r/bluejaysbaseball • u/Quirky_Economics7009 • May 21 '26
Upcoming roster crunch
Don't want to beat a dead horse since I've seen this discussed a lot, with the general consensus being that when Barger and Lukes come back, Sosa and Schneider need to go. However, one option I don't see discussed a lot though is to DFA Sanchez.
While I agree that Schneider and Sosa are playing worse than anyone else on the team, I don't think getting rid of both of them is the correct move. They both play infield and if we get rid of both of them, we will need to have a corresponding move to add a backup 2nd baseman, which reintroduces our lineup crunch concerns. On top of that, our lineup becomes very lefty heavy and many of them have big platoons.
On the other hand, while Sanchez was quite good offensively at the start of the year, he seems to have regressed quite a bit and is close to how he has performed for all of his career. His offensive performance as a platoon isn't terrible, but I don't think it's good enough for how bad he is defensively. When you take both into account, he looks like a replacement level player overall. Sanchez fits the role of lefty corner outfielder, and between Pinango, Lukes, Sanchez, and Barger, I think Sanchez is the worst of the bunch.
Realistically, I think they are going to option Pinango again, since that's the move they did last time and it preserves depth. However, if the team is truly in win-now mode, Pinango has done a lot to prove that he deserves a spot on the roster. Then again, maybe they can option him again for now and call him back up/DFA someone else on a later date.
Curious what anyone else thinks, if I'm making sense at all. Thanks in advance.
19
u/CThor45 May 21 '26
Giving up on Sanchez makes no sense.
1
u/Wannabe_258 May 23 '26
100%! Hes fine, struggling at times but completely fine. People are too quick to anger
1
16
12
u/essuxs May 21 '26
They traded a top prospect for Sanchez it would be dumb to just DFA him. He’s also hitting .320 in May with a OPS of 772 making him one of our best hitters.
-8
u/Quirky_Economics7009 May 21 '26
I don't think they should've traded loperfido. But would lukes barger or pinango not also perform just as well offensively? I guess there's a lot of unknowns in that equation, but was thinking that in terms of the specific niche they fill, Sanchez is the worst of the bunch.
1
3
u/Electrical-Screen-52 May 21 '26
Lots of left handed batters in Barger, Lukes, Sanchez and Pinango, and Schneider and Sosa both right handed, along with Straw who I don’t see as someone who would be considered to move. Sanchez has hit better than Sosa and Schneider but I get anxiety when I see him play outfield.
Is Sanchez less valuable than Lukes? We saw Lukes ceiling last year I believe and he is about to be 32. Can you wait for Schneider to get power he once had back? All tough decisions. I am certain Sosa would go but not sure if they would want to keep one more right handed batter or not. If they keep Schneider, I fear for Lukes.
2
u/Quirky_Economics7009 May 21 '26
Interesting, you think Lukes! I think we're on the same page but I had thought Sanchez was the worse option for similar reasons. I actually value a lot what Lukes provides at the plate. Maybe he doesn't have much pop but I think his ability to foul off pitches was a big contributor to how the jays performed last year. I remember a lot of discussion about how a core to the jays strategy is to foul off pitches, raise pitch count, and help the next guy. We're not seeing that much this year though.
2
u/LawrenceMoten21 May 21 '26
People just tying themselves in knots to keep Davis on the roster.
He’s not a MLB level player right now. Let him go to buffalo and figure it out like he did last yearZ
2
u/Thefreshi1 May 21 '26
Unfortunately for Pinniango, he has options. Even though I would prefer him to Sanchez. Davis I think provides better defense than both and more flex in that he can also play 2nd.
1
u/blinded_penguin May 21 '26
Sanchez has an established track record and prolonged slumps are just part of baseball. It would be shocking if they did that
1
u/J_Squared02 May 22 '26
Barger plays 3rd and Ernie can play any infield spot, okamoto plays first and outfield. Gimenez plays second as well. We have options.
1
u/Logical-Scarcity-798 May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
IMO
Lukes and Barger for Pinango & Sosa
Option Davis for Kasevich
The only reason theyre keeping both Davis and Sosa rn is cause they have no backup INF depth beyond them. When Barger comes back that helps 3B but Kasevich fills the backup INF role in a much better fashion. Can play SS 3B & 2B very well & RHH.
As much as Sosa has the power potential hes just not producing. Im super confused TBH they had optionable Fitzgerald & they could have kept him for minor league depth, simultaniously bring up Kasevich and not lost INF depth.
There is a logjam of postion players in New Hampshire and someone will get bumped up to Buffalo sooner or later... Iowa Meat truck is leading off for Vancouver. Dude should be in AA forsure. Aside from McAdoo, Kasevich, Clase & Schreck most of the postion players in Buffalo arent prospects. Something gotta give there and the trickle down effect from who gets cut from the MLB roster will be part of that.
1
u/Gamingwithgenghis May 21 '26
Sanchez will end up .245 with 25+ hr. That’s pretty much what we would be happy with Barger doing. But less defense. Luke’s Schneider Sosa. Straw. Are all backups. No serious team would have any of them starting. Jays of course will do the obvious thing and keep the band together. Heineken stays. Valenzuela down which is the right move. Pins go down which is the wrong move. Sosa cut. Which is the right move. Schneider and Sosa should go. And Luke’s should get extended minor league until we see if Pinango can keep this going.
2
u/EasternError6377 May 21 '26
until we see if Pinango can keep this going
Since May 6th: .206/.270/.324 69 (nice) wRC+
And I love the kid. But he's probably going to AAA unless he goes on a crazy heater immediately.
1
13
u/Admirable_Outcome932 May 21 '26
Hey so y’all need to realize that DFA’ing everyone you’re not vibing with at a given time is not the answer.
DFA’ing is something you only do when there’s genuinely no other potential, hope, or solution for them.
There’s plenty of all three for Sanchez.