The Blue Jays designated Edwin Encarnacion for assignment on this date two years ago, and he cleared waivers two days later once the 29 other MLB teams had passed on him. Encarnacion now has 20 homers and a .283/.351/.574 slash line, so he's making a strong case for inclusion in next month's All-Star Game. Here are today’s links…
- The Rockies would have to be overwhelmed to trade Rafael Betancourt or Matt Belisle, so deals are highly unlikely, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (Twitter links). Teams don't generally view the Rockies as a team with lots of assets to trade, according to Olney.
- The Mets are going to wait a few weeks before "digging into" the trade market, Olney tweets.
- GM Brian Sabean told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick that the Giants identified Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan as trade targets this past offseason because, in spite of their flaws, they’re both impact MLB players. “We're talking about switch-hitters who can hit almost anywhere in the lineup, play all three outfield positions and help you on both sides of the ball. There's a lot to like," Sabean said. Check out Crasnick’s piece for a detailed look at how the Giants scouted and built their new-look outfield.
- The Blue Jays have been telling teams they can’t take on any salary, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter).
The hugely profitable blue jays owned by robbers can’t take on salary? *sigh* what a bunch of crooks!
If it’s reported by Knobler it’s almost certainly false. He “broke” a phony “Snider is traded” story some time ago, and has been known for this sort of thing.
Sabean’s track record since his GM tenure. He brought in Jason Schmidt, Jeff Kent, Robb Nen.
World Series run included Pat Burrell, Cody Ross, Ramon Ramirez, Javier Lopez, Santiago Casilla, Andres Torres, Aubrey Huff.
Recently brought in Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, and Gregor Blanco.
He also drafted Ryan Vogelsong (brought him back), Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Sergio Romo, Brian Wilson, Buster Posey, plus signed Pablo Sandoval as a international free agent.
There may be Sabean haters but after some consideration his work has been a good one compared to the other longest tenured GM in baseball Billy Beane.
I’m a mets fan and I have a big reason to love Sabean, but you’re right he’s mostly right, and if a GM is mostly right he’s a good GM, what’s the saying for a GM; 60% correct is good, 60% incorrect is bad.
the world series run was incredibly fluky, also I would be careful on giving a GM too much credit for drafts. Giants right now have a bottom third farm system and Sabean should get some blame there.
So Sabean shouldn’t get the credit for having good drafts but should get the blaim when picks don’t work……..got it!
no, you definitely have to give the GM credit for drafts. you know very well you’d blame him if they drafted poorly
Sabean isn’t really responsible for the Draft. Dick Tidrow and Bobby Evans are. The scouting dept should get more credit than Sabean.
It’s listed here as well that Melky/Pagan were scouts choices.
Aubrey Huff was bottom barrel feeding after Nick Johnson and Adam Laroche said no.
Andres Torres would have never started if Rowand didn’t get beaned in the face.
Also –
A.J. Pierzynski trade
Zack Wheeler trade
Signing Michael Tucker and just giving up a draft pick.
Armando Benitiez
Matt Morriss
Aaron Rowand
So you didn’t know that Tidrow and Evans report to Sabean? Give him credit for trusting his employees, at least.
I’m sure you’re a Giants fan or you wouldn’t have memories of all Sabean’s deals that didn’t work out. But be fair. Evaluate another GM, of your choice, as long as he’s been in the job for over five years. Look at ALL the deals and drafts he’s made and tell me that he’s done better than Sabean. Give it a try.
A batter only has to be successful 3 out of 10 times to be a star. How come a GM has to be perfect?
Thank you for being a sensible person. But for some reason there has to be a vocal minority that wants to rip everything he’s done because he traded away prospects that to this day Nathan was the only consistent MLB player and even with him hindsight was 20/20 because of injury history.
He was also under the watchful eye of McGowan & Co to surround people around Bonds and not focus on the draft. Its not a coincidence that when Bonds left the team the organization started drafting great players because they weren’t signing Type A and Type B players that took away draft picks.
Also farm system is depleted only because they’ve already called up their top prospects up.
Sabean is a dumpster diver. 2010 it worked out. He lives on pitching and will never get us a bat. I’d much prefer a guy that can hit .300 with 30 bombs as opposed to guys who can play multiple positions and bat anywhere in the lineup.
Sabes didn’t even try to keep Beltran.
So what if he dumpster dives. In the last 12 years only 3 teams have won two WS Cardinals, Red Sox, and Yankees. Giants had two WS appearances as well but well…um…Game 6 in 2002. In the end you have to admit he’s done more good than terrible.
And if you want a .300 hitter with 30 bombs Sabean will have to pay premium and than some because the NL doesn’t have a DH. Being AT&T’d is not fun for those power hitters and thats the reality.
sabean is one of the worst in the game, no question. but he does need to get credit for the drafting
you’re right that there’s no way he would have drafted the players that have panned out. but he gets credit for employing (and not vetoing) the people that did
So what constitutes a bad GM? Trading away prospects that people get attached to without actually seeing them play or have no professional background to evaluate them. Or is it not winning? Because form ’97-’04 the Giants were pretty good.
Back up what you say. Who’s better? Show me the evidence.
He began as a scout and still thinks like one albeit with old school tendencies. In the end he signs them and has the final say. Tidrow sticks with pitching and Evans oversees the draftees.
Torres wouldn’t be on the team if Sabean and Bochy didn’t say yes to the final roster let alone let him try out for the team back in ’09.
I’m just saying he gets too much criticism and nitpicking when he has put together teams that were successful besides the ’05-’08 seasons which were a rebuilding period.
In 2009 if you’d told me that EE and Jose Bautista would have a shot at being 50 HR teammates I’d have laughed you right out of the stadium…. even if you meant 50 HR combined between the two.
“The Rockies would have to be overwhelmed to trade Rafael Betancourt or Matt Belisle…”
Sense: this makes none.
Richest owners in baseball !!! And all the can manage is to do is pickup everyone else’s cast offs. Completely pathetic !!
as they send cash for a nothing AAA rotation filler…
I think calling around and saying, hey we are will to take on full salary for a spot starter!! probably isnt a good negotiation tactic.
AA: We cant take on salary
mystery gm: no?why?
AA: busy trying spend millions in latin america pre jul2nd. Wanna see whats left over first.
only scenario i can see where jays say they cant take on salary. only scenario that wld be plausible. believing otherwise wld be dumb. Jays bandwagon filling up and they dont want ppl jumping off….
Jays nare busy trying to spend millions in latin america. Bandwagon fillimg up they dont want ppl jumping off. as well to believe there are a bunch of good starters available at a reasonable cost is a bit naive. its june 22 not july 22
Hey man, I want to figure out the point you’re trying to make, because I
enjoy baseball discussion, but can you try not to mash the keys? Your
meaning is becoming obscured.
hard not to mash keys when you are on a street car. agreed on baseball conversations.
What I was saying is there is no way the Jays do not have money to spend. However right now the focus is on Latin America. As of July 2nd new cba rules come into play where there are spending limits on these acquisitions. Once they are done signing who they want they will have a clearer picutre on excess resources.
2nd point was Jays attendance up 10k avg per game, tv ratings are up, ppl are excited and jumping on the bandwagon – last thing Jays want is for ppl to start getting frustrated and jumping off the wagon. They will do some but on their terms not a rival GM’s
which brings us to the third point: What team is willing to trade a competent starter preferably a #2/3 right now without being over compensated? Not many…. To get a solid starter right now you are going to pay out your wazoo. If it was end of July not June, there would be a lot more players on the table to make a deal for at a reasonable cost. Timing of these injuries is very unfortunate…
Every team has fans that want the GM fired. They want magic bullet trades and expensive free agents, like Pujols and Fielder. Sabean was Scouting Director of the Yankees, that drafted the Yankees dynasty of the late 1990″s. He made trades that brought the late 90’s and 2000’s seccess. He drafted and make the moves for the first SF Giants WC in SF history.
There is just no way the Jays are NOT in a position to take on salary. Weekend crowds have been huge all season, and this team is better then any I remember since the early 90’s.
I still have some faith and predict AA will pull off yet another out of nowhere deal for a quality player who fits into the long term plans.
The title should probably read Jays will not take on any salary for short term rentals who will essentially get the Jays nowhere in 2012.