Blue Jays Mailbag: Is Freddie Freeman a legitimate option?

With a deep freeze ripping by means of Toronto, that is usually the time of 12 months everybody begins fantasizing about baseball.

January is usually the month the Blue Jays could be holding their annual Winter Tour, trumpeting their newest low season additions and getting followers excited in regards to the upcoming 12 months. The visuals that quickly observe out of Florida present proof of an eventual thaw, the promise of hotter days and a return for the Boys of Summer season.

These sunny pictures should stay a fantasy for now as a result of Main League Baseball has been in a lockout for 5 weeks and counting. With spring coaching quickly approaching, a labour dispute between the gamers and house owners threatens to trigger much more delays for a sport that handled greater than its justifiable share over the past two years due to the pandemic.

There isn’t a lot occurring in baseball proper now, however that’s not going to cease us from tackling one other version of the Blue Jays mailbag. As a reminder, questions for future editions must be submitted to bluejaysmailbag@gmail.com alongside together with your first identify and hometown, or by reaching out to me on Twitter @GregorChisholm.

The next questions have been edited for size and grammar:

Bear in mind earlier than free company began, there was a hearsay that a outstanding participant approached the Jays to see if there was curiosity ... Freddie Freeman?? And in that case, what time period and dollars do you assume could be mentioned? — @JAYSFAN0424

It’s tough to say as a result of there has by no means been any indication the Jays submitted a proper supply. I touched on this topic in a latest column, however the talks between Freeman and the Jays probably amounted to little greater than due diligence. Whereas there may be mutual respect and admiration between each events, this match simply by no means made a lot sense.

Freeman, fairly rightly, needs a long-term deal for some huge cash, with earlier studies suggesting he’ll web greater than $150 million on his subsequent contract. The 32-year-old continues to be anticipated to finally re-sign with the Braves, however he’ll have to make use of different groups as leverage alongside the way in which. The Jays may use his bat, however they have already got a primary baseman in Guerrero, and it appears unrealistic to count on the group to commit that a lot cash to a chosen hitter, a place Freeman appears equally unlikely to just accept long run.

The Jays have already got a robust lineup and it’s tantalizing to consider how significantly better it might turn out to be with Freeman. However this by no means appeared lifelike to me, there haven’t been any studies the talks have been severe, and the Jays have holes to fill elsewhere on the roster. Hey, a signing like that is enjoyable to consider, I simply wouldn’t count on something to come back out of it.

Santiago Espinal is an above-average fielder and he hit round .300. Why doesn’t he get extra respect? — Herb Belman

It’s all about upside. Espinal has lengthy been pegged as a flexible backup or position participant. The kind of man who may help a group get by means of the rigours of a 162-game season, however not somebody who must be taking part in on a regular basis.

For years now, a lot of the studies surrounding Espinal recommend he doesn’t have sufficient energy to hit on the big-league degree. The dearth of pop has been evident throughout components of two seasons within the majors, however like all through a lot of his minor-league profession he did sufficient in different areas to make up for it.

Throughout 92 video games final season, Espinal hit .311 with a .781 on-base plus slugging. If he can preserve that over a full-year he’ll be an on a regular basis participant, however the skepticism means he’ll must show it and, in contrast to others within the lineup with extra pedigree, Espinal gained’t be afforded the posh of getting lengthy stretches to work out of slumps.

This doesn’t have something to do with an absence of respect as a result of the chance will probably be there. Espinal’s anticipated to make the opening day roster and even when the Jays add an infielder earlier than the beginning of the season there will probably be one other job up for grabs in a battle with Cavan Biggio. The trail is evident for Espinal to win numerous taking part in time, however there gained’t be something handed to him. He’ll must earn it by persevering with to exceed expectations.

What do you consider the Jays transferring Gabriel Moreno to 3rd to get him out of the present catcher logjam? — Hayden, Clearwater, Man.

My ideas are the studies about transferring Moreno to 3rd base has been overblown, probably as a result of there hasn’t been a lot to speak about throughout the lockout. If the Jays have been actively attempting to change Moreno’s place, I might go on document immediately saying it’s a horrible concept. However that’s not what they’re doing.

The Jays put numerous inventory in versatility. Throughout spring video games it’s not unusual to see guys play out of place in case they’re referred to as upon in a pinch. Gurriel, an outfielder by commerce, started understanding at first final spring and finally acquired into 11 video games on the place. Biggio performed 5 positions in 2021, solely two greater than a handful of occasions.

The scenario with Moreno is analogous. The Jays know they might be silly to maneuver a defensively sound catcher with this a lot upside off a pivotal place till it’s vital. However they experimented with Moreno at third within the Arizona Fall League as a result of there may be occasions when his knees want a break and the Jays wish to get his bat into the lineup. Different video games, matchups would possibly justify utilizing a couple of “catcher.”

This isn’t about clearing the logjam; Moreno’s bat ought to try this by itself. That is about growing choices and the pliability of the Jays’ lineup.

Who performs extra third base: Moreno or Vladimir Guerrero Jr.? And do both play greater than 10 innings there?— Adrian, Brussels, Belgium

Guerrero’s transition to first base went so effectively that I wouldn’t count on the Jays to mess with one thing that works. He performed a grand complete of two innings at third in 2021 and the reps don’t determine to extend a lot sooner or later. Mid-game adjustments or minor accidents would possibly put Guerrero at third just a few occasions all year long, however he gained’t turn out to be an everyday fixture there.

Moreno is analogous, however contemplating the calls for at catcher he’s not going to be beginning six or seven video games behind the plate each week as soon as he arrives. The Jays must construct in intervals of relaxation and placing him at third every so often would give his legs a break whereas preserving his bat lively.

For these causes, I feel Moreno will finally find yourself at third greater than Guerrero however I’m taking below 10 video games for each guys over the following a number of years.

Hello Gregor, fascinating article final week in regards to the Jays bullpen, however what’s occurring with the MLB contract negotiations? Are they at the very least speaking, what have you ever heard or have the 2 events agreed to maintain all the pieces quiet till they've actual information to report? I imagine it’s solely 5 weeks till pitchers and catchers report. Will that occur? Will 162 video games be performed this 12 months? All fascinating ideas for a future column. — Michael

I hate to be the bearer of dangerous information, however there isn’t a lot occurring in any respect. The house owners and gamers have but to even meet because the lockout went into impact on Dec. 2, though in line with ESPN that's set to alter Thursday when each side sit down to carry one other bargaining session.

With camps not set to open till mid-February, there may be nonetheless numerous time for the 2 sides to keep away from a Doomsday-like state of affairs. Per week or two of spring coaching may very well be lower, if required, to maintain issues on schedule, however sooner or later, these wasted winter months determine to come back again and hang-out each side.

The expectation all through baseball is that there'll nonetheless be a full season that roughly begins on time. However that confidence will finally begin to wane with spring coaching shortly approaching and the doorways nonetheless shuttered. I nonetheless assume a deal will get finished on time, however it can go all the way down to the wire. Search for a column later this week that dives into this matter much more.

Are minor leaguers nonetheless understanding in Dunedin? And are individuals like David Phelps who signed a minor-league contract earlier than the lockout allowed to work on the market?— Michelle, Torontonian at coronary heart however dwelling in Seattle

As evidenced by every of the earlier two seasons throughout the pandemic, MLB can do just about no matter it needs to do with the minors however based mostly on earlier priority it’s anticipated their seasons will proceed as regular no matter what occurs in negotiations between house owners and gamers.

Most minor leaguers usually are not union members, so they aren't immediately impacted by the lockout. They're nonetheless permitted to make use of group services, and even when there’s no deal this spring they might report back to their camps with out being seen as having crossed the picket line.

Phelps doesn’t have that very same luxurious. Though he signed a minor-league deal he was on the Jays’ 40-man roster final season, which suggests he’s within the union and at the moment locked out regardless of his contract standing.

How a lot does handedness (i.e., being righty-heavy as-is) issue into the Jays’ decision-making in the case of including to their offence? — Jon, Deerfield IL

The dearth of lefties within the lineup is one thing the Jays have been wanting to handle for fairly a while, however they’re not going to blow issues up simply to make it occur. In different phrases, they imagine stability could be good to have, nevertheless it’s not going to alter how they navigate the remainder of the low season.

The Jays’ strikes are as a lot about value acquisition as they're about match. Final winter there was real curiosity in free agent Michael Brantley. With a right-handed-heavy lineup comprised of free swingers, Brantley as a affected person high-contact lefty, was the right complementary piece. When he opted to re-sign with the Astros, the Jays went in one other path solely by including Marcus Semien as a substitute of signing a lesser participant that crammed an identical mould.

There’s nonetheless room so as to add one other lefty bat within the infield, however discovering extra stability than that will require larger adjustments. Shifting an outfielder like Lourdes Gurriel Jr. or Randal Grichuk stays an possibility however except an acceptable supply presents itself within the coming months a extra lifelike short-term repair could be sustaining the established order whereas including one other lefty position participant, like Corey Dickerson was throughout the second half of 2021.

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