2023 Toronto Blue Jays (est. 2021)

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Players of the Week: Starling Marte, Royals & Francisco Lindor, Mets

The Jays slipped a spot to #7 on the Weekly Power Rankings.

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It is the All-Star Break so time for the HOME RUN DERBY!

ROUND ONE

Nolan Jones, Guardians beat Christian Yelich, Brewers, 9-8

Luke Voit, Yankees beat Eloy Jimenez, White Sox, 12-9

GIANCARLO STANTON, BLUE JAYS beat Michael Conforto, Mets 9-8

Mike Moustakas, Reds beat Nolan Arena, Phillies, 11-10

ROUND TWO

Voit beat Jones, 10-9

STANTON beat Moustakas, 12-10

FINAL ROUND

STANTON beat Voit, 8-7

GIANCARLO STANTON WON THE HOME RUN DERBY!

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FIRST YEAR PLAYER DRAFT!

The first pick goes to the Rangers.

The Jays are picking 28th.

The Rangers took Ethan Robinson, a HS Starting Pitcher from Tennessee with monster upside.

Toronto's picks by Round.

1. Jerry Omara. A High School pitcher originally from Uganda. He has the potential to be a top of the rotation guy.

2. Collin Welch. SP from Indiana University. #2 potential.

3. Riley Jackson. HS Catcher from Florida. Average defense but tremendous power potential.

4. Stone Lawless. HS Catcher out of Alabama. A bit of a hacker but potential to be an average big leaguer.

5. Tyler Ball. HS SP from Utah. Bottom of the rotation guy as we are getting more into 'draft and hope' territory.

6. Travis Sykora. HS SS from Texas.
7. Grayson Hitt. SP from the University of Alabama.
8. Christian Gordon. RP from Liberty University.
9. Collin Bosley-Smith. SP from Duke University.
10. Ethan Anderson. RP from University of Tennessee.
11. Alberto Rios. SS from Stanford University.
12. Antonio Valdez. 3B from Baylor University.
13. Zane Stokes. SS from Chipola College.
14. CJ Pittaro. SS from Vanderbilt University.
15. Nathan Starliper. RP from Virginia Tech.
16. Griffin Brown. SP from University of West Georgia.
17. Alaska Abney. RP from Coastal Carolina University.
18. Basilio Pacheco. SP from Long Beach State University.
19. Jon Campbell Jr. RP from Boston College.
20. Jack Sellinger. SP from UC Davis.
21. Will Pickford. RP from Virginia Tech.
22. Willie Weiss. SP from University of Michigan.
23. Nolan Rodriguez. RP from Baylor University.
24. Ethan Voss. SP from Crowder College.
25. Peter Gallo. RP from St. Joseph's University.
26. Dax Ford. SP from UL Lafayette.
27. Will Bednar. SP from Mississippi State University.
28. Ethan Long. RP from Arizona State University.
29. Alec Makarewicz. 3B from East Carolina University.
30. Evan Chenier. SP from VCU via GEORGETOWN, ON.

The draft was VERY weak for position players past the first couple of rounds.

From the 7th round and on, they all immediately signed. Six to go.

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The NL won the All-Star Game, 5-1.

WP - Ian Anderson, Braves
LP - Grayson Rodrigues, Orioles

MVP - Manny Machado, Padres

Blue Jay Performances

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 0 for 3 with 2 Ks.
Max Kepler 0 for 2
Ryan Thompson 1 IP. 1 ER.
Rafael Devers DNP
J.P. Crawford DNP
Giancarlo Stanton 0 for 1, BB

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July 14th, 2023

The Diamondbacks scored in the top of the 9th to beat the Blue Jays, 5-4.

Rafael Devers went 2 for 4 with a 3-run homer.

WP - Nathan Eovaldi (3-1)
Save - Robinson Ortiz (19)
LP - Matt Foster (0-1)

Record - 52-40

The Jays now trail the Red Sox by three games.

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July 15th, 2023

Giancarlo Stanton went 2 for 4 with a big, three-run dinger, as the Jays beat the Diamondbacks, 6-1.

WP - Ty Tice (2-0)
LP - Josh Green (1-1)

Record - 53-40

The Jays are back within two games of the Red Sox.

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Jerry Omara and Collin Welch have signed.

Four draftees remain.

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July 16th, 2023

The Jays led 7-1 after four.

Finals score, Arizona 11, Toronto 7.

Victor Caratini homered for the Blue Jays.

Enoli Paredes left the game with some sort of back issue. We don't know how bad it is.

WP - Tyler Matzek (6-3)
LP - Durbin Feltman (1-1)

Record - 53-41

Boston also lost so the Jays still trail by two.

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Good news about Enoli Paredes. We are told it is just back spasms and he will be fine for his next start.

Players of the Week: Michael Brantley, Rangers & Kevin Pillar, Brewers

The Blue Jays fell to #11 on the Weekly Power Rankings

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TRADE

To ROCKIES

Evan White

To BLUE JAYS

Bryan Rodriguez (COL pays remaining salary)
Jeremy Arocho
Daniel Montano
Alex Martinez
Tyler Miller

All minor leaguers.

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Tyler Ball has signed.

Three remain unsigned.

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TRADE

(And this one is a biggie)

To CARDINALS

George Springer
Victor Caratini
Jacob Wallace
John Doxakis

To BLUE JAYS

Ali Sanchez (STL pays remaining salary)
TJ Friedl (STL pays remaining salary)
Patrick Romeri
TJ Rumfield
Jordan Walker
Cal Conley
Cameron Swanger

(We are trying to make room to extend Bo Bichette. This saves over $10m without hurting the core of the team.)

Sanchez joins the Jays.
Willy Adames is called up from Buffalo.

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July 18th, 2023

Whit Merrifeld went 3 for 5 with a home run and a double, leading the Jays to a 9-4 win over the Padres.

Also going deep for Toronto were Rafael Devers, Giancarlo Stanton, Bo Bichette, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

WP - Zach Davies (8-8)
LP - Adrian Morejon (0-1)

Record - 54-41

The Jays trail the Red Sox by 1.5 games.

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Riley Jackson has singed. Only two remain: Stone Lawless and Travis Sykora.

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July 19th, 2023

The Jays lost a close one, falling 7-6 to the Padres.

Giancarlo Stanton homered for Toronto.

WP - Drew Pomeranz (4-3)
Save - Jeff Brigham (6)
LP - Ty Tice (2-1)

Record - 54-42

Boston also lost so the Jays still trail by 1.5 games.

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Stone Lawless has signed. Only Travis Sykora remains.

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July 20th, 2023

The Jays trailed by seven runs before coming back to beat the Padres, 10-7.

Whit Merrifield's three run homer was the final blow for Toronto.

WP - Jose Leclerc (3-1)
Save - Raidel Martinez (6)
LP - Drew Pomeranz (4-4)

Record - 55-42

Boston was idle so the Jays now trail by just one game.

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July 21st, 2023

Giancarlo Stanton went 3 for 4 with a big, two-run homer, to lead the Jays to a 7-5 win over the Mariners.

He left the game late with an ab strain, but we are told it was precautionary and he was given a clean bill of health.

J.P. Crawford also went deep for Toronto.

WP - Ryan Thompson (5-3)
Save - Eduard Bazardo (3)
LP - Marco Gonzales (2-6)

Record - 56-42

The Jays and Red Sox are now tied atop the AL East!

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Travis Sykora has signed. That is all of our drafted players.

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July 22nd, 2023

Both teams blew the save in the 9th, but Toronto was on the road so their blown save turned into a 9-8 walk-off win for Seattle.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 3 for 5 with a home run and a double.

WP - Pedro Baez (2-2)
LP - Raidel Martinez (4-1)

Record - 56-43

Boston also lost so they are still tied.