Blue Jays Add MORE Pitching Depth – When’s The Next BIG Signing? (Blue Jays Today Show)

Blue Jays Add MORE Pitching Depth – When’s The Next BIG Signing? (Blue Jays Today Show)

[music] Hello everybody and welcome in to Blue Jays today coming to you from the sports interaction studio where we always have something to say about the Toronto Blue Jays. In tonight’s live stream folks, we’re going to be talking about the newest pitching edition that the Toronto Blue Jays just made. Latest in regards to Kyle Tucker, Bo Bashette, all of the big names right now answering your questions. So, if you have some questions for us, let us know. Link to our mailbag is in the description. And then just otherwise, just shoot in the shed cuz guess what, folks? It is holiday season. For all of those students out there, teachers, anybody, congratulations. You guys made it. You’re now at the uh the official two weeks vacation. And it does feel like when that happens, we have officially entered in to the holiday season and the holiday spirit is in the air. So, happy holidays to everybody. Hopefully, Uncle Ross aka Santa Claus in this time can give us some of those Christmas presents that we’ve been asking for. He’s already done a pretty good job, but there is still the big gift that we’re missing out on right now. >> Yeah. Hey everybody, I’m Adam Pedal and we also got a dono here for $5 dono saying, “Hey all.” This coming from Bolaro 1997. Shout out to you and thank you. Welcome in everybody to the live stream. Yeah, it’d be nice to get a gift from Uncle Ross before the holiday season, but I mean it’s in the title. Why don’t we just start with that? I we’ve been saying it for a while. The next big signing feels like it won’t happen before the holidays just because we’re so dang close. However, Uncle Ross has known to disturb our holiday season making us get on the live stream whenever a trade or or a signing happened recently. So, I wouldn’t rule it out. But, if you’re dealing with Kyle Tucker, if that’s the big fish, I don’t know. I feel like he’s going to want to wait and let his market develop a bit more. >> I don’t even know how to feel anymore, man. like I could see something I could see something big happening and it’s like that for him is like his big Christmas present uh for himself and his family or alternatively he just pumps the brakes and says hey guys we will revisit these conversations after the holiday season. Welcome in everybody. We already have 200 people in here. So W’s in the chat. Thank you very much for uh for joining us. Let’s immediately start with that pitching edition. They are going balls to the wall, hard in the paint when it comes to adding in pitching. We saw that with CE and Bieber and I I mean Cody Pon, Tyler Rogers, like it is just on and on and on and on. And they got another guy right here, Jorge Alcala. Now, you’re probably not familiar with him. If I’m being completely honest, neither neither of us were familiar with him prior to hearing about this and then looking him up. And I’m also not going to lie to you folks. He did not have a good season of baseball last year. >> No, I I’m looking right now and from just looking at this, I’m assuming he either got cut twice or cut and traded once because he went from the Twins to the Red Sox to the St. Louis Cardinals. And based on the way he’s performed, probably cut twice. And then I feel like the Cardinals wouldn’t be trading for Alcala because they were not a competitive team. I didn’t do the research to find out where he was cut or not. it doesn’t matter because last year in 2025 he had a 622 erra with a whip of 1.7 which obviously isn’t that great. Now let’s do him some justice here and let’s look up his baseball savant because you never know. >> He does throw gas. Exactly. He does throw gas. He’s got some firepower behind him and truthfully even though last season was horrendous for him when you look at that 2024 season I see 58 innings pitched I see an RA of 3.24 24 and a whip of just over one. So, he has shown in in the past that he can be a very serviceable MLB pitcher and throw a significant amount of innings. For whatever reason, last year did not have it at all. But like I said, at the very least, he can fall back on the fastball velocity, which is at an average of 97.2 mph. So, he does throw heat. >> Yeah. And I’ve seen the Blue Jays do this in the past, like you know, when we kind of fill out our bullpen, we get the guys that we want, we go and we add these minor league dudes that are just, hey, shot in the dark, like if you want to come out and look like your 2024 version of yourself, hell yeah. Like, come on the team and let’s add some heat in that bullpen cuz yeah, adding a 324 RA kind of guy, like that would be really phenomenal. So, I mean, hey, more depth is never a problem. It is a minor league contract, so I think he is going to have to make it out of spring training, but I mean that’s Hey, more darts to throw at the board for the Jays. >> They’ve they’ve gone crazy in that regard, man. It does feel like over the span of of quite literally two months now, uh like we’ve just gone from having what felt like limited depth, almost no depth, and now it’s like just so much an overwhelming, you know, wave of pitching depth, right? Just waiting in the wings. guys that aren’t in their true respective roles, right? You know, because there’s just so so much overflowing right now for the Toronto Blue Jays. There is an overwhelming sense though that we are almost going too far in one direction and maybe not paying enough attention on the other side of things, in which case I am referring to the offense. The frustration is also starting to overflow right now. We hear it. We see the comments down below on our videos. We see on Twitter. People are getting pissed off that Uncle Ross is going crazy in the pitching side and not going crazy in the offensive side. How do you how do you feel about all of that? >> I would not be angry at all with the way this offseason is going. If you have chance to add pitching, you add pitching and you continue to add pitching until like literally you cannot fit any more pitchers physically possible in your single A team. Like you continue to add pitching as much as possible. Now, you know, looking at the offensive side of things, we are blessed to have so much depth. I mean, we’re talking about a team that next year, if they go and add that big right fielder, Kyle Tucker, you’re talking about a situation where the heck is Anthony Santer going to go? What about Aston Barger? What about Nathan Lucas? What about Miles Straw? Like, they have so much depth that all they really need to go get is the big fish. But those markets are developing. We have to be patient waiting. You still got Kyle Tucker, Bo Bashette, Alex Bregman that we’re going to talk about a little bit later cuz his name came up in link to the Jays a little bit earlier on the Michael K show. So, we’ll talk about that. Like there’s still big fish out there and it’s understanding the understanding in the in the entire um you know all the executives and MLB insiders and ourselves is that they will go get one of them. So, if you’re okay with the death right now, which I am, I don’t know about you guys, I am. All you need is the one big piece and then it’s time to rock and roll for the Jace. I I I do feel or I guess I can certainly uh empathize with the sense of frustration that we haven’t got an update with a position player involved yet. You you get all these updates and it’s just another RHP, right? Or what have you. But ultimately like that that is, you know, I guess for lack of a better term, like it feels like a first world problem right there. Like feels like a problem of somebody who is genuinely very spoiled and very lucky to be in the situation that we’re in right now. Getting pitchers, getting good players on this team is always a good thing. And even the guys who I’m not even convinced are good like Jorge right there. Well, guess what? He’s on minor league deal. Yeah. So, you’re you’re literally losing nothing at all. And you’re now having a dart throw where now if three guys go down early on or all at the same time because that’s what it would take really to get Jorge on this team. You still got Braden Fischer down there. You’re thinking that maybe sooner rather than later, Ricky Tedman could be in in the conversation for maybe coming up and doing some things. So it’s still he’s like lower on the pecking uh you know order compared to some of those other guys. Flu Hardy down there as well, right? So multiple indivi that’s the thing multiple individuals would have to go down potentially before we even see Jorge. So to be in a situation like that where you’d still be having somebody with significant MLB experience who has had success in the past coming off of the bench after you’re like four injuries deep. >> That’s a luxury and that’s not something that I’m going to be upset about. >> Yeah. Nothing to complain here, ladies and gentlemen. Actually is crazy that they have Braden Fisher, Mason Flu Hardy, Chase Lee that everyone was excited about. Like when everyone was bringing up those arm angle graphics, Chase Lee was kind of like the middle between, you know, your Savage and Tyler Rogers cuz he he’s exactly on that like 90 degree like zero degree, I guess, if whatever kind of degree you want to talk about. It’s right at even plane with the ground, parallel to the ground. And then Paxton Schultz because he’s come up and helped us out during injury times. But nothing to complain about here. Jorge, welcome to the team. Quick shout out here to Edward with a $2 donation saying, “Let’s sign Tucker and Bregman.” That’s a name that not a lot of people have been talking about. However, later on we will discuss Alex Bregman a little bit because his name did pop up. Now, I just saw Braden Fischer, everybody did on the or not on the roster, I guess. Uh, is that ludicrous? Is that ridiculous? Do you think that what Fangraphs has projected there is going to happen or or is he going to be with the team? >> Probably as of right now, unless something develops because he’s got options. And I and I know it’s crazy to think because he was a massive part of the bullpen. I mean >> 2.7 RA last year, 50 innings. >> Fish boy. You know how many times we’ve been screaming like when we see Fish Boy coming out, we’re all excited. We’re all lit in the chat, but he’s got options. So you have to be smart right now. It’s not about, you know, playing him all 162 or, you know, however many outings he might possibly have. It’s not about that. It’s about, you know, getting to the postseason and having him still on the roster and also having some of the other guys who might not have options on the roster. when push comes to shove, they’ll make the move and they’ll bring him up like we saw last year with Trey Savage, you know, you know, in the minor leagues. So, when push comes to shove, they’ll make it happen. So, yeah, I’m not worried at all. We’ve been through this uh song and dance before with the >> bullpen. I look at the bullpen right now and and really the only other guy cuz you know, you look at the options here. Uh Brendan Little has an option. So, he’s got one, right? But the problem is, well, then you you lose your lefty. you still have Eric Lowry down there, but you know, effectively you want at least more than one lefty and you know that they love Brandon Little. So that would kind of be your only other one that you’re looking at because then after that, yeah, you would have to theoretically lose somebody, right? You have to, you know, put them through waiverss and and have somebody deal with it and and would that be Tommy Nance. Would he be picked up? I maybe, maybe. I mean, Tommy was good in a 1.99. He’d be flirting with danger. Not saying he’d guaranteed get picked up, but you’d be flirting with danger for sure at at the potentially losing him. So, >> and you and you talk to Brandon Fischer and like if you just explain the situation, it’s like, man, like we want you to play. We just have so many good players. Just get ready. The next guy that goes down, you’re up, kid, or what? Or flu Hardy. It could be vice versa, right? They’re coming up at some point in the league. Like, bullpens aren’t made of eight guys and you’re only stuck with those eight guys. Like, how many bullpen pieces you say see come through the year any given year? 16, 20? You know what I mean? like they’re going to come up at some point and play for this team. >> Well, and I’ll tell you what as well, right? You start the season and then it will one of these guys that doesn’t have options ends up not performing very well. >> Bye. >> Yeah, that’ll be it then. That’s >> if it’s really bad. Like you saw Chad Green, like he we just straight up cut him last year. So, >> totally. I mean, hey, like even somebody like a Jimmy Garcia, like if he comes out and it’s like, “Oh, this doesn’t look like the Jimmy of old and things aren’t going well.” Well, guess what? Like Braden Fischer’s down there and he’s pretty good and and that’s like we’re just no we don’t have any ties to you right now type thing. Yeah, Chad Green’s a great shout and we’ve seen them do it before. Uh Swanson, you know what I mean? Swanson like such a key player for us at certain points during this this whole kind of Blue Jays window and and then it’s kind of cutthroat but the second that he doesn’t have it he doesn’t have it anymore and it and you got to go. So >> yeah, exactly right. Uh also I want to give a shout out here to Jordan Keats with a 19-month membership shout out. Let’s go. Happy holidays everyone. Imagine Bo resigns on Christmas Day. Now that would be that’d be quite a present. Uh love from Yukon. Good to be back here with you boys. Good to have you back here Jordan. We still remember that amazing game. That was a crazy game that we watched with Jordan. A lot of crazy games. That was a crazy game. >> A lot of crazy Toronto Blue Jays games. Yo, I see a cool question in here and I’m not going to take too many questions from the chat just because ultimately like we have the mailbag. So if you have questions, submit them to the mailbag. We will certainly be getting to that kind of throughout this entire podcast and this entire show. But Stephen here saying, “Are the Bashette to New York Yankee rumors real or fake?” Um, now I’m assuming because I haven’t seen anything saying like, “Oh, he’s going.” I’ve certainly seen that the Yankees could be interested and there could be a fit there. And for me, I think that that does make sense. I think that that that certainly could be real. If there’s anything out there saying that, oh yeah, he’s locked in, he’s going to be New York Yankee, I would say that that is almost assuredly fake at this current juncture of time. I don’t think anybody knows that. But I do believe that the Yankees will and and truthfully should [snorts] be involved in the Bobette sweep stakes, especially if he’s interested in being a second baseman and especially if he is open to the idea of signing a one, two, three year deal or some type of deal with optouts in it. If you don’t want to spend too much money, which that apparently [clears throat] they don’t want to do, then that could be the workaround for them. But I think he he would play great in front of Boba or in front of Aaron Judge Aaron Judge or whatever. >> Absolutely. He would I mean he would set the table. It’d be it’d be great. They have no problem putting slow legs in front of Aaron Judge. They’ve done it in the past. They they don’t really care. There’s get guys on base for him. Now I I actually want to bring that up, man, cuz I just I was kind of having a laugh before we launched the live stream. I saw an update that was like, “Oh, that, you know, Aaron Boon says that they’re not going to be in on EI. They have no meeting scheduled with him and blah blah blah.” And like that just on top of all the other news that have come out of Yankees camping like they’re not going to spend money. Yankees are rethinking their whole roster construction. They’re looking at the Jays. Like this is the model of great baseball nowadays. And I’m just like wow. Like are the Yankees like going to really take a step back? Obviously they sell Aaron Judge and they’re going to get back Eric Cole and they still got Max Freed and other pitchers like Heel and he could have a good year. I think their p their starting rotation is really great and they got Aaron Judge but like as of right now they don’t have Cody Bellinger signed. You still have Stanton. He’s who was good last year, but again, when is that wheel gonna fall off? When’s that axle gonna break down? The bullpen has been dismantled in this off seasonason. Everyone’s leaving that bullpen. Like, are the Yankees going to take a a big step back this year? >> I don’t know, man. I don’t think the Yankees are are ever going to really just be bad. I don’t think that that that’s in them. Even when they’re bad, they’re still good. >> Like, they’re never really that bad. They always like squeak into playoffs and then get, you know, [ __ ] kicked, which is what happened this year. >> Exactly. That’s what happened this year. But again, you know, like one season prior to last year, they were in the World Series. So, I don’t want to rule them out completely. It is a little strange hearing all the reports that they’re not interested in this guy. They’re not going for that dude and they’re not getting this guy. And I love it because it allows the Toronto Blue Jays to or it feels like anyways, run the market a little bit here. Like he can really run the table with some of these free agents. So, I don’t think the Yankees are going to be bad by any stretch of the imagination. I still think that they’re going to be a really good baseball team. They hit the most home runs out of any baseball team last year by like >> 40 home runs. So, like a lot of home runs. So, like they’re still going to be very good and they’re going to get Garrett Cole back. Um >> I I really what it boils down to is is are they going to have, you know, enough are they going to have enough of a foundation come playoff time to to win a series? because last year it was all last year it felt like they were so much so heavy on the home run ball >> and I guess they’re pitching too but if they got you know one bad start from one of their pitchers and some of those balls didn’t leave the yard it was game over 100%. Um are they going to have more ways to win next year? >> I don’t know. Yeah, that’s tough man. I’m I I I maybe I’m a Yankee hater. [cough and laughter] I I mean I’ve always hated the Yankees. Not the fans, let me tell you that. Not the fans, not the players, just the organization obviously. How I mean, how could you? It’s like you, you know, Green Bay Packers to the to the Cubs. It’s like me, Blue Jays to the to the Yankees growing up. That was that was my arch enemy. So to see them kind of not do a lot makes me kind of happy right now. >> Yeah, of course. I’m certainly not complaining about it, man. Like, yeah, be out on that guy. >> Please be out. And no, no, I’m not saying you are, but like it’s it’s just great. It’s it’s music to my ears. But actually, you wanted to bring that up. You want to talk about that right now? which kind of teams in the AL are looking at right now as kind of the favorites. You brought this up to me before. I think now we’re at a good point. Obviously, there’s a couple big fish out there still to be added to teams that could shift this right now. But we wanted to discuss which AL team right now is looking like they got a chance to take that crown in 2026 for that division title. >> Yeah. And specifically looking at some of those position groups, right? Toronto last year. Now that we have all the numbers in the books, we can safely say out of the AL East, number one offense. We can also safely say that out of the AL East, certainly not number one pitching or number one uh you know, bullpen. They weren’t right. But now they’ve made a lot of additions to that staff, to that starting rotation. And as it stands today, they do not have Bob Bashette under contract, right? Where do they sit, you know, comparatively speaking to the Boston Red Sox or the Baltimore Orioles who are doing some stuff right now? >> Actually, yeah, they made a there’s a big trade that happened already. >> I know. Yeah. Look, they’re they’re moving around, man. Like, I don’t think that Baltimore is going to be I think both of us agree. I don’t see them being nearly as bad as they were last year. I’m not saying that they’re immediately going to come out here and win a 100 games again, but I I certainly don’t see them be as being as much of a walkover as they were for Toronto and for other teams last year. I think that was just a weird year for them, right? Where do where do we sit position groupwise with some of these other big teams? >> Well, let’s start with that offense and let’s start with the team that you were just talking about right there, the Baltimore Orioles. I mean, when you look at the offense again, like last year was weird. And I could really compare their last year to the Blue Jays 2024 year where for whatever reason, everyone just kind of sucked. Everyone sucked. But the crazy thing about them is they’re all young, like relatively young. Like look at the ages. Obviously Jackson all day he’s only 22. He’s still got to develop. You know Westber’s 26 24 Henderson 31 they just added Pete Alonzo 27 Rutman Ward they added two like they added two big boppers big home run guys in the middle of that lineup. >> And you look like you look at that lineup right now and like they were again weird season because your big names here effectively every single one of them >> should be doing more than what they were doing, right? Is Jackson Holiday a 690 OPS guy? Nobody thought he was going to be. So, is he going to become that guy eventually? Eventually, it’s going to happen, right? Keeping in mind, he’s only 22 right now. So, still so young. You have to imagine he’s going to get better. Westber was solid for them. I’ll certainly give them Westber, but Gunnar Henderson is better than that. >> Gunnar Henderson is definitely better than what he did. Adley Rutman, what the [ __ ] happened? >> Last two years have been bad for him. I don’t know what the [ __ ] going on. >> Yeah, something something’s up there. But you you have to imagine there’s going to be some positive aggression. And Pete Alonzo and Taylor Ward, those are no walk. Like that’s those are big. Those are home runs. Yeah. Like those are big. Look at that. 36 homers and 38 homers just added to your lineup. That’s a lot of homers. >> And then you look at the bottom three in their lineup. Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, and Samuel Bassel. All those guys, young guys. And and at one point, I know for sure Cowser was one of them. I believe Beavers was as well. I’m not entirely sure about Basalo, but top prospects for Baltimore too, right? So, young guys, top prospects right there. And actually, I can see Pella right there. Organizational number four overall in all of MLB prospect. >> Yeah. >> And he’s he’s 21. So, that lineup is actually, I think, a lot scarier than people are giving them credit for. >> Yeah. I’m going to I’m going to give them a lot of credit right here. And then, you know, looking over the Tampa Bay Rays, I think we can kind of gloss over this. They’re doing a whole rebuild right now. I mean, I still got Yanni Diaz, Aronda, you know, Camaro. That’s that’s pretty exciting actually right there. But they’re kind of they’ve already moved Brandon Low today. Like Brandon Low’s gone. So like he’s over to the Pirates. Shout out to the Pirates. Actually making a move. Brandon Low’s gone. They’re bringing in Cedric Mullins. Could be a little sneaky thing right there. You know what? Maybe I maybe I actually glazed over or glossed over them too quickly. Decent core. Everyone else though could be using some work. Uh and then you look over at Boston. I mean Boston they’re they’re probably going to add in my opinion one of the remaining big free agents either be Bregman, Bo, or Tucker. Probably not Tucker, but probably Bregman. if they didn’t get at least one of them because they were also in a situation where the word on the street was they were looking to try to get both of them >> or two of of the big guys, right? So, they’re going to get at least one of them. Uh but yeah, as of right now, the lineup is is a little weak. Similar though, there’s some guys in there that you have to imagine should do more than what they were doing. And then, of course, you have those New York Yankees who as it stands right now do not have Cody Bellinger. still have a very solid lineup. You look at that top five and you’re talking about five guys with an OPS over 800. And you know some of the arguments that you can make for them like you were bringing up stance and you’re like well when are the wheels going to fall off? Exact same conversation as George Springer. Both of them had had a bounceback year last year. Both of them you’re like how the [ __ ] are you doing this and and you know is that going to continue? So you could make that same argument for for Springer as you could with Stanton. >> And then Gisham like coming out of nowhere being like a you know not a good bat like more known for his glove coming out of nowhere hitting an 811 OPS like how’d that happen? You know like that you could be like is that a one-hand wonder or is this for real? So but they still have a good lineup and I’ll give them that. So all that be considered and we know what the Jays lineup looks like and you got to assume they’re going to have one of Bo or Tucker. What do you kind of have right now in terms of rankings? So, for me, uh, I do still think that walking into the season to power rank this whole thing. I would still have Toronto’s offense, uh, >> I I think I it’s honestly Yankees are close because Yankees also Yankees did have an amazing year last year. Did they score more runs than us? >> They did. They scored the most runs. >> So, they had the most runs and the highest OPS in all of baseball, which is tough to ignore. Tough to ignore. >> It’s crazy, right? They also they got to get back Cody Bellinger. That’s that’s a number one kind of key for them. That’s another big bat for them. It’s tough to ignore cuz like you know we we don’t want to let our bias creep in and see you know think about the four games that we speak. >> That’s the thing that’s the bias is creeping in because ultimately like what do I really value like it’s I mean the run the amount of runs and then also the like usually the OPS because that shows the the clearest thing and they did do slightly better than the Jays did in that regard. >> Yeah. So, I suppose if I was to honestly to really unbiased here to power rank them, I guess I would have to have the Yankees at one. >> I think the Jays are two, like right there. And then honestly, right there for me as well is the Baltimore. I think that they’re they’re going to be a lot closer >> and then there’s a little bit of a tear drop off and then you have the the Boston Red Sox and then another tier drop off and then you have the Tampa Bay Raiders. Yeah, I guess if we’re going based on what it is right now, I would put Jay’s at two. If they get Tucker, maybe you could I could convince myself. I think if they get Tucker, >> you know, if we then I could convince myself. Same thing with the Red Sox. If they add in like Bo or whoever or Bregman get him back, then I could convince myself like maybe like I’d give them more respect than the Orioles who, you know, you know, were struggling last year, but they did add Pete Alonzo. So, I’m gonna actually agree with that completely. That’s exactly what I would >> I think that’s how it would have to be right now just to power rank them. Uh, but I I do think like the the top three um like with Baltimore and and the Yankees and the Jays like I look at those three teams and and I’m thinking this is all of them top eight in offense in like it’s going to be >> the Orioles should like I’m I would actually be shocked again if they were that bad especially adding Warden and Alonzo. They’re going to be a top 10. >> They’re going to be a top 10 offense and the Yankees are always top 10 offense. You just are with Aaron Jaja and the Jays. I know that we don’t have B or Bett in there right now and that’s all scary but still like you >> they we were still really good without Bob Bashette at certain points of the season. So still hitting and still doing stuff. So yeah, top I don’t know if we’re going to be one in everything, you know, again, but like top top 10 again. >> Yeah. Well, we’ll have to see. Now let’s let’s flip over to that pitching staff right now. Let’s look at the rotation. This is the Tampa Bay Rays. I mean, they got rid of Shane Baz, but he’s been dealing with injuries. hasn’t really been playing a lot lately. Mlanahan hasn’t been playing at all. Like literally didn’t play at all last year. Poor guy, honestly. I I really wish that he could get back out there. He was such a talent, but not against Jays. Um then you got, you know, everyone else. They got Steven Mats. I forgot about that. That’s crazy. >> Yeah, I forgot about that. They got Stephen Matts. Um it’s okay, but they’re again, they’re the Rays. They’re going to do some weird stuff. And then you got the Orioles who did add Shane Baz who again like on andoff injury. This was a you know he did pitch a lot last year you know coming off of TJ I believe like two years ago not really at his best. They add him to the rotation with Rogers who had an incredible year and Bradishu was good in 32 innings but we’ll see how he does over a full season. He’s also dealt dealt with a lot of injuries and I’m shocked they got rid of um Grayson Rodriguez. Remember that trade? I am thoroughly shocked. I like Taylor Ward a lot, but you know, for what you guys are, I’m kind of like that asset in the pitching side of things, especially a young guy like Grace, lots of control, still could turn out to be a really really good player. >> Yeah, >> like Baz is fine, but like to fill up depth, you know, if you’re but like not as like this is you need some actual guys that can compete against some of the better guys. And then Red Sox, they got a solid rotation, you know, Crochet, they had Gray who had a down year last year. He’s is getting up there in age is 36. Beo, you know, he had a very solid year last year. Crawford was injured, Sandival was injured. See what they can get from those guys. And then obviously, you know, the Jays and then the Yankees. They’ve got a very good rotation. I think uh well, they got to wait for they got to get um what’s his name? Cole back. Cole back. >> They got to get Cole back. >> They don’t even have Cole in there, and I am relatively scared of that. One thing I’ll say about uh about the the Red Sox, which is like, you know, a really good spot to be for them, is that the three guys that they have at the top there, all of them pitched a shitload of innings and all of them are are fairly reliable. Whereas you look over at the Baltimore Orioles and, you know, like the question mark surrounding the innings from some of your top guys, like that worries me a little bit. Um, and you know, you could argue kind of something similar for the the Rays even, you know, but then again, the do weird stuff with their guys. So, you know, 150 innings for the Rays is really like 200 innings for any other team just by the way that they the nature of how they pitch them. Um, >> for me, like, and keeping in mind Toronto’s still very deep. Toronto’s so deep. >> Yeah. >> You know, like we got so such depth to us, which is awesome. >> I do think though that the Yankees are one. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> which they were last year and they’re adding Garrick Cole into that >> and I still think Garrick Cole is going to be very good >> then it’s definitely >> I would probably have to have the Jays too. I think the Jays with all the depth that we have I think it’s got to be us too and with the upside of your Savage and again like there’s there’s upside across the board. There’s a lot of good upside. Dylan Ceas is upside to bound. So >> I could I could easily see the Blue Jays being one in a heartbeat. Like I mean, yeah, they had all great years last year, but like CE is due for a bounce back. Bieber is due for a full season of good work. You know, if Gossman was Gossman, that’s great. And then like what are we going to get from you Savage? What are we going to get from Cody Pon? Like I could I could be convinced that the Blue Jays have more upside to hit on all these guys. Whereas like the Yankees, you know, am I really banking on Warren or Yarro right now? Obviously Cole’s got in the mix, but again, there is a factor you got to consider. Cole is coming off of TJ. He’s he’s a little bit older. Like how is he going to bounce back? That’s a question mark right there. And then like you asking all these guys to be at that level, they there’s due for some regression. So I could be convinced that the Blue Jays could be number one as well. >> I again I could see it. However, walk like right now with the addition of Garrick Cole with what they did last year like ultimately I think it’s Yankees one. I do think it’s Blue Jays too. After that, I I mean, I think I like the I I honestly I like the the the top three of the Red Sox quite a bit. >> I go Red Sox. >> Um I’m not Baltimore. No, for me is I think Baltimore’s last honestly. >> Baltimore’s got two >> decent options. I just I worry about the innings that they pitched like Trevor and Trevor Rogers is such a weird one where like you were you were so so good a few years back then you were terrible like just awful and then last year you were incredible again but you did only pitch 109 innings and then Cal Bradish as well only 32 innings to his name so that worries me a little bit either way and Tampa is definitely the bottom. Yeah, I go Baltimore bottom because I know Tampa’s going to do some dumb [ __ ] and they’re going to they’re going to find a way to muster up some good pitching out of their guys. They’re going to find a way. And you know what? I have convinced myself I am going Blue Jays one. I think it’s just so deep. Like if if my rotation versus your rotation like once you get to four or five like I the Blue Jays get the get the advantage and then honestly their top three could be just as good as your top three next season. What were the statistics like last year >> for the Yankees >> and for and for like in comparison to to us and the Yankees like overall? >> Yeah. Like obviously their starting pitching last year was very solid. They were fourth in erra eighth in whip whereas we were not but we didn’t have you know we didn’t have Shane Bieber for most of the year. We didn’t have Dylan CE. We didn’t have Treyo Savage. We didn’t have Cody Pots. Is a very different rotation. >> Yeah. Yeah. Different for sure. Yeah. Okay. Uh look I I think uh I think we could get there. Uh, I would have to put Yankees one at this current juncture again. And they same argument for them, right? I I know you’re kind of like out on Garrick Cole. I don’t really understand. >> I’m not really out. I’m just like there’s a question mark. I can’t be like he’s automatically going to come back and be great because we don’t know. It’s Tommy John. You have to >> That’s true. That’s true. I guess I just don’t see that guy having like a a four and a half or something like >> But is he gonna be a, you know, a high two, low three like he used to be in his prime? Probably not. Maybe not. But, you know, >> probably more like Kevin I’d probably put him in the more Kevin Gosman range. Like three and a half. I could I could bank him for like a three and a half. You know what I mean? That’s what we kind of expect from Kevin Gosman nowadays. >> Yep. Uh you guys let us know in the comments down below uh where we’re at for that. Shout out to MS here with a $699 donation. Boys, good Friday. Jeff Passing keeps bringing up the Jays getting two guys. And the thought of Bregman and Tucker combo gives me a chubby. >> Well, yeah. >> I’m there. I’m right there with you, man. Listen, we’re about to we’re going to go through the bullpens here and break those down very quickly. Uh and then we will get to that because yeah, Jeff Pass is uh >> he’s kind of firing away with Toronto. Like he he just can’t get the Toronto Blue Jays out of his mouth, which I’m not upset about. >> I know. I again like I don’t want to read into it too much cuz Yeah. Like is that one of those like word vomits where it’s like you just threw them into the Bregman conversation? Like I just find it hard again maybe I’m spoiling what I’m talking about. I just find it hard to believe that they’re going to be looking at Bregman already knowing that you got a bit of a situation there. You know what I mean? Like you got Ernie playing third, Barger playing third. If he goes play third, it’s like [ __ ] You know, there’s a lot. I mean, you could maybe you could throw him at second. I don’t know. But maybe they’re entertaining it, but I wouldn’t be thinking they’re too deep into me if I’m wrong, though. Like Alex Bregman when he was initially moved over to Boston said that he was willing to change. >> He would go to second. Yeah. for Rafi, right? And then they never did and he just played third. But I don’t know, maybe exactly like if he wants to move to second, >> sure, you know, or third and then, you know, maybe in the days when you have a really crowded outfield, you move him to second and then you have Barger play third or I don’t know. That’s a it’s a good problem to have. But yeah, again, like I I just think that it still would go Tucker Bett then a Bregman if it came down to. So I guess that’s where I’m leaning where I think it’s unlikely was they’re so focused on those two, but they might have checked in on him. like not saying it’s possible. >> We’ll get into that shortly everybody. So stick around. If you haven’t already done so, shout out to the six 396 people by the way here. Please hit that like button. Smash the subscribe button. Can we get up to 69 likes? Let’s talk about that bullpen a little bit because the Toronto Blue Jays have made some additions there. Tyler Rogers is obviously a big one. The the Jorge coming in, I know he’s not on the roster right now, but he could play into all of this. the addition of Dylan CE and Cody Pon has moved Jose Bereios into that bullpen or you know at the very least one of those guys is going to be there. Maybe it’s Cody Pon, maybe it’s somebody else. Maybe it’s even J Savage. I don’t know. But some one of some of a good player is going to have to be moved over to the bullpen who you know you expect to be a starter. So the bullpen has certainly gotten beefed up a little bit just by all of these pitching statistics. And it is a good thing because last year ultimately definitely not the strength of the Toronto Blue Jays. Where were we in terms of erra other things? >> We were smack dab in the middle, maybe one rank less. We were 16th in Rra, 14th in whip. Like we we had a we had a pretty average bullpen, I would say, compared to the rest of the MLB. And again, we were dealing with, you know, uncertainty in there and we had to add a bunch of guys to really boost that bullpen. And probably going into 2026 and going through 2026, we’ll probably have to do the same thing because you never know what can happen. Underperformances, injuries will happen. We’ll have to trade for more bullpen. That’s the reality of it. going in right now. I look at all that erra in that bullpen and I’m thinking nice, you know, especially too when you’re thinking that right now currently two of those guys are Eric Low and Jose Bereos. How are they going to play in the pen? Maybe their stuff might play better as we know Eric L stuff definitely plays better. But you got Tommy Nance, Brandon Little, I know he had 303 year it’s decent. He was not so good near the end but still decent. Louis Varin’s a dog. Tyler Rogers and again Jeff Hoffman. I’m kind of putting my flag in on top of the hill of I believe in a Hoffman bounceback. He’s not going to be this terrible last year. And I’m thinking right now this is a solid bullpen. I don’t know if I’ll go as far as to say it is a top five bullpen, but it could be an an upper half in baseball bullpen for sure. >> I think it should be above average. >> Exactly. >> And that’s really all I’m asking for because ultimately the strength of the team is not the pen. It should be the starting lineup. And you know, now that we’ve added so much to that pitching staff, maybe it could be a bit of the pitching staff as well. So, bullpen has definitely improved. Let’s look around the AL East, though. New York’s obviously a uh kind of our biggest rival in this whole thing, and they are the other team that’s favored to to win the AL East. Their bullpen got some good pieces, but they did lose uh Devin Williams, obviously. So, that’s something right there. >> And they lost uh who’s it? Weaver. >> Wever they lost Weaver as well. And for whatever reason, they’ve been kind of silent on that front. So, I think you could argue the Toronto Blue Jays kind of gotten a little bit better. Yankees had gotten a little bit worse, >> right? They And you know, like who the [ __ ] is Cade Windquest? Never heard of that guy in my life. He’s he’s a rule five guy, so they just got him, but I’ve literally never heard of that dude ever. >> Yeah, like obviously Camilo Dval um he is always a guy that is being tossed around as could be one day a good closer. Hasn’t really put it all together yet. He’s got a 358 RA from last year. Obviously, Bedner very solid. That’s a good closer to have. But after those two, I’m getting a lot of question marks. Obviously, Tim Hill’s been around for a while. He’s reliable, but you know, like he’s not that upside dude, but after that, like my goodness, it’s it’s tough. And last year, they are ranked 23rd in ERA, 19 in whip in terms of bullpen. So, >> yeah, they’re they’re not the strength of their team at all. Quick shout out here to Abba Edgar with a $20 don. Happy holidays. Resignbo B sign Tucker. Blue Jays don’t need Alex Bregman. We have Addison Barger. Please don’t sign [laughter] Alex Bregman. I don’t hate him. Blue Jays don’t need him. They need a left-hander for the bullpen. I’ll tell you what, that last comment right there, I can thoroughly agree with Brendan Little. >> You had your moments where you were really good. You also had your moments where you were giving me literal cardiac arrest. And I just don’t want to have to deal with that on a nightly basis. There’s 162 games, dude. And when I have to go through that like [ __ ] you know, 30 out of those 162 games because you’re walking people left, right, and center, it doesn’t make me feel very good. So having more lefty options would be nice. >> Give me a Brandon Little huge walk rate bounce back. Like cut that cut that in half. >> Now the bias is creeping now. >> No, I said I said give it to me. I want it. That’s what that’s >> I would like it as well. I would like it as well cuz ultimately when you look at why the bullpen was bad for the Toronto Blue Jays, it it was the walks. We weren’t giving up a whole lot of hits actually. Well, Hoffen was giving up big hits. Yeah. Homer per nine is pretty bad. Oh, actually yeah, >> it was literally just [ __ ] But the hits per nine is pretty good. It’s the fact that we’re 23rd in walks. And when somebody did eventually get a hit, well, there’s two people on and therefore a run cashes and therefore the RA increases. So less walks would be nice. Moving over to the Boston Red Sox. Red Sox have an incredible bullpen. [laughter] Like that was their big strength. And that’s why when we were um when we were uh talking about matchups in the postseason, I really wanted the Yankees because I wanted their bullpen. I did not want to get to a situation late where the lights are getting bright and we got the second ranked bullpen in terms of erra and baseball with Araldis Chapman just turning back the clock year after year with Garrett Whitlock being incredible. Like those two are absolutely insane. Now after that it’s actually kind of incredible how they don’t have much depth. They have wiser but after that like the depth really isn’t there for them. It is kind of shocking but they do got two dogs. Absolutely. >> Yeah. I mean like for that it’s just hard to argue with like being what was it? Third in RA last second in RA last year from early pitchers. Like, and that’s the thing, right? Like, even though they they have a couple of guys in there where like their ERAs don’t look as sexy, they clearly know how to utilize them cuz on the season as a whole, like they were very very very good. >> Got like six innings out of other starters and then boom. >> Yeah. Ultimately, like it it worked for them. So, I mean, I I think I can safely say like when you have Errol Chapman back there, like I’m going to I’m going to say the Red Sox are one right now. >> Yeah. I put them >> because like they they were so good last year. So they are the best when it comes to the bullpena. But after that, what do we see in the Baltimore Orioles? >> Baltimore Orioles 25th in RA last year was not very good. Yeah, Felix Bautista’s been injured, injured, injured. If they get him back, I don’t know when his timetable is to return, but if they get him back, like that’s something, but after that, like they did sign Ryan Helley, that was something. Didn’t have a great year last year though, but he could easily bounce back like any other year. And >> signed Andrew Kitri. >> Sign Andrew Kitrich. He’s again solid, but I’m not really seeing a lot of like absolute legends. Like this guy with 26 innings, 1.71 RA, that’s not bad. But >> yeah, overall I’m not seeing a whole lot of names. >> I think it’ll get better. Like when you sign when you sign and when you trade for two guys that right now are projected to be your closing your setup guy, like it is going to be better. The question is how much better is it going to be? Because last year you were terrible and you need to make like strides. >> Looking over there at the Tampa Bay Rays, it is year in and year out. I don’t know how they do it, but they just always find a way. They know how to deploy their guys extremely well and they were like a top tier bullpen last year just across the board in terms of like we are pitching well. You could argue that maybe they were even better than the ball uh Boston Red Sox. I know their RA is 12th, but really good in Kern, really good in his per nine, really good in walks per nine. It’s a deep deep pen. Yeah. And uh and they’re just they’re solid. again. Like I I the only guys I’m straight up I know from this bullpen is J Clevenger Youetta. That’s literally all I know. Those are the only names I recognize. But they’re going to keep deploying them. They’re going to keep bringing them in. So with all that being said, I’m going to also say Boston Red Sox are going to be number one bullpen. Number two, I might go [sighs] ah it’s between the Blue Jays or the Rays. I’ll probably give it to the Rays because they always got a great bullpen. Then I’ll go Jay’s three. And then to follow that, I’ll go honestly I think I’ll go it’s between Orioles or Yankees. Where you at with that? >> I I think realistically like I think you nailed the top three there. I think it is Boston one and I think that Tampus two and I and ultimately like we have to respect what it was that they did last year. So I would put them kind of in their own separate tier. Then I’d have the Toronto Blue Jays in, you know, just their own tier by themselves at number three. Like there we are at the third tier and then in in the bottom tier it like pick your poison like ultimately like Baltimore is going to be better and New York’s going to be a bit worse. So like is that better? >> Yeah. Like is that going to meet in the middle there? Like is Baltimore going to surpass them? Tough to say either way those two are are in the bottom tier for me. >> Yeah. All right. So we got our rankings. Jay’s like kind of you know second in the batting. I’m saying first in the starting pitching. You’re saying second starting pitching. and then we both agree third in the relief pitching. With all that being said, let’s give our predictions here on who we think has a chance to win the AL East the best chance to win the AL East. Let’s give this segment presented to you by Sports Interaction. Sports book and casino. Every game is your game when you bet with Sports Interaction, Canada’s homegrown sports book. Guys, we got the odds right here. Boom. We got Yankees, Jays, Red Sox, Orioles, and the Rays for the American League East winner. Right now, they have Blue Jays. Yankees tied at three times multiplier which that feels kind of right cuz now looking at it it’s like yeah the roster’s still there for the Yankees and you could make arguments for the Jays but they’re right there and I do agree that like the Blue Jays got them in the bullpen. There could be an argument for the starting pitching like kind of even and then they might have us a little bit in the offense. So where are you at right now? >> I think realistically um th this is here’s what I’m thinking. Yankees will win the American League East if they’re healthy. >> Because I think that when you look at just like when you look at their starting roster comparatively speaking to our starting roster, I think you can make an argument that they have a marginally slightly better starting roster than we do. The guys that are on the field, >> however, when they start to get injured, I think that’s where they fall off. And I think that Toronto has them beat when it comes to the depth. So if the 162 games wears them down and you do see some of those injuries and some of those guys in that lineup go and you know maybe one of the guys in the rotation goes, that’s where I think Toronto has the edge because everyone’s going to deal with injuries at some point. >> Toronto, I think, is going to be able to weather that storm better. So really the question is are the Yankees going to get injured to a point where that really starts to deteriorate their starting roster? Because if so I think Toronto’s got them. >> Yeah, it’s it’s a you know it’s it’s if this happens then yeah they get injured. I mean the same thing with the Blue Jays, right? If they get injured >> but but that’s the thing. I think that the Toronto Blue Jay like okay if we lose Vlatty we lose Vlatty and that’s the big problem. But I think that we will be able to weather the injury storm better than the Yankees. I think our depth is better than the New York whereas I think that their starting line like their top top guys are better than our top >> top I guess you could say then if that’s the logic I’m going to go with the Jays here. I’m going to go with the Jays to win the AL East yet again even though it’s even like there will be injuries in baseball and if they can’t replace that depth and the Jays can then you know we win. It’s a battle of attrition through 162 and that’s what they’re asking. They’re not asking who’s going to win the World Series. They’re asking who’s going to win the AL East. So, give me the Toronto Blue Jays right here to win the AL East. And actually, you know what’s really surprising is not too far off is the Red Sox and the Orioles only had a five times multiplier. I mean, Orioles were literally terrible last year and they go at Pete Alonzo. They make a trade for Ward. They get Shane Baz and there they are only two multiplier off from the Jays. >> It’s a good division. Uh there was um I believe it like Vegas released all of their odds for win totals and everything and all five [clears throat] of the American League teams were were in the upper half of the league. Yeah. >> Right. Like we were like it was like the top 14 teams. Every single one of them was was in there. Wow. >> So, you know, and and the the 14th team was the Tampa Bay Rays. And you look at the math right there. So, you have to imagine like they’re projecting the top four American League East teams to effectively all be top 12 teams in baseball. Right. >> Right. I mean, like, it’s a it’s a good division. And don’t sleep on Boston either because if they bring back Alex Bregman or they get somebody else in, they won 89 games last year. And I feel like I didn’t even really think about Boston at all. >> No. Isn’t that crazy? They had a great year the whole time. They were there the whole time. >> Yeah. They went to the wild card and then they just lost. That’s what happens when you go to the wild card and lose. No one remembers you. >> Nobody remembers you. But they were a good team last year, you know. So if they can figure out a couple more things out, I I mean, they could absolutely make a play for it. It’s a tough division. Uh I I would say if I had to bet my life on it, I’m going to go with the team that won it last year. So I would I would have to stick with that. I’d have to go with the Toronto Blue Jays. But honestly, I could see any number of those things happening. >> Anything could happen, guys. If you want to make a bet on it, though, go to Sportsbook Interaction Sportsbook or Sports Interaction Sportsbook and casino where they’ve got you covered with pitchby pitch live betting and easy deposits and payouts during the regular season. Every game is your game when you bet with Sports Interaction. Go to sportsinaction.com/bjn to open an account. The link is in the description of this podcast and uh it’s Ontario only, guys. 19 plus. Please play responsibly. Shout out here to Jason with a $5 donation. Maybe this is why Toronto could potentially be looking into Alex Bregman. We’re going to transition to that just momentarily. >> He’s saying Alex Bregman at third, Jimenez at shortstop, Ernie at second, Vlad at first. They would have a collective defensive run save. This is just the infield of plus 44. >> That’s crazy from last year. >> That’s Yeah, I assume it means from last year, but that is actually stupid. Uh, like that would be the best defensive infield [laughter] in baseball by a wide margin. So maybe Ross is looking at that and just he can’t help. >> Oh, he can’t help himself. >> He just can’t. He’s like, “Oh, [ __ ] That would be nice.” >> Well, maybe you get him and maybe you go add Kyle Tucker as well. >> I’ll tell you. Well, even if you bring in Bregman, right, and let’s just say that is how they wanted to draw it up and it’s Bregman third and then Ernie second. Barger can play a good outfield. He can do that now. So you don’t actually have to to do you don’t have to move that. You still keep Ernie’s great glove. You just you move him over to second now. And then you have the great glove of Bregman and the great glove of Mennez and and Vlatty had a great glove year last year. And you just really have to make Addison Barger a full-time outfielder. >> Yeah. And then you have Yeah. If Daltton Bar is still here for one more year, that’s pretty good. Yeah. That’s thing with Addison Bar. Like I looked at his outs above average. It’s like negative -1 for third, negative -2 for, you know, in the in the right field, which is like, you know, it’s fine. Like he’s he’s still trying to get comfortable right there. He’s got a great arm. Arm is incredible. You know, can he get adjusted to the range? We’ll have to see. But honestly, like that’s a decent freaking defense. Also, considering Alejandra Kirk right there in the >> And frankly, like I think we can afford a negative two from one of our outfielders with plus 44 from the [ __ ] >> You know what I mean? And you got Dol Varo. And you got Dol Varo, right? Like you don’t And that’s the thing, too. That’s might be where metrics kind of like factor in a little bit right here. Dalton covers so much ground that like Barger doesn’t need to cover too much ground in the in the corners. Maybe >> if Barger was the center fielder, he might get exposed a bit more, but we don’t have to deal with that, >> right? Like in in the alleyways. Yeah. Yeah. Like in the alleyways, like Barger is not going to be, you know, going that far distance because you’re going to have Don Barer there, you know. So, it could there could be some factors. But let’s go back to that Alex Bregman conversation. Everybody’s been talking about it in the chat, so we’re going to bring it up right here. What happened was Michael K, he had Jeff Basset on his show earlier today. And we know Jeff Passin is the goat of baseball and insider reporting and blah blah blah. He talked about the Toronto Blue Jays and Alex Bregman on Michael K’s show. He says, Jeff Pass, I don’t think the Blue Jays are done. I think we can all agree with this. They’re not done. I think they’re going to get a big bat. I think we can also agree with this. Not sure if that’s Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman or Bob Bashette or multiple of them. We knew that they were in on Tucker. We obviously knew they were in on Bob Bashette, but he tossed in Alex Bregman in there. Like it’s been part part of the conversation the whole time. And I I’ve said my two cents about it. What What are your two cents about that? >> I mean, I think it it’s it still would make sense like it again like we just went through it and it could still add up here. Um it like it feels maybe more of a fit cuz you know we’ve been I think honestly Bob and Kucker feel like more of a fit. Maybe just cuz we’ve been talking about them more, right? But like if we started talking about Alex Bregman a lot more, like we could wrap our heads around that and we could make that make sense and and that would add up and that would be really nice and and it hey like well him and George Springer and and him and Miles Straw and they got camaraderie. Same argument that we’ve been making for Kyle Tucker this whole [ __ ] time you can make for Alex Bregman too and you’re stealing him away from a division rival and that’s really good. So could it make sense 100%. Uh realistically, I think Jeff Pass is at a place where a lot of these insiders are at though, where they’re almost assured or they’re they’re very very confident that Toronto is going to go out and get a big bat. They’re so confident of that that you know, we’re just we’re going to toss all the names out there because hey, listen, what if Bo Bashette and Kyle Tucker leave the board? >> What? We’re just not going to sign Alex? No, we’re going to sign we’re going to go get the guy, you know? We’re going to get him because we’re going to go get a big bat. So, we could theoretically get any of them. >> Yeah. For me, it’s like I I still would put him at like my third priority cuz I like the the age of Boba being young and the bat. I love Boba’s bat so much. You guys know this. I think it’s it’s just great. You need a guy like that in your lineup. Obviously, Kyle Tucker is the perfect player all around. And then like, yeah, Alex Breman, he’d be a weird fit at first, but we’d make it work and he’s still a good guy. But yeah, I mean, we’re going to we’re going to get one of those dudes. So, it’s up to Russ now. >> And I’ll tell you what, man. Like, Bregman, the more I think about it, too, like you want to talk about a table setter. Like, that would be nuts. No, he gets on base a lot. >> Bregman gets on base a crapload. He’d be right in front of Vlatty. You You could convin you could really sell the defense there. You We’re like, who’s going to be the third baseman? We don’t know. Is it Ernie? Is it a bar? Guess what? Now, you know, and it’s going to be that guy. And he’s going to be at third base, the one of the more pivotal positions in in in defensively speaking in baseball. he’ll be there for for the five years that you have him signed or what have you. He’s locked down and then you kind of build your infield out >> from that type thing. So, I don’t I definitely don’t hate it. Uh I think it’s it sounds weird now because we’ve been this deep into the offseason. We haven’t been talking about it, but again, Toronto needs to get the big bat and if they’re not making any headway with Bo or they’re not making any headway with Tucker, why not bark up the Bregman tree? I mean, might as well, you know, see what his price tag is and what that looks like. Also, I heard some I think it might have been Bob Nutting that said, don’t quote me on this, but um that he Bregman lives in Arizona right now and it’s like then it’s kind of an awkward fit where it’s like, oh, he you know, Jay’s go to Florida and they’re on the east side of coast things and you have to move his family and blah blah blah. So, like that was the one thing to consider. It’s like, oh, maybe that wouldn’t be a fit for him in his personal life. That makes sense. But >> I you know, and that’s totally fair. That could play into all of this. Like I suppose like that would be like that. I don’t know. I don’t know. Brag, man. I don’t know how much how flexible he is or anything like that. >> He come on the show and he can talk about it if he wants, >> you know, like like that to me is the difference of like $1 million. Like we’ll give you an extra million because you live over there. >> In fact, we’ll move your family and we’ll take care of it all and we’ll get you [laughter] a home. >> Feels like an easy fix for a guy that’s about to get, you know, $150 million or what have you. >> But it depends. We don’t know. We don’t know anything. But uh shout out to Jason here with the $5 dono saying Tucker left field varure. Okay, left field assume one of those they’re in the corners, right? Um and collective defensive round save plus 23. Bar’s arm behind second and third would be fierce. Okay. Yeah, there you go. And that’s another team gold glove that we didn’t win last year. What the hell? Uh but we probably would. >> I think that was just that was literally voter voter fatigue. Yeah, voter fatigue at that point. They just said that enough’s enough and we’re giving it to the same team every time and and we have to make a change. Even though Toronto did >> get robbed on that one, >> but this is a whole side conversation. I think we brought it up when it was happening, but >> the gold glove I think I think I actually think it should just be dead. Like it doesn’t >> it means nothing. It means nothing. >> Like who got who got snubbed this year? Was it was Kirk who got snubbed? >> So many people got it. It was countless snubs. was and I’m forgetting it now because it doesn’t matter. None of it matters. >> Oh, Jimenez uh got snubbed. Um who else did Ernie I Ernie got snubbed cuz he was nominated. He was nominated for two positions. Utility and I believe third base didn’t win one. The [ __ ] How do you get nominated for two positions and don’t win one? >> It happens every year. And there was some wild stuff that happened on the National League side of things, too, where it’s quite literally like every single metric is pointing to this guy. Well, we’re just going to give it to actually the the fifth ranked guy in all the stats. Like what? Like not even number two guy. We’re going to give it to this guy who’s ranked five in. It’s like what? Like what actually are we [ __ ] doing? >> So wait, wasn’t it the Detroit Tigers catcher that won the Gold Glove this year over Kirk? >> And like Kirk destroyed this guy statistically. >> Genuinely was not close. >> I It was It’s garbage. But actually, let’s transition to our mailbag because we actually were just talking about all these big bats. This question comes from someone from Leah Kessle in here talking about these big bats saying, “Rank these potential big bats for the Blue Jays that are linked to an order. From the guy you want the most to the guy you want the least and and then if you have a combination of them, which one would you choose?” So, let’s start with the ranking first. Tucker, Bashette, Bregman, Bellinger, Marte. Let’s start with who you want the most to who you want the least. >> Well, we both want Tucker the most. So, you can automatically lock that guy in at number one. I think that’s that’s easy. Now, for me personally, as time’s been going on, I would have immediately told you it’s Bob Bashette uh like a couple weeks ago, but as time’s been going on, I am starting to think a little bit more about the long-term implications of having no like poor defense and the long-term implications of having, you know, not the best legs underneath him and everything like that. I understand he’s younger, which makes you makes you feel good, but you’re actually already seeing some of the >> I don’t know if it’s age or I don’t know what it is, but you’re seeing some signs of slowing down >> in the legs and Yeah, defensively. Yeah, that’s still great. >> Yeah, Bat’s still awesome. Bat’s still awesome. I would actually think I I would prefer uh the number two choice being Catel Marte. Uh because that’s an MVP candidate every single year at the second base bag. He’s awesome and there’s no signs whatsoever of decline. Even though he is like what, four years older than Bo? I think >> five years older than Bo. >> Five years old. He’s certainly older. Uh but I mean one of the better quality baseball players in the league. >> Yeah, I I’ll I’ll go Boba Bashette, too, cuz he is the youngest guy on this list. And I mean, Boba, Blue Jay for Life, Lah, like give me that. I want to see that. And I I’ll probably go to love any of these other guys, too. But like, give me give me Boba. Give me the back. can be the, you know, hits leader in baseball any given year. I want that. And then I would go Catel Marte 3 because yeah, I do I do think for at least the next like two to three years it’ll be awesome and he’ll be, you know, up there and MVP votes and and whatnot and then we can accept the fall off, but it’ll be super cheap. And then after that, I would go probably probably Bregman and then Cody Ballinger because Cody Ballinger I mean you got the versatility with Cody Balinger. Pretty good glove too in the outfield. I’m not going to lie. But, you know, Bregman’s still a great defender in his own right. You know, Bellinger is just a little up and down for you. Whereas Bregman, I know exactly what I’m going to get from. >> Yeah, Breman’s consistent, man. Like, he is like Mr. consistent. Even like his bad years are not really bad whereas Cody Bellinger’s bad years have been terrible before. So, I would do exactly the same except just swap Catel Marte and Bo Mashett. Uh, you know, I mean, I I just I think I just have so much respect for what it is that Catel Marte’s game is. But realistically, would we complain about any of them? No. I would be happy with every single individual on that list coming to the Toronto Blue Jays. And if you could get two of them, man, we are [ __ ] laughing. >> Oh, yes, we are. I’m pulling up another question right now from you guys. Again, if you want to submit a question, go to the mailbag in the link down below. >> I got a question. What would you prefer? Uh, Kyle Tucker signed for 10 years or whatever it is or Bregman and Bellinger who were both of our our bottom on that list. So, would you prefer getting both of Bellinger and Bregman or the one of Kyle Tucker who’s here forever? >> Probably both Bregman and Bellinger. I mean, that’s just I mean, do do we need that? Like, who Okay, what would happen to our whole team right there? Let’s play it out. So, okay, you bring in Bellinger. He’s probably going to play a corner outfield cuz you got VO, right? At least for right now. He could realistically slot into center field again. You know, once Varial goes, you’d be okay with letting that go. So, that kind of works out. Uh but at least for the meantime now you’re having a little bit of situation. Yeah, you’re having a big situation actually right now where Okay, so you bring in Begman for third and then let’s say you put Bellinger in right field. Okay, George and Santandere. Okay, he move on to there to left. George is DH. >> What do you do with Varger? Is Varger on the bench now? You know, cuz Ernie’s playing second and then >> I think I mean realistically it just wouldn’t it not be the same problem though with like Bashad and Tucker? We’re just doing the same thing. >> Yeah, it’s the same situation. So like it means that somebody that’s getting playing time now is going to not get as much playing time now. So it’s the same [ __ ] >> And that’s why it’s like I think that also too that situation is like kind of out there too. It’s like yeah like now we’re really we’re hurting our chance for like I want Barger to get 162 freaking games under his belt. You know what I mean? Like I think this guy’s got a lot of potential. Tank. That’s a total side topic. But yeah I mean I’d still do it because that saves you for later on because your signing probably break him into a fiveyear deal. Bellinger I’ve heard wants like a six or sevenyear deal. So at least for the next like five years that core is rocking like that and like yeah it’ll be a problem this year but George will leave maybe varial will go. Sand dair will figure that out when we’ll cross separation we get there but yeah for the next 5 years you’re rocking with a solid core. So yeah I’d probably do that. >> Uh Ann in here saying no way Tucker is better than Bellager and Bregman and one for one 100% but is he better than both of them? I’m not sure about that. Having both of them in that lineup, that feels lethal. So, I think I would ultimately have to take the production of two guys over one. Even though, yeah, one to one, Tucker is the better baseball player, but I mean, Bregman and Balance are still very good guys. >> Very solid. >> Like, that’s elite adding those to the lineup. So, I would probably take two as well. Now, speaking of Vars show extensions, this one comes in from Sam saying, “Would you like to see Kevin Gosman and Daltton Varo extended with the Blue Jays? If so, what could a realistic contract look like?” And that’s something I’ve I’ve thought about during the regular season, specifically with Daltton Varo. I think I’ve always accepted Kevin Gosman wasn’t going to get an extension. I mean, we’ll again cross that bridge when we get there. It’s not entirely out of the question depending on how this season goes and how he does because he is, you know, he’s he is getting a little bit older, but you know what what about a two-year deal or a one-year deal? I don’t know what it looked like. That’s a cross that bridge when we get there situation. Varial though, young dude, middle of his career. You know, depending on what we do kind of will affect his contract and if we want him or not. But like what would a Dalton Versial contract look like? I’ve thought about that. I think we got to wait one more year to see, but I am I I would entertain it if I was the Blue Jays just because of how much defense he provides. Yeah, sure. The bat is up and down. It’s power, not so much contact. I would entertain it, but I don’t I cannot give you a number right now or even a a length. We’d have to play one more full healthy season with Dalton Marshall. >> Yeah. I think the reason we’re all kind of opening up to the idea of a var extension now is cuz the offense is good. >> Yeah, exactly. >> The offense was bad. Nobody wanted to have him here because like he’s supposed to be a key contributor. Yeah. When do then when Daltton Vo gets pushed back into a role where he isn’t, you know, on full display and he doesn’t need to be like [clears throat] the big the guy the cleanup hitter, right? >> Then immediately I like Dton Verer so much better. Oh yeah. >> Right. It’s it’s like automatically I’m I’m happy with this now. This this makes sense. So if the offense is still good in a year, [ __ ] it. like g give me the defense adult vario extend him he’s the Andrenez of the outfield except better offensively speaking better than that with some pop but we don’t need to rely on him if you are signing him to have him be your four hitter no thank you don’t want any of that >> I’m signing to do defense >> and occasional homers >> exactly that’s when I like it and that’s when the extension makes a ton of sense for me so you know I I it’s a copet answer but I’m going to wait and see what the offense looks like >> yeah that that’s the thing All right. Cuz like last year when he was healthy, [clears throat] I believe he was on like a stupid home run pace. >> Now, this was one stretch and I believe it was middle of the season, he came back from injury and he was awesome and then he went out again for a little while and and that and then that one stretch he was incredible. So, he’s shown signs where he can have a month and it’s an awesome month and Daltton Bar was great. There has also been stretches where a month will go by and it is strikeout city and he cannot hit the broadside of a bard. It’s like it’s just not a good look. So there’s the ups, there’s the downs, the consistent is the defense. If the offense is good and consistent in its own right, sign him here forever and be that defensive threat. If you need more offense in the lineup, maybe you let him walk and look to get that in that position. Yeah, I feel like the Blue Jays, if it’s especially if they do go get Kyle Tucker, I feel like the Blue Jays are going to let him test free agency to determine his price cuz I’m having a hard time even determining his price. Like, even if he does exactly what we expect him to do, which is like he’ll hit 22 homers, 23 homers, have some injuries, and then he’ll play exceptional defense. Like, what is that? I I don’t even know what that is. >> I still think he’s going to get paid relatively well. Like we just saw Hasson Kim get paid $20 million for one year and he’s quite literally just a glove. You could even argue that Daltton Vo is a little bit better offensively. >> Yeah. Like like I was actually pay for defense. >> I was actually thinking like probably a short-term deal of like two years 40 mil, you know, something like that. Like I could see something like that in the realistic category, but we’ll see how he does this year. Uh we got another question here from Jordan Keat saying, “Early doors before the season begins. Who do you think will be the biggest performer this season? Who do we think will be the difference maker this year? I think we could all agree George was the differencemaker last year offensively speaking. Like he I think we agreed he was the MVP of the season. Who’s the difference maker this year? >> Bro, just speaking on George for a second. I got no idea what to expect. >> Oh yeah, I know he’s great right now and everyone probably thinking like, what do you mean he’ll be great again? He’s like 30. He’s gonna be 36. >> It’s just it’s tough, man. because like it is one of those things where the season prior you were so awful >> and and then like you know you come out and you do that and >> I don’t know how I don’t know where that came from. I don’t know how you did that. Uh you’re going to be >> almost 37 at the beginning of next season. Like it’s >> we’re getting there. Um but then like again age is just a number and you did not look like you were 36 last year. Like age is just a number. I don’t know what to expect. I think I can safely say I I don’t think he’s going to be that good again cuz that was stupid good. 959 OPS. Are you kidding me? Yeah. >> But the the real question is how far is it going to >> Yeah. >> come down. >> Yeah. Like, okay, so I don’t want to I don’t want to say Vlad because that’s obvious. Vlad’s going to be good. You know, he’s going to be great. But like the like the difference maker is like, okay, you have your core dudes, but who’s going to step up and like make that lineup even better? Last year we saw a few guys do that. Everyone really. >> Yeah. Like George Springer stepped up, Lucas stepped up when he was healthy. I’m going to say it’s Addison Barger because I think he’s going to find a way to get playing time and he’s going to finally get a full 160 where he gets to all the starting jobs and I think he’s take the next step. He’s going to be 26. Give me Barger hitting 30 homers. Like that would be a differencemaker for me. >> Totally. And that’s that is within the realm of possibility assuming we don’t sign him into oblivion by getting other you know pregnant men all these people uh difference maker >> I made a short on it this morning on air right like you want to we’re just forgetting that we could quite literally immediately it’s just like poof there’s a 35 home run hitter didn’t need to add or do anything already got him but you know you’re kind of just you don’t know what to project from him I’m actually more confident that he’s going to be good than I am that George Springer is going to repeat because when you look at Anthony Santandere’s career, there’s one clear outlier and it was last year and he was horrendously bad last year and that’s cuz he was injured. >> Yeah. >> Same thing can be said for Bob Bashett. We saw that happen with Bobette just a season prior and and Bobette was awful because he was injured and then when he’s healthy, he’s back to being Bobette again. So if Anthony Santandere is healthy, I think that you’re going to get high 20, low 30 home run. You’re going to get an OPS around the 800 mark and we’re going to be laughing. >> Here’s a question. I want to throw this out to you cuz this is what I my train of thought was cuz uh George Springer broke out for like a, you know, 950 OPS last year. That was like a true difference maker. Like you know, you should got MVP votes right there. Who’s got a better chance to get that type of breakout, Santandere or Barger for you? If you were to like bet on one guy, who’s got a better chance to do that? >> Like who’s gonna have a better chance? >> Like a n like a mid 900 ops. >> It’s tough because we don’t we don’t know what Bars are going to do, you know. >> Yeah. I I I think I’d have to I’m going to go with Tony Taters on that one. Um I’ve seen him hit 44 home runs and I think that Barger is really good. Uh but uh but ultimately you know like we I’ve seen Anthony Santandere like actually get NBA >> like I think if Santandere hit for more average I mean this is asking for a lot he could he would launch himself into that 900 stratosphere. I think he’s capped by the batting average for the OPS number at least. >> Okay. Yeah. I mean if Yeah. Sure. Like that but again like like it’s you know if Addison Barger hit 40 home runs high average like you’re asking both of these guys to do lots of stuff. >> Exactly. But who’s got a better chance to is for him to hit for a higher average or did Barger hit for a lot of homers? I don’t know. And that’s >> and a higher average too cuz he career average of 229. That’s true. >> So you’re asking You’re literally asking both of them to get like do way more, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So who’s Yeah. Exactly. >> I think the better chance for me is Anthony Santandere. >> I would go Barer. I’d go Barer just just because I I don’t know. We haven’t seen the ceiling of him yet. Whereas like I we may have seen the ceiling of Santandere. I don’t know if he’s going to hit for average. We’ll have to see. That swing is pretty viable. He’s also got a violent swing. So maybe they’re both not due for 900 opses. I just find it hard to believe that like you know that Sire would get there. >> Yeah. Well, I don’t think either of them are. >> Yeah, that’s true. I don’t think so. And so would that be a true difference maker or is that just them playing the roles? I don’t know because that’s what I Yeah, that’s what I’m classifying as like a true difference maker is like that type of level MVP level. >> Okay. I I don’t I don’t think Anthony Santandere is going to do that. I don’t think Addison Barger is going to do that. I think that Anthony Santandere is going to do what you signed him to do, which is hit around 30 bombs, maybe a bit more, and have an ops slightly over 800 or around that mark, and you’re going to be laughing, and that’s going to be awesome. And I think that Addison Barger could be around that same area. And if he did that, that would be amazing. >> Mhm. Yeah. We’ll have to wait and see. You guys let us know your thoughts in the comments down below about that. I’m going to pull up another question real quick. We got actually a lot of questions. You guys are popping off right now. Someone just said, “Otan, come to come come to Toronto.” [laughter] All right, give me a second, guys. Here, I’m just going to lock in and read a couple of these. Oh, this is a good question here from Jake. Gonna bring this up real quick. Give me a few moments, everybody. >> Can Clement become a 300 [clears throat] hitter? Uh, I mean, I it’s out of anybody, I I guess you could argue that Clement could. Yeah, he would be he would be probably the best guy other than >> we’ve seen it over the course. We’ve seen it over stretches, >> but um yeah, is he going to do it over a whole 162? I don’t know. Like, granted, he was the leader in postseason history hits. So, if anybody’s possible, it might be Ernie Clement. We got a hot question here from Jake. This is a [laughter] this is a hot question saying, “What about Ricky Tedman?” And I might sound kind of crazy, but what about bringing back Strowman? I think we’re talking about Ricky Teen. What about Ricky Tamman? Thoughts on him doing this year? What he’s going to do? What are we going to do with him? But thoughts about bringing back Strowman. Stro is done, my man. In the league anymore, man. >> I I don’t think anyone’s going to sign that guy. I think he’s cooked. >> Yeah. Like I think he might be like just done done, dude. Like I haven’t even thought about that guy in a while. Like >> I think he’s cooked. Is he signed at all? Is he with the Yankees still? >> I So last year, remember when he wanted to he said he’s like, I’m not going to do anything if I’m not a starter. And then did they cut him? I thought they cut him. >> He started nine games and had an a year of 623 and I assume after that it was >> nothing happening cuz >> Yeah. Like I Is he even with anyone right now? >> I don’t I don’t I haven’t heard. I don’t think so. Yeah, they they released him. Yeah, they released him. >> He’s I don’t Yeah, this is just not He’s >> He’s not He’s done, guys. Car’s over. U Yeah. Oh, this is it for MLB. I could see him going over to another league. He could play. Yeah, go to Japan. >> He could play in Cuba. He could play in Japan. Japan, >> dude. Yeah, he probably probably pull Trevor Bower and like suck in Japan. >> Uh, but yeah, he could play somewhere else, but this is not No, definitely not. It’s over, man. >> At least Ricky Tedman. We have no idea what we’re going to get out of him, but there is some hope that he could do something and he could be a bullpen guy for us. They might transition him into doing that cuz right now you’re looking at that rotation. It’s like where is he going to >> where is he going to play? Yeah, >> maybe one of these days he wanted him to be a starter, but what are you going to give up Gossman starts for him? I don’t think so. Like, who’s giving up starts? >> I think you’d have to be pretty intrigued to see him in a rotation. I could see reality they throw him in the pen. I mean, why not? You threw you Savage in there for a little bit, you know? >> I think and and I think they’d actually be okay with that. Like, >> he throws pretty fast. Like, imagine that lefty with heat coming out of the pen. >> I don’t hate it. Now that we have somebody that is finally a prospect turning into a starter, we hope in Trey Savage. I don’t hate if you have a prospect come out and be a good bullpen arm for you. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Bullpen guys all the time, man. What if we actually just grew one for a change like Tampa does every [ __ ] year? >> Yeah, let’s do it, man. Like, okay. Like, who cares if he doesn’t become the elite starter? Like, what if he just comes elite bullpen guy again? We need lefties in the pen. Actually, I’m convinced. Make him a Make him a Make him a a bullpin guy this year. He’s left you with heat. >> More likely that what they’re going to do >> and he’s got a nasty slider sweeper. >> Do it. Yeah. >> Yeah. Do it. Uh guys, I think that’s where we’re going to end it right here. It’s a pretty long show. We got a lot of your questions in. But guys, let us know your thoughts in the comments down below. When the heck are people going to sign? We don’t know. And the word on the street is they’re just continuing to wave. Hopefully we get some [music] surprise during the holiday season and we can just do a impromptu live to celebrate a signing. Next week we’re going to have a little bit of a different schedule. I’ve got a podcast. I think it’s going to be out for Monday and we got a podcast coming out for Wednesday. And then after that we’re going to be waiting and seeing is there going to be any signings if there’s a signing or trade. We’ll be live in some uh in some weird different setups. >> Yeah, you’ll have to forgive us. There might be uh grandmas and Christmas trees and you know >> poor connections and >> yeah it is what it is folks going home and and seeing the family for the holidays but uh normal schedule [music] will be back after that and honestly I do really love it when it’s just like on the fly got to go live from my basement because we ended up making a big trade big splash. So fingers crossed Ross keeps us busy. Thank you so much for watching everybody and as always go Jays go. >> Merry Christmas. Happy day.

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