CREATED BY SPORTS BETTORS FOR SPORTS BETTORS
LET’S HEAR YOUR STORY
The franchise hasn’t shied away from that avenue in previous years, signing Hyun Jin Ryu during the 2019-20 offseason, George Springer in 2021 and Kevin Gausman last winter. They also extended José Berríos to a seven-year, $131-million contract a year ago.
So Rogers Communications, which owns the Blue Jays, certainly isn’t afraid to invest in this team, which should prove valuable again between now and spring training.
It helps that trading Teoscar Hernández saved a projected $14.1 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors’ arbitration projections. The team also opened up a projected $6.5 million by non-tendering outfielders Raimel Tapia and Bradley Zimmer.
Japan’s Kodai Senga might not be in the same tier as Verlander and Rodón, though he’s another impact hurler that would be a realistic target for the Blue Jays. And their interest level has likely skyrocketed since acquiring additional spending room.
Like Rodón, the fellow 29-year-old could potentially command a lucrative five-year deal via free agency. But signing the right-hander wouldn’t cost the franchise a posting fee or draft-pick compensation, as he already carries at least nine years of professional experience.
Senga is coming off a tremendous 2022 performance, earning a 1.89 ERA and a 2.76 FIP across 23 starts with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. He also racked up 159 strikeouts over 148.0 innings, logging a 27.4 percent strikeout rate.
The franchise would need to acquire Hernández’s replacement via trade if management spent his savings on a starting pitcher. Though trading for Bryan Reynolds, Alek Thomas, Daulton Varsho, Lars Nootbar, Jesse Winker or Ian Happ would improve the outfield.
But before the Blue Jays can seriously pursue these outfielders, they must determine how much they’re willing to spend on this winter’s free-agent class of starting pitchers.
Daniel Weinman was crowned winner of the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event on Monday, taking home a record breaking $12.1 million in winnings. Weinman had to outlast the other 10,043 entrants to take home the prize and get his hands on his share of live poker’s largest ever prize pool – a staggering $93,399,900. As well as taking home the prize money, 35-year-old Weinman also got his hands on the WSOP Main Event bracelet. The huge bracelet contains 500 grams of 10-karat yellow gold, as well as 2,352 various precious gemstones.
Daniel Weinman won the World Series of Poker's main event world championship on Monday in Las Vegas, earning $12.1 million along the way. Playing in the tournament for a 16th year, Weinman was tops in a deep pool of 10,043 players vying for $93.39 million. His victory came after just 164 hands at the final table. "I was honestly on the fence about even coming back and playing this tournament," the 35-year-old Atlanta native told reporters afterward. Weinman's final table featured Jan-Peter Jachtmann, who landed in fourth place and took home $3 million, as well as Toby Lewis, who finished seventh and secured $1.42 million. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the main event's entry pool far outpaced the previous record of 8,773 set in 2006. "I've always kind of felt that poker was kind of going in a dying direction, but to see the numbers at the World Series this year has been incredible," Weinman said. "And to win this main event, it doesn't feel real. I mean, [there's] so much luck in a poker tournament. I thought I played very well." Steven Jones finished second, securing $6.5 million. And Adam Walton settled for third and a $4 million prize.
Your experience on this site will be improved by allowing cookies.
