Blue Jays Discussion: Baseball's back! Maybe (Plan to start late July unless things go sideways)

[deletethis]

How many more MLB players are going to opt out? A couple per team is nothing. What happens when a group of players refuse to travel to a certain destination or play a certain opponent? I see soccer teams in Europe playing schedules but most countries aren't as litigious of the U.S. It's going to be an interesting additional element.

 

[phillipmike]

10 prospects who could have big impacts in '20

Nate Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays
After losing 95 games in 2019, could Toronto make some noise in this shortened season? If the team’s young core of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. continues to progress, and its rebuilt rotation led by Hyun-Jin Ryu lives up to expectations, then it’s possible. The X-factor might be the 23-year-old Pearson, a 6-foot-6 righty who recorded a 2.30 ERA with 119 strikeouts and 27 walks over 101 2/3 Minor League innings last year. With his overpowering arsenal, Pearson (MLB’s No. 8 prospect) would bring an element to the Blue Jays’ starting staff that the quintet of Ryu, Matt Shoemaker, Tanner Roark, Chase Anderson and Trent Thornton lacks

Pitching Streak Finder | Stathead.com

Ryu had a 2 month stretch last season were he was 7-0 with 0.80 ERA, 67 Ks, 4 walks in 11 starts (78.2 innings pitched)

 

[NeverGoingToWin]

July 1 is Bobby Bonilla Day: Why the Mets still owe him $1.19 million a year until he's 72

He also gets $500,000 a year from Baltimore.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Probably should happen soon. Boras doesn't always take it down to the wire;

2020 Draft:
Spencer Torkelson - signed June 30th
JT Ginn - June 29th
Austin Wells - June 25th

Since those players were selected 1st, 28th and 52nd overall, is the hold up on signing Martin because of what Jays are willing to pay him or is it Boras trying to get as much money as possible out of them?

 

[phillipmike]

Since those players were selected 1st, 28th and 52nd overall, is the hold up on signing Martin because of what Jays are willing to pay him or is it Boras trying to get as much money as possible out of them?

I wouldn’t constitute it as a “hold up” yet, Torkelson just signed yesterday and 5 first round players have yet to sign plus 28 in rounds 2-5.

Could be many reasons for Martin not signing yet:

• Yet to take a physical
• Maybe certain Jays staff located in Toronto are waiting to travel down to Florida to meet him in person, other teams can do that easily as they are in the same countries as their draftees. This may be the case as I’m sure no one really believed Martin would be there at 5 for them to take him, so perhaps they are taking it slow
• Could be more money
• Maybe Martin is trying to negotiate to be on the Jays 60 man roster or get some playing time this year
• Maybe he is trying to dictate which position he plays
• Or which level he starts off at next year
• Maybe Frasso is holding it up. They will likely use all their money so they are trying to lower the number on Frasso to give Martin more

Could be a variety of reasons that they have yet to work out vs just 1. COVID definitely didn’t help things especially when a guy who is expected to go 2nd overall fell to 5th.

Stroman was a July 3rd signing. Jeff Hoffman and Max Pentecost were drafted on June 5th in the 2014 draft and signed on July 2nd. The draft was a little later this year on June 10th.

Jays signed Deck McGuire on August 17th at midnight (deadline day).

Sometimes deals come together quickly, and sometimes it doesn’t - there is no real rush. if you are a Leaf fan, you will remember that Matthews signed almost 2 months later. According to Lou, they knew they were going to give Matthews to max so it wasn’t a priority to get it done right away especially with free agency coming.

Washington Nationals Sign Anthony Rendon

I see this being very close to the Nats taking Rendon 6th overall. In the 2011 draft, Cole was expected to go 1 and Rendon 2. But like Martin, Rendon fell but to pick 6. Washington took Rendon and his advisor was... Scott Boras.

Rendon sign at the deadline on August 16, 2011 at midnight.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Sometimes deals come together quickly, and sometimes it doesn’t - there is no real rush. if you are a Leaf fan, you will remember that Matthews signed almost 2 months later. According to Lou, they knew they were going to give Matthews to max so it wasn’t a priority to get it done right away especially with free agency coming.

It wasn't 2 months for Matthews to sign his ELC. He was drafted on June 24, 2016 and signed on July 21, 2016.

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/auston-matthews

 

[dredeye]

It wasn't 2 months for Matthews to sign his ELC. He was drafted on June 24, 2016 and signed on July 21, 2016.

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/auston-matthews

Different sport. Not even comparable

 

[LeafsNation75]

Different sport. Not even comparable

I realize that. I was just correcting him that it didn't take Matthews 2 months from the time he was drafted before he officially signed his ELC.

 

[phillipmike]

It wasn't 2 months for Matthews to sign his ELC. He was drafted on June 24, 2016 and signed on July 21, 2016.

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/auston-matthews

Sorry my mistake, but you get the point. Something that should have been done in 30 seconds took a month.

 

[Discoverer]

The signing limits also make it a bit more complicated than "Just get it done!"

We know Martin will be over slot, but how much over slot they can go depends what everyone else signs for. So at this point they can't sign either of Martin or Frasso until they know the numbers work for both of them.

 

[Canada4Gold]

It definitely could take a while yet but I'm expecting something to be done fairly soon just because I think both sides will want Austin Martin in "summer" training when camps get going here given the complete lack of baseball for the past 4 months. The taxi squad workouts once the season starts are useful too but being around actual big leaguers for a couple weeks would be nice for Martin too.

 

[theaub]

How many more MLB players are going to opt out? A couple per team is nothing. What happens when a group of players refuse to travel to a certain destination or play a certain opponent? I see soccer teams in Europe playing schedules but most countries aren't as litigious of the U.S. It's going to be an interesting additional element.

Less of a baseball issue but I am interested to see how many players just get bored of the bubble and leave in NBA/NHL.

I do wonder how agile MLB will be if the outbreaks continue in Florida/Arizona etc in terms of moving them to neutral sites or having them play all games at the opposition's stadium.

 

[canucksfan]

 

[Canada4Gold]

Does it have to be more positives? I just assumed that everyone they put on the initial list were their base roster, including anyone who had already tested positive who would them immediately be transferred to the Covid IL and potentially replaced.

1 positive we knew they had was a 40 man roster pitcher who got it from someone on the Philles. The only 40 man roster player left off the initial list the other day was Diaz. So it's either him, or the initial roster had positives on it too, or both.

 

[Canada4Gold]

Could be actual injuries because we're not allowed to disclose covid related IL stints, but on the same day the Jays go over the 60 roster limit guaranteeing covid IL stints here's 4 IL stints, that should be good enough cover

 

[phillipmike]

• Under MLB’s protocol, every player is required to undergo a diagnostic/PCR and serology/antibody testing, a process currently underway. Blue Jays players and staff will undergo a second PCR test, and only those who have had two negative results will be allowed to travel north;

• Once here, the Blue Jays will have additional PCR testing beyond the every-other-day checks mandated by MLB, and anyone who tests positive will remain in isolated quarantine until he produces two negative tests;

• Essential Toronto-based staff allowed to interact with players and staff will undergo the same testing and quarantine process;

• Their security screening before flying to Toronto via private charter will take place either at TD Ballpark in Dunedin or planeside to limit contact with the general public;

• Private buses conforming to physical distancing and cleaning standards set by the Public Health Agency of Canada will be used for transport from Pearson International Airport;

• To minimize contact with hotel staff and the general public, the Blue Jays will have contactless check-ins and food delivery, as well as private dining;

• The team will create a quarantine zone with a dedicated room block at the hotel that is isolated from the general public;

• Access to Rogers Centre will be limited and the building will be divided into tiered areas to further isolate players and staff, while physical distancing will be promoted through staggered outbreaks, with high-touch areas disinfected hourly.

A plan for the regular season would work similarly, with the visiting club operating under similar limitations and isolated in its own block of the hotel.

Adherence is obviously pivotal and, in theory, the harsh penalties for violating the Quarantine Act, as well as the stakes for Major League Baseball should ensure full compliance.

The operational challenges of playing baseball amid the pandemic were highlighted for the Blue Jays during a recent outbreak at the club’s facility in Dunedin, Fla., and in a series of roster moves Thursday morning.

They reclaimed infielder Breyvic Valera on waivers from the San Diego Padres while also adding right-hander Bryan Baker, infielder Patrick Kivlehan and outfielder Josh Palacios to their 60-man player pool, pushing their total up to 62.

The only way to exceed the max of 60 is if some players are being placed on the COVID-19 Injured List, transactions that don’t have be announced publicly

Sounds like Drury, Perez, Luciano and Davis were positive COVID tests.

Happy to get Valera back, was a little disappointed to see him go.

 

[theaub]

'Adherence is obviously pivotal and, in theory, the harsh penalties for violating the Quarantine Act, as well as the stakes for Major League Baseball should ensure full compliance.'

O/U 2.5 days before the first picture of a Blue Jay out in the city

 

[Canada4Gold]

'Adherence is obviously pivotal and, in theory, the harsh penalties for violating the Quarantine Act, as well as the stakes for Major League Baseball should ensure full compliance.'

O/U 2.5 days before the first picture of a Blue Jay out in the city

I give opposition players less than that TBH. (Just speculation) If part of the agreement with the city is that (m)any violations means the Jays are no longer welcome forcing them to play elsewhere again then I can see Jays players perhaps being more willing to comply. Visiting players however won't have many reason to give a shit whether them violating the rules screws the Jays over.

 

[xxOCZMSxx]

I give opposition players less than that TBH. (Just speculation) If part of the agreement with the city is that (m)any violations means the Jays are no longer welcome forcing them to play elsewhere again then I can see Jays players perhaps being more willing to comply. Visiting players however won't have many reason to give a shit whether them violating the rules screws the Jays over.

Quite the change ... now teams want players playing as much Fortnite as possible
Anything that keeps them indoors.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Anthrax442]

 

[phillipmike]

 

[canucksfan]

 

[Discoverer]

Not surprising, but still exciting news!

 

[phillipmike]