2014-2015 Blue Jays Off-Season Thread

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Sounds like the Jays will sign Dominican outfielder Vladimir Guerrero jr.

Guerrero ran a 7.25 in the 60 at this showcase, which is 40-45 speed on the 20-80 scale, and he showed above average to plus bat speed and power, which likely end up at the top end of that range at maturity. He didn’t perform very well in the two games I saw, but I’m told he’s looked much better in terms of game hitting performance in the past. Guerrero’s draw is big bat speed, big power and physical projection, along with the bat control and feel to hit to tap into those skills in games.

I reported earlier that Guerrero has a deal with the Blue Jays for $3.2 million, but I’m now told the number actually starts with a four, with most sources saying it’s $4.4 million or $4.5 million. The Jays can trade for up to $3.486 million in their bonus pool, so if this deal goes down as expected, this would push them into the penalty range.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/july-...ng-into-focus/

[flames_fan_down_under]

Spring training ball on Sportsnet Pacific right now. It's baseball and its March I'll take it!

[dustyanddaflames]

Listening on the MLB At Bat app right now - sounded like Donaldson missed a candy hop in the first to get Sanchez outta the inning, and Alvarez made him pay with a three run bomb right after. Oh spring, how glad am I you are here!!!

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Sounds like the Jays will sign Dominican outfielder Vladimir Guerrero jr.

Scouting report on him is that he doesn't have the arm that his dad had but he does have the bat (right down to the proclivity towards not wearing batting gloves). So plus bat speed, bat control, and power... fringe to average speed and arm. So a corner outfielder or 1B.

Really the bat is what they'd be buying here any defensive value is a bonus. If the Jays are busting the IFA bonus cap I hope they'll be busting it big time to make up for the resulting non-financial penalties.

[dustyanddaflames]

Andrew Stoeten had a great article on his website on the whole Vlad Guerrero Jr signing and what it could mean with the international draft looming.

[Antithesis]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Funny that's what oiler fans always say in September...

No, Oiler fans say that their team WILL do well. I'm saying I'm excited. Those are two different things. And why you gotta insult me like that ... Oiler fans indeed.

[Johnny199r]

http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/stor...lives-own-code

I will take an interest in baseball and the blue jays just for this guy.

To me, he's just straight up living. I can relate to him on so many levels. That's happiness.

After doing some more digging, it appears he is a pretty hardcore Christian. That would help explain his lifestyle.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Awesome article, thanks!

[Harry Lime]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/tryin...rrero-problem/

Can be had for almost nothing, apparently.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/tryin...rrero-problem/

Can be had for almost nothing, apparently.

If a deal could be worked out akin to what the author suggested (so the Jays would absorb virtually no risk on what effectively becomes the player option years) then I'd do it.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

An article updating us on Jeff Hoffman and his progress.

The Blue Jays, as a matter of philosophy, err on the side of caution with their pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery, but that isn’t stopping Hoffman from thinking big, too. In one breath he talks about reaching double-A New Hampshire or triple-A Buffalo or maybe even the majors this year, while in the next he acknowledges his timeline may not accelerate until 2016.

“I’d love to help the guys get to the playoffs,” Hoffman says of the Blue Jays. “But that’s not under my control. I’m going to take this one day at a time and try to stay healthy for the full year and then next year get to work.”

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...glad-im-still/

[Antithesis]

Sanchez looked great in three innings today - no hits, three K's. Sincerely hope that Jays don't stick in him in bullpen. What a waste that would be.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

Sanchez looked great in three innings today - no hits, three K's. Sincerely hope that Jays don't stick in him in bullpen. What a waste that would be.

I'm unconvinced that it would be a waste.

It's one thing to look good in short outings during pre-season it's quite another to look good when the games matter and you have to turn over a line-up mutiple times.

[Antithesis]

Well, he has three good pitches, great velocity, great stuff. All of those things add up to starting pitcher to me. Plus, I'm pretty heavily against the standard "we need a closer" mentality. Unfortunately, it does seem fairly likely that he'll be out of the bullpen this season.

[dammage79]

Blue Jays ‏@BlueJays 20s20 seconds ago
Marcus Stroman as suffered a torn left ACL and will be out for the 2015 season.

[bomber317]

^^^^
$#@!$%! -

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Whaaaaa???

Horrible news. Wow.

[ClubFlames]

Son of a *****!!!!! What a huge blow for the Jays.. Dammit!

[Harry Lime]

Just dropped in to post this. Stroman could have potentially ended up as the ace by the end of the season. Huge blow to the Jays. Explains why they were working out Randy Wolf for a Milb contract, if they are thinking about moving someone into the rotation as a replacement.

Reemergence of Pedro?

[The Big Chill]

Ugh, what awful news.