2021 Blue Jays General Discussion Thread

[L K]

So it definitely looks like right now the plan is to try and turn Martin into a CF which maybe would allow for them to eventually shift Springer to RF if things stick.

Which is also why I think the team should be generally open to the idea of trading Gurriel or Hernandez in the quest to beef up the rotation with Grichuk available as a temporary bridge.

Does Hernandez bring much more than homeruns?

Depends heavily on whether his COVID season was a fluke or not.  If his play last year carries forward he's absolutely a good overall hitter who gets on base well.  His defense is never going to be exceptional.  Between Gurriel and Hernandez I would probably favour LGJ as a guy to keep between the two.  If you can get a front end pitcher with Hernandez as a key component of that package I would be doing it.

 

[bustaheims]

Depends heavily on whether his COVID season was a fluke or not.  If his play last year carries forward he's absolutely a good overall hitter who gets on base well.  His defense is never going to be exceptional.  Between Gurriel and Hernandez I would probably favour LGJ as a guy to keep between the two.  If you can get a front end pitcher with Hernandez as a key component of that package I would be doing it.

It's a tough call, because, so far, Gurriel has been the more well-rounded and consistent bat, while Hernandez showed last season he could be a more more productive bat. I don't know which I'd move right now. If Hernandez has another season with the production he had last year, I hang on to him, but if he regresses, I'd lean toward Gurriel.

 

[Kin]

Depends heavily on whether his COVID season was a fluke or not.  If his play last year carries forward he's absolutely a good overall hitter who gets on base well.  His defense is never going to be exceptional.  Between Gurriel and Hernandez I would probably favour LGJ as a guy to keep between the two.  If you can get a front end pitcher with Hernandez as a key component of that package I would be doing it.

It's a tough call, because, so far, Gurriel has been the more well-rounded and consistent bat, while Hernandez showed last season he could be a more more productive bat. I don't know which I'd move right now. If Hernandez has another season with the production he had last year, I hang on to him, but if he regresses, I'd lean toward Gurriel.

That's almost why I'd favour striking while the iron is hot with Hernandez. If he isn't a 35+ HR guy and a full season shows it, then you lose a big part of his value for a potential trade.

Which is, admittedly, based on the hypothetical that a trade like that is out there but if you figure you have to move on at some point anyway trading him now seems like the risk I'd take.

 

[bustaheims]

That's almost why I'd favour striking while the iron is hot with Hernandez. If he isn't a 35+ HR guy and a full season shows it, then you lose a big part of his value for a potential trade.

Which is, admittedly, based on the hypothetical that a trade like that is out there but if you figure you have to move on at some point anyway trading him now seems like the risk I'd take.

Yeah, that's fair. It's the bigger risk, but probably also comes with the bigger reward.

 

[L K]

Depends heavily on whether his COVID season was a fluke or not.  If his play last year carries forward he's absolutely a good overall hitter who gets on base well.  His defense is never going to be exceptional.  Between Gurriel and Hernandez I would probably favour LGJ as a guy to keep between the two.  If you can get a front end pitcher with Hernandez as a key component of that package I would be doing it.

It's a tough call, because, so far, Gurriel has been the more well-rounded and consistent bat, while Hernandez showed last season he could be a more more productive bat. I don't know which I'd move right now. If Hernandez has another season with the production he had last year, I hang on to him, but if he regresses, I'd lean toward Gurriel.

It's not huge development wise but Gurriel is a year younger and his production has been on a bit of a steady increase.  I kind of like Gurriel's chances of staying consistent given that his offesnive production has improved each of the last 3 years. 

I'm still a little wary that Hernandez goes back to having a terrible eye at the plate. 

 

[Highlander]

Depends heavily on whether his COVID season was a fluke or not.  If his play last year carries forward he's absolutely a good overall hitter who gets on base well.  His defense is never going to be exceptional.  Between Gurriel and Hernandez I would probably favour LGJ as a guy to keep between the two.  If you can get a front end pitcher with Hernandez as a key component of that package I would be doing it.

It's a tough call, because, so far, Gurriel has been the more well-rounded and consistent bat, while Hernandez showed last season he could be a more more productive bat. I don't know which I'd move right now. If Hernandez has another season with the production he had last year, I hang on to him, but if he regresses, I'd lean toward Gurriel.

I am almost salivating at the thought of Gurriel/Springer/Hernandez as our outfield combo.  Going to be a hitting machine.

 

[Frank E]

I know spring training results aren't really much of an indicator of anything, but what do we think about this group thus far?

 

[L K]

I know spring training results aren't really much of an indicator of anything, but what do we think about this group thus far?

Ray's control has been promising.  His stuff is swing and a miss quality so if he cna get the ball over the plate that's a big advantage.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1371157275289735170

Well, that's good.

 

[L K]

https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1371157275289735170

Well, that's good.

He?s my favourite Jays prospect of the last two years.  I?m excited for this kid.  He?s a massive country strong farm kid who throws hard but has good off speed stuff.  He might not be the best pitcher in our system but he?s up there and I?m a big fan.

 

[Highlander]

I think I am more high on Manoah at this time, than Pearson.  Great outing against the Yankees.  With the breaking news that Pearson has had a setback, I am starting to get a bad feeling about him achieving liftoff.  He seems to have a real problem staying healthy.

 

[L K]

Jack Leiter, the son of former Blue Jays pitcher Al Leiter is having one heck of a college season for Vanderbilt.

Saturday he threw a no-hitter: 9 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 16 SO

Last night he almost did it again in his next start: 7 IP 0 H, 0R, 2 BB 10 SO

 

[Arn]

Opening day today.

Few injuries to start the season, particularly Pearson and Ray missing from the rotation could maybe give a bit of a slow start.

Hopefully the lack of a "home" ballpark won't be too much of a hinderance either, but I'm hopeful that 90 wins could be obtainable.

 

[Kin]

It's important to remember that this is still such a young team. Last year's unexpected success was great but honestly this year I'm really more focused on individual development then needing them to win right away. Seeing Guerrero take a step forward, Pearson be anything close to his potential, the gawd Alejandro Kirk fulfill his destiny as the best catcher in baseball...that's this season for me.

 

[Deebo]

It's important to remember that this is still such a young team. Last year's unexpected success was great but honestly this year I'm really more focused on individual development then needing them to win right away. Seeing Guerrero take a step forward, Pearson be anything close to his potential, the gawd Alejandro Kirk fulfill his destiny as the best catcher in baseball...that's this season for me.

I'm also interested to see how Woods-Richardson and Manoah develop. These 2 also have front of the rotation potential and could lessen the need for the Jays to go out and trade one of the top prospects in a package for a rotation arm.

 

[Arn]

It's important to remember that this is still such a young team. Last year's unexpected success was great but honestly this year I'm really more focused on individual development then needing them to win right away. Seeing Guerrero take a step forward, Pearson be anything close to his potential, the gawd Alejandro Kirk fulfill his destiny as the best catcher in baseball...that's this season for me.

I'm hoping that the youthfulness will lead to fearlessness, allied with the little bit of swagger that some of those guys have been showing. That'll let them play loose and without pressure and maybe claim a few extra wins than  maybe they would otherwise

 

[Kin]

It's important to remember that this is still such a young team. Last year's unexpected success was great but honestly this year I'm really more focused on individual development then needing them to win right away. Seeing Guerrero take a step forward, Pearson be anything close to his potential, the gawd Alejandro Kirk fulfill his destiny as the best catcher in baseball...that's this season for me.

I'm also interested to see how Woods-Richardson and Manoah develop. These 2 also have front of the rotation potential and could lessen the need for the Jays to go out and trade one of the top prospects in a package for a rotation arm.

Well, sure. Those three were just examples. There are lots of guys I'm intrigued by on the big club and in the system.

 

[Kin]

I'm hoping that the youthfulness will lead to fearlessness, allied with the little bit of swagger that some of those guys have been showing. That'll let them play loose and without pressure and maybe claim a few extra wins than  maybe they would otherwise

All I'm saying is I personally won't really be tying my idea of a successful season to wins and losses. The rotation could be a mess, the bullpen is a question mark...this team could win any number of games and I wouldn't be terribly surprised.

 

[Deebo]

Well, sure. Those three were just examples. There are lots of guys I'm intrigued by on the big club and in the system.

They were just two more examples, and players in particular that I am intersted in because they have potential to fill spots at the position where the big club has the greatest need.

 

[L K]

It's important to remember that this is still such a young team. Last year's unexpected success was great but honestly this year I'm really more focused on individual development then needing them to win right away. Seeing Guerrero take a step forward, Pearson be anything close to his potential, the gawd Alejandro Kirk fulfill his destiny as the best catcher in baseball...that's this season for me.

Yeah.  The Jays "made" the playoffs with a record of 32-28. That would be 86 wins in a 162 game season.  That would only get the Jays the second wild card spot twice since 2010.  The 2nd WC spot in the AL is usually over 90 wins and a few times has been as high as 97-98 wins.

If the team progresses offensively with Vlad, a full season of Kirk (hopefully a better offensive season from Janssen) and the rest of the kids...plus obviously Semien and Springer they might be able to make that next jump but the rotation is going to be a huge question mark for this team.

I don't really have a lot of faith in a rebound season from Roark and relying on Ray to be your #2 starter is just not a great setup to expect the Jays to be a top contender. 

Playoffs would be great, but if the team shows internal improvements that should be considered a success this year.