What is the story about?
It
is December 20th, which means I’m going to have to start my Christmas shopping soon (joking, I’m pretty much done). I’d like some Jays news, or even a reasonable rumor, if Santa is interested in getting me something.
I guess their is some almost rumors out there:
- We have been told that Bo Bichette is open to moving to second base, which I’m sure he is, because it would expand the number of teams that might bid on him. I mean, even if he weren’t willing to move to second base, he’d be a fool to say so. When you are a free agent, you want as many teams as possible to get in on the bidding (even if some of them are teams you wouldn’t sign with if there were a gun to your head). I wouldn’t be surprised if he strongly preferred to sign with a team that would let him play short. That’s the glam spot of the infield. And, I’m sure that there are teams that would pay handsomely for him to play short. His defense isn’t great, but, for that bat, many teams would be happy to have him there.
- The Jays are one of nine teams who ‘exceeded the Luxury Tax Threshold’. The Jays had to paid $13.6 million for pushing the payroll above that level. The Dodgers paid the most money, $169.4 million. The Mets ($91.6 million), Yankees ($61.8 million) and Phillies ($56.1 million) had to pay more than the Jays. The Padres, Astros, Red Sox and Rangers (just $190,000) also paid. The Jays paid slightly less than they spent on Andrés Giménez.
- The Globe and Mail called the Jays the ‘Canadian Sports Story of the Year’. Seems the obvious choice.
- The Jays signed Jorge Alcala to a minor league contract. He pitched in 22 games last year, with a 8.88 ERA. He’s pitched in 200 games in the MLB, with a 4.29 ERA. He’s had a couple of good years in the majors. The last was 2024 with a 3.24 ERA in 54 games, with 58 strikeouts in 58.1 innings.
- The deadline for Munetaka Murakami to sign an MLB contract is coming up quickly (Monday, 5:00 pm Eastern). The Jays are one of the teams in on him. He has a lot of power, but a lot of swing and miss. Maybe the Jays’ philosophy of making contact would help him.
- There are a lot of folks suggesting the Jays are the favourites to sign Kile Tucker. The Jays aren’t afraid of the Luxury Tax, so it wouldn’t surprise me. But, I’ll been a Jays’ fan long enough not to take anything for granted.
- Ernie Clement exchanged jerseys with Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills.
