Ben Nicholson-Smith
@bnsbaseball.bsky.social
we could talk about baseball..
Asked about Kyle Tucker, Atkins declined to get into the weeds on free agency.
Asked about Bo Bichette, Atkins noted Bichette's "incredible impact on this organization." Can he say when Jays last spoke to Bo? "I can but I'm not going to."
Asked about Bo Bichette, Atkins noted Bichette's "incredible impact on this organization." Can he say when Jays last spoke to Bo? "I can but I'm not going to."
December 8, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Asked about Kyle Tucker, Atkins declined to get into the weeds on free agency.
Asked about Bo Bichette, Atkins noted Bichette's "incredible impact on this organization." Can he say when Jays last spoke to Bo? "I can but I'm not going to."
Asked about Bo Bichette, Atkins noted Bichette's "incredible impact on this organization." Can he say when Jays last spoke to Bo? "I can but I'm not going to."
Asked about Jose Berrios, Atkins said Jays are "very glad he's here" & "intend for him to be here moving forward." Physically, Berrios has recovered well.
Atkins acknowledged Berrios was “not happy" in Oct. "He was disappointed that he wasn’t in our rotation. He handled it well”
Atkins acknowledged Berrios was “not happy" in Oct. "He was disappointed that he wasn’t in our rotation. He handled it well”
December 8, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Asked about Jose Berrios, Atkins said Jays are "very glad he's here" & "intend for him to be here moving forward." Physically, Berrios has recovered well.
Atkins acknowledged Berrios was “not happy" in Oct. "He was disappointed that he wasn’t in our rotation. He handled it well”
Atkins acknowledged Berrios was “not happy" in Oct. "He was disappointed that he wasn’t in our rotation. He handled it well”
Per Ross Atkins, Shane Bieber is expected to be ready for opening day. Atkins described Bieber’s progress as week to week & acknowledged Jays may watch his workload in spring.
December 8, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Per Ross Atkins, Shane Bieber is expected to be ready for opening day. Atkins described Bieber’s progress as week to week & acknowledged Jays may watch his workload in spring.
Some Blue Jays notes via Ross Atkins:
• they view Cody Ponce as a starter
• … & Louis Varland as a reliever
• no hard workload limits on Trey Yesavage in 2026 & he's expected to be in Jays' rotation
• they're hoping Yariel builds back command
• Jays not super close to anything as of this moment
• they view Cody Ponce as a starter
• … & Louis Varland as a reliever
• no hard workload limits on Trey Yesavage in 2026 & he's expected to be in Jays' rotation
• they're hoping Yariel builds back command
• Jays not super close to anything as of this moment
December 8, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Some Blue Jays notes via Ross Atkins:
• they view Cody Ponce as a starter
• … & Louis Varland as a reliever
• no hard workload limits on Trey Yesavage in 2026 & he's expected to be in Jays' rotation
• they're hoping Yariel builds back command
• Jays not super close to anything as of this moment
• they view Cody Ponce as a starter
• … & Louis Varland as a reliever
• no hard workload limits on Trey Yesavage in 2026 & he's expected to be in Jays' rotation
• they're hoping Yariel builds back command
• Jays not super close to anything as of this moment
Jays are being very thorough in the relief market as you'd expect
December 8, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Jays are being very thorough in the relief market as you'd expect
can report that Adam Lind is here at the Winter Meetings – still has great things to say about Toronto & seemed to be in good spirits!
December 8, 2025 at 6:14 PM
can report that Adam Lind is here at the Winter Meetings – still has great things to say about Toronto & seemed to be in good spirits!
For the decade spanning 1997-2006, the *average* season for Carlos Delgado was:
37 HR
116 RBI
.287/.397/.571
.969 OPS
148 OPS+
4.2 bWAR
Delgado has been overlooked by HoF voters before but he has a real case for Cooperstown. One of eight players being considered for HoF entry today.
37 HR
116 RBI
.287/.397/.571
.969 OPS
148 OPS+
4.2 bWAR
Delgado has been overlooked by HoF voters before but he has a real case for Cooperstown. One of eight players being considered for HoF entry today.
December 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
For the decade spanning 1997-2006, the *average* season for Carlos Delgado was:
37 HR
116 RBI
.287/.397/.571
.969 OPS
148 OPS+
4.2 bWAR
Delgado has been overlooked by HoF voters before but he has a real case for Cooperstown. One of eight players being considered for HoF entry today.
37 HR
116 RBI
.287/.397/.571
.969 OPS
148 OPS+
4.2 bWAR
Delgado has been overlooked by HoF voters before but he has a real case for Cooperstown. One of eight players being considered for HoF entry today.
Next steps for Yariel Rodriguez:
• he remains in the Blue Jays’ organization as of now
• barring a change would arrive at spring training & attempt to earn a job like any non-roster player
• if the Blue Jays want to, they can select his contract onto the 40-man again
• he remains in the Blue Jays’ organization as of now
• barring a change would arrive at spring training & attempt to earn a job like any non-roster player
• if the Blue Jays want to, they can select his contract onto the 40-man again
December 6, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Next steps for Yariel Rodriguez:
• he remains in the Blue Jays’ organization as of now
• barring a change would arrive at spring training & attempt to earn a job like any non-roster player
• if the Blue Jays want to, they can select his contract onto the 40-man again
• he remains in the Blue Jays’ organization as of now
• barring a change would arrive at spring training & attempt to earn a job like any non-roster player
• if the Blue Jays want to, they can select his contract onto the 40-man again
We can deduce a few things from the Yariel move:
1) 29 teams passed on claiming Rodriguez ($17M over next 3 years)
2) Blue Jays would have been OK to see him leave for no return
2) Jays prefer to have Rodriguez off the 40-man, freeing up valuable space for someone else
1) 29 teams passed on claiming Rodriguez ($17M over next 3 years)
2) Blue Jays would have been OK to see him leave for no return
2) Jays prefer to have Rodriguez off the 40-man, freeing up valuable space for someone else
December 6, 2025 at 8:09 PM
We can deduce a few things from the Yariel move:
1) 29 teams passed on claiming Rodriguez ($17M over next 3 years)
2) Blue Jays would have been OK to see him leave for no return
2) Jays prefer to have Rodriguez off the 40-man, freeing up valuable space for someone else
1) 29 teams passed on claiming Rodriguez ($17M over next 3 years)
2) Blue Jays would have been OK to see him leave for no return
2) Jays prefer to have Rodriguez off the 40-man, freeing up valuable space for someone else
Blue Jays are outrighting Yariel Rodriguez off their 40-man roster, sources tell Shi & me
Francys Romero was the first to say Yariel was coming off the 40-man
Francys Romero was the first to say Yariel was coming off the 40-man
December 6, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Blue Jays are outrighting Yariel Rodriguez off their 40-man roster, sources tell Shi & me
Francys Romero was the first to say Yariel was coming off the 40-man
Francys Romero was the first to say Yariel was coming off the 40-man
Kyle Tucker believed to have visited Blue Jays’ Dunedin, Fla. facility today as Robert Murray first reported.
Shows Jays are involved. At the same time, recruiting visits are a relatively standard part of the off-season for teams & high-profile players.
www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
Shows Jays are involved. At the same time, recruiting visits are a relatively standard part of the off-season for teams & high-profile players.
www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
Free agent Kyle Tucker visited Blue Jays' Dunedin facility
Free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker visited the Toronto Blue Jays’ Dunedin, Fla., training facilities Wednesday, according to industry sources.
www.sportsnet.ca
December 4, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Kyle Tucker believed to have visited Blue Jays’ Dunedin, Fla. facility today as Robert Murray first reported.
Shows Jays are involved. At the same time, recruiting visits are a relatively standard part of the off-season for teams & high-profile players.
www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
Shows Jays are involved. At the same time, recruiting visits are a relatively standard part of the off-season for teams & high-profile players.
www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
The Cody Ponce deal is pending a physical and will be for $30 million over three years.
Blue Jays' rotation options include:
Kevin Gausman
Dylan Cease
Shane Bieber
Trey Yesavage
Jose Berrios
Cody Ponce
Eric Lauer
Blue Jays' rotation options include:
Kevin Gausman
Dylan Cease
Shane Bieber
Trey Yesavage
Jose Berrios
Cody Ponce
Eric Lauer
December 2, 2025 at 11:57 PM
The Cody Ponce deal is pending a physical and will be for $30 million over three years.
Blue Jays' rotation options include:
Kevin Gausman
Dylan Cease
Shane Bieber
Trey Yesavage
Jose Berrios
Cody Ponce
Eric Lauer
Blue Jays' rotation options include:
Kevin Gausman
Dylan Cease
Shane Bieber
Trey Yesavage
Jose Berrios
Cody Ponce
Eric Lauer
Blue Jays are in agreement with Cody Ponce on a deal that further augments their rotation per sources.
@ken-rosenthal.bsky.social was first & Passan says the deal is for $30 million over three years
@ken-rosenthal.bsky.social was first & Passan says the deal is for $30 million over three years
December 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Blue Jays are in agreement with Cody Ponce on a deal that further augments their rotation per sources.
@ken-rosenthal.bsky.social was first & Passan says the deal is for $30 million over three years
@ken-rosenthal.bsky.social was first & Passan says the deal is for $30 million over three years
There's a case to be made for adding more starting pitching, and it's a possibility the Blue Jays are open to www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
Why more starting pitching could make sense for Blue Jays
Many paths are still available to the Blue Jays this off-season. But even after adding Dylan Cease, it's about impossible to imagine a scenario where Toronto doesn't find more pitching, writes Sportsn...
www.sportsnet.ca
December 2, 2025 at 7:38 PM
There's a case to be made for adding more starting pitching, and it's a possibility the Blue Jays are open to www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
The Blue Jays make their deal with Dylan Cease official.
They also announce that Cease and agent Scott Boras will be available at a press conference at the Winter Meetings in Orlando next week, details TBC.
They also announce that Cease and agent Scott Boras will be available at a press conference at the Winter Meetings in Orlando next week, details TBC.
December 2, 2025 at 7:32 PM
The Blue Jays make their deal with Dylan Cease official.
They also announce that Cease and agent Scott Boras will be available at a press conference at the Winter Meetings in Orlando next week, details TBC.
They also announce that Cease and agent Scott Boras will be available at a press conference at the Winter Meetings in Orlando next week, details TBC.
For the Blue Jays, the Dylan Cease deal is both extremely on-brand and a meaningful departure from the recent past
www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
November 27, 2025 at 4:49 PM
For the Blue Jays, the Dylan Cease deal is both extremely on-brand and a meaningful departure from the recent past
www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
Dylan Cease and the Blue Jays are in agreement on a 7-year, $210 million contract pending physical, source confirms to me & Shi
Biggest pitching contract in Blue Jays history leads to projected rotation of Cease/Gausman/Bieber/Berrios/Yesavage
@jonheyman.bsky.social was first
Biggest pitching contract in Blue Jays history leads to projected rotation of Cease/Gausman/Bieber/Berrios/Yesavage
@jonheyman.bsky.social was first
November 26, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Dylan Cease and the Blue Jays are in agreement on a 7-year, $210 million contract pending physical, source confirms to me & Shi
Biggest pitching contract in Blue Jays history leads to projected rotation of Cease/Gausman/Bieber/Berrios/Yesavage
@jonheyman.bsky.social was first
Biggest pitching contract in Blue Jays history leads to projected rotation of Cease/Gausman/Bieber/Berrios/Yesavage
@jonheyman.bsky.social was first
The Blue Jays placed lefty Easton Lucas on unconditional release waivers today.
Per source, he's expected to sign with a foreign pro team once he clears waivers.
Per source, he's expected to sign with a foreign pro team once he clears waivers.
November 25, 2025 at 9:40 PM
The Blue Jays placed lefty Easton Lucas on unconditional release waivers today.
Per source, he's expected to sign with a foreign pro team once he clears waivers.
Per source, he's expected to sign with a foreign pro team once he clears waivers.
Blue Jays are tendering contracts to all four of their arb-eligible players, as expected.
Their 2026 arb class will consist of Varsho, Lauer, Clement & Heineman.
Their 2026 arb class will consist of Varsho, Lauer, Clement & Heineman.
November 21, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Blue Jays are tendering contracts to all four of their arb-eligible players, as expected.
Their 2026 arb class will consist of Varsho, Lauer, Clement & Heineman.
Their 2026 arb class will consist of Varsho, Lauer, Clement & Heineman.
MLB's annual non-tender deadline is today at 5pm ET.
Many players will be non-tendered across MLB, but all four arb eligible Blue Jays (Varsho, Lauer, Clement, Heineman) are expected back in 2026. Jays already created 40-man space by parting ways with Sandlin, Tate & Burr.
Many players will be non-tendered across MLB, but all four arb eligible Blue Jays (Varsho, Lauer, Clement, Heineman) are expected back in 2026. Jays already created 40-man space by parting ways with Sandlin, Tate & Burr.
November 21, 2025 at 2:10 PM
MLB's annual non-tender deadline is today at 5pm ET.
Many players will be non-tendered across MLB, but all four arb eligible Blue Jays (Varsho, Lauer, Clement, Heineman) are expected back in 2026. Jays already created 40-man space by parting ways with Sandlin, Tate & Burr.
Many players will be non-tendered across MLB, but all four arb eligible Blue Jays (Varsho, Lauer, Clement, Heineman) are expected back in 2026. Jays already created 40-man space by parting ways with Sandlin, Tate & Burr.
Heard per sources that Blue Jays talked to Raisel Iglesias before he signed with Atlanta, expressing some interest. Jays didn't make an offer.
November 20, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Heard per sources that Blue Jays talked to Raisel Iglesias before he signed with Atlanta, expressing some interest. Jays didn't make an offer.
Nick Sandlin has cleared waivers and elected free agency as expected, per Jays
The Blue Jays outrighted Nick Sandlin off their 40-man roster yesterday in what amounts to an early non-tender.
The move opens up a 40-man spot (Jays now at 37) & clears a projected $2 million (via @mlbtraderumors.bsky.social) from the Jays’ arb class. Sandlin likely to become a free agent.
The move opens up a 40-man spot (Jays now at 37) & clears a projected $2 million (via @mlbtraderumors.bsky.social) from the Jays’ arb class. Sandlin likely to become a free agent.
November 17, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Nick Sandlin has cleared waivers and elected free agency as expected, per Jays
Reposted by Ben Nicholson-Smith
One of the many benefits of a deep playoff run is the additional time you get for internal evaluation.
Here are some things the Blue Jays learned about their own guys in the postseason that could affect how they move through the offseason: www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
Here are some things the Blue Jays learned about their own guys in the postseason that could affect how they move through the offseason: www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
What we learned about key Blue Jays players during World Series run
A small benefit of the Blue Jays' run to the World Series was seeing how the team performed under the highest pressure. Sportsnet's Nick Ashbourne looks at four key players who changed their outlooks ...
www.sportsnet.ca
November 17, 2025 at 2:54 PM
One of the many benefits of a deep playoff run is the additional time you get for internal evaluation.
Here are some things the Blue Jays learned about their own guys in the postseason that could affect how they move through the offseason: www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
Here are some things the Blue Jays learned about their own guys in the postseason that could affect how they move through the offseason: www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
Two MLB off-season deadlines this Tuesday:
• Players must decide to accept Qualifying Offer by 4:00 p.m. ET
• Teams must protect Rule 5 eligible players on 40-man by 6:00 pm ET
• Players must decide to accept Qualifying Offer by 4:00 p.m. ET
• Teams must protect Rule 5 eligible players on 40-man by 6:00 pm ET
November 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Two MLB off-season deadlines this Tuesday:
• Players must decide to accept Qualifying Offer by 4:00 p.m. ET
• Teams must protect Rule 5 eligible players on 40-man by 6:00 pm ET
• Players must decide to accept Qualifying Offer by 4:00 p.m. ET
• Teams must protect Rule 5 eligible players on 40-man by 6:00 pm ET
context worth repeating on the Edwin Diaz buzz – he's repped by Wasserman, one of the biggest & most powerful agencies out there... so Jays would always meet with those reps at this point in the winter... any team would like Diaz, who's awesome, but from what I hear Jays' priority now = starters
November 15, 2025 at 5:44 PM
context worth repeating on the Edwin Diaz buzz – he's repped by Wasserman, one of the biggest & most powerful agencies out there... so Jays would always meet with those reps at this point in the winter... any team would like Diaz, who's awesome, but from what I hear Jays' priority now = starters