It's a good time to be a Jays fan - whether the moves work out or not, they are giving the fans what they want while still making what look like pretty sensible deals.

SP Berrios
SP Manoah
SP Gausman
SP Ryu
SP Stripling

C Jansen/McGuire

1B Vlad
2B Biggio
SS Bichette
3B Espinal

LF Gurriel
CF Springer
RF Teo Hernandez

DH Kirk

Others in the current starting mix - Grichuk, Pearson

Definitely need an IF there. I wouldn't want to rely at all on Espinal as a starter, and Biggio struggled last year (after not being a particularly highly rated prospect). The high minors is pretty bare, Kevin Smith and Otto Lopez are ready for a trial but they look more like utility guys than starters. So I think you need another starter and a solid bench guy, preferably with positional flexibility. OF/DH is fine if Grichuk isn't dealt.

Kris Bryant or Chris Taylor would be good fits. Maybe Kyle Seager on a cheap deal. Nelson Cruz could be good if Grichuk is dealt.

Is Kirk still trade bait? He could net them an infielder.

I think he's got to hit more in the show to be able to get a good player in return. Just a fat catcher until proven otherwise.

I think he's got to hit more in the show to be able to get a good player in return. Just a fat catcher until proven otherwise.

He's got a 113 wRC+ so far, and has raked in the minors. Steamer projects him for a 125 wRC+. That seems really good for a C.

I think I feel better about Espinal than I do about Biggio.

Kirk was a top 100 prospect, I think teams will be interested in that. The problem is that there may be other cheap, more proven catchers available like Sean Murphy and Jacob Stallings.

Opting to stick with Espinal v signing somebody like Seager is one of those decisions that make or break a roster.

How much weight do you put on Espinal's 118 career games? How many HR does Seager need to hit to offset a .285 OBP? How high does Espinal's OBP need to be to offset a lack of HR?

I would be tempted to start the season with Espinal and Biggio to see what they can do full-time, then be ready to be the first team to jump on a veteran IF with an expiring contract when the weak teams start to shed them mid-season. Problem with that scenario is that the Jays would be a starter injury away from trotting out . . . Breyvic Valera? Kevin Smith?

#5 If the Jays thought he could actually handle C he wouldn't be in the discussion as a young DH. And he'd have played more last year.

He doesn't seem to throw all that well but didn't seem that bad beyond that. Still, I can't say they're wrong to prefer Jansen behind the plate.

Kevin Smith?

I imagine he'd be the worst post-game interview ever. Just doesn't say anything.

There are a few reasonable IF stopgaps out there not yet mentioned -- Cesar Hernandez, Jose Iglesias, Villar, maybe Josh Harrison. Those guys project average at best but you're looking to them for 400-500 PA and insurance you don't end up with a gaping hole in the lineup. The big prize would be Chris Taylor but it sounds like he's gonna be pretty expensive. Iglesias might be the best fit -- he's been doing this for a few years and can be Bichette's back up too maybe ... but both DRS (-20) and UZR (-10) suggest his defense totally collapsed last year so maybe not. (Still, Steamer projects him to 1.5 WAR)

Eduardo Escobar would have been a really good fit. FA market at third is super thin. Hey, maybe you can get JD Davis cheap, although is defense is awful. I think #8 probably has it right, go with Espinal, hope the lineup can carry him, and look for upgrades in July.

Is it crazy to think that Vlad could move back to third?

Jeff Blair said that neither Ray nor Matz were vaccinated, so wouldn't be able to play in Canada next year.

Current rumours have the Jays in on Freeman, Bryant, and Taylor. Which is just silly.

Jeff Blair said that neither Ray nor Matz were vaccinated, so wouldn't be able to play in Canada next year.

So neither Matz nor Ray (or others w/o vaccination) will not be available to pitch in a series in Toronto?

That's a big piece of the decision-making puzzle in terms of making a contract offer. If I'm an AL team -- especially an AL East team -- the terms would have to be pretty favourable to take on a player who is guaranteed to be unavailable for X number of regular season starts, let alone something like a one-game playoff in Toronto, or postseason games against the Jays, etc.

Plus there is no firm information on how long the restrictions will be in place, so the limitations could be x5.

That's correct, the government of Canada removed the exemption from vaccine requirements for athletes.

Well, as a Jays fan, I hope most of the top players in the AL choose to go unvaccinated then. Finally, a competitive advantage!

:-)