2024 Free Agency Signings/Transactions (Blue Bombers)

[Pigskin]

Gray has an excellent job outside of football. He has always maintained Winnipeg is where he wants to play. I wouldn't be surprised if he retired rather then move to another team.

[TecnoGenius]

Gray has an excellent job outside of football. He has always maintained Winnipeg is where he wants to play. I wouldn't be surprised if he retired rather then move to another team.

Then let's make a re-signing happen.  He can take the normal home-town discount, knowing he'll get playoff money, and not need to upend his life.

He may not be the best at the moment, but he's arguably better than Dobson (the likely LG heir) right now.  (I doubt Eli will be tasked with LG.)

The longer this takes, the more likely we get him back, methinks.  Promise him more money in the future... SMS space should be wide open in 2026.

[Jesse]

The fact that Gray hasn't been snapped up is very telling.  Maybe other teams see what DM83 does?  Walker & Bailey probably haven't signed yet because of bigger asks$$.

The problem for all 3 is if they don't get decent offers, they may have no choice but to beg to KW for the scraps and earn even less than we would have given them had they agreed to decent terms earlier (b/c no money left).  FA can be a big gamble, and some players will lose.

Walker was signed by Calgary and walked away himself. It was reported he wasn't going to sign with any team at the moment. He must have something personal happening.

Gray especially, and I think Bailey too, have off season careers. They may just be contemplating retirement if they don't get the offers they want.

I do not expect any to return at any price point.

[LXTSN]

Does anyone know what the value of Bailey would be? My guess is that he could get offers in the 150,000 range (am I off?)

I know he has his own podcast on the side. If he's offered a 100k contract from us, would he accept that just to boost his podcast? If I were him, and wanting to build my brand, I would consider this. I don't think signing up as a 4th or 5th option on another team like Hamilton (for example) would help him.

[Foxhound]

There is no doubt that we are enamored with the players that have gotten us to FOUR STRAIGHT GREY CUPS, and have done our best to retain as many as possible.

Any signing of an available non-Bomber FA would come at the sacrifice of one or more Bomber FA's.  As it is, we have lost some key pieces simply because of budget.  No way we could compete for FA's that would "improve" our team.

We will, once again, lose players to FA and NFL, and replace them with drafting,scouting and coaching.  Not participating in the FA market is not a sign of not being interested in improving, but rather a sign that our front office is wisely avoiding the easy way out that some teams use to "buy" a team, but rather work on scouting and developing and creating players that other teams covet and overpay to have them come aboard.

I agree.

 

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Bailey says goodbye.

[BLUEBOMBER]

Whatever the price is for a decent kicker, we should sign one. Without a great kicker, a team can not possibly be dominant.

[BLUEBOMBER]

Bailey says goodbye.

Oh well.. he will be missed.. but replaced...

[blue_gold_84]

Shame they couldn't keep Bailey around for another season.

Just a heart and soul player through and through.

[blue_gold_84]

Has Castillo been re-signed? I can't find any news.

[Blue In BC]

Didn't listen to the 34 minute video. Where is Bailey going?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Has Castillo been re-signed? I can't find any news.

I suspect it's the same issue as with the others, Walters is probably offering Castillo the same or less than he made last season and he feels underpaid and undervalued for his performance when compared to other kickers in the league.  Jeffcoat, Bailey, Walker, Gray all walked away instead of accepting  pay cuts. 

[TecnoGenius]

Does anyone know what the value of Bailey would be? My guess is that he could get offers in the 150,000 range (am I off?)

I know he has his own podcast on the side. If he's offered a 100k contract from us, would he accept that just to boost his podcast? If I were him, and wanting to build my brand, I would consider this. I don't think signing up as a 4th or 5th option on another team like Hamilton (for example) would help him.

I think we got Bailey for ~$125 in 2023?  That's my guess.  In 2023 in FA he may have fetched $145?  I think 2024 FA there's less money leftover for the middlings, by all teams.  And Bailey's 2023 wasn't as good as 2022.  My guess is he's worth $135 FAoverall, and he probably wants $150, and the Bombers might pay $105 if he proposed the deal.

Just guessing.

[TecnoGenius]

Shame they couldn't keep Bailey around for another season.

Just a heart and soul player through and through.

There's the big problem.  We often shed the heart & soul & fire players.  Not on purpose, but we don't seem to place an extra value on that.

From a fan perspective, based on interviews and podcasts and news that we're privy to, the biggest "heart" players over the last 5 seasons were:

- Harris 33
- Hardrick 51
- Bailey 88

All are now gone.  What does this do to our team?  Who replace them as the passion guys, pep leaders?  This is important.  I could argue our '23 GC loss was due to lack of passion.  I've compared the 2 sidelines and attitude.  It's that "gonna crush them" "let's go" attitude that can win big games.

Who will take over that role?  We have "captain of the ship"-type leaders, sure, but the heart & soul guys are different.

[TecnoGenius]

Didn't listen to the 34 minute video. Where is Bailey going?

Skip to 6:00 and watch 3 mins.  It's worth it.  Bailey talking about his love for WPG fans and how he wanted to be back.  (If you have more time, watch thru to 13:00.)

We can't scrounge $125 for him (my number guess)?  Since we don't know what we'll get in TC (might just be more Agudosis) we're rolling the dice here.  Why not sign Bailey and if a TC guy proves great, cut Bailey mid-season like A.Bowman.

Bailey, if he is gone, is going out with class.  This is the way you do an exit and endear yourself to the fans for eternity.  Well done Bailey, set the precedent and show how it's done.  We love you and respect you and appreciate what you've done.  Your speech on TSN right before the end of the '19 GC will be in our memory forever.  It's as good as AH's "we're coming home with that cup, woooo" line.