I was hoping to share some news this afternoon. But nothing… at least until I hit ‘Post’.
We talked a bit in yesterday’s GameThread about Bo Bichette’s next contract. The team is in a tough spot on this. They can’t trade him at the deadline because we are in the race, and you can’t trade an everyday player when you are in first place. The deadline isn’t where you trade veteran for veteran. It is where you trade prospect(s) for veterans.
Bo is having a bit of a bounce-back season, but he’s still just league average with the bat (105 wRC+), which is good for a shortstop. But Bo isn’t a good defensive shortstop. OAA has him at a -4, which would make him the fourth poorest defensive SS in the AL. I’ve long thought that he would have to be moved off short as he ages, but he’s only 27, still in his prime.
And I’ve believed that his offense would suffer as he aged. I think that guys who control the strikezone age well (as batters) and guys who are free swingers age poorly. But Bo is too young to be ‘aging poorly’.
He has bounced back from last year’s 70 OPS+. But, if you are offering him a five-to-ten-year contract, what would you be offering to a guy who, in his prime, is one of the poorest defensive shortstops in the league and, over the last two seasons, is an 88 OPS+.
If I were the Jays, I’d be giving him a qualifying offer at the end of the season, but I don’t know how much more I’d want to give him.
On the flip side of that, I’m a fan, and I’d be sad to see Bo leave. I’m not tired of watching him play.
Last year the QO was $21.05 million, so this year it will be $22 millionish?
Let’s try a poll or two:
All the baseball talk is about the trade deadline. I’ve seen a number of ‘experts’ suggest the Jays will add a DH, which seems stupid to me. I love Springer as DH. I think a starter and a reliever (or two) are at the top of my wish list. As much as I like Eric Lauer in the fourth starter stop, I think we are a bit thin in the rotation.
And I’d like one more back (front?) of the bullpen reliever. One more setup man. Someone with some swing and miss ability.
I’m pretty happy with the offense, and I’d be happier with Daulton Varsho in it. But when he’s back, I still want to see Barger, Lukes, and Loperfido (he says, hoping that he continues to hit) in the everyday lineup.
The Jays’ longest winning streak ever is 11 games. I’d love to see them beat that (I’m sure that surprises you). If they win tonight, I’d like to think they will, at least, tie that. With us three games up on the Yankees and Rays, if we can get to five games up, I’ll start to believe that we’ll finish first. If we can go into the All-Star break up by five, I’ll be very hopeful that we get playoff baseball in Toronto.
Shi Davidi tells us that Justin Bruihl is with the Jays in Chicago. He hasn’t been down 10 days, so he can only be added to the roster if another pitcher goes on the IL
Today’s lineups: