logo
Blue Jays Nation: Christmas wish list for the remaining offseason
alt
Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Tyson Shushkewich
Dec 25, 2024, 07:16 EST
Comments
It’s that time of year – holiday spirit is in full swing, presents under the Christmas tree, and that one uncle keeps talking about politics at the table.
While the wish lists for Santa were sent long ago because of the big guy’s arrival last night, we here at Blue Jays Nation came together to put up a Christmas wish list.
However, instead of wishing for Christmas presents under the tree, we put together a wish list of things we want the Blue Jays to do this offseason – players, signings, and even a giveaway idea or two.
Adam Peddle: I want these two contracts: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extension for 12 years/$480 million and bringing home Teoscar Hernández  (I predict 3 years/$80 million).
Brendon Kuhn: The two things I want most for Christmas are a Vladdy extension, and a Corbin Burnes signing.
For Vladdy, I don’t think this process has been as catastrophic from the front office as the general fan base has convinced themselves. He’s been a hard player to place a value on, with better-than-great offensive seasons to his name, terrible baserunning, and a defensive position at the bottom of the value spectrum, a position that the sport has not paid nearly the same as others. Vladdy, through prospect status, immense talent and a wealthy background, has almost certainly always seen himself in the light of the very best in baseball. His love of Toronto seems genuine, but it’s also easy to see how viewing himself as Tatis (an example) was something the org could never really line up with him on….until this offseason.
Now, suddenly, Vlad has all this perceived leverage with a return to elite offensive production, the Soto contract and fan backlash doing him wonders. The stars have aligned for him in almost every way. And while I don’t think the market for him would be that large next offseason (I have a hard time seeing an RHH 1B attracting a bidding war amongst many teams that drives well past $400M), he still sits in a very enviable position. I’ve had a hard time valuing Vladdy over the years, but at the end of the day, I want him here forever.
Corbin Burnes fits the Jays really well, beyond just the fact that he’s clearly a top-tier pitcher in the sport. Despite the perception being that the Jays need hitting way more than pitching, a front-line starter would do the Jays wonders for several reasons.
1) It makes the 2025 rotation that much better, sliding every other arm down one spot, or giving the Jays room to shop someone like Bassitt and to re-allocate his salary to the offense
2) If all starters are retained, it puts Yariel in the bullpen, adding to an area of need and putting him in position to excel
3) A starter going deep into games gives the pen a rest and limits the need to be using the low-end guys in games as often, a clear win after watching the 2024 Blue Jays!
4) It covers the starters who come off the books in the next two years (Bassitt after 2025, Gausman after 2026, and Berríos after 2026 if he triggers his opt-out)Burnes makes all the sense in the world for the Jays, and I’d love to see him wearing Blue in 2025.
Veronica Chung: Even after making a couple of moves this offseason, the Blue Jays desperately need to bring in more players either through free-agent signings or trades to boost their rosters.
As our colleague Ian Hunter said, Toronto now ranked 23rd in its starting rotation among all 30 teams last year. It’s imperative for the team to now bring in a solid starter to inject much-needed relief as we head into the 2025 season. The bad news though is the starting pitching market has already been quite active so far and the Blue Jays are quickly running out of options. At this point, they either need to go hard into someone like Corbin Burnes or go with an under-the-radar signing to stay with the hyper-competitive AL East division.
If there is another area Toronto has to improve, it’s also adding a thump in the lineup that can generate power. For the past two seasons, the Blue Jays offence couldn’t deliver offensively when they needed it the most and have recorded frustrating results, which led to their crashout in the playoffs. This year, they got eliminated from contention altogether as offence and pitching all faltered severely. Taking a risk with a power bat is no longer an option – it’s a must at this point if the team even wants to sniff at the competition for a playoff spot in the tougher American League. Many teams have risen to the challenges, including the American League Central – this is no longer a child’s play. 
With that, my wish list is simple: Bring in a competent starter and an explosive bat that can reignite the offence for the 2025 season. 
Ian Hunter: Maybe these last few years have transformed me into a pessimist, but ‌I think Blue Jays fans are begging for any kind of transaction.
Corbin Burnes and Alex Bregman are two big names still on the free-agent board, but I can’t see the Blue Jays overextending themselves and shopping at the top of the market for marquee free agents. That being said, something about a Pete Alonso pillow contract signing would be very enticing for a team like the Blue Jays who need all the help they can get in the run production department. If not Alonso, a reunion with Teoscar Hernández would be a nice consolation prize. At the very least, the Blue Jays need one more bat for their lineup.
The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes will be fascinating to watch, and while I expect the Blue Jays will have a seat at the table, they shouldn’t wait until January to reinforce their starting rotation. Among the last few free-agent starting pitchers, either Nick Pivetta, Andrew Heaney, or Max Scherzer would help raise the floor of Toronto’s 23rd overall projected starting rotation in 2025. Signing or even trading for a starting pitcher can help with the bullpen depth as well since Yariel Rodriguez would inevitably be bumped from the starting five to the bullpen.
But most of all, the biggest piece of business yet to be finalized is a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. contract. Without a Vladdy extension, what’s the outlook for the Blue Jays for the next two, three, five or even ten years down the road? It’s not often you can lock up a franchise player, and while it’s going to cost a pretty penny to keep Vladdy in a Blue Jays uniform, this is the new cost of doing business to secure your face of the franchise. 
Chris Georges: I wish for a Vladimir Guerrero Jr extension – don’t care how much it costs, just get it done. Plain and simple.
Evan Stack: My first wish is pretty simple, and Chris said it eloquently above – get the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. contract extension done.
Perhaps I am frightened of the unknown. Assuming Bo Bichette is gone too, who do the Blue Jays build around if Guerrero Jr. is gone after 2025? You have a homegrown talent who wants to stay here long term, even after the market has continued to favour exploring free agency. The Blue Jays can’t take that for granted. 
My second wish is for Alek Manoah to have a prosperous return to the team in 2025. The bulk of Toronto’s starting arms have entered and/or are entering the back half of their careers, so the younger and controllable arms now yield a higher level of importance. Manoah’s five starts last season showed the team that a front-of-the-rotation arm still exists there, and if the Blue Jays are competing in 2025, he can play a massive role if and when he returns. Also, his energy on the mound is a joy to watch. I’d love to see #6 back out there as soon (and as healthy) as possible.
Tyson Shushkewich: First and foremost, I am using my first wish to sign Guerrero Jr. to an extension that makes him a Blue Jay for the next decade at a minimum.
For years we saw how free-agent players did not want to sign with Toronto for whatever reason, but the club never had any issue extending homegrown talent or players they acquired via trade and got to experience the city – Vernon Wells, Alex Rios, Jose Bautista, José Berríos. At the end of the day, Guerrero Jr. has already said he has given a number to the organization and unless the valuation is stupid high (let’s say $550 million plus with a year term that makes no sense) Atkins can borrow my pen at this point – I will drive it down to him. Premium talent is going for a high rate – it’s the cost of doing business – and letting Guerrero walk in a year with so much in flux with the roster is just bad for the organization. You want to be a contender? Time to prove it and keep your homegrown star.
Secondly, my next Christmas wish is for the Blue Jays to bring in a ‘Bark to the Park’. Many organizations across the league do it already and it looks like a hoot. My colleagues have all touched on some great players for Santa to bring to Toronto – I just want to throw a hail mary in and be able to watch a game with my pal Archie at the Rogers Centre next year.

Featured

Editorials

Breaking News