a middling lineup in 2023. Speaking with the media earlier this week, GM Ross Atkins said the Blue Jays might add perhaps just one more bat, “most likely be in the outfield or DH category.”
Soler fits that description, moreso as a designated hitter than as a viable regular in the outfield. Soler has made only 89 appearances in the outfield for the Marlins over the last two seasons, operating as a part-time left fielder in 2022 and then a part-time right fielder in 2023. Public defensive metrics have never liked Soler’s work in right field but he has been slightly closer to passable over his more limited experience of 875 career innings as a left fielder.
Since Kiermaier and Daulton Varsho are both left-handed hitters, a scenario exists where the right-handed hitting Soler could see some action in left field when a southpaw is on the mound, with one of Kiermaier/Varsho moving to the bench and the other playing in the center field. As much as the Jays have prioritized defense over the last year, if Soler could match his 2022 left field numbers (-1 Defensive Runs Saved, -2 Outs Above Average, -2.5 UZR/150) with his strong offensive numbers from 2023, that’s probably a tradeoff the Blue Jays would be happy to accept, especially since Soler would still be spending more of his time as a DH.
Soler hit .250/.341/.512 with 36 home runs over 580 plate appearances for Miami last season, translating to a 126 wRC+. It was a good enough year for Soler to exercise the opt-out clause in his deal, as he chose free agency and the promise of a larger contract over the one year and $13MM remaining on his Marlins contract. Soler originally signed a three-year, $36MM pact with the Fish in the 2021-22 offseason but stumbled to a 95 wRC+ during an injury-marred 2022 campaign.
Though better health was a logical reason for Soler’s bounceback year, it also continued the pattern of inconsistency that has marked Soler’s 10 Major League seasons. Breaking into the majors as a heavily-hyped prospect in the Cubs system, Soler has a 119 wRC+ over his career, bolstered by particularly strong offensive showings in 2018, 2019 (when he led the AL with 48 homers), and last season. However, between his defensive showcomings and several other seasons when he has provided closer to league-average offense, Soler has only 7.4 fWAR to show for his 870 career games in the Show.
Perhaps the 2021 season is the best summation of Soler’s roller-coaster nature and high ceiling, as he struggled with the Royals before being traded to the Braves at the 2021 deadline. The switch was suddenly flipped, as Soler went on a tear after joining the Braves and earned World Series MVP honors as Atlanta captured the championship. Soler isn’t exactly a sure thing at the plate as he enters his age-32 season, and MLB Trade Rumors’ projection of a three-year, $45MM deal (Soler ranked 16th on our list of the winter’s top 50 free agents) reflected this uncertainty about his offense, and his lack of defensive utility.
Still, at this relatively modest price tag, Soler might be something of a bargain if he keeps hitting as he did in 2023, and the move out of spacious loanDepot Park might also help Soler’s efforts. As per Statcast’s Park Factor metrics, however, Toronto’s Rogers Centre was only slightly more hitter-friendly than loanDepot Park in 2023, which could deflect any combination of the Blue Jays’ lack of hitting, their strong pitching and defense, or some effects of the new outfield dimensions created by the Jays’ renovations to their ballpark.
Blue Jays yearly lead the league in players they’re interested in. They’re the opposite of the Braves, who never leak anything.
So true
That was something I always liked about AA when he was with the Jays. Rarely did trades get leaked
Just one of the many things that IMHO I miss about AA.
The Braves aren’t interested in any players, players are interested in them.
@IndianaBraves Barfs a bit and then swallows it back down. Wow. Almost as bad as a Cardinals fan. “Well my special team, with a lot of money, has so-and-so who wants to play with us because we still use a outdated and racist tomahawk chop at our games…”
rwwnc
He’s not wrong though
There are reasons besides truckloads of money that players pick teams like the Dodgers and Braves and don’t pick teams like the Rockies
Some organizations are better run and players want to play for them
You are assuming that they are the ones doing the leaking. Agents could the ones doing that. They have more motive for that than the Jays do.
It’s hard to keep things internal when you’re the only team in the country. Inquiring fans want to know!
This is what happens when you have 20 something people in Toronto reporting on the jays though. They need to write stuff so they legit just write about whoever they think could fit the jays and write an article about it without stepping on another reporters toes. Ending up in 30 of these posts on MLBTR
Came here to comment something similar. I’m a Jays fan and apparently they’re in on every top FA and never sign any. Last guy they were interested in that they signed was George Springer, and that was a pretty dumb contract from the get go
Gausman is prob one of the best FA signings in the last decade, so convenient of you to not mention it to make your point
Bassit has been pretty good too.
Ray, Semien, and Belt were all good signings as well. Matz was a nice trade. They have had their successes. If they could have pulled off something similar to those offseasons I would be happy, but this is the worst one they have had so far.
100% true the Blue Jays interested in everyone it seems but get no one
Ryu, Springer, Gausman, Bassist, but yeah, they get no one….
And we’re have these signing got them so far , the last time they won any games it was with the previous regime
100% false, actually.
If you look at mlb trade rumours pages the team that leads in players interested y teams , the blue jays lead the pack , and they are the only team that has done very little in strengthening their team at all , the two players they got are both redundant to what they already have plenty of on their team now and minor leagues. The only thing u get out of management is they think their team is already a contender .
Man free agency this year is painfully slow
What are you talking about, man?!? Look at all these players that all these teams are interested in!
iGM’s are waiting to bring the prices down, Dodgers juiced the market!
The Bally’s fiasco has half of baseball teams non participants.
Not enough talent available, not enough teams willing to spend. The opposite of last year.
Too many teams interested, driving prices thru the roof.
It’s slow for the Jays because frick and frat that in control should not be there.
Do the Blue Jays know what they are doing?
I liked their outfield two years ago and they blew it up basically, now they want to a sign a DH/OH type?
Why
The key word here is “two years ago”. The same outfield would cost significantly more AAV this year, which the team chose to allocate to other players. Additionally, they were able to trade away those players for controllable assets before they became free agents. If the organization was equally enamoured with those outfielders, they would have planned to re-sign them on the open market, which Toronto opted against.
Baseball is a business. Front offices can’t afford to operate as if they’re years in the past – unless they’re the Rockies.
Well, Gurriel was pretty good and the D’Backs re-signed him
He should have stayed a Jay
Whether it was the right decision (jury is still out) isn’t the point of contention here. It’s moreso a consideration of a “sunk cost fallacy” not applying to a free agent. The Blue Jays didn’t “lose value” by letting Gurriel walk. They would have needed to re-sign him to keep him on the team for a similar contract. An example from the Orioles would be trading Santander with one year of control remaining. If he were not to re-sign during next offseason, the Orioles aren’t losing any value from his departure, since they would need to make an investment into him if the parties mutually agreed that they wanted him to stay.
In summary, while we as fans can feel as though we are “losing” something during a free agent departure or traded player re-signing with another team, that’s not necessarily true.
Take a closer look at his numbers. Hot in April. Below average the rest of the way. I’ll pass.
All reasonable points, but it doesn’t take into consideration one key point, which is Atkins/Shapiro wanting to move Guerriel and Teoscar because they felt the players were more concerned about having fun than winning. Funny how team chemistry is a bad thing!
Very well said and such wisdom from a 15 year old baseball fanatic! Thanks for that.
It;s kind of scary having a 15 year old fan telling me how it is
Afraid I’m not 15 anymore, so I should probably update my username.
LOL either way
This should update the username now if I’m not mistaken.
Everything you’ve posted is now changed to 16. That’s going to make people complain that they can no longer tell what you poasted when you were still 15. You’re like the Guardians.
You evidently didn’t see my posts when I was 13yearoldbaseballfanatic and 14yearoldbaseballfanatic…
technically, we were all formerly 15yr old baseball fanatics. however, we weren’t formerly Indians.
Actually, I did. Ah, those were good times.
MG
“technically, we were all formerly 15yr old baseball fanatics. “..
Technically, no
Some people might not have been into baseball when they were 15. At least not fanatics
Like me. I watched baseball when I was 15. I collected cards. I played. But I definitely didn’t like it as much as I liked basketball. I was just much better at baseball
It was a year ago. Not two.
The answer is no. Shatkins doesn’t have a clue. One bat is not going to make this team superior to the team that disappointed in 2023. Management should have been cleared out after last season.
At least not a bat that can’t hit for average. JDM and Turner would fit better because they will have better chances of keeping the line moving than Soler.
Not true. Perhaps you don’t remember that the Blue Jays traded one Steven Pearce to the Red Sox at the trade deadline. What happened, Pearce ensure Boston not only won the world series, but he was also the most-valuable player in the series. That defeats your argument and just an information, but it was Schneider that sabotaged the Jays in 2023. Remove his incompetence and the same team wins 112 games where wins aren’t turned into losses. That is a big difference.
112 wins, wow, seems to be a bit of a stretch there Ashleyr.
I agree! They didn’t win a thing in Cleveland. Shapiro is a loser who overvalues his players ( except for Moreno who he obviously undervalued). Remember these losers have never won anything!!! Throw them out of town!
The same management that’s assembled a team that’s made the playoffs the last few seasons? The one’s who overhauled one of the worst spring training facilities into the best. The guys that targeted players like Matz, Ray, Semien Gausman & Belt? The guys who’s team just won best defensive team in baseball in 23. Also the same guys who traded for Berrios then signed him to a team friendly extension that his former team couldn’t. Those are the guys you want to get rid of?
They may not be the best FO but they certainly aren’t worthy of the Shatkins moniker that the casuals insist on using.
There is one person that gets it , one person will not help this current roster u need at least 3 free agent . They were willing to spend 700,000,000.00 on Othani nut now have spent 25,000,000 on players that will not help them score more runs .
Atkins and Shapiro have been making the team worse I do not understand how any good baseball fans in Toronto seem to think these guys are doing a good job . The last 3 years these clowns only care about the work done in Dunedin and Rogers centre renovation and if u read the stories that’s what they tried to impress Ohtani with not the ability that there building a better team
No, they have no idea what they’re doing at all.
Rather JD Martinez short term than Soler
They need both.
You are not wrong that they could use 2 bats, just nowhere to play both of them unless you want Soler in the Outfield full-time. Also Richard Griffin mentioned they likely only have around 14 million left in the budget for this year before they go over what they spent last year. Based on Atkins statement that they would likely run roughly the same payroll as last year that sounds about right.
They will not sign either one , last place in the American League East
Of all the players from that Cubs crop of prospects (Rizzo, Bryant, Soler, Baez, Contreras) who’s had the most “success” up to now? I always thought it would be Bryant, but he’s fallen off a cliff.
And man, what a fun group of home-growns.
That is a great group and was a lot of fun to watch.
I’d have to say Bryant has the most overall success, at least awards wise. But it’s a good discussion.
Bryant got Rookie of the Year and MVP, and if we go by earnings, Bryant wins easily.
Rizzo wasn’t really homegrown. Didn’t they get him from the Padres?
Red Sox then traded to Padres, then when Epstein brought Hoyer from Padres, Cubs traded for Rizzo if I remember the events correctly. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong anyone from the Padres fanbase.
Stand corrected. They did.
Don’t forget Happ and Schwarber in there.
who’s had the most “success”?
Using WAR, Rizzo by a lot
39.7 – Rizzo
28.2 – Bryant
26.6 – Baez
24.2 – Contreras
5.9 – Soler
Big drop from Ohtani DH. Really wish MLB would dump the DH. What a useless position. If you’re in the lineup, you better be in the field, too.
Ok grandpa, go take a nap now
Amen to that, mad1. A long overdue nap.
@CeruleanDrew
Wouldn’t want to miss out on the most recent post from Taylor Swift on social media, would you? LOL!
@mad1
Okay, millennial, I’d rather take a nap than staring at a screen 24/7. Naps are good for your health.
You lost this exchange
@Ubaldo Jimenez
Oh, no, an internet user said I lost an argument. Oh, the horror! Hilarious that you worry about winning and losing internet discussions. Sad…
I will never understand why people want to see pitchers in the lineup killing rallies. Might as well just give the pitcher a free out every time the lineup turns over and have an 8 man lineup.
The DH spot also allows talented hitters who can’t field well anymore a chance to stay in the game; as well as giving the team a spot to give position players a half day when the need it. It helps give players more longevity. Why push them out of baseball before we have to?
@Jaysfansince92
Because they are expected to perform on the field as elite athletics. This isn’t batting practice. We don’t have DH for other positions but expect them to hit and field.
Watching a pitcher swing and miss horribly at the plate isn’t athleticism, it’s a cringeworthy sight. Pitchers still need to field comebackers, and cover 1B for groundballs, not to say the least cover home plate when there’s a play at the plate to backup a ball that gets away. But yes, no athleticism from pitchers.
@acoss13
Nonsense. Plenty of pitchers who can hit. Here’s some guys who hit over .300 since the 70s. There are hitters in the modern era hitting below. 200 because they are the Three True Outcomes darlings. I’d rather watch pitchers hit than trash darlings who add no value.
baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Highest_Batting_Ave…
Old York,
I mean yeah once upon a time it was like that, but just like everything the times change and the game must adapt. Just gotta move forward and accept change, I mean that in a respectful way. Let’s end on good terms here.
@acoss13
Can you honestly tell me you prefer a guy swinging for the fences and striking out over 200+ times per season only to hit 35 HRs and walk a few times with a BA of 0.150? Is that more interesting? The data doesn’t even suggest the DH has improved scoring in the game. So, clearly, it had nothing to do with the pitcher hitting.
I definitely do not like three outcomes baseball. Balls in play = action.
At this point I think the DH is more about protecting pitchers from injury than anything. It seemed like every year a few would go down running bases.
Once teams stopped having pitchers hit in the minors, I knew it was a matter of time before they stopped at the MLB level. That time took longer than I expected.
Personally, I’m a baseball purist and would prefer to see the pitchers hit. That said, there are two reasons why they don’t now that you have missed:
1) Teams want to limit the potential for pitcher injuries, as getting enough quality pitching is a difficult venture. Pulling a Hammy running the bases, tearing up their knee sliding into a base too aggressively are all possibilities that are avoided by not hitting.
2) This is the bigger reason, pitchers are going to get paid the same amount whether they can hit or not (taking Ohtani out of the equation, who is just a Unicorn). Having a DH /DH position allows for an extra 1-2 players to get paid a nice wage to just hit. MLBPA isn’t going to want to give up the DH, and the Commissioner is in favour of the DH.
I, like you, hate three outcome hitting. I miss the Tony Gwynns and Kirby Pucketts of my youth. That said, some advanced metrics nerds decided that launch angle and exit velo were more important. It has definitely lessened my interest in baseball, but it’s how guys get paid today, and especially DH’s. They’re not going to change and lose cash in the deal, as teams don’t want them hitting .300 with 15 home runs anyway.
The “nerds” came up with that because strikeouts and shifts were so pronounced. Hard to have a 5 hit rally with a 30% strikeout rate and shift waiting for any ball in play.
Had I been introduced to that game, I doubt I’d have become a fan.
Last year the game resembled that era we loved more than it had in years. As that continues to happen the skill sets we prefer will become more valuable.
@greg1
I appreciate the thorough reply.
I will counter though, with this blog article from 2016 that essentially points out that pitchers can be injured while batting and running but it isn’t as black and white to suggest that it’s always due to that. The article points out that the pitcher injured their Achilles tendon but that doesn’t just happen while standing in at one AB.
metsdaddy.com/2016/01/pitchers-are-rarely-injured-…
This other website also points out that pitchers have a very long history of getting injured while actually pitching and it’s not something you can put an end to. Pitchers are going to get injured.
nbcsports.com/mlb/news/the-long-sad-history-of-inj…
I believe the main reason is the amount of money that is guaranteed for players whether they play or not. I get it. If I invest a large sum of money into something, I want to see an ROI and if it’s broken most of the time, it’s costing me money.
Now, about my point of the DH and their ability to hit, for fans, they want to see action and it’s honestly not fun when the guy strikesout 200+ times per season and hits maybe 35 HRs. That means, assuming he plays 162 games, that he’s hitting 1 HR ever 0.22 games. So, if I’m paying to see this player, he’s either going to walk, most likely strike out and probbly not hit a homerun, as I would need to wait about every 5 games to see a HR from him. Looking at MLB data from 2023, the DH hit a HR about 4% of the time. That means, for every 100 ABs, they hit 4 HRs and their BA sat around 0.245 and OBP sat around 0.323, which according to Fangraphs is Average. K% sat around 24%.
So, if the DH is there to improve offense and save the pitcher, I’m essentially getting a player that strikes out 1/4th of each AB, on base about 1/3rd of the ABs and hits a HR 4 times per 100 ABs and hits about 1/4 of all ABs. Is that really replacing the pitcher’s lack of offense?
I agree, the DH isn’t going away but I think MLB needs to look at the use of the DH and who they’re putting in that position. If we want more action, the current system isn’t screaming more offense It’s just subsidizing a player who might have a lot of power but is lacking the athletic ability to perform in a role for someone who should be able to make contact and get on base frequently.
Less likely a pitcher gets injured, and Jim Thome would like a word with you 🙂
The ghost runner and larger plates is straight blasphemy. May as well drop the walls and spread out the foul posts while we’re at it. Offense is too vague a word, would people rather see 2 Ks and HR or three singles in a row?
Pitchers are much worse hitters than those DHs are fielders. What exactly is elite about 95% of pitchers flailing and missing at everything they swing at. For every pitcher that can hit there are 20 who can’t.
It’s better than seeing pitchers hit .150 with no HR.
You think around 20 guys out of the hundreds of pitchers that have hit since the 70s is plenty?
There really are not that many players hitting under .200 that play regularly. Not one regular on the team I watch hit under .200. Your arguements for both .200 position players and good pitcher hitters apply to less than 5% of each group.
That is true. I cant understand how young players can come through the system not picking up basic defence skills like hitting the cutoff man or throwing accurately to a base. Hitting is a great skill but some players have no interest in defence.
Pitcher-type hitter plays left for the Jays.
Btw i dont agree with u at all(i much prefer the DH myself), but having said i think the best reason is if pitchers still hit it would completely destroy most if not all of the modern analysis of the game…ie it would by necessity bring back things like bunting, sacrifices, moving runners over, players would hv to run more and relearn skills theyve completely lost from the past! And the modern audience, myself included, would stop watching again which is sad bc i think that is the essence of baseball(scoring a run based on a walk, a stolen base, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly) imho but its tbh a reflection of societal change where we all want everything fast and cheap and purity has nothing to do with it
The jays don’t leak anything, is the press
George of the Sun!
Him or Teo. But at this point, Yes!
He’d be a good pick up for them. At least they’ll knock the hell out of the ball.
Good fit. I’m not a fan of permanently clogging the DH spot.
Soler can play passably enough to let other players get a day off the turf every now and then.
For sure. Would give both Springer and KK a chance to get a game off every now and then or in Springer’s case a chance to DH more often. That could very well help his production.
Kk and kirk didn’t hit enough to be in the DH spot. Also kirk vlad are in their mid 20’s they shouldn’t be dhing period.
I meant KK could get a game off on the bench while Soler plays the OF. Springer would be the one at DH when Soler plays the OF for him. Someone like Davis Schneider could DH when KK is on the bench.
If Soler is interested in playing deep into the postseason and possibly the WS, his best bet is to sign with the Dbacks, even if he takes slightly less money with them.
Soler isn’t as consistent as JD Martinez, he would be a better signing for Arizona I think.
acoss13
Dbacks will probably sign either J.D. Martinez or Soler.
J.D. is almost exclusively a DH, whereas Soler can play maybe 40-45 games in the OF. Last year, Gurriel split his time between LF and DH. I think he needs those DH games to stay strong and healthy, so Soler is a better fit with the Dbacks than Martinez.
I can only speak for Soler’s time with the Cubs, but he had a good arm, so yes he would be able to play some outfield games.
To be fair J.D. Martinez seems like a guy that needs some time off to avoid injuries at this point in his career so Lourdes could just take those AB.
Jaysfan
Huh?
You missed the point here. If the Dbacks sign J.D. and Gurriel covers some of his DH ABs, who is playing left field? Dbacks would need to sign 2 players.
What I said was that signing Soler is better than signing J.D. because Soler can play some occasional LF and virtually full time DH, whereas J.D. can Only DH meaning J.D. can’t spell Gurriel but Soler can.
Don’t the Diamondbacks have a bunch of good young OF? I thought that was why they traded Varsho.
Jaysfan
Yes, the Dbacks still have Jake McCarthy, Dominic Fletcher, and Pavin Smith to back up Corbin Carroll and Alex Thomas. But there are two problems:
1). All of them are lefthanded hitters
2). The Dbacks traded Varsho and Dominic Canzone, so thinner in the OF depth and again All lefthanded hitters.
That’s why the Dbacks are looking for a right handed hitting DH/OF. Like J.D. or Soler.
Fair enough. Maybe give J.D. his days off against RHP and have Lourdes get his DH time then? Just spitballing. Despite the fact I would like the Jays to sign Matinez I also like the idea of Arizona getting him. He had quite the part season run with them and I know a lot of Diamondback fans really didn’t want to see him go.
Joc sitting on a park bench staring off into space listening to Sarah McLaughlin right now.
Joc should be hitting the gym. Dude is out of shape…
I’m listening to Sarah’s dad John playing Birds of Fire.
I don’t normally care much about what shape a ball player is in so long as he’s playing well (tbh I think losing weight actually hurt Vladdy a bit) but in Joc’s case specifically you could see him letting himself go as the season progressed which coincided with reports that his attitude was slipping. Not a great look. Wish him the best I just wish it to him elsewhere.
Losing weight hurt Vladdy? He had his best season right after losing a bunch of weight and then fell back to earth after putting some of it back on. This is one of the oddest takes I have ever seen about Vladdy.
Yeah, agreed 92. Just an absolute haze-brained take.
Still recovering from fantasy sports.
I sure hope the Jays sign him and the Bellinger market keeps getting smaller and smaller.
Of what’s left, Soler fits the Jays needs most. 2years 35M? Option year for another 15M? If they could sign him and trade for Kepler, that would improve the Jays quite a bit.
Unless they move Springer they don’t have room for Kepler and Soler.
The only place they could really add a bat through trade if they bring in Soler is at 3B or 2B (possibly SS if Bichette is moved to 2B).
In theory they could rotate all of Varsho, KK, Springer, Kepler and Soler in the OF and DH spots. Bichette has become much better at SS over time and if his fielding suffers over the term of his bridge deal, we can just pay him as a 2B. Biggio/Schneider will share 2B, Barger and Martinez can battle for 3B and Horwitz can be a power lefty piece waiting in Buffalo and ditto Clement but for defense.
U guys are dreamer the Blue Jays management already considers themselves contender by signing IKF , what a waste of money by those 2 clowns running the ball club while Rogers does nothing . Get rid of them that will be the best acquisitions this off season
I wouldn’t say it indicates that they consider themselves contenders by signing IKF. I’d say it indicates they don’t care about being contenders.
Landing Jorge will not erase the pain caused by the pathetic performance at the World Juniors
If the Jays were to sign Soler it would give me 2 correct in the FA contest!!! 2 more than i got right last season!!!!
Leave your hockey talk out of it. No one cares about hockey here.
No
This is a possibility, but would have to give up quite a bit to get Ramirez. Worth it though, $18-19 mill for the next 5 years.
And Free agent Votto, hometown deal!
1. RF- Springer
2. SS- Bo
3. 1B- Vladdy
4. 3B- Jose Ramirez **
5. DH- Votto **
6. C- Jansen/Kirk
7. LF- Varsho
8. 2B- Kiner-Falefa/Biggio
9. CF- Kiermaier
**trade for Ramirez
and sign free agent Votto
Ramirez has a full no trade clause and he has publicly stated he wants to be a guardian for life so really any thoughts of a trade for him are Just dreams!!! also there are better options still out there than Votto!!!
And that’s why I’ll keep my day job!
Agreed the jays would have traded for him and paid him more then he got when he re-signed. They actually wanted to trade him and couldn’t turn him down at that price point
Votto lol
Votto stinks he refused to come here when he was good he can fly a kite now. Plenty of better hitters on the market that actually preformed last year.
I wouldn’t mind seeing them make a deal for one or both of Naylor brothers if they were making a trade with Cleveland. Maybe Tiedeman, Orelvis, and Kirk for both. Maybe throw in some cash to sweeten the deal so the Gaurdians could sign a bat to replace Josh. Would give the Jays 2 badly needed LHB and the Guardians get their next ace for 6 years and Kirk to take over for Bo (given their ability to develop pitchers I’m sure they could turn Tiedeman into an absolute monster with his strikeout ability).
Maybe Manoah could be inserted instead of Orelvis if they prefer. They would have a great chance of fixing him (he has also been working his butt off in the offseason and has lost a fair bit of weight so far) and then they have 2 top of the rotation SP for cheap for the next 4-6 years allowing them to trade some of their SP with less years of control for more controllable bats.
FWIW the Jays’ side of the deal has more surplus value than Cleveland’s on BTV. If Manoah bounced back that would increase quite a bit.
Plus Josh and Bo Naylor are Canadian. Would be the first time I can remember the Jays having a Canadian Slugger since Matt Stairs.
Hey 92, let us not forget Vlad is Canadian born, also there was Cory Koskie, Mickael Saunders and Russell Martin.
I always forget that about Vlad. The other guys were decent hitters, but none of them were real mashers.
Stairs highest homerun total as a Jay was 21, Martin Stroked 23 homers in 2015 and Saunders total was 24 homers in 2016, Koskie hit 11 as did Lawrie whom i forgot to list.
Stairs did his in around 400 PA though and he had an OPS over .900 that season.
Another dreamer , the Blue jay management thinks they are already contenders and they will not sign anyone else or trade for no one else .
Again, it’s not that Shitkins and Shapirass actually think they’ve built a contender. It’s that they’re content NOT to. Following the Rockies model, watch for Rockies results.
Would love to be wrong about this, but that’s how it looks and feels this offseason.
Jose Ramirez is not going to be traded to Toronto. He could have agreed to go to Toronto 2 years ago and got a lot more money, but he chose to take a below market deal with Cleveland, that includes a NTC so he can’t be traded to Toronto. There was a write up. in SI about this. si.com/mlb/bluejays/news/blue-jays-jose-ramirez-tr…
He’s not going to now agree to be traded where he didn’t want to go after having paid money to not go there 2 years ago.
The day must end in Y.
Time to stop hearing about interest and start hearing about some signings or trades!!!!
For real. Pitchers and catchers report in a little over a month. Not going to give the new player/s much time to get direction on what the team wants them working on. Better get a finished product rather than a reclamation one. Sure they have spring training, but the more time the better.
Yeah someone got that right , but those 3 clowns will do nothing , more interested in renovations than putting a team in the field
Do you believe that Shapiro and Atkins are responsible for the renovations? Or even the decision to make them? They just need to open up the coin purse. IKF is a great insurance policy for the young guys that will battle for 3rd and 2b. Running it back with a team that performed well, albeit the homeruns were lacking, isn’t the worst idea with a young team. They lacked maturity and coaching. Plus insanity runs in the MLSE family, that’s why Masai gets free reign for “Vision 6-9” and the Shannaplan bunch can continue to ice a team without a top defenseman (emphasis on defense) and/or bonafide goalie.
He would look good in a RedSox uniform
Nobody ever looks good in those terrible Red Sux Uni’s LOL
I know, they look better at the parades after the season. Four in twenty.
The ones with the red jerseys aren’t too bad.
I’d rather take the experimental risk and move James Click over to GM and Don Mattingly as manager. As for Shapiro, I have no clue of a particular name who would be better. Probably anyone…
As an absolute Jays fan, I don’t think they’re getting past the CS anytime soon. They’ll probably sign Soler or Martinez to a one-year pact, they’ll shine, and then they’ll let him go, as they tend to do frequently…
Yes to Click, no to Mattingly (But definitely replace Hot Dog)}
Really they need to clean house. Shapiro, Atkins and Schneider should all be gone.
Agree 100%. They have never won anything, anywhere.
Yes Correct , someone got it right besides me
Could not agree more, especially on the second point.
Every single one of them should be out of a job.
Shapiro would be fine for the business side of things. Just let Click handle all player decisions and keep Shapiro working on stuff like renovations and away from the personnel side of things.
No get rid of him too
Will sign , no one else Atkins stated they are already competitive with moves they already made
Can we please get rid of Atkins! He signed IKF to play everyday 3B!
He really did. Everyone kept saying he was just replacing Merrifield, but I just knew that was wishful thinking. Reminded me so much of last year with KK when everyone kept saying he was the 4th OF (and this year with KK as well).
Jays need a lefty middle of the order bat. I think Gallo or Pedersen make more sense for them. Those guys will get 1 year deals Soler probably gets 3 or 4 years.
Anything to drive down the price for the Cubs to sign Bellinger, that’s my selfish side lol
My thoughts on the Cubs with Bellinger are should they block Armstrong? I think Bellinger should be used in center to get the most out of his abilities but Armstrong is a really good prospect. Some of it comes down to cost too I wonder exactly what Bellinger is gonna get.
I really like the idea of signing Bellinger and trading away Armstrong for Cease in a package of some sorts. Cubs have enough young outfielders to cover the loss and then they get Cease
PCA needs more seasoning so Bellinger can switch between 1B and CF, and Mervis needs another look at 1B before he gets handed the baton. Morel can stick at 3B. Yeah he sucks defensively but you can mask it with Swanson covering more range at SS, Hoerner at 2B is a godsend.
Now, I know a lot of people like to prospect hug, which you know is good to a certain extent, but Cease is a proven arm. He had a down year compared to 2022, but he was on a team that had one good defender, Robert in CF, and was on a mediocre team. He’s going to rebound on a team like the Cubs. Maybe not PCA, but there are other valuable options for a trade package, it’s worth it for two years of control of Cease.
Armstrong is at least going to be ready by July. Part of the reason Bellinger is going to cost what he will cost is his ability to play center.
A LOT of teams need a center fielder. I could see Armstrong being traded somewhere else. Cubs would get a good return for him for sure.
If they don’t move Armstrong then I would say Hoskins at 1b or Chapman at 3b and then spend more on pitching. Cubs could use another top of the rotation arm.
Cubs could go a lot of different directions with how they spend. And they might make a big trade too just not sure with who.
Morel does not have the defensive chops to be a regular 3B. He is a bat-first 2B or a DH. Or a backup utility player. But without regular at-bats his swing and miss may get even worse.
Cubs should sign Hoskins as a cheap 2 year alternative to Belli at 8 years. PCA is only one of multiple OF prospects but I don’t see him as a factor until 2025. Tauchman is the opening day CF and this the clamoring for Belli.
If Cubs traded Morel for a pitching prospect, they could sign Soler to be the DH. Or JD. But right now I see Hoskins at 1B and Morel at DH. I am fine with Chapman on a short deal but he does not justify a long deal.
I am ok with the idea that the Cubs sign Belli and trade PCA. I do worry that PCA’s bat won’t play even with the elite glove, arms and base-speed. He needs to hit about 0.230 with 14 homers and 25 SBs over 500 at-bats don’t want a Trent Grisham or Michael Taylor type player. But on the small chance PCA can be an on-base machine he could be a perennial all-star so they should shoot for the moon if they traded him.
Jays need more than one player , maybe 3 , no less . But Atkins and Shapiro think already competitive ,
The Blue Jays are always bridesmaids, never brides ♀
This offseason they are more like the caterers.
I was thinking ring bearer. They start with the ring, but by the time it’s all over they have given it away to someone else and it was never really theirs in the first place.
Solar would be a good signing for the Jays. They are going to have to overpay though. I hear he wants no part of Toronto like Ohtani.
Hey Atkins , Are We still “in the lead” for Yariel Rodriguez ?
Time For You and Shapiro to Pack Your bags and Get Outa” Toronto !!
Yes yes yes yes get out
Jays need a bat and it seems the trade route isn’t in the cards. Seems. Understandable the Jays don’t want to deal Tiedemann, O. Martinez and others to go all-in in 2024 and 2025.
All in with what the line up they have , those minor leaguers have not proven they will ever be major leagers
The should be. Was hoping someone would question why I said understandable. It’s because the Jays did this in 2016 with Anthony Alford, Sean Reid-Foley, Connor Greene and others when it was clear they had the pitching to win the World Series.
Is this an inside joke amongst MLBTR writers or something? I’m not being critical, it just seems each and every player is being mentioned one by one as having interest from Jay’s.
Yoshida is the perfect fit for Toronto. He has 5 years left on his deal, he hits left and isn’t. a liability in the outfield. Two problems though.
First is these two teams figure to be battling each other for 4th in the East. Bigger problem though is if you look at Toronto’s farm system, that is one ugly bunch of not much at all. A return would have to include Tiedeman, a left-handed pitcher who’s the best of the worst. Along with a couple;of others, maybe Barreira and Orelvis Martinez.
I almost choked on my cereal reading this. As a red sox fan, yes please. As a concerned citizen, check no one is tampering with your drinks
Yoshida is one of the worst defensive outfielders in the game. He’s a very good contact hitter who doesn’t have much power nor walks enough. He’s not an impact player.
2 top 100 prospects plus another first rounder for Yoshida? Thanks for the laugh. Is this replacement level trolling or all-star level brain damage? Inquiring minds want to know!
No Blue Jays will be in last place in East hands down especially if the pitching goes south because they certainly will score less runs in the league with this high powered line up that Atkins thinks he has , and I do not know how these players and coaches he has can play for a back stabbing gm
I havnt stopped ranting that they should trade for Nick Castellanos or Eloy Jimenez. Eloy has 13m this season and 2 options values at 16.5 and 18.5, so in my eyes you pick up the first and hes a 2 yr 30m player. He does have real injury concerns but every time he plays his bat is well above average has power and hes only had a BA under 262 once so he isnt 1 dimensional. Nick i think is better and the philly would likly include 12-15M towards the 3 yrs and 60 he has remaining. If FAs are the way they want to go tho I think Rhys Hoskins is the best overall bat. He has power and hits LHP well with this club needs and he has been nothing but consistent during his career with an ops under 800 once at 792. He has the highest floor for providing an offensive bost and power to the club. JD and Soler may have had better seasons but JD is getting to the point were father time is weighing more heavy on him, while Soler may have the highest ceiling in the power department which this club needs he likly has the lowest floor. If im Rhys im asking for 1 yr and a player option so i have security but i can jump back to be a FA when i prove my injury hasnt ruined me. Funny thing is all these guys are going to cost about the same per year in the 16-18 range its just who do u believe in more and i think Rhys is the best bet. Although Danny Jansen is a great all around catcher with a top tier bat at the position with big power and he should be given an extension and DH time to
Doesn’t Soler power rely on the sun??
Definitely! I’ve seen Superman IV!
Late Night Hot Stove action lets goooo!!!!
Enuf with the “interest in…” stories; I’m losing interest in this off-season and a pox on MLB!
If u notice Blue Jays seem to be interested in everyone , if they were where are all the signings
This “interest” in everyone is beyond getting old. If these players have no interest in playing for Toronto then it’s all a waste of time. Maybe we will all get surprised and they may actually sign someone who can put some thump in the lineup but this Jays fan is not holding my breath.
It is not that the players have no interest in playing in Toronto its that the Jays arent interested in everyone that MLBTR reports they are interested in. (MLBTR being the beat reporters they quote) Do you think the Jays were actually interested in Bellinger and Chapman but then settled for IKF and KK?
The fact that they keep releasing these “interested in” rumours tells me it may just posturing for an offer they have on the table for someone like Bellinger. Make him think they’re moving on from him.
I don’t quite understand why these posts get reposted over and over with no new updates to them. There used to be time-stamped updates that would occur with each post, but now it seems they’re just repost to get new views as a sort of “in case you missed it” type of approach. It’s an unfortunate change, imho, as it just clutters the site with the same content. Like, nothing changed with this post as far as I can tell, and if it did can’t the authors get back to time stamping those changes so we can see what was added? Use Twitter to resurface old content and draw people to it, not the site itself.
If Soler is truly an option for the Jays, I’d sooner they take a flyer on Hoskins on a one yr deal (maybe with an option – but guessing he’s trying to rebuild his marketability). Both would get a majority of DH ABs; at least Hoskins could occasionally give Guerrero or an OF a fielding day off. Mind you, neither Soler nor Hoskins rank positively as a defender.
Cody Bellinger
JD Martinez
Jorge Soler
Teoscar Hernandez
Rhys Hoskins
Justin Turner
Sign one of these guys already!
Would be Nice to hear Carry on Baggage Useless GM Atkins Actually Signed Somebody ….!!
Get outa’ town Atkins !!
Would be nice to see Atkins on a plane out of town for good. Shrug boy can get lost.
According to the articles, Jays are interested in everyone. Why is it that nobody worthwhile is signing in Toronto? Write an article about that.
With this joke of a team, “interested in” is code for “absolutely, positively will not sign.”