It’s a slow Saturday for Blue Jays updates, but there are still intriguing developments on the horizon!
Today, there isn’t a lot of fresh news about the Jays. However, an interesting note is that Eric Lauer, alongside the team, has submitted his arbitration figures. Lauer is seeking a salary of $5.75 million, while the Blue Jays have countered with an offer of $4.4 million. Personally, I tend to lean towards supporting the players in these situations, yet it puzzles me why the Jays wouldn’t simply meet his request of $5.75 million. After all, he had an impressive performance last year. Looking ahead, it seems likely that he will serve as a long relief pitcher until an opportunity arises due to an injury in the starting rotation.
In another arbitration matter, the Washington Nationals are also in discussions regarding Cade Cavalli. He is aiming for a salary of $900,000, while the team has filed at $825,000. One would think that they could easily negotiate a compromise on this figure.
On a related note, it's hard not to wonder about player decisions these days.
You may have heard that Don Mattingly has signed on as the bench coach for the Philadelphia Phillies. While he may not have been particularly favored by fans during his time with the Blue Jays, I doubt his presence significantly impacted our success or failures. In fact, it’s safe to say that many bench coaches don’t directly influence their teams’ win-loss records. My personal bias against him stems from his association with the Yankees, which certainly colored my perception.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, there’s interest from the Detroit Tigers in Chris Bassitt. I sincerely hope he finds a new team soon, as he appears to be a genuinely nice person and a skilled pitcher.
As far as noteworthy updates for the Jays go, there doesn’t seem to be much else happening at the moment. Let’s face it: the off-season can feel painfully long! What are your thoughts on the recent arbitration disputes? Do you think the teams should be more flexible with their offers to players? Join the conversation in the comments!
