Blue Bird Banter

Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images Chris Bassitt’s third with the Jays and the last under his $63 million free agent contract, which he signed before the 2023 season, will be in 2025. I love watching him pitch. It is almost fascinating to watch a guy who doesn’t get by by blowing guys away with a 98-mile-per-hour fastball. Most guys I like to try to guess along with, … [Read more...] about Better Know Your Blue Jays 40-man: Chris Bassitt

Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images And Nori Aoki, Kevin Witt and A.J. Cole Former Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia turns 39 today. Arencibia was a first-round draft pick by the Jays in the 2004 draft, number 21 overall. He quickly became our top prospect and hit #43 on Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list before the 2009 season. Then, he came up to the Jays and … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday J.P. Arencibia

Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images Addison Barger was added to the Jays’ 40-man in November 2022 to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He’s a 24-year-old, left-handed hitting infielder (he’s also played right field). I don’t know if Addison was a name when I was young or had ever met one. I looked up ‘famous Addison’s, and it was mostly young models/actresses (as well as … [Read more...] about Better Know Your Blue Jays 40-Man: Addison Barger

Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images A.J. Burnett turns 48 today. A.J. had a nice career, 17 seasons, a 164-157 record, 3.99 ERA in 435 games, 430 starts. He started his career with the Marlins, played there for seven seasons, and had a 49-50 record with a 3.73 ERA. Then, in the winter before the 2005 season, J.P. Ricciardi signed A.J. to a 5-year, $55 million … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday A.J. Burnett

Photo by Jeff Carlick/MLB Photos via Getty Images David Cone turns 62 today. Cone had two short stints with the Blue Jays. The Jays traded for him in 1992 at the end of August. We were in first place, 2.5 games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles. We were doing alright except for the 5th starter spot. Dave Stieb had the role, but his last start was August 8. Stieb only went … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday David Cone