Nick Ashbourne

Really like the Jesús Sánchez move for Toronto.

He can't hit southpaws, but he has a 113 wRC+ against RHP over the past three years with 41 HR in 1196 PA.

Helpful role player that cost TOR a guy in Loperfido who was having a hard time breaking through entering his age-27 season.

It’s been a slow burn waiting for the #BlueJays return. @nickashbourne.bsky.social joined me to talk the opening of spring training and whether Toronto did enough to upgrade the roster.
Plus thoughts on what the #Leafs should do at the deadline and reactions to Canada’s loss to USA in women’s hockey

🎧BJHH: 213 - WAR Projection Over/Under Draft! Plus a Framber rumour, and (finally) a proper statue!

This week @nickashbourne.bsky.social and I are looking ahead to the season, drafting teams of Blue Jays based on how we think they’ll over- or under-perform their ZiPS projections by way of FanGraphs’ RosterResource.

Plus! A Framber rumour, and (finally!) a proper statue!

Have a listen! 👇

Blue Jays entering 2026 with high-volatility lineup While it’s unfair to expect MLB hitters to produce metronomically on a year-to-year basis, teams with high aspirations often know what to expect from key members of their lineup — and that’s not neces...

The 2026 Blue Jays lineup has plenty of quality, but it's full of players whose production is tough to predict: www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...

The Maple Leafs' 2025-26 season is nearly over after 53 games. How did we get here? - MLHS Podcast EP112 The Maple Leafs' 2025-26 season is nearly over after 53 games. How did we get here? - MLHS Podcast EP112

🎙️New Podcast up with @nickashbourne.bsky.social -- How did we get here? mapleleafshotstove.com/2026/01/29/m...

🎧BJHH: 212 - Suck and Blow The Jays swing and miss on two more top free agents. Or... well... at least one.

Kyle Sucker—heh!—and Blow Bichette—get it?—are much wealthier than they were a week ago. But are Jays fans the suckers for expecting one to sign here? Did Ross Atkins blow it?

This week @nickashbourne.bsky.social and I talk all about these monster deals and the fallout from them.

Have a listen! 👇

How one more hitter would impact Blue Jays lineup Despite the top free-agent bats coming off the market, the Blue Jays could still bring in a position player. Sportsnet's Nick Ashbourne looks at how possible additions would affect Toronto's lineups.

The Blue Jays lineup may not be in desperate need of another bat, but it could accommodate one without any of the projected regulars losing too much playing time.

I took a look at how: www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...

Loperfido definitely produced last season, but he's a tough guy to make room for at the moment. An injury or two could change things quickly.

The future of Laughton & McMann in Toronto, and the Dougie Hamilton question - MLHS Podcast EP110 The future of Laughton & McMann in Toronto, and the Dougie Hamilton question - MLHS Podcast EP110

🎙️ New Podcast 🎙️

@APetrielli.bsky.social & @NickAshbourne.bsky.social discuss Tavares’ recent struggles, the sign vs. trade conversations about McMann & Laughton, the confusing defense pairings, and Dougie Hamilton as a potential trade fit in Toronto 🎧 👇

#LeafsForever

🎧BJHH: 211 - Tuckered Out? Or In? The hot stove is starting to simmer again...

MLB’s hot stove has finally started simmering again, and this week @nickashbourne.bsky.social and I talk all about the actual movement involving Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette’s meeting with the Phillies, the state of the Red Sox and Yankees, and more!

Have a listen! 👇

Just recorded an episode of Blue Jays Happy Hour with @stoeten.bsky.social, largely on the Kyle Tucker/Bo Bichette market, so if those could remain relatively stable for a bit, that would be excellent.

Thanks, baseball (contract) gods.

How Blue Jays' free agent spending stacks up against Yankees, Red Sox The Toronto Blue Jays' free-agent spending so far is unprecedented for the franchise, and it’s all the more significant because of the lack of action in the AL East. Nick Ashbourne compares it to that...

With the Blue Jays spending big, the Yankees hardly spending, and the Red Sox standing on the sidelines, Toronto no longer seems structurally disadvantaged by sharing the AL East with the two traditional powerhouses: www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...

How new Blue Jay Kazuma Okamoto compares to other MLB stars

It's always tough to know what you're going to get from a high-profile international star.

But a combination of how much the Blue Jays have invested in Kazuma Okamoto and his early projections can help set some reasonable expectations: www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...

The Maple Leafs’ four-line promise entering the second half - MLHS Podcast EP109 The Maple Leafs’ four-line promise entering the second half - MLHS Podcast EP109

🎙️ New Podcast 🎙️

@APetrielli.bsky.social & @NickAshbourne.bsky.social break down the Leafs’ promising depth contributions of late, their blue line picture moving forward, a big W over Florida, and the tough lineup decisions when Nylander returns from injury 👇

#LeafsForever

Kazuma Okamoto is a fascinating signing.

Stoeten and I talked about a player who isn't the easiest fit, but seems likely to improve the Blue Jays lineup in the short term — and possibly their fortunes in Japan in the long run.

Kazuma Okamato seems likely to hit at the MLB level (Steamer projects a 110 wRC+). The bigger question will be his defensive fit on a team with a locked-in 1B and few DH at-bats available.

Clearly, there's some optimism in his ability to handle some 3B/OF innings, but the role is a bit opaque.

Kazuma Okamoto has been an extremely consistent power threat in NPB with between 27 and 41 HR in each of his 7 full seasons before an injury-shortened 2025.

His 2025 was truncated, but impressive. He posted a 210 wRC+, and his K rate dropped to 11.3% without a power dip.

Analyzing Blue Jays' extension candidates for 2026 There hasn’t been much talk of extensions in Blue Jays land yet this off-season, with the team in the running for impact players like Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, but there are some intriguing candida...

The Blue Jays have been active in free agency, but there are other avenues for setting the team up for the future.

I looked at some of the contract extension candidates on the roster:
www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...

2025 was a heck of year in Blue Jays land and @stoeten.bsky.social and I have the month-by-month review:

From the Mark Shapiro extension to the Tyler Rogers signing, there's plenty to talk about this week.

Why Blue Jays bet $37 million on submariner Tyler Rogers The Blue Jays' deal for reliever Tyler Rogers was at once intuitive and surprising. Sportsnet's Nick Ashbourne explains why Toronto handed $37 million to the 35-year-old submariner.

The Blue Jays made a big bet that Tyler Rogers has staying power deep into his 30s.

What we've seen from MLB submariners in recent decades suggests they may be onto something: www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...

🎧BJHH: 207 - Winter Meetings Roundup If a Winter Meetings happens in Orlando, does anybody hear it make a sound?

If a Winter Meetings happens in Orlando, does anybody hear it make a sound?

This week @nickashbourne.bsky.social and I are talking all about the Winter Meetings, which have come and gone without having much of an impact on the Jays’ 2026 roster.

Have a listen! 👇

Breaking down Blue Jays' top relief-pitcher targets If the Blue Jays want a proven, high-leverage arm, they are running short on options — but there are still a few relievers remaining who could help them in the late innings. Nick Ashbourne has a list.

The high-end RP market is moving fast, but there are still a few guys who could help the back end of the Blue Jays bullpen: www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...

Apparently, I'm the only guy out there visiting the FanGraphs pages of Blue Jays legends like Aquilino Lopez, Chad Jenkins, Joe Inglett, Gustavo Chacin, Randy Ruiz, and Danny Barnes.

At last, some reasons for optimism in Leafland (except the power play) - MLHS Podcast EP107 At last, some reasons for optimism in Leafland (except the power play) - MLHS Podcast EP107

At last, some reasons for optimism in Leafland. Except for the power play.

New podcast via @APetrielli.bsky.social & @NickAshbourne.bsky.social on the big wins in Pittsburgh and Florida, the forward lines stabilizing, Stecher's impact, the ongoing PP frustrations, and much more 👇

#LeafsForever

🎧BJHH: 206 - The Cody Ponce Emergency Podcast In which we discuss a surprising signing, and ask the question: could José Berríos actually have trade value?

Podcast time!

In which @nickashbourne.bsky.social and I discuss a fun, surprising, surprisingly fun signing, and ask the question: could José Berríos actually have trade value?

Have a listen! 👇

FanGraphs' Roster Resource depth chart has Cody Ponce in the Blue Jays rotation and José Berríos in the bullpen...

That isn't anything definitive, but it's not an unreasonable snap judgment considering the level of investment in Ponce.

Cody Ponce is a high-variance option, but he's a totally different pitcher today than the one who flamed out of MLB in 2021.

Just set the KBO single-season K record (252), his fastball has some juice, and his curve & splitter should both generate whiffs.

How should the Maple Leafs line up their fully healthy forward group? - MLHS Podcast EP106 How should the Maple Leafs line up their fully healthy forward group? - MLHS Podcast EP106

How should the Leafs line up their fully healthy forward group? How can their power play possibly be this bad?

@APetrielli.bsky.social and @NickAshbourne.bsky.social dive into those storylines and much more in this week's MLHS Podcast 👇

#LeafsForever

I didn't think we'd be having an exciting massive transaction pod less than a month from the end of the World Series... but it's time to talk Dylan Cease.