2021 Blue Jays General Discussion Thread

[Nik]

Some interesting roster news. The Jays have apparently signed Kirby Yates. Yates was hurt and ineffective last year but the year before led the NL in saves and struck out 101 batters in 60.2 innings.

[The Empire]

He's an experienced backend reliever that has a subpar FB but a wicked cutter.  Him Chatwood, Dolis and Romano should make for a good late inning option.

[L K]

Wondering if the Mets GM situation affects Springer signing with the Jays.  I?m still leery on having anyone from that Houston tainted team on the Jays but you can?t deny that he would be a hell of an upgrade on Grichuk

[Nik]

A few media folk on Twitter are saying Springer is close to or has signed with the Jays but nothing definitive from any of the big time newsbreakers.

[Deebo]

A little more concrete now...

source confiirms multiple reports: #BlueJays are closing in on George Springer.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) January 20, 2021

[herman]

Wondering if the Mets GM situation affects Springer signing with the Jays.  I?m still leery on having anyone from that Houston tainted team on the Jays but you can?t deny that he would be a hell of an upgrade on Grichuk

Just a thought here: if Florida is the widdle weenie, and California is the behind, then Houston really is T-town. Humidex checks out.

[Deebo]

Outfielder George Springer and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a deal, sources familiar with the situation tell ESPN.

Springer is headed to Dunedin for a physical. And if all goes according to plan, Toronto will get the star it’s been looking for all winter.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 20, 2021

There it is.

[Nik]

Rosenthal has it at 6/150.

[Bender]

Outfielder George Springer and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a deal, sources familiar with the situation tell ESPN.

Springer is headed to Dunedin for a physical. And if all goes according to plan, Toronto will get the star it’s been looking for all winter.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 20, 2021

There it is.

Who is this? Is this good?

[Nik]

Who is this? Is this good?

George Springer is a power hitting CF who's been with the Astros his whole career. It's a big deal and not without risk but the Jays needed to upgrade their outfield defense, Springer does that, and he's a very good hitter.

I think it's definitely a positive move. It gives the Jays a lot of options in terms of moving one of their OF to DH or including them in a trade for pitching and all it costs is money. The Jays aren't close to the Tax so it doesn't really preclude them from making other moves and if they need to eat some of the back half...eh, they can afford it.

[Deebo]

Outfielder George Springer and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a deal, sources familiar with the situation tell ESPN.

Springer is headed to Dunedin for a physical. And if all goes according to plan, Toronto will get the star it’s been looking for all winter.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 20, 2021

There it is.

Who is this? Is this good?

Probably the top free agent position player that was on the market this off season.

[Frank E]

Atkins slept a little easier last night.

[OldTimeHockey]

Who is this? Is this good?

George Springer is a power hitting CF who's been with the Astros his whole career. It's a big deal and not without risk but the Jays needed to upgrade their outfield defense, Springer does that, and he's a very good hitter.

I think it's definitely a positive move. It gives the Jays a lot of options in terms of moving one of their OF to DH or including them in a trade for pitching and all it costs is money. The Jays aren't close to the Tax so it doesn't really preclude them from making other moves and if they need to eat some of the back half...eh, they can afford it.

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

[bustaheims]

Great move. Now, to the pitching. Paging Trevor Bauer....

[L K]

Who is this? Is this good?

George Springer is a power hitting CF who's been with the Astros his whole career. It's a big deal and not without risk but the Jays needed to upgrade their outfield defense, Springer does that, and he's a very good hitter.

I think it's definitely a positive move. It gives the Jays a lot of options in terms of moving one of their OF to DH or including them in a trade for pitching and all it costs is money. The Jays aren't close to the Tax so it doesn't really preclude them from making other moves and if they need to eat some of the back half...eh, they can afford it.

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

There is rumbling the Jays are talking to Michael Brantley.  He's another outfielder.  But it would give them some flexibility on the trade market.  Whether you use Gurriel to acquire a top end pitcher or trade Grichuk and move Hernandez to more of a DH role it would be a good addition.  He's another Astros player and has a lot of injury baggage but the guy has a phenomenal eye and just doesn't miss the ball very often. 

I mean just in a hypothetical.  You take Gurriel + a big package of prospects and talk to the Cubs about Kris Bryant and Kyle Hendriks.  That would take you out of Bauer most likely but then maybe bring Taijuan Walker back and go with a roster of

LF Brantley
2B Biggio
SS Bichette
CF Springer
RF Hernandez
1B Guerrero Jr
3B Bryant
C Jansen
DH Tellez

Bench: Kirk, Grichuk, Espinal,

Rotation: Hendriks - Ryu - Pearson - Walker - Ray

Bullpen: Yates - Romano - Dolis - Merryweather - Cole - Kay - Stripling - Borucki

It's a bit of dream thinking but could be fun.