Gideon Clarke
@gideonclarke.bsky.social
Like my father before me, I have on more than one occasion been physically ejected from the corporate offices of the Chicago Cubs baseball club.
Cease and Imai are on my wish list. Peralta's fantastic, but he's a FA after 2026 too, which doesn't set them up longer-term like they need. Plus, the Brewers will have enough suitors that they can push the price way up, and the Jays don't want to empty the system for a rental.
The #BlueJays need to make another big addition to their rotation... for 2026 but especially beyond.
Story:
www.mlb.com/bluejays/new...
Story:
www.mlb.com/bluejays/new...
Taking stock of Blue Jays' 2026 rotation ... and who they could add
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays’ rotation, long the concrete foundation of this organization, is due for a refresh.
This is about 2026, but also well beyond. This is also about the excellent moves the Blue J...
www.mlb.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Cease and Imai are on my wish list. Peralta's fantastic, but he's a FA after 2026 too, which doesn't set them up longer-term like they need. Plus, the Brewers will have enough suitors that they can push the price way up, and the Jays don't want to empty the system for a rental.
Man, when the Angels fleece you in a trade, it’s time to pack up and go home.
Late-night trade:
The Orioles trade Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for Taylor Ward.
The Orioles trade Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for Taylor Ward.
November 19, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Man, when the Angels fleece you in a trade, it’s time to pack up and go home.
In his last two seasons, ~1,000 PA, Ernie Clement has contributed 5.3 fWAR (7.7 bWAR), but mostly through defence/baserunning (sub-100 wRC+ each year). He has three years of team control left, he’s turning 30, and his trade value has never been higher. There’s a place for him if Bo leaves; if not…
Writing a little more on the Blue Jays and I just kind of keep coming back to "yes, they were good, you can take some lessons from them, but also Ernie Clement hit .411/.416/.562 in October, and you can't just make guys *do* that, and.."
November 18, 2025 at 7:24 PM
In his last two seasons, ~1,000 PA, Ernie Clement has contributed 5.3 fWAR (7.7 bWAR), but mostly through defence/baserunning (sub-100 wRC+ each year). He has three years of team control left, he’s turning 30, and his trade value has never been higher. There’s a place for him if Bo leaves; if not…
That’s pretty close to a steal. I’m really surprised Naylor signed so fast, before Alonso could set the 1B market. Seattle is going to be a tough team for years to come.
Deal is now official: Josh Naylor returns to the Seattle Mariners for five years and $92.5 million.
The Seattle Mariners waste no time getting their man and have reached an agreement to bring back first baseman Josh Naylor. It’s a 5-year deal, per Jeff Passan.
November 18, 2025 at 12:30 AM
That’s pretty close to a steal. I’m really surprised Naylor signed so fast, before Alonso could set the 1B market. Seattle is going to be a tough team for years to come.
I know Blue Jays fans don’t want to hear this, but Bichette makes a ton of sense for the Dodgers and they’re one of the very few teams that could outbid the Jays for his services.
The @fangraphs depth charts, which are always super useful, have the Dodgers with absolute weakest 2B situation in baseball right now. Along with OF, pretty obvious place to find a bat. (If you can.)
--> www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts....
--> www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts....
November 17, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I know Blue Jays fans don’t want to hear this, but Bichette makes a ton of sense for the Dodgers and they’re one of the very few teams that could outbid the Jays for his services.
Small sample size, obviously, but the swift re-signings by Bieber and Naylor make me think the offseason market might move a lot faster this year. There’s no Ohtani or Soto holding everything up, and I feel like players and teams alike want to lock in as early as they can.
November 17, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Small sample size, obviously, but the swift re-signings by Bieber and Naylor make me think the offseason market might move a lot faster this year. There’s no Ohtani or Soto holding everything up, and I feel like players and teams alike want to lock in as early as they can.
I’ll be very surprised if Jeff Hoffman is the closer next season.
November 15, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I’ll be very surprised if Jeff Hoffman is the closer next season.
My only take on the AL MVP blather is that if Judge were a Mariner and Raleigh were a Yankee, the arguments would be absolutely the opposite of what they are now, and that’s reason enough to ignore them.
November 14, 2025 at 6:09 PM
My only take on the AL MVP blather is that if Judge were a Mariner and Raleigh were a Yankee, the arguments would be absolutely the opposite of what they are now, and that’s reason enough to ignore them.
A little amusing that the top two NL MVP finishers were both DHs. (I know, one is also a pitcher, but that’s still got to be a first.)
November 14, 2025 at 1:56 AM
A little amusing that the top two NL MVP finishers were both DHs. (I know, one is also a pitcher, but that’s still got to be a first.)
Oof.
Sometimes you run across an old quote that stops you cold. From a Jayson Stark article in January 2000:
November 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Oof.
Sorry to see him go, but not surprised that he’d draw attention for a promotion elsewhere.
As mentioned in last night’s story, and as our Mitch Bannon confirms, Toronto Blue Jays assistant hitting coach (and former minor league coordinator) Hunter Mense is joining Tony Vitello’s staff in San Francisco. www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Buster Posey: Giants will spend, but improvement must come from within
Good vibes are good. They can be the final piece. They are also difficult to maintain when you don't have enough talent.
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Sorry to see him go, but not surprised that he’d draw attention for a promotion elsewhere.
A few reminders as the Hot Stove launches:
- The Jays will be connected to everyone.
- They will have money to spend, but not unlimited cash.
- They need to plan for beyond 2026.
- They’re probably going to trade at least one guy you wish they hadn’t.
- Don’t assume anything when it comes to Bo.
- The Jays will be connected to everyone.
- They will have money to spend, but not unlimited cash.
- They need to plan for beyond 2026.
- They’re probably going to trade at least one guy you wish they hadn’t.
- Don’t assume anything when it comes to Bo.
November 12, 2025 at 6:47 PM
A few reminders as the Hot Stove launches:
- The Jays will be connected to everyone.
- They will have money to spend, but not unlimited cash.
- They need to plan for beyond 2026.
- They’re probably going to trade at least one guy you wish they hadn’t.
- Don’t assume anything when it comes to Bo.
- The Jays will be connected to everyone.
- They will have money to spend, but not unlimited cash.
- They need to plan for beyond 2026.
- They’re probably going to trade at least one guy you wish they hadn’t.
- Don’t assume anything when it comes to Bo.
From April 8 (when his contract was announced) to August 18 (when he hurt his quad), Vladdy hit .303./402/.518 (156 wRC+) in 490 PA. If the slugging seems low, compare his .215 ISO in this stretch to the .221 ISO he posted last year (.323/.396/.544). The power is there. But here's the fun part:
November 11, 2025 at 2:19 PM
From April 8 (when his contract was announced) to August 18 (when he hurt his quad), Vladdy hit .303./402/.518 (156 wRC+) in 490 PA. If the slugging seems low, compare his .215 ISO in this stretch to the .221 ISO he posted last year (.323/.396/.544). The power is there. But here's the fun part:
To my mind, Kent Williams wrote the definitive take on gambling in baseball 23 years ago at Batter's Box -- it's still worth your time: www.battersbox.ca/article.php?...
November 10, 2025 at 10:55 PM
To my mind, Kent Williams wrote the definitive take on gambling in baseball 23 years ago at Batter's Box -- it's still worth your time: www.battersbox.ca/article.php?...
See, I don't bet on baseball (or on anything, really), so it was genuinely news to this little Polyanna that you could lay a bet on *individual pitches*. WTF? Who, other than compulsive gamblers, is betting on the outcome of a single pitch? That's lunacy.
Following this weekend’s indictments of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, MLB has announced that, in collaboration with major sports books, single pitch wagers are being capped at $200 and excluded from all parlays:
November 10, 2025 at 10:34 PM
See, I don't bet on baseball (or on anything, really), so it was genuinely news to this little Polyanna that you could lay a bet on *individual pitches*. WTF? Who, other than compulsive gamblers, is betting on the outcome of a single pitch? That's lunacy.
This should, at the absolute minimum, take down the Commissioner.
November 9, 2025 at 6:41 PM
This should, at the absolute minimum, take down the Commissioner.
It’s taken me awhile to process how the Blue Jays season ended. I was in a bad place for a few days. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to remember the first 173 games of the 2025 season and not the last 2, and that’s helped a lot. This was just an extraordinary team that had an incredible year.
November 7, 2025 at 9:43 PM
It’s taken me awhile to process how the Blue Jays season ended. I was in a bad place for a few days. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to remember the first 173 games of the 2025 season and not the last 2, and that’s helped a lot. This was just an extraordinary team that had an incredible year.
I would love for the Jays to grab Devin Williams. Fangraphs' median contract prediction is 3/$42M and I'd pay that easy.
November 6, 2025 at 10:12 PM
I would love for the Jays to grab Devin Williams. Fangraphs' median contract prediction is 3/$42M and I'd pay that easy.
There's commitment to a bit, there's zealous over-commitment to a bit, and then there's whatever this is.
November 6, 2025 at 9:06 PM
There's commitment to a bit, there's zealous over-commitment to a bit, and then there's whatever this is.
I said the other day, half-jokingly, that the Padres should sell this offseason. But hiring an unknown from Player Development suggests that might actually be the agenda. This is not the manager you hire if you're serious about getting to the World Series this year.
Stammen, a 12-year MLB pitcher including 6 years with the Padres, had worked the past three years as a Padres special assistant in the player development department. He received a 3- year contract
The San Diego Padres hire Craig Stammen as their new manager as @sdutkevinacee.bsky.social reports.
November 6, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I said the other day, half-jokingly, that the Padres should sell this offseason. But hiring an unknown from Player Development suggests that might actually be the agenda. This is not the manager you hire if you're serious about getting to the World Series this year.
Well, that's interesting.
Don Mattingly, who served as the Bench Coach for the Toronto Blue Jays this past season, will not be returning to the organization, and is expected to pursue other opportunities for the 2026 season.
November 6, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Well, that's interesting.
This is fantastic and unexpected news. First thing to make me feel actually happy since the season ended.
November 5, 2025 at 3:19 AM
This is fantastic and unexpected news. First thing to make me feel actually happy since the season ended.
Varsho is lost at the plate right now.
November 2, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Varsho is lost at the plate right now.