Wednesday Bantering: Bits of Jays Stuff

Not much for news.

Ross Atkins told reporters that it was a tough decision not to tender Jordan Romano an offer. He says they have no concerns about his health but thought that what they would have to offer was too much for him.

But they are interested in signing him up for a free-agent contract. They need bullpen arms, and I don’t know how much they can save by going the free-agent route, but perhaps they will offer one year plus an option year or two.

I hope they bring him back.

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The Jays announced a free-agent signing: Kevin Gowdy, a right-handed pitcher from the Dodgers system. Last year, he pitched for Oklahoma City, the Dodgers’ Triple-A team. He had a 4.38 ERA in 51.1 innings over 42 games with 45 strikeouts and 23 walks. The PCL is a hitter’s league.

He is 27 and was a second-round pick in 2016 draft by the Phillies.

Here is a scouting report, from Dodgers Daily.

Gowdy has always featured a good 4 seam, and still throws it on occasion, but has added a Sinker to his fastball repertoire. His slider is a + pitch and he has also added a cutter that he is in the process of refining.

His 4 seam fastball can reach the mid to upper mid 90’s and is thrown to the 4 spot location or at the top of the zone primarily. When spotted up properly, it gives him the ability to throw strikes without getting ambushed and to also get swing and miss.

It’s a depth signing. We’ll see a bunch of these over the next few months.

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The Red Sox signed Aroldis Chapman to a one-year, $10.7 million. I’m not a fan, but he strikes out a lot of batters, and I guess that is all that matters to the Red Sox.

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We are told that Juan Soto’s bid has topped $600 million, and it looks like he’ll sign for 12 years. Even if they don’t sign him, look for a new surcharge on your Rogers bill.

This does sound a lot like my contract with SB Nation—other than it is for 12 years and 600 cheese doodles—but it is basically the same.

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MLB has a list of top mentioned teams of 2024 and the Jays finished seventh. They don’t mention what was the most used swear word said before the words Blue Jays. My guess is something that rhymes with ducking.