Jon Heyman of Fan Rag reported on a few items of note in his latest column and has followed up with some additional bits of information. We’ll run down some of the key takeaways here:
- While the Blue Jays have been quiet thus far, Heyman says they could be lurking on a few interesting names. In the outfield, J.D. Martinez is a legitimate target, he says, as are Carlos Gonzalez and Lorenzo Cain. The club is also considering quality utility options such as Eduardo Nunez and Howie Kendrick. Meanwhile, Toronto has reached out to the Padres on Brad Hand, who’s a highly valuable relief asset. It remains to be seen whether the Jays will be willing to pony up a lot of cash or prospect assets to make a significant win-now move, but it’s notable that the team is at least exploring some notable possibilities.
- The Diamondbacks reportedly had real interest in Orioles infielder Manny Machado, but Heyman says the Snakes were not willing to consider moving third bagger Jake Lamb in a deal. That’s not terribly surprising; after all, the 27-year-old Lamb has only just reached arbitration eligibility and posted consecutive solid campaigns in which he has maintained a composite .248/.345/.498 batting line. Though he’s clearly an inferior overall player to Machado, Lamb is the type of affordable, quality regular that a team with Arizona’s payroll can ill afford to part with.
- Thus far, free agent righty Alex Cobb “is thought to have been asking for about $20 million a year,” Heyman writes, noting that his agents may view Mike Leake as a comp. Of course, Cobb is older and less durable than Leake was when he hit the open market, though Cobb also has a loftier established ceiling on the mound (at least, dating to his output before undergoing Tommy John surgery).
- There’s some interest from rival organizations in Mets center fielder Juan Lagares, Heyman reports on Twitter. Of course, it’s far from clear that the New York organization has real interest in dealing away the 28-year-old. To the contrary, indications to date have been that the Mets expect to utilize Lagares quite heavily. The rangy defender last topped 400 plate appearances in 2015 and has not posted a league-average season with the bat since the season before that.
- The Marlins are still indicating to rivals that they’re not particularly interested in dealing Christian Yelich or J.T. Realmuto, Heyman tweets, though of course that could yet be a bargaining stance. Notably, though, the Fish are said to be seeking ways of parting with the recently acquired contract of Starlin Castro. Though Miami executive Gary Denbo indicated earlier today the club intends to keep Castro, it certainly would not be surprising for Miami to strike a deal if it means shedding yet more salary obligations to a player who likely won’t be a part of the organization’s next contending roster.
Hey look folks, my Blue Jays are alive.. actually thinking about doing soentbing this off-season, it’s a miracle.
they’ll just resign bautista and be done
Or go after kemp and get. Bautista of last year
Ouch. Lol. Probably.
Lol
It’s the same as every off-season. They will be sniffing around, the price or term will get too high for them, they will sign 2nd or 3rd tier free agents, and say they at least tried for the big names but “it just wouldn’t make sense.” The front office is spinning the fan base in circles, first they say they won’t tear it down and rebuild because they feel they can contend, and then in the same breath say they couldn’t make any moves for the top available FAs that would legitimately put them in the conversation as a contender.
cjmask, you called it exactly correct over the last few years with Shapiro and Atkins. Let’s see if this winter is different for the Jays.
Much of their MLB need assessments have been incorrect too. Currently the Jays need a #1, #3, Power RF, 40% Catcher who can actually hit and make the throw to 2nd, a healthy 2nd baseman, healthy SS and lefty shutdown bullpen guy. Diaz, Maile, Montero, Tulo, Travis, Loup, Sanchez, Estrada, Happ are not the answer to any of these if the Jays are going to be a championship club.
Mr Shapiro, Mr Atkins, your move. The fanbase awaits. #scoutseyes
Jimmertee, where to start.
Sanchez lead the league in era in 16 didn’t he? I always get a kick out of fans saying the team needs a number 1 starter like those guys are always available and cheap.
Tulo is a sunk cost. He’s by far the best SS option they have. Remember Jose Reyes, well the gm you love he traded for the worst SS in the league and if you didn’t get Tulo than say goodbye playoffs in 15 and 16
40% of a catcher who can hit and throw? That sounds like a starting mlb catcher anotherassest that’s not usually available for cheap plus they’ve got a young catcher who should be the back up
Iverbure, Ssanchez might never see a start again. I hear from someone in the room, that his finger is not healed and the only option longterm will be from the pen, because the torgue on the skin on his finger is so great from his delivery it schreds the skin.
Tulo and the Reyes trade got the Jays into the playoffs, but he can no longer play SS and stay healthy on the field. It won’t happen, he is too fragile and if the Jays are going to win, then either change his position of trade him for nothing or eat the contract and play someone else.
The same health issues go for Russell Martin as well. He can only play 60% of the games or he will get hurt and be out a lengthy timeframe. The solution is to find more than a backup catcher, a 40% catcher thaT can can a game, hit well and throw well. Yes all this will cost, but the Jays mgmt are the ones saying that they want to compete.
I’m okay with blowing the whole thing up and rebuilding, but this we are going to compete then do nothing[or do what they did last year] is plain stupidity and I am calling them on it.
You’re pretty much right on. They want to compete? Really? In what miracle world is EVERYTHING going to go right health wise for this aging team? It won’t. Atkins said “younger, faster, more athletic” like a week before he signed Morales. They still need to be younger and faster. How much will they need to spend in order to be competitive this year? You are right. They need that top of the rotation starter. They need a quality backup SS/2B ahead of Diaz. They need a speedy outfielder who bats left. They need lefty bullpen help. They need a backup catcher who is capable of starting for extended periods of time when Martin gets hurt. They aren’t a few small pieces away, they are some HUGE pieces away, which is why it’s smart to trade Donaldson ASAP and get a young controllable starter and a major league ready position player from StL, and maybe one other prospect that’s a bit further from the majors. Could take care of 3 of those holes with quality players, who will be ready with Bo and Vladdy, and THEN sign the free agents to patch up the holes and bring leadership to the young group when Tulo/Martin come off the books and they can afford to sign a big name or two.
Stop the presses. Fred Wilpon announced to the press this evening that he is all in to win a championship. He has pledged to increase the budget by another (whole) $2 million in hopes that the Mets can lure Castro from the Marlins.
More information will be available for Mets fans after their coma is reversed.
Yup cjmask, that is what needs to happen with the Jays. Decent start of a rebuild you’ve got there.
Torgue?
Auto spelling listake. Torque, or moment of force is rotational force.,
Just as a linear force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist to an object. Mathematically, torque is defined as the cross product of the vector by which the force’s application point is offset relative to the fixed suspension point (distance vector) and the force vector, which tends to produce rotational motion.
They’re only saying they won’t tear it down because they’ve done fan surveys where the vast majority of the fair weather fans have said they wouldn’t buy tickets if they went for a rebuild.
There is another team in Toronto in another sport that for years I heard the fans will never put up with a rebuild and since 1967 they haven’t come close to winning it all. Jays management should look at the lack of success of that team and it should tell you how listening to the fans works out for the team.
Perhaps Gibby should rotate the guys through dh once a week. Only problem is Where to play Morales if that is the case. I think it would be beneficial for Tulo, Martin and JD to have one day off the field a week without not playing.
You should be happy about it. The longer they wait the better the prices will be for the players. The fans of the jays are fooling themselves if they think any of the players from free agency this year will help them win. The team failed in 13 and 14 and 17. That was their window.
Their window closed when they left EE on the market and hastily signed Morales. Now you have to replace Bautista… It just isn’t the same offensive juggernuat anymore.
the AL east as a whole is like that. it’s why the cole trade to the yanks isn’t as bad. if you pitch for the Yankees, in two years there will be only one so east team to contend with in the sox
Hey price. You are off by one. That’s because your cousin David will be lit up all spring and opt to play. 1st
You do realize that if you want to be a troll, being good at it helps?
Oh, and another tip: try making sense every once in a while.
the blue jays have a history of investigating but never pulling the trigger.
Maybe they’re investigating not pulling the trigger?
Blue Jay fans are rude to visiting teams.
Lol what
Every teams’ fanbase is rude after a few drinks. After I visited Busch stadium for the first time, I thought Cardinals fans were jerks. But it was only a matter of time before I realized the truth – best fans in baseball
The Diamondbacks reportedly had real interest in Orioles infielder Manny Machado, but Heyman says the Snakes were not willing to consider moving third bagger Jake Lamb in a deal.
And that’s fine.! I did not expect Lamb anyway!
if the Snakes gave in trade to the Orioles
Zack Greinke
Money to support ZG, hey the O’s need a little something for the effort
Brandon Drury
And LHP Anthony Banda or LHP Jared Miller
I would be down with that
The Orioles are never going to get a good offer until they let the potential team negotiate an extension before a trade happens.
i don’t know who Machado wants to sign with!! I doubt with the D Backs right now, However, i think he could help them and maybe get to the World Series in 2018. To me a big trade like this regardless of him resigning would be a big victory with the ‘Back
Also, if they don’t want to trade Drury
Then
Zack Greinke
Money to support ZG,
LHP Anthony Banda or LHP Jared Miller
OF Marcus Wilson
I would consider that!!! And hopefully the Snakes would too!
Except for machado will never sign an extension so it’s kind of a waste of time for them to allow teams to negotiate that with him.
since an extension would have to be with baltimore, they would be better off letting him negotiate with other teams. they could get more in return since a team would be getting him long term.
Team offers 40 a year for 12 years not get it done?
Machado would never sign an extension, and he’d be a fool to do so. He’s a year away from free agency.
It wouldn’t be stupid if a team comes offering 8-10 years and $25-30m per year.
Heh $250m….that accounts for age 31 on..how about paying him for 26-30 as well?
10/ $300 mil is like the starting offer he wants. He is looking forlike 10/ $400 mil or 8/ $350 mil. With an opt out.
prediction Castro to the mets
I would love that, I just don’t see the mets having enough pieces to make the trade.
Why would you think that the Mets wouldn’t have enough pieces to acquire Castro? He definitely wouldn’t cost too much prospect wise to acquire.
What pieces ? would likely take a #6 team prospect or less
That may only be true if the Mets are willing to take on the salary. They won’t be. I’d bet that’s why the Kipnis deal isn’t happening. Indians want to get rid of the salary but Mets would rather give prospects/reliever
castro is going to the reeers
Alex Cobb is dreaming if he thinks he is a 20m dollar pitcher.
Normally that’s what I would have thought but there are above average relievers getting 10 or more.
The QA this year was over 17 million, that’s the average contract, if Santana got 20 for three than Cobb can get 20.
Cobb looking for $20M is funny.
Cobb should lower his asking price and the cubs should sign him over Darvish
Agree 100%.
Porcello got 20 before the fluke Cy Young year. With only one suitor as well.
DBacks needed Lamb to play 3rd base while Machado played short. I think the Orioles have unrealistic expectations on what they would get back on a player with one year left on his contract and not allowing a 3 day window to negotiate a new deal
Ok blue jays….either spend, or trade and tear it down! Seems us fans know better. DO something, geeezzz.
Can’t compete with what we have !
I like cobb’s potential. Yet, I also know how the market has developed and evolved over the years. I understand his agents are paid to make him money and get him a good contract. However, let’s look at other pitchers who have “earned” 20 million or more per season. Roy Halladay signed a 3 yr 60 million deal with the phils. Cliff Lee, Greinke, Randy Johnson, Schilling, Cole Hamels..etc Halladay was a big game pitcher, with electric playoff caliber stuff, a great pitcher with clutch ability – just like Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux. Although Pedro is preferably the best of his era in my mind next to Maddux… with that said, you’re talking about elite pitchers who were given big deals… Sabathia even, hell Kevin Brown even, David Price before his arm issues.. My point being, if I am a gm, and they say hey 20 million…I’m gonna laugh and say see ya. Only one pitcher on this markwt shoukd get 20 million ler year as a free agent – Yu Darvish. The real estimate, in my mind is Cobb should fall between 10 and 15. Its because he is a free agent and seeking big… honestly, he’s not better than Archer, Garrit Cole, or Stroman..who all are paid team friendly money. So no, 20 million… why? When Roy Halladay was paid that. You’re no where as good as him kid. I dont care about the market value that your agent and baseball ppl say… youre not Halladay and Maddux…its that simple to me. 10 to 15 million just take it.
Cobb is a huge regression candidate just like Hellickson. Plus injury prone. Wouldn’t touch him at any price.
How many of those deals were signed in the last five years? One. Salaries go up and Darvish is looking at 25 million plus per year. 3 of the past four years Cobb has been worth at least 18 million dollars a year. He could get 20 million from a team that washes out on Darvish. That’s like saying you’re only worth 20,000 a year because that’s what your dad made in 1960, and he was better at his job.
10 to 15? You do realize that Tyler freaking Chatwood got 12.6 per year!
The jays and padres line up nicely as trade partners.
For instance the two teams could pull off a mega block buster trade.
Padres get Bo Bichette, Tj Zeuch, Nate Pearson, and Ryan Borucki
Blue Jays get Hand, Solarte, Spangenberg, Pirela, and Yates
Padres cash in Hand and depth on the infield and outfield to nab an elite ss prospect plus solid pitching prospects
Jays get pen help with Hand and Yates, plus can replace pearce with pirela, travis with Solarte, and pick up spangenberg who can play 3B, 2B, corner OFs. Solarte, Pirela, Spangenberg all have 3 or more years of control.
OR
A simplier trade would be
Jays get Hand
Padres get Warmoth and Pearson
Or just not trade any prospects at all given their window has past and sign anyone on FA to one year deals
From the article.
” It remains to be seen whether the Jays will be willing to pony up a lot of cash or prospect assets to make a significant win-now move, but it’s notable that the team is at least exploring some notable possibilities.”
If ownership is pushing for a win now approach and they do wind up signing someone like JD Martinez then at that point they have to go for it.
At least trading with the padres gives them assets with multiple years of control. As in if and when they lose donaldson, they can shift solarte over to 3B and focus on signing a big name from 2018 to go along with Martinez.
Dont see why the Jays would burn up some top prospects on a Hand centerpiece package when they already have Osuna. They have more pressing needs.
Same reason the indians gave up frazier and sheffield and others for andrew miller when they already had bryan shaw as their closer.
Idk the jays pen well, hows their 7th 8th multiple inning abilities? Cause Hand fills those as well. Elite pens are needed to compete.
Brad Hand would make most teams better, including the Blue Jays. I’m not disagreeing about that. Its a question of how to best spend your resources and Brad Hand would cost them a lot. They need to fix their anemic offense before they would even think about an elite setup guy.
The Padres (as far as whats been reported) are pricing Hand as an elite closer. I just dont see the Jays as the ones to meet that price.
Jays have a plethora of young controllable RP arms, Osuna, Tepera, Biagini, Ramirez. They would be better off signing a lefty for 1 year in free agency.
Except that AK Prellar has already said he is looking to get 3-4 prospects back for Hand alone, he isn’t throwing in three major league ready players to get back 4 players that I doubt anyone outside of Jays fans have heard of…
AJ, darn autocorrect
Padres fans like myself know Aj Preller is overvaluing Hand. Hand’s value is above what Will Smith netted the Brewers and below what the Yankees got for Andrew Miller.
For Hand alone 1 top 100 prospect 60-100 range and 1 10 to 15 guy is a fair price for Hand.
Hand isn’t fetching elite prospects by himself. Someone like Bo Bichette, who is elite, will require parting with more than just Hand.
Luckily, the padres have depth with villaneuva asuaje at 2B and 3B as well as luis urias and tatis jr almost mlb ready. They also have of depth in dickerson cordero jankowski.
Solarte and Spangenberg and Pirela are expendable to the padres, but would most likely be starting if padres kept them.
You are obviously not a knowledgeable fan. Smith got a top 50 prospect plus. Miller got two. Hand will get an elite prospect plus.
Will smith netted the brewers Phil bickford (yes was top 50) and a back up catcher in andrew susac who posted an anemic batting like the year prior to the trade. 52 games 145 abs he posted .217 .297 .368 batting line.
The wil smith trade was simply a top 50 prospect and the brewers hoping susac could replicate his triple a numbers…..cause he had very little value with his extended showing the year prior.
Will Smith came with 3 years of control at the time of the trade..
..not 2 like brad Hand.
Now to what hand is worth. A top 100 in the 60 to 100 range plus another guy 10-15 (i.e. if 60 then 14 15 or if 80 then 10 or 11) arguably has more value than simply a top 50 and hoping a guy can replicate his triple a numbers……
Also Bichette isn’t going to be moved for anything less than Yelich. Not this offseason anyway.
Whoa there fella. The Padres are asking for an elite prospect plus at least one other quality prospect for Hand alone. They have not budged off that ask since the trade deadline last season. So who among the Jays prospects are considered elite? Guerrero and Bichette.
Solarte would bring back a bottom of the top 100 prospect by himself. Who fits that description on the Jays? Alford is a little higher than that. Pearson is a little lower than that but would fit. Zeuch is out of Jays top 10 for 2018 and the top 100.
Since Guerrero is off the table, Bichette would have to be the headliner. So Hand and Solarte for Bichette, Alford, Pearson, and a lottery ticket prospect would be a fairer trade. Or Hand and Solarte for Alford, Pearson, Zeuch, and Gurriel.
Just telling I listen to the fan 590 everyday bichette is always mentioned with Guerrero which suggests he’s pretty much untouchable. Jays could trade for those guys for none of those prospects and they still aren’t going to win so therefore it makes no sense to trade for them.
The two guys we know that Preller has asked for as the headliner of a trade for Hand are Torres and Robles. They are two of the 3 best prospects in the game. Vlad Jr. is close to those 2. Bichette is not.
Whoa there fella? Hand and a journeyman for Bichette,Alford,Pearson and a lottery pick? 1st of all the Jays r not going to contend and secondly any GM who made that trade would be fired the next day. Give ur head a shake! If the Padres GM thinks he will get a prospect of Bichettes caliber god bless him. Then according to u also Alford who could be a 5 tool stud and a pitcher who consistently throws 100 MPH. Hmmmm I think we’ll pass
Wow, this for that Padre/BlueJays trade suggestions are plain stupid.
Firstly, the Jays need more than Hand to compete and although he is a money releiver, they need a #1, #3, 40% catcher, Rf, 2nd, SS, so they are not trading for Hand and blowing away prospects with no hope of winning anything, That would be plain dumb.
As far as the Jays prospects go, I wouldn’t trade Alford or Vlad jr, they are both high ceiling prospects that will be very good to star MLB level players. Bischete is a top 10 prospect, but I would trade him in a minute in the right deal, emphasis on right because I project Bischette as a below average major leaguer.
The Jays are so needing ptiching at the moment, if they’re smart, which is not a given, the Jays are not going to trade any arms of significance from their minor league system. #scoutseyes
No disrespect jimmertree but on what basis do u think Bichette will be a below average major leaguer? I have yet to see him play so I can’t say one way or the other. I have read a lot about him and from what I’ve read ur claim seems baseless. He also was playing with prospects older than he just like Guerrero and dominated.
The biggest jump in a prospects career is not from amateur to professional baseball or rookie ball to single A but from AAA to the big leagues. In the big leagues, every pitcher would be considered a superstar at the single A level where Bischette is now. At the moment, he may face one of those types of player once per week. So the “stats” at the A ball level are close to insignificant unless a player is absolutely blowing everything out of the water, but even then caution is needed.
The pitching at the big league level is a world apart from the minors, especially far down in single A. That is why science and stats cannot tell if a player is going to make it or not at the big league level.
Then, the only way to know that and it is not for sure, but it is a far better gauge than stats based scouting is inutitive based scouting. That happens in all segments of the world where there is decision making. It happens in business all the time where someone just “knows” the correct decision to make despite what the facts may indicate.
That is the same for intuitive based scouting. I [and others who are good at it] can look at a player sometimes just once, sometimes in needs to be over a long period of time, but eventually I will “know” what ceiling the player will reach based on looking at him as a player with tools and also a person.
I suggest reading on intuitive decision making or reading about the old time scouts in books. There are plenty of good resources around that can help you understand.
The best decision makers in any field, not just baseball, are those that can combine analytical decision making and intuitive decision make together. They often end up as elite leaders in whatever field and whatever organizations that they are in.
Hey man I’m not talking down to you. So u say u know Bichette personally and have seen him play? I’m pretty knowledgeable when it comes to ball but I haven’t seen him play or no him personally. I understand there’s a big difference from the Vancouver Canadians and the Toronto Blue Jays. I’m guessing baseball America will probably have Bichette in the top 25 prospects in all of baseball. That’s pretty good for a 19 year old…no? I like the fact that his father was a above average major leaguer and that he grew up around baseball so he should have a better understanding of what it takes to become good or great. Like I said tho I don’t know him and I’ve never seen him play so for me to judge him as a player wouldn’t be fair
I agree. Jays dont need to deal for Hand when they have Osuna. They need some sort of rebuild, even its a partial one and use these prospects coming up as part of that foundation. Honestly…..I’d trade Donaldson for a decent package, not a overblown package and then I’d sign mike moustakas to a 5 or 6 yr deal. Replacement plus minor leaguers for Donaldson. Could deal some minor league depth for another starter though…Stroman, Sanchez and another young ace would be a nice step towards contention again. Cain not a bad pickup. I’d find a deal for Cesar Hernandez too. Quality moves. Jay bruce even…
you said they need to rebuild, then listed about 5 moves that would send them in the opposite direction of a rebuild
That is because the Jays brass is saying that they want to compete. If they want to compete, they need to load up now. Simple. Otherwise trade everyone possible and acquire assets.
Jays will trade Donaldson, then be done
If Cobb comps himself to Leake then how on earth does he come to his $20M/year figure?! Leake signed a 5 year $80M deal just 2 years ago I believe. Simple math tells you that’s a deal worth about $16M/year……. not exactly close to $20M. And again, while Cobb’s ceiling MIGHT be higher than Leake’s, Cobb has nowhere near the durability/reliability that Leake has shown. Why pay a guy Leake money when he only plays half the season…. at best. Cobb is going to be 30 years old this year and has yet to put a 30 start season on his resume. While he was looking stellar in partial seasons in 2013 and 2014, he hasn’t looked nearly as dominant since returning in 2016 from his 2015 TJ surgery. I’m personally surprised that Cobb didn’t take the qualifying offer from TB just to try and put an entire season under his belt (for once) and try to replicate his ’13-14 success. Had he done so next offseason he very well might garner a 9 figure pay day then. This offseason though, with how tight fisted teams have seemingly been all winter, I won’t be surprised if he finds himself still available late January and pretty much backed in a corner into signing a 1-2 year deal worth $15M for the 1 year offer or $26-28M on a 2 year offer. Cubs seemed to be his best bet heading into the Winter meetings but then he pulled this “Jake Arrieta” valuation on everyone and pretty much all teams from what I hear/read have lost interest. 3 years $40M is more than fair for Cobb’s services. Glad to see the Cubs moved on from him after his ridiculous demands. Kind of bummed their dude next in line was Darvish though. Darvish has good numbers, I just don’t trust the guy being worth a d**n much longer……. and you can make a case saying he wasn’t worth a da** this year already. I don’t care about the money, but do you really want to give a guy a 5-6 or MORE year deal when there is legitimate questions about his longevity? He has a serious injury in his past and has looked NOTHING like his pre-injury self since returning. I have a hard time rationalizing a 5-6 year deal worth at least $25M/season like he is rumored to be seeking/”worth.” Right now the Cubs’ rotation is Lester, Hendricks, Quintana, and Chatwood…… not ideal but I think it could be decent. I would rather see the Cubs just continue to build a bada** bullpen much like Colorado is doing for now and re-sign Davis and sign Reed. That would give them a pen of Davis, Morrow, Reed, Cishek, Strop, Edwards, Montgomery, and Wilson…… daaaaaaaaamn. Then come late January see who’s left on the SP market and sign the best remaining scraps. Hope for a rebound year from Lester and Quintana and than Hendricks keeps quietly DOMINATING and that’s still a heck of a rotation…… better than what the World Series Champs have that’s for sure. Verlander, Keuchel….. and then a bunch of scrubs out there. At least the Cubs have 3 solid dudes. I also wouldn’t be opposed to the idea of having an open competition for the 5th spot this spring between Zastryzny, Butler, Mills, and Tseng….. With Tseng, Mills, and Zazzles as the main competitors and Butler just there in case the other 3 absolute bomb. Then if they all suck make an in season signing of Tim Lincecum and hope and pray he has a resurrection of a season/career type year, hahaha. If Lincecum can have an ERA around 4.00 I’d say he’s worth it as a #5. Especially since he could be had for essentially pennies IMO since he has lost all shred of value to all MLB teams. Did he even pitch in 2017? Anyways, I just don’t see the need to go after any of these “top” free agent pitchers this offseason. As much as I’d hate to see them do it, but if they think they are THAT desperate for another SP they are better off trading for one. Whatever you can get for a package of Montgomery, Baez, and a minor leaguer though. Those are the only dudes I’d be somewhat fine with coughing up.
Dude
Wow.
Please, for the love of God, hit the return button occasionally. You don’t even have to do it at normal paragraph breaks. But nobody is going to real that solid wall of text.
I scrolled right passed it, too long
Yep, no chance I’m reading that book. There apparently needs to be a character limit on posts.
@KB
Are you 12 years old? Did you flunk English class.
Do you know what a paragraph is? No one is reading that long rant. I guess you wasted your time
Laughing out loud. Wow, you made my day by that wall of unformatted text. Excellent, just excellent. Thank you.
Took me a while to read that. Actually some decent points in the post, but it felt like someone was talking to themselves.
Can’t wait for Chapter 2 to drop!
This is where the Braves swoop in and make 3 Big League trades to solidify the lineup and become legitimate contenders…..
1. Cubs get: Ender Inciarte
Braves get: Ian Happ and Jen-Ho Tseng
2. Blue Jays get: Nick Markakis, Sean Newcomb, Touki Toussant, and Aaron Blair
Braves get: Marcus Stroman
3. Marlins get: Kyle Wright, Max Fried, Cristian Pache, Matt Wisler, and AJ Minter
Braves get: Christian Yelich
Happ has far too many question marks at this point to consider swapping Inciarte for him. Happ’s defense and strike out rates are possible issues going forward. I would need to see more success at the big league level first.
I don’t think that the Blue Jays would accept that offer for Stroman.
And while I’m willing to give up a lot to get Yelich in a Braves uniform I’d prefer to give up a different package. My suggestion has been Allard, Pache, Wentz and Cumberland while taking on Prado’s salary too.
Marlins accept
I wonder how much Boras paid Heyman to write this. Why on earth would the jays sign Martinez who is a DH to play RF. They say they want to get younger and need a more balanced lineup, signing Martinez would accomplish what?
The jays should just turn Martin into a backup for a younger catcher, dump tulo, flip smoak while his value it’s at his highest and flip Donaldson. Keeping these players won’t change anything and won’t Improve them
Hey someone with good scouting intuition. Right-on Yankeepatriot. Exactly what the Jays need to do and now.
Yankee patriot. Turn Martin into a backup catcher? Lmao when healthy Martin is one of the best catchers in the game! No he’s not what he used to but still has pop in his bat. A lot of what Martin brings r the intangibles that can’t be measured by statistics. There is a reason Martin had been to the playoffs for like 8 seasons in a row up until last year! U don’t pay a catcher 20 million per season to be a cheerleader! Who’s going to take Tulo? Wasn’t happy when Anthopolous traded for him thought it would have been wiser to spend the $ in the outfield. In 2015 they didn’t have an issue scoring runs even before Tulo was acquired. Goins would have been fine playing short! Expect Donaldson to be gone before July 31st as well as Smoak
I agree Dean with most of what you are saying. One thing to add, Martin is already a back up catcher due to his age and fragility. He’ll only be able to play 60% of the games in 2018, that means the Jays need more than a fill-in. No Maile, Montero, Saltallamacia, Lopez’s. They need a guy to can call, defend and hit.
I love what AA did but the Tulo and Martin contracts are albatrosses on the Jays right now. The Jays have unlimited wealth but are not spending it due to a new Rogers CEO who has calmped down on spending and is cutting like a madman to streamline the Rogers business into core units of which the Blue Jays are one of them.
His responsibility is MONEY. and he is positioning the Jays to be sold first, screw the fans and winning. The old regime would have done something with Martins and Tulos contracts.
I like Cobb as a strong 3, lesser 2 in a rotation. That’s not $20m/yr
Agreed
Anyone know how I stop each comment posting twice?
I’ve noticed that occasionally myself. It seems to correct itself most of the time. I can’t see a duplicate for you here
That always happens to me. It automatically seems to delete the dupe once I revisit the same article tho.
Oh please, the Blue Jays are not legitimately goIng after JD Martinez.
How about Lagares and Matt Reynolds for Joe Panik
As a cub fan and seeing the importance of one-darvish , Arrieta , Cobb , or Lynn I would overpay slightly for Cobb 3/60 then 6 year 160 albatross contract for darvish or Arrieta . With savings grab wade Davis or Addison reed and call it a winter.
Why not Hand to the Cubs for Baez?