Blue Jays Discussion: Today the off-season begins. For the Blue Jays.

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

Our prospect cupboards are bare right now. Big questions on some guys, and some questionable moves by AA.

- Is Roberto Osuna gonna be good to go to star next season, or will he need Tommy John.
- Is the addition of Syndergaard in the Dickey trade gonna be worth it? Would have liked to have seen him at the big league level, he'll debut next season for the mets. (always thought he was the best of the bunch in Sanchez/Syndergaard/Nicolino)
- Will Stroman get even better and make the big league club next season?
- How will Hutchison and Drabek look after Tommy John?
- Will we see Sanchez @ the big league level by end of next year?

We better draft well to stock up the cupboards again.

Roberto had Tommy John Surgery mid way through July. He should be back in June\July of 2014 with Lansing or Dunedin.

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

Tanaka should be our #1 target this offseason.
Darvish, Ryu, Chen. All the asian pitchers coming over are pitching well. We cant afford to deal Sanchez and others in a trade to get a frontline pitcher. Just open the wallets and spend the money Rogers obviously has.

Here's a nice little summary of the average production from the final three years in Japan for some other high priced Japanese free agent pitchers, just for comparison sake:

Darvish: 200 IP, 141 H, 5 HR, 39 BB, 225 K, 1.59 ERA, 1.87 FIP (w/DH)

Igawa: 195 IP, 188 H, 21 HR, 54 BB, 183 K, 3.37 ERA, 3.44 FIP (no DH)

Kuroda: 188 IP, 175 H, 17 HR, 35 BB, 137 K, 2.91 ERA, 3.46 FIP (no DH)

Matsuzaka: 189 IP, 148 H, 12 HR, 40 BB, 197 K, 2.29, 2.59 FIP (w/DH)

Tanaka: 174 IP, 143 H, 5 HR, 23 BB, 163 K, 1.44 ERA, 2.07 FIP (w/ DH)

Kind of interesting to see he walks far less than most of the other guys. One of his best attributes, better than Darvish apparently, is his mentality and willingness to attack the strikezone. Also good to note that he played in the Japan Pacific League, which has a DH, unlike Igawa who benefited from playing in the Central League. If the Blue Jays spend on any free agent starter, I hope its Tanaka.

 

[calcal798]

Here's a nice little summary of the average production from the final three years in Japan for some other high priced Japanese free agent pitchers, just for comparison sake:

Darvish: 200 IP, 141 H, 5 HR, 39 BB, 225 K, 1.59 ERA, 1.87 FIP (w/DH)

Igawa: 195 IP, 188 H, 21 HR, 54 BB, 183 K, 3.37 ERA, 3.44 FIP (no DH)

Kuroda: 188 IP, 175 H, 17 HR, 35 BB, 137 K, 2.91 ERA, 3.46 FIP (no DH)

Matsuzaka: 189 IP, 148 H, 12 HR, 40 BB, 197 K, 2.29, 2.59 FIP (w/DH)

Tanaka: 174 IP, 143 H, 5 HR, 23 BB, 163 K, 1.44 ERA, 2.07 FIP (w/ DH)

Kind of interesting to see he walks far less than most of the other guys. One of his best attributes, better than Darvish apparently, is his mentality and willingness to attack the strikezone. Also good to note that he played in the Japan Pacific League, which has a DH, unlike Igawa who benefited from playing in the Central League. If the Blue Jays spend on any free agent starter, I hope its Tanaka.

The other bonuses are that he doesn't cost a compensation pick and that he is only 24, our rotation could use a little injection of youth. With Hutchinson, Drabek, Stroman, Nolin among others in the minors I'd be okay with starting the season with Dickey-Beurhle-Morrow-Tanaka-JJ and if someone gets injured calling up the best of the bunch from the minors.