He's not an improvement on Espinal. He's an improvement on Zimmer, late inning base stealer who can come in and pinch run. He's also a right handed bat, not what was needed. Jays failed to a add a Left handed bat. Only three hitters on Jays hit from the left side. Biggio and Tapia - who are solid and Zimmer - who is putrid. Jays don't have a single left handed bat that can be called up in September either.
- winsix

¯_(ツ)_/¯

Chris Black
@DownToBlack
One Blue Jays storyline that needs to be retired:
The need for a left-handed bat.

Top seven hitters on team are all above-average vs RHP & four of them are better vs righties than lefties.

¯_(ツ)_/¯

- senstroll

No answer on the bench for a late inning righty fire baller. When you have a guy hitting .107 on your bench - surely you can address it.

to be fair, Iglesias hasnt been great this year. era+ of 100, and War .2..pretty meh

The Jays also already had made the move for Bass and Pop and i think Bass has the best stats of any reliever traded yeserday, or at least one of the best.

Also, Mitch White has been decent, pretty much better than Syndergaard, but the differnce is nobody has heard of him.

The made the moves most people wanted, just different players. Will see how it works out.
- senstroll

Jays improved the team but weren’t prepared to overpay to get big names. They’re now less likely to lose games because of middle relievers. They have some more options if Springer needs to sit for a while. Ultimately the big boys in the lineup and the top of 5he rotation will determine how they do in the playoffs.

No answer on the bench for a late inning righty fire baller. When you have a guy hitting .107 on your bench - surely you can address it.
- winsix

Merrifield starts and Biggio comes off the bench as that late inning LH hitter.

I was thinking, goaltending in hockey is actually the most overrated position in sports.
- Zezel

Slowly begins to draw out the ban hammer................

Jays improved the team but weren’t prepared to overpay to get big names. They’re now less likely to lose games because of middle relievers. They have some more options if Springer needs to sit for a while. Ultimately the big boys in the lineup and the top of the rotation will determine how they do in the playoffs.
- Canada Cup

Overpay? - like letting Minnesota pick up Fulmer for a 24 year old grade C prospect from Double A?

Merrifield starts and Biggio comes off the bench as that late inning LH hitter.
- The Law

Ian Happ was available and was a much better option. He's also a switch hitter.

No answer on the bench for a late inning righty fire baller. When you have a guy hitting .107 on your bench - surely you can address it.
- winsix

Who in their regular batting order do you feel compelled to pinch hit for other than maybe Jansen?

No answer on the bench for a late inning righty fire baller. When you have a guy hitting .107 on your bench - surely you can address it.
- winsix

well since there is only 9 batters in a game, you will usually have someone else on the bench to put in (biggio, tapia, Jansen, who ever else sat that game). they would never put in Zimmer to PH in an important spot. he gets pinch run and outfield D when needed.

also looking at how the top 7 hitters are agaisnt rhp...umm who cares

Ian Happ was available and was a much better option. He's also a switch hitter.
- winsix

he wasnt traded

But also, (vax stuff aside), Merrifeld in his last 69 games and 307 plate appearances
.280/.332/.423 / 112 wRC+

he had an awful start...but has been decent for over the half season

Who in their regular batting order do you feel compelled to pinch hit for other than maybe Jansen?
- Canada Cup

Espinal, Jansen, any injury replacement.

Talk about a rough 5 years for a team.
- GreatGigInTheSky

They're the former expos alright.... selling players like it's 1995.

he wasnt traded

But also, (vax stuff aside), Merrifeld in his last 69 games and 307 plate appearances
.280/.332/.423 / 112 wRC+

he had an awful start...but has been decent for over the half season
- senstroll

Liked the Merrifeld move. Didn't like the moves that were not made. Yankees, Mariners, Tampa and Minnesota all made more significant moves without giving up much.

Ian Happ was available and was a much better option. He's also a switch hitter.
- winsix

Except he’s not as versatile. He’s not really an infielder. Has only played OF this year and only 8 games at 2nd and 2 at 3rd last year. Merrifield can play OF and was nominated for a Gold Glove at 2nd last year.

Except he’s not as versatile. He’s not really an infielder. Has only played OF this year and only 8 games at 2nd and 2 at 3rd last year. Merrifield can play OF and was nominated for a Gold Glove at 2nd last year.
- Canada Cup

Except he's a way better player 2.8 WAR this year vs. -0.3 for Merrifeld. He's also a switch hitter. Happ plays centre field and would have helped cover for Springer who will be battling to stay healthy this season.

Except he's a way better player 2.8 WAR this year vs. -0.3 for Merrifeld. He's also a switch hitter. Happ plays centre field and would have helped cover for Springer who will be battling to stay healthy this season.
- winsix

Merrifield played 40 games this year in the OF, mostly in right. Who knows what the cost of Happ was going to be. Nobody was prepared to pay it.

Ernie Whitt Merrifield👍

to be fair, Iglesias hasnt been great this year. era+ of 100, and War .2..pretty meh

The Jays also already had made the move for Bass and Pop and i think Bass has the best stats of any reliever traded yeserday, or at least one of the best.

Also, Mitch White has been decent, pretty much better than Syndergaard, but the differnce is nobody has heard of him.

The made the moves most people wanted, just different players. Will see how it works out.
- senstroll

I think the consideration here is a little reputation, but also performance outside of this year - Bass has been excellent this year, but this is his first truly good season since 2011, in his first year at 23. It's hard to have trust in him, yet. But I agree that his stats were excellent. I would have liked to be in on David Robertson, but have no idea if he would have been interested. I like Pop, as well. If you take away his one bad outing, he's been solid all year. It'll be nice to see him brought into situations that matter. Too often he's been used in low leverage situations or as a mop-up when the Marlins were trailing.

Mitch White, I commented yesterday, I don't know at all. He feels like a lesser version of Stripling - the Stripling we picked up, based on 2019 (when he was 29), was a starter/reliever with a WHIP of 1.15 and an ERA+ of 116. White is 27, has a WHIP of 1.25 and an ERA+ of 112. He probably gives up a few too many walks, but otherwise he should do the job.

With Iglesias, I won't lie - it's historical rather than current. He has been inconsistent all year but this is a guy who has been outstanding for the past 6-7 years. Last year he was in contention for the Cy Young (I mean, not really - but he received 1 vote point and was in 11th place . . . out of 11). But he could also just be 34 and his arm velocity is slipping and his next 3 years @ $48m are going to be a nightmare for the Braves.

I think the consideration here is a little reputation, but also performance outside of this year - Bass has been excellent this year, but this is his first truly good season since 2011, in his first year at 23. It's hard to have trust in him, yet. But I agree that his stats were excellent. I would have liked to be in on David Robertson, but have no idea if he would have been interested. I like Pop, as well. If you take away his one bad outing, he's been solid all year. It'll be nice to see him brought into situations that matter. Too often he's been used in low leverage situations or as a mop-up when the Marlins were trailing.

Mitch White, I commented yesterday, I don't know at all. He feels like a lesser version of Stripling - the Stripling we picked up, based on 2019 (when he was 29), was a starter/reliever with a WHIP of 1.15 and an ERA+ of 116. White is 27, has a WHIP of 1.25 and an ERA+ of 112. He probably gives up a few too many walks, but otherwise he should do the job.

With Iglesias, I won't lie - it's historical rather than current. He has been inconsistent all year but this is a guy who has been outstanding for the past 6-7 years. Last year he was in contention for the Cy Young (I mean, not really - but he received 1 vote point and was in 11th place . . . out of 11). But he could also just be 34 and his arm velocity is slipping and his next 3 years @ $48m are going to be a nightmare for the Braves.
- Monkeypunk

Stripling is a free agent after this season so White is a bit of insurance. Other than Bass who is under contract this year and next, everyone else has a good deal of control at reasonable $. To me the biggest deal is the guys we now won’t have to see coming out of the Jays’ bullpen in important parts of the game

Except he's a way better player 2.8 WAR this year vs. -0.3 for Merrifeld. He's also a switch hitter. Happ plays centre field and would have helped cover for Springer who will be battling to stay healthy this season.
- winsix

Happ isn't that great. If he wasn't moved then Chicago was asking too much. There were a lot of players in yesterday's deadline - the expanded playoffs has made more buyers. I don't know why the Cubs didn't move him, but that's not my business.

Merrifield is having a poor season, but both Sens and Law have noted that he has been coming on of late, and it's true. His first month was terrible. If you look at their historical numbers, you get this:

Merrifield is faster, can steal, and plays more positions. He's a better contact hitter. Historically, he averages as a 3.2 WAR guy over 162 games.

Happ is still versatile, but largely an outfielder. He has more swing and miss but it comes with a bit more power and he takes more walks. Historically, he averages 2.4 WAR over 162 games.

Merrifield gives you the ability to move Biggio, Espinal, Bo, Springer, Teo or Gurriel in and out of games as required down the stretch and not hurt like you're putting in f'n Zimmer. Tapia has been ok, although I will say that he just can't draw a walk. If you held a gun to someone's head and said, "Take a walk or else I shoot," there would definitely be a funeral. If Merrifield continues to elevate his game, playing Tapia less might also be helpful.

It was an underwhelming deadline for them, there's no doubt. I would have liked to see maybe one more utility bat to ensure Zimmer is gone, and maybe just one more bp arm to ensure we don't see Richards again.

Except he's a way better player 2.8 WAR this year vs. -0.3 for Merrifeld. He's also a switch hitter. Happ plays centre field and would have helped cover for Springer who will be battling to stay healthy this season.
- winsix

The reports are that the Jays Yanks and Dodgers were all in on Happ but the Cubbies were asking way too much.

Merrifield is a nice option assuming Happ wasn't really available.

The reports are that the Jays Yanks and Dodgers were all in on Happ but the Cubbies were asking way too much.

Merrifield is a nice option assuming Happ wasn't really available.
- The Law

One of the points emerging is that the Jays farm system isn’t really what we like to think it is. There are some strong top end guys but beyond that the pieces aren’t really there. Buster Olney tweeted that other teams weren’t that enthusiastic about Jays prospects. Management wasn’t prepared to move Moreno or Tiedeman for any of the starters or relievers or bats available.

Slowly begins to draw out the ban hammer................

- Cush29

Lol

I mean, you can win with the Chris Osgoode of goalies, but has a team ever won with a Chris Osgoode equivalent of a top line centre? I don't think so.

ARGOOOOOOS

ARGOOOOOOS
- Zezel

suck