Earlier this afternoon, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that the Blue Jays have reached out to the Phillies and inquired on Cole Hamels, but Shi Davidi of Sportsnet hears from a source that those discussions occurred months ago. The gap in talks isn’t exactly surprising, given that the reported outcome was that Hamels was unwilling to waive his limited no-trade protection to approve a deal to Toronto. Davidi reports that GM Alex Anthopoulos is unlikely to subtract from the big league roster to add immediate help, and he seems unconvinced that the Blue Jays would seriously consider parting with either left-hander Daniel Norris or right-hander Jeff Hoffman, both of whom are deemed vital components of the club’s future. Toronto has $5-8MM of available payroll to make in-season additions, per Davidi, so even if Hamels had been comfortable with a trade, the teams would still have some hurdles to clear in terms of salary. Hamels is earning $23.5MM this season — of which about $17.46MM remains.
Here’s more on the Blue Jays…
- The Blue Jays announced last night that rookie sensation Devon Travis has been placed on the 15-day DL with inflammation in his shoulder. Travis’ DL stint is back-dated to when he last played on May 17. There’s no indication that Travis is slated to miss a large chunk of time, so it seems likely that he could return to the club in early June. In the meantime, Toronto has selected the contract of fan favorite utility infielder Munenori Kawasaki, who will join the club for tonight’s series opener in Seattle. The 33-year-old Kawasaki has batted .244/.327/.302 over the past two seasons in part-time duty with Toronto.
- In a notebook piece from last night, Davidi writes that manager John Gibbons feels that Daniel Norris isn’t far from a return to the Majors. “His last outing was pretty good,” said Gibbons. “We just want to see that a couple of times, a few times maybe, for his own benefit. … We’re looking to get him back. He got here so quick, he started to struggle, you want to make sure what you did by sending him down was worthwhile, that he’s regrouped enough, instead of rushing him back.” Norris has a 2.50 ERA with 20 strikeouts against nine walks in 18 innings since his demotion to the minors.
- Also of note on the prospect front for Jays fans, assistant GM Tony LaCava said that Jeff Hoffman’s pro debut was a success, as his fastball topped out at 99 mph and he was able to throw five innings in his first start. Hoffman, selected ninth overall in the 2014 draft, didn’t pitch for the Jays last season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He was thought to be a potential No. 1 overall pick prior to his injury.
- Davidi’s colleague, Ben Nicholson-Smith, hosted his weekly Blue Jays chat this afternoon and discussed a number of trade scenarios, R.A. Dickey’s future with the team beyond 2015 and a the number at which Roberto Osuna’s innings should be capped.
Wasted money on Hamels. This team is far behind from being a winning team. Under achieving for at least the past 4-5 yrs.
Don’t waste your money.
Every team in the league should have at least one guy, like Kawasaki, Holt in Boston, Amarista in San Diego types that play with excitement and effort far beyond the talent which they actually posses. The kind of effort that makes those types instant fan favorites.
Amarista shouldn’t be getting starting assignments in San Diego, but he should be on that team as the utility player, always available to come off the bench at any time, just like Holt does in Boston and would think Toronto could find a roster sport for Kawasaki before now also. Sometimes it’s more than just the numbers with what a player brings to a team.
I’ll take the better performer over the better trier.
I agree these guys have a,really hard job, speaking of Major league players . But by the Same token they are payed to do a Job , Not for being the trying mentality. Would our Companies pay us if we just showed up to tried to Work !
If your in the American League east, your in with the Big Boys of Boston and New York. Blue Jays need to consider that or request move to American League central.
I’d much rather be in with “Big Boys of Boston and New York” than the Royals or Tigers at this point.
Yeah.. Can count on those 2 making an impact acquisition (or 2) if/when either is still in the thick of it by the end of June and forget it for KC, iffy situation with detroit on a single acquisition you could call impact. Nobody ever can deny both Boston/NYY were afraid to pull the trigger on a deal of any size during the season and neither is afraid to go over the salary cap.
Boston may have the edge in kids they “could” give up, though with the Yank’s, it that they will willingly deal anything they have and always will to get a win, especially heading onto 3y without a PO birth. I can see them making more than 1 huge deal quick.
As if requesting a move to the AL Central would change anything (and also be incredibly unrealistic).
I would much rather they not be in the AL East, as they would have made the playoffs regularly in any other division over the past 2 decades, but it’s not up to them.
However, the AL East is all terrible this year, and the Yanks and Sox don’t have great teams either so…..
Then finish LAST !
tonight’s series opener in *Toronto 🙂
But New York and Boston want to Win more than Blue Jays Management, can’t competent with ruthless ownership of those Clubs! ,Toronto has to have that mentality .
As much as I like Muni his AAA numbers shouldn’t warrant a call up. The
only reason I can think of for his call up would be a diversionary
tactic directed at fans on the recent crappy play of the team.
They needed a middle infielder for the weekend, he’s gone on Monday when Reyes is back….. What would your solution have been???