Blue Jays Discussion: Blue Jays Showing Their Best Maple Leaf Impression

[Eyedea]

I know today was a below average game but that was just horrible I can't see how people pay money to watch this. Especially if your a jays fan

Especially if your a jays fan?

 

[Woodman19]

I guess the silver lining in this meltdown is that it will likely force AA to trade Bautista because its widely assumed that he will request a trade and it will be a big opportunity to set us up with a few positional prospects who could be a big part of the team in the near future along with the cadre of arms that are getting close and finally give us a team that has both pitching and hitting at the same time.

 

[calcal798]

I guess the silver lining in this meltdown is that it will likely force AA to trade Bautista because its widely assumed that he will request a trade and it will be a big opportunity to set us up with a few positional prospects who could be a big part of the team in the near future along with the cadre of arms that are getting close and finally give us a team that has both pitching and hitting at the same time.

Why would Bautista request a trade? Him, EE, Melky and Reyes are all fellow countryman, probably good friends and are the leaders of the team.

 

[Mach85]

Why would Bautista request a trade? Him, EE, Melky and Reyes are all fellow countryman, probably good friends and are the leaders of the team.

It's been speculated by a couple reporters close to the team for awhile that Bats would ask out after this year if there's no playoffs. Couple that with his comments after the deadline, and it's not a stretch at all.

 

[Paladin2799]

It's been speculated by a couple reporters close to the team for awhile that Bats would ask out after this year if there's no playoffs. Couple that with his comments after the deadline, and it's not a stretch at all.

Frankly, I hope he does.

Id love to have bautista request a trade to start the retooling and give AA some more time.

Trade Bautista and Burlhe, and see about dickey as well. Retool around EE, melky, and reyes. Flesh out your team and continue to grow through the draft like we have.

 

[Myke]

Frankly, I hope he does.

Id love to have bautista request a trade to start the retooling and give AA some more time.

Trade Bautista and Burlhe, and see about dickey as well. Retool around EE, melky, and reyes. Flesh out your team and continue to grow through the draft like we have.

Sadly I think this is the best option. With the young arms we have it makes sense to bring the age of the rest of the team in line with them. It will be sad to see Bats and EE leave but we should be able to get some pretty good young talent for them.

 

[Woodman19]

Sadly I think this is the best option. With the young arms we have it makes sense to bring the age of the rest of the team in line with them. It will be sad to see Bats and EE leave but we should be able to get some pretty good young talent for them.

Depending on the return for Bautista, you could probably still hold on to your core and simply retool the team for more depth.

Lets hypothetically say we move him to the Cardinals for Wong + + you then can argue that you fill the void at 2B while then being in play to go for someone like Kemp to play RF (since you can clear some big time salary by declining player options too) then you somewhat replace his bat via a couple players while shoring up the weaknesses elsewhere (probably another major league arm would come over too).

If we are talking say Wong + Miller + prospect (lets face it, Tavares wouldn't be included in the deal) we could easily retool with a package like that and be competitive for the foreseeable future.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Why would Bautista request a trade? Him, EE, Melky and Reyes are all fellow countryman, probably good friends and are the leaders of the team.

If Cabrera leaves during free agency I could see Bautista wanting out.

 

[Mach85]

Depending on the return for Bautista, you could probably still hold on to your core and simply retool the team for more depth.

Lets hypothetically say we move him to the Cardinals for Wong + + you then can argue that you fill the void at 2B while then being in play to go for someone like Kemp to play RF (since you can clear some big time salary by declining player options too) then you somewhat replace his bat via a couple players while shoring up the weaknesses elsewhere (probably another major league arm would come over too).

If we are talking say Wong + Miller + prospect (lets face it, Tavares wouldn't be included in the deal) we could easily retool with a package like that and be competitive for the foreseeable future.

Good point on the Cards deal, but I don't see Kemp coming here. He is grossly overpaid and declining in performance. If the Dodgers eat some of his salary, they're gonna want better prospects in return.

 

[Woodman19]

Good point on the Cards deal, but I don't see Kemp coming here. He is grossly overpaid and declining in performance. If the Dodgers eat some of his salary, they're gonna want better prospects in return.

Oh I agree he is not ideal, but if we were to say throw in Romero (as the salary dump) and decline Morrow and move one of Buerhle/Dickey in addition to moving Bautista. Salary should not really be a concern for us and the deal is only 5 more years so its not like its a deadly 8 year monster. Also, he would be moving from an extreme pitchers park to a hitters one, so while he will never be a MVP caliber player again (in all likelihood) he will probably still be a .800 OPS guy with a bit of upside for 2 of those seasons. Finally, since we have trouble attracting free agents and since there is no real bats out there this year it might actually make some sense to make a play for Kemp.

 

[Anthrax442]

The ownership better be ready to spend some cashola in the offseason, or there is no point in trying to stick another bandaid on top of another bandaid. I agree that Bautista can be moved if we can get a good return and if Cabrera can be re-signed. No thanks on Rasmus or Morrow, unless Morrow will come back for 1 year and a very cheap deal.

 

[canucksfan]

There are only two scenarios I would move Bautista. First, if the deal made sense, some team overpaying for him and fills some holes the Jays have. Second, if Rogers decreases payroll then I would move him.

 

[Mach85]

Yunel Escobar claimed on revocable waivers by the A's, and his agent releases this statement:

"I am very concerned with Yunel having been selected on waivers by Oakland," Escobar's agent, Alex Esteban, said. "While I believe Oakland is an excellent organization, I don't feel that it is the best organization for him."

OK. This from a guy who played for the Marlins.

 

[p.l.f.]

Going hard for the card lol
Man what a disgrace

 

[Eyedea]

Anthopoulos was clear on Sunday: Sanchez is, indeed, capable of closing, “but I don’t ever see us considering him for that role. Depending on the off-season there is a chance he starts in the pen next year to watch innings, and then moves back to the rotation.”

 

[Mach85]

I wonder if there's a possibility Morrow comes back to close? I think AA and Brandon have both said he's a starter in the past, but perhaps this latest season + team need will change that.

 

[AlienWorkShop]

Was curious about the sum of the salary situation for next year... this is my source: http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/toronto-blue-jays/yearly/ Might not be the most reputable source, so correct whatever.

Salary increases
Buerhle: 19m to 20m
Reyes: : 16m to 22m
EE: 9m to 10m
Navarro: 3m to 5m

Options
Morrow: 8m to 10m
Lind: 7m to 7.5m
Happ: 5.2m to 6.7m
McGowan: 1.5m to 4m
Thole: 1.25m to 1.25m
Santos: 3.75m to 6m

UFA
Janssen: 4m
Rasmus: 7m
Cabrera: 8m
Kawasaki: ?
Johnson: ?
Tolleson: ?

Dead salary
Wells: 3.6m (apparently we're still paying some of Wells contract off? Last year of that apparently)

No change: Bautista (14m), Dickey (12m), Izturis (3m), Romero (7.5m)

So, assuming we don't re-sign Rasmus and don't pick up the options on McGowan, Santos, and Morrow, that's a 12m increase in salaries (including option pickups), 20.25m off the books, plus apparently another 3.6m with Wells' payoff finally gone. So, assuming the same salary next year (whatever), that's about 11.85m to play with for Cabrera, Janssen, plus? (so, probably need/should to take on some more salary...)

(I'm assuming all players in arbitration situations nets out to zero added salary...)

 

[The Nemesis]

This idea of putting Sanchez in as the closer now seems patently ridiculous to me. You're taking a guy who looks right now like he has a shot to start next year or at least be a very useful high-leverage reliever and want to slot him into the most overrated specialist position in the bullpen? Leave one of your best arms in the pen sitting inactive out there until we get into a situation where the team is going to win 95% of the time anyway and then bring him in?

Yunel Escobar claimed on revocable waivers by the A's, and his agent releases this statement:

"I am very concerned with Yunel having been selected on waivers by Oakland," Escobar's agent, Alex Esteban, said. "While I believe Oakland is an excellent organization, I don't feel that it is the best organization for him."

OK. This from a guy who played for the Marlins.

I don't think he ever actually played for the Marlins. After getting him from the Jays, Miami turned around and flipped him to TB before the off-season was over.

 

[Mach85]

This idea of putting Sanchez in as the closer now seems patently ridiculous to me. You're taking a guy who looks right now like he has a shot to start next year or at least be a very useful high-leverage reliever and want to slot him into the most overrated specialist position in the bullpen? Leave one of your best arms in the pen sitting inactive out there until we get into a situation where the team is going to win 95% of the time anyway and then bring him in?




I don't think he ever actually played for the Marlins. After getting him from the Jays, Miami turned around and flipped him to TB before the off-season was over.

Ah, good catch on Yunel. And agreed on Sanchez. I have no idea why the Cards haven't given Rosenthal a chance to start, as was originally the plan. The Jays have SO much young pitching, the chances are at least one will end up in the bullpen. Let nature take its course.

 

[canucksfan]

I think Melky will get around 15+.

 

[canucksfan]

I am not a big fan of having Sanchez in the bullpen now. I think it would be beneficial to have him in AAA developing his pitches. Although I think he was close to his innings limit.

 

[Woodman19]

I think Melky will get around 15+.

I will be shocked if he gets anything below 5 years $75 million. Open market he gets 6 years for $100 million.

 

[Eyedea]

I think Melky will get around 15+.

He'll get a qualifying offer which is approximately 14m or so. I'm assuming they'll go 3 or 4 years with him and he'd be smart to take it considering he is already looking like a DH candidate. Maybe the Red Sox target him and overpay though.

 

[StuckOutHere]

I would absolutely clean house after this year. Only big money guy I'd keep is Reyes. I think Edwin and Bautista could get us at least three top-50 type prospects due to their ability and sweetheart contracts.

 

[The Nemesis]

I am not a big fan of having Sanchez in the bullpen now. I think it would be beneficial to have him in AAA developing his pitches. Although I think he was close to his innings limit.

He was/is. If he were still in Buffalo he'd be in the pen there too. He asked to go to the pen so that his innings limit would give him 15-20 relief appearances for the rest of the season instead of like 4-5 starts (he was at about 30 innings remaining prior to the callup.)