Blue Jays: I simulated the offseason four times- Here’s what happened

Offseason Three- No Salary Cap

As much as I hoped that taking away the salary cap would make a massive difference for the Blue Jays, it wasn’t all that different in this simulation. There were some differences from the other times I went through the simulation, but money really wasn’t the reason.

As he had the first two times, Marcus Semien returned to the Blue Jays and this time on a 6-year deal. That’s likely a longer term than we’ll see the Jays offer this winter, but in a No Cap scenario it makes sense. As for Robbie Ray, he left again, and this time for a return to the Diamondbacks. Matz was re-signed to help make up for the loss, but losing Ray looked like a big blow.

That is, until the computer signed Max Scherzer to a two-year, 38 million dollar pact.

I can’t imagine that Scherzer will actually end up in Toronto (especially on that term), but it was fun to see the roster with his name on it even if it was just in a simulation.

I also liked what the No Cap simulation provided in terms of bullpen moves. This simulation gave Kirby Yates another contract as well, but it also signed Daniel Hudson to boost the late-inning group. That gave the pitching staff a look like this:

Rotation

1- Max Scherzer
2- Jose Berrios
3- Hyun Jin Ryu
4- Alek Manoah
5- Steven Matz

Bullpen

1- Jordan Romano
2- Daniel Hudson
3- Tim Mayza
4- Kirby Yates
5- Adam Cimber
6- Trevor Richards
7- Ryan Borucki
8- Ross Stripling
*- Nate Pearson

As exciting as that group looks, the lineup also remained strong in this simulation with the return of Semien. Corey Dickerson also re-signed as well, and the lineup looked like this:

Lineup

1- George Springer (CF)
2- Marcus Semien (2B)
3- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B)
4- Bo Bichette (SS)
5- Teoscar Hernandez (RF)
6- Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (DH)
7- Corey Dickerson (LF)
8- Danny Jansen (C)
9- Cavan Biggio (3B)

Bench: Alejandro Kirk, Santiago Espinal, Randal Grichuk, Breyvic Valera

What’s interesting about the way this simulation played out is that it’s arguably the most financially responsible. Signing Scherzer to a two-year deal as opposed to handing five or six years to Ray gives the front office more freedom in the future, and that could be something they consider in reality.