Toronto Blue Jays

[2014olympicgold]

For the Jays, they are way to quiet, which is either really fun or really bad. But in reality the Jays only need to make moves in regards to facing the Yankees or the Astros in the playoffs. Which means:
- No legitimate reason to get another starter outside of depth. It's a 3 game series for the WildCard so the starters are Manoah, Gausman and Berrios.
- 2 high strikeout relievers for high leverage outings. They need K guys.
- A LHB. Depending on their knowledge of Springer's injury it could be an upgrade to Zimmer. It could also be depth on the INF.
- Relievers lol.

Really the Jays need for the playoffs is just relievers. If they can somehow swing a big deal it's great. But they really just need a 4th/5th starter for the regular season. Relievers. LHB. Replacement for Springer in CF. All things they can wait on for cheaper options/prices.

[2014olympicgold]

Morosi said he is very confident Soto is moved today. Padres have immerged as the favourite to land Soto, but also Bell from the Nationals. With that said, Dodgers are never out, Cardinals seem to be around even though they need SPs and not OFs.

Outside shot for me is San Fran. They can move Rodon, use some of those assets with their own to get Soto. Offseason throw a Brinks truck at Judge to play in his hometown and start 2023 with Judge and Soto as your new faces of the franchise that hasn't had a legit franchise player since 2018 with Buster Posey's MVP yr (he had an All Star level yr in 2021 though).

[2014olympicgold]

FYI Ian Happ can play center field, is a switch hitter, and can play INF and is under team control next yr.

My guess for the Jays today:
- Acquire Ian Happ
- Acquire Syndergaard/Iglasias - I dunno about Iglesias though he's older and expensive for the future.
- Acquire Soto from Detroit.

[2014olympicgold]

Juan Soto to Padres seems incredibly close (they said that last yr with Scherzer though). Nationals have contacted minor league players about coming up to the Majors about 30minutes ago. Sounds like Soto will be moved in the next hr or two, and maybe Bell too if they are talking about multiple minor leaguers being contacted.

[Axeman33]

Atkins going to wait for the scraps to help the team?

[2014olympicgold]

Atkins going to wait for the scraps to help the team?

I think a lot of teams were waiting on the Soto deal for todays flood gates to open.

[2014olympicgold]

Toronto has a trade with Miami.
Groshans is going to Miami, Zach Pop+others to Toronto. Pablo Lopez is NOT in the deal


The main piece going to Toronto is Anthony Bass (RP). Bass is a former Blue Jay in 2020. He is 34yrs old.

Yup so the deal is Bass (RP) and Pop (RP) and a PTBDL for Groshan. The Jays previously had Bass in 2020, 25% strikeout guy, RHP. Pop was a Jays pick in 2014 in the 23rd round and is a groundball specialist (63%) RHP who is 25yrs old and team control to 2027 season.

[Axeman33]

Toronto has a trade with Miami.
Groshans is going to Miami, Zach Pop+others to Toronto. Pablo Lopez is NOT in the deal


The main piece going to Toronto is Anthony Bass (RP). Bass is a former Blue Jay in 2020. He is 34yrs old.

Yup so the deal is Bass (RP) and Pop (RP) and a PTBDL for Groshan. The Jays previously had Bass in 2020, 25% strikeout guy, RHP. Pop was a Jays pick in 2014 in the 23rd round and is a groundball specialist (63%) RHP who is 25yrs old and team control to 2027 season.

LOL. At least it's BP help but not sure how much. I'll need to watch Bass more now but I'm pretty sure Groshan is one of the Jays better prospects if I remember correctly. Can't say I know much about Pop but I like the name.

[2014olympicgold]

LOL. At least it's BP help but not sure how much. I'll need to watch Bass more now but I'm pretty sure Groshan is one of the Jays better prospects if I remember correctly. Can't say I know much about Pop but I like the name.

Bass is having a solid yr. Pop...no idea, but for a pitcher the last name Pop isn't ideal lol.

Groshan was their 2018 12th overall pick. He was their 4th ranked prospect and he was like 70s in the MLB top 100 prospects. He however has not developed any power since his draft yr, and actually has regressed in power. He also is a redundant player with Martinez in the prospect system as both are 3B futures with Bichette on the roster.

Seems like a big overpay to me. But I know Groshan was eventually going to be used in a trade, and his power was non-existent for a couple of yrs.

[Axeman33]

Fairly disappointing trade deadline for the Jays. I guess they're comfortable with their SP depth and CF depth, two areas of concern.

They just acquired Whit Merrifield. He didn't play in Toronto last time through due to his vaccine status so not sure what's happening here.

[Dobber]

Fairly disappointing trade deadline for the Jays. I guess they're comfortable with their SP depth and CF depth, two areas of concern.

They just acquired Whit Merrifield. He didn't play in Toronto last time through due to his vaccine status so not sure what's happening here.

I heard he said he'll get the shot now.

I think the Jays did well. They have an awesome team, just needed to solidify pitching and then cover off Springer. I think they achieved that and kept their organizational depth

[2014olympicgold]

I wish the relievers they got had more k ability but they did get controlable assets in all cases pretty much so thats cool

[Axeman33]

I heard he said he'll get the shot now.

I think the Jays did well. They have an awesome team, just needed to solidify pitching and then cover off Springer. I think they achieved that and kept their organizational depth

Listening to Atkins dodge the vaccination question was painful and transparent in his presser yesterday. Saying it was a last minute trade and he didn't have the answers. Such BS. You don't trade for a guy like Merrifield without knowing if he's getting vaccinated or not. That would be ridiculous and careless. Just answer the question.

I like Merrifield, two years ago. Today, considering he can only help this team on the road for the short term, I don't like him nearly as much.

I get it, he didn't want to "sell the farm" but he chipped away at minor additions while the competition around the Jays are pushing chips in.

I personally think the Jays took some swings but weren't really ready to make the push needed to contend in the playoffs and pay the prices. I hope I'm wrong but that's what I saw. Instead of putting his big boy pants on, Atkins put his wife's underwear. Prospects are prospects versus big leaguers. Imagine three years ago, there's no way the Jays consider trading Nate Pearson. Where's he at today? You never know. If you're serious about taking the hot chick to the prom, you've got to have the balls to ask her.

[2014olympicgold]

Listening to Atkins dodge the vaccination question was painful and transparent in his presser yesterday. Saying it was a last minute trade and he didn't have the answers. Such BS. You don't trade for a guy like Merrifield without knowing if he's getting vaccinated or not. That would be ridiculous and careless. Just answer the question.

I like Merrifield, two years ago. Today, considering he can only help this team on the road for the short term, I don't like him nearly as much.

I get it, he didn't want to "sell the farm" but he chipped away at minor additions while the competition around the Jays are pushing chips in.

I personally think the Jays took some swings but weren't really ready to make the push needed to contend in the playoffs and pay the prices. I hope I'm wrong but that's what I saw. Instead of putting his big boy pants on, Atkins put his wife's underwear. Prospects are prospects versus big leaguers. Imagine three years ago, there's no way the Jays consider trading Nate Pearson. Where's he at today? You never know. If you're serious about taking the hot chick to the prom, you've got to have the balls to ask her.

Jays organization right now are blamed for overvaluing prospects, like 20-25 other teams in the majors. However they only have 2 of their last 5 1st round picks. Toronto's issue, to me, is they consider previous deadline deals and winter deals as part of their deadline plans. They got Berrios last yr (and had him under contract for 2022), they got Chapman (was under team control this and next yr), got Cimber and Richards last yr to cover this yr too. Got Bass, Pop and Merrifield for next yr +.

I get not going nuts on Montas, Syndergaard or Skubal. Jays need a 4th/5th starter that just help reduce the strain on your 3 guys for the playoffs. Getting White could be an amazing piece, but he's unproven. That's a winter move to me to have more runway with him to see what he's about. The biggest whiff for me is not getting a strikeout reliever. The Jays could have easily gotten Soto, but it likely would have been centered around Bichette and that's a huge move mid season and could mess the locker room up. They also didn't have anyone behind Bichette really in terms of depth. If Bichette is moved for Soto it would be a winter move to me. More time to figure out your lineup with the OF they have too.

Atkins/Shapiro whiffed on the real need (K RPers). Then panic traded for Merrifield for CF/INF depth last minute. My fear is Judge at the plate in the 8th inning with Bass/Pop/Cimber at the plate in a do-or-die playoff game in New York.

[Call of Doughty]

Jeff Blair on Tim and Friends was a great 25 minute interview. He echo's many of the sentiments mentioned above. It begins at 38 minutes. Worth a listen if you missed the action from yesterday.
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcas...=1000574839581