Well, the old thread is over 400 now, as our emotions get played with yet again.
Current status...
- Roki Sasaki still debating who to sign with - rumors were he was to decide on the 16th but he hasn't yet. Saw online Glasnow saying Sasaki really liked Toronto (and really liked LA). Lord knows what is going to happen.
- Alex Bregman - lots of sites still keep putting him with the Jays but it doesn't look likely - he wants crazy years and dollars, Jays learned an expensive lesson with Springer on doing that (hopefully)
- Anthony Santander - the guy seems to be limited but doesn't want to sign here. Few rumors of others chasing him, but firm reports on the Jays offering a contract and his immediately after that saying he'll take a short term deal. Sigh.
- Pete Alonso - latest is the Jays putting him at 1B with Vlad at 3B. Mets appear out of the running after offering him a few options that he didn't like.
- Jack Flaherty - seems he isn't getting much traction this winter. Not sure why, his fastball velocity has been nearly identical the past 3 years, but his HR/fly ball has gotten worse, GB% got a bit worse last year but within reasonable range, his K/9 was over 10 (highest since 2020), BB/9 2.11 (lowest ever). Unless there is an injury I don't see why he is still on the market. Should Sasaki stay out west he'd be a good one for the Jays to chase down imo.
- Jurickson Profar - looks like a very good fit in LF if Santander won't come, but for 7 seasons he has alternated good/bad years making 2025 scheduled for another bad one - weird luck or something else?
- 2025 ZiPS Projections are out (as others have mentioned previously) with the Jays showing as 2+ WAR (ML regular) at all but DH and RF. No idea how LF gets to 2.0 with Loperfido-Schneider-Lukes sharing it, but that is what they have. Rotation has 4 at 2+ (Gausman-Berrios-Bassitt-Francis) with Rodriguez at 1.6 and Bloss 0.6 sharing the 5 hole. Again, not bad. The pen a collective 3.2 which is far better than last years negative WAR result (ugh). This team could easily surprise and is FAR better than anything the AL Central has (out of 9 regulars the ChiSox have 1 at 2 WAR (0 starters at 2, pen in the negatives), Cleveland 4, Detroit 3, Minnesota 5, KC unknown (not done yet) vs the Jays with 8. Of course, we are stuck in the AL East with Baltimore 7, Boston 8, New York Yankees 6. No report for the Rays yet.
- IFA time but the Jays won't sign anyone of note until Sasaki makes up his mind. Jays linked to a few really good ones - Crisopher Polanco (SS 45 FV, top 10 talent), Juan Sanchez (SS 40 FV), probably others too (saw some on other sites)
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - might be playing 3B (if Alonso signs), might be at 1B/DH otherwise. Might be signing a long term deal, might be traded to the Mets for 3+ prospects. The rumors are nutty here. All we can say for certain is the Jays offered him $340 mil and he rejected it. He will be a free agent post 2025 if he doesn't sign an extension - he gave a deadline of Spring Training day one (February 17th I think).
Phew. Probably more out there, but that gives a decent summary of what is going on. Odds are this will be out of date soon, but given how much we're all talking we really needed a new thread to do so on.