Jays won’t give Gurriel away for nothing
What are your thoughts on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s trade value? I feel with his age, production, control, cost certainty for three to four years, he should be one of the most valuable trade assets in the league. We are potentially underselling him for a one-year rental. — Omair, Toronto
Gurriel is set to earn just $15 million (U.S.) over the next three seasons, a bargain by MLB standards, with a year of arbitration tacked on at the end. That’s the type of contract any team would love to have for a player with his upside. So why deal him? You have to give up something to get something. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Nate Pearson, Austin Martin and probably even Cavan Biggio aren’t going anywhere. That doesn’t mean Gurriel is going either; he would only be moved in a large-scale deal.
Reports keep surfacing that Tampa Bay is making Blake Snell available, and is prioritizing catching. What do you think about the Jays doing what it takes to sign JT Realmuto long-term, then offering Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk or Jordan Groshans for Snell? Too much? —
Terry, Toronto
If the Jays are going big on a free agent, it makes sense to target a guy like George Springer, who fills an area of need, over someone like Realmuto, who plays a position already covered off. That can change. If Ross Atkins strikes out on Springer or one of his top infield targets, getting a plus bat like Realmuto and trading catching depth might be necessary.
Springer has been thrown about in the player acquisition wish list this off-season, yet he is implicated in one of the biggest sports cheating scandals since John Cusack rocked early 1900s baseball fashions in the movies. It’s a given that current Jays overlook it, right? —
@whyimsmrtthnyou
If the Jays overlooked the scandal for bench coach Dave Hudgens, who is in a relatively low-profile position, it’s guaranteed the cheating scandal won’t factor into the Springer talks. If the Jays strike out on Springer it will be because of money, not a trash can. As for the baseball movies, I’m more of a Kevin Costner guy.
The Blue Jays are linked to everyone! Where do these rumours come from? Agents? Team leaks? Or guys like you trying to have a hot take? —
Mike, Hamilton
Most of these reports come from agents who are trying to strengthen the market for their clients. If a team inquires about a certain player, it benefits the agent to have that information released. The more reported interest there is, the more likely it becomes for a team to make an aggressive bid. Front offices occasionally leak this information, but that happens more in trade talks for the same reasons agents upsell their clients in free agency.
Can the Jays realistically get a legitimate centre-fielder this off-season? —
Sean, Toronto That depends on how much faith you have in the Jays’ ability to get Springer. Jackie Bradley Jr. is a fallback option but is he enough of an upgrade over Randal Grichuk to justify the expense? Defensively, the answer is a definitive yes, but adding a centre-fielder means Grichuk or Gurriel must be moved elsewhere. From here, it looks like Springer or bust for changes in centre.