Blue Jays Off-Season

[wildwoods]

Looks like Joey Bats is back! That's good news.
Not happy about EE but feel he will regress soon. Overall I am happy with Shapiro and Atkins. Re-stocking the farm while staying competitive. The Pitchers they pulled in at low cost last year were tremendous. Hats off to them. Now a couple bull pen arms and a good secondary catcher and we're off to the races- hopefully for a Penant!

[Rio56]

you right WW.... the EE come back to the jays would have been the icing on cake ... especially with Joey back ... big mistake on the part of EE agent me thinks ....

[deucecan]

Sure feels like we are a bit better off than last years start, just my opinion. Travis should be healthy and good for leadoff, Upton, despite what most think is actually a decent contact hitter. Morales is not a big step down from EE, Pearce can be a beast. And let's not forget Dickey is gone, no more give up 8 runs after the 6th inning games. The pick up of Liriano looks to be a real good deal from what we saw of him last year. Core is still strong, just can't have that crap start with the bats like last year. Defence will still be just as strong as last year.

[pintailslammer]

I personally wish he was gone.I wish EE would have been signed.
He thought to much of himself ($$$)and this is why he wasn't signed by anyone else,

Just my two cents
Pin

[Okotokian]

Jay's management looks incompetent. Let the best hitter go, then scramble to keep a lesser one. Should have used the Bautista money on Edwin. Edwin went to Cleveland for only a touch more than the Jays are going to pay Jose. How on earth can that be a win for Toronto?

[Rio56]

Edwin went to Cleveland for 20 mil less than the Jays offered him ... Jays had 4 yrs 80 mil on the table and he signed with Cleveland for 3 yrs 60 mil .. I think this one is on Edwin's agent ...

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Rio56

Edwin went to Cleveland for 20 mil less than the Jays offered him ... Jays had 4 yrs 80 mil on the table and he signed with Cleveland for 3 yrs 60 mil .. I think this one is on Edwin's agent ...

They made the offer, then when he didn't bite right away, they took it off the table. Why would you take it off the table? There wasn't a better hitter out there that they were going to use the money on. They misplayed it.

So now they are paying almost as much for an inferior, older player. How is that smart management? The Jays are not as good as they were last year.

[hal53]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

They made the offer, then when he didn't bite right away, they took it off the table. Why would you take it off the table? There wasn't a better hitter out there that they were going to use the money on. They misplayed it.

So now they are paying almost as much for an inferior, older player. How is that smart management? The Jays are not as good as they were last year.

They made the offer, EE rejected it because his agent had him believing he could get him 5 years and 125 million....so the Jays went and signed a DH ...?? and then got JB back for less than the qualifying offer.....

[MoFugger21]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

Jay's management looks incompetent. Let the best hitter go, then scramble to keep a lesser one. Should have used the Bautista money on Edwin. Edwin went to Cleveland for only a touch more than the Jays are going to pay Jose. How on earth can that be a win for Toronto?

The Jays management certainly didn't 'scramble' after EE signed in Cleveland - it's been almost a month, lol.

Bautista is, by all accounts, one of the best options left available in free agency for the Jays in the outfield. The Jays don't have the prospect depth to trade for a big name outfielder, so free agency was essentially the only way to fill that gap.

I'll take Jose for another year or two over the other options (Trumbo, Saunders, etc)

[MoFugger21]

Originally Posted by hal53

They made the offer, EE rejected it because his agent had him believing he could get him 5 years and 125 million....so the Jays went and signed a DH ...?? and then got JB back for less than the qualifying offer.....

Not true - the qualifying offer was 17.2mil and Jose signed for 18mil + incentives/bonuses.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by hal53

They made the offer, EE rejected it because his agent had him believing he could get him 5 years and 125 million....so the Jays went and signed a DH ...?? and then got JB back for less than the qualifying offer.....

Uh, Jose got MORE than his qualifying offer.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by MoFugger21

I'll take Jose for another year or two over the other options (Trumbo, Saunders, etc)

And over Edwin??? That's the choice I was talking about.
So they exit Edwin and Sauders, and add Morales and Pearce. I'm not saying that's a disaster, but I don't think it's an improvement.

[bb356]

baseball

[MoFugger21]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

And over Edwin??? That's the choice I was talking about.
So they exit Edwin and Sauders, and add Morales and Pearce. I'm not saying that's a disaster, but I don't think it's an improvement.

Last time I checked EE doesn't play in the outfield, so you're talking apples to oranges.

Jays management needed to fill a hole in the outfield as they weren't going to go with some combination of Pillar + Carrera/Upton/Pompey/Pearce/Morales/etc in LF & RF and Jose fills that hole. And regardless of whether you think he is an inferior hitter to EE, EE doesn't play those positions and Jose was likely the best fit/best player for the Jays given the available options in free agency.

The decisions to move on from EE and to bring back Jose weren't dependent on one another.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by MoFugger21

Last time I checked EE doesn't play in the outfield, so you're talking apples to oranges.

.

Jose isn't going to play the outfield either at 36, turning 37 in the playoffs... He was becoming a liability out there last year. They will apparently (and have in the past) talk to him about playing 1st.

[hal53]

Originally Posted by MoFugger21

Not true - the qualifying offer was 17.2mil and Jose signed for 18mil + incentives/bonuses.

sorry...you're right..

[MoFugger21]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

Jose isn't going to play the outfield either at 36, turning 37 in the playoffs... He was becoming a liability out there last year. They will apparently (and have in the past) talk to him about playing 1st.

He's not playing first.... Not with Morales/Smoak/Pearce. He will be in the outfield.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by MoFugger21

He's not playing first.... Not with Morales/Smoak/Pearce. He will be in the outfield.

maybe, maybe not.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...ase-blue-jays/

Then who's the DH? I would think that goes to Morales.

[MoFugger21]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

maybe, maybe not.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...ase-blue-jays/

Then who's the DH? I would think that goes to Morales.

From that article - John Gibbons on Jose playing 1B: "That’s not something we’ve specifically talked about at this point but there’s a chance he could go over there and play a little bit if the need’s right that’s for sure?

Could Jose play SOME 1B? Of course. If Pearce is needed in the OF and Morales is the DH and Smoak needs a day off or whatever, sure. That said, Donaldson COULD play 1B too if needed... Or Russ Martin... Or Ryan Goins... Will 1B be Jose's position day in and day out? Nope. He's primarily in the OF.

Doesn't really matter. They're a better team with him on the roster today than they were without him at Christmas time. I'll take it.

[Rio56]

Edwin had a deadline to sign the 4 x 20 mil and passed ..his agent forced the hand of the Jays to grab his replacement before the best one was gone off the free agent market ... his agent over valued EE and you can be assured EE would rather be in TO with Joey bats and the jays than Cleveland ..sad story actually

[wildwoods]

I may be in the minority but Shapiro and Atkins have done a heck of a job. We have Gurriel and Guerrero (sp?) in the fold- a major coup. We have re-stocked the farm nicely which is uber important as our 2 year window is closing. Biagini was identified by them and turned into a MAJOR success; as well as Girili. Liriano was lights out and will be a huge factor again this year. Alex A. severely depleted our farm and left the cupboard bare of prospects for his "win now" approach.
Their only gaff was EE. Which is ironic as they were the only ones to identify his market correctly from day 1. Half the blame goes to Edwin. Morales will thrive playing in that stadium and I'm sure his signing will take the sting out of losing Edwing. Bautista will come to camp with a huge chip on his shoulder and either have a tremendous year or get hurt trying. He's a solid signing. Having him in the line-up gives Donaldson and Morales better at bats with pitches to hopefully hit. Saunders/Moss etc... would not have had the same effect on this line-up.
Things I would like to see:
Pompey take a big step at the plate.
Pillar hit like he was projected to out of the minors.
Stroman to hit hit stride again
Add a decent back-up catcher who can actually hit (Thole was hard to watch)
2 LH arms added not named Loup
Estrada's back issues go away
Devon Travis to stay healthy indefinitely


Maybe I am too optimistic but I think they will be a wild-card team this year. If not they can start selling assets to build the farm at the deadline. Our pitching staff is a couple bullpen pieces away from being dynamite again, the outfield is set. The middle infield anchored by Tulo and Travis is looking stellar. I say hats off to the new management.

p.s. glad they didn't hamstring themselves with David Price. That Happ signing (By Shapiro and Co) is looking amazing as well.

[bigbuck]

Edwin was offered a great deal and didn't take it. instead of sitting around and taking a chance of other big names getting signed and off the market they signed Morales. Yes he's not much of a position player, but he has good numbers at the plate, plus he is now in a hitters ballpark and got him on a very favourable deal.

I think Bautista will get a few games at first but will mostly play in the outfield which I agree with you guys, he's below average. But in a tight game where we need defence uptown can come in. For the most part I like the signing. Short term and Bautista knows how to get on base. Always among the leaders in walks. If he's healthy no reason why he can't hit 30hr 100rbi.

Definitely need a backup catcher, Martin wore down at the end of the year. LHP like Blevins would be a nice fit in the pen and 1 more depth starter would be good in case of an injury

[Supergrit]

Baseball needs a salary cap the pay is rediculous. Eighty million over four years isn't enough. Jays will not be making the post season. Batista was teribble last year and he is injury proan.

[gunluvr]

The loss of Edwing was a major mistake, but I think Morales will do well. I don't mind having Hose B back, he's been solid since coming to TO with the exception of a couple minor injuries.
Defensively, I think Ryan Goins is one of the best middle infielders in baseball. I think if Gibbons gave him more at-bats, he'd improve at the plate.Gotta be patient.
Pillar is just great defensively. Hope he stays for a long time.
Kick Upton down the road, I think he's useless.
I agree another catcher would help lots. Isn't Matt Wieters still out there?
Rotation's as solid as it's been for a long time. Bullpen's OK.
Letting Dickey go was a no-brainer. Thank Christ for that.
I think the Jays are headed for another post-season.
Best bet for a 2017 World Series champ is Cleveland.
'Can't wait for opening day!

[ESOXangler]

Bautista has an attitude problem. There's no doubt there but honestly I feel like he's going to be Better move than EE. Bautista is in incredibly shape and really does take care of himself. No girls before games, low meat diet to reduce swelling, yoga, yelling at kids that tried to catch the ball and then sponsoring kids programs. Seriously though he is in better shape than EE, excluding the traumatic toe injury lol.
For 2017 I think we've traded 475' HRs for consistent base hits. It's going to be fun beating Cleveland in the post season!

Go jays!

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by ESOXangler

No girls before games,!

One would hope. Don't he and his girlfriend have a couple daughters together? LOL

[ESOXangler]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

One would hope. Don't he and his girlfriend have a couple daughters together? LOL

Hahaha mmmhmmm