[Chris Black ~5 weeks ago, wrote an off-season 🧵 & one point was that this would be a slow-starting off-season (in other words, didn’t think Ohtani would be the domino that would start everything else) There are conflicting forces at work, almost like 2 concurrent games of chicken (cont’d)

5 comments

1. A good reminder about *why* this off season is likely going to continue to be a slow one. That failed TV deal seems to be affecting everyone’s plans – not only those teams directly impacted by the $ uncertainty.

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   >One side, you have agents & their pretty thin free agent class.
   >
   >On the other, you have (educated guesswork) lots of GMs who are probably motivated to move salary in trades.
   >
   >In the middle are teams like the Blue Jays, waiting for each of the aforementioned groups to blink.
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   >If I’m a team on solid financial ground, I’m waiting this out. On one side or the other, there will be deals to be had.
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   >I think Milwaukee, Cleveland, Minnesota, Cincy, Colorado, the White Sox and others are still looking to chop $.
   >
   >Last year, Jays had most of their work done by Christmas…
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   >Don’t think that will necessarily be the case in 2023-24 offseason!

2. Here’s to hoping the cash strapped teams blink first so Jays can take advantage

3. It’s an interesting year, where both the Free Agent market and buyer market are so top heavy.

4. I’d love to get Nolan Jones by eating McMahon’s salary.

5. Honestly a lot of this has to do with boras having quite a few of the top FAs on the market. His strategy is typically wait until some desperate owner or GM gives in and overpays his clients big bucks. Having said that, I would still like bellinger on the jays lol.