Blue Jays 2013/14 off season

[Cheese]

Well another year down the drain...what happens this off season?

To start, some moves by the team:

Blue Jays closer Casey Janssen, first baseman Adam Lind and infielder Mark DeRosa will all return to Toronto next season.
Fan favourite Munenori Kawasaki is a free agent, however, after his contract option was declined.
In other moves, right-handers Josh Johnson and Ramon Ortiz were reinstated from the 60-day disabled list and are now free agents while Rajai Davis and left-hander Darren Oliver are also free agents.


http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=435553

and hitting coach has been changed:

The Toronto Blue Jays filled a hole in their coaching staff Thursday by announcing that former all-star third baseman Kevin Seitzer will serve as the team's hitting coach next season. He succeeds Chad Mottola, who spent one year in the position after Dwayne Murphy moved from hitting coach to first-base coach after the 2012 campaign.
Seitzer, 51, served as hitting coach for the Kansas City Royals from 2009-12. The 2010 Royals team was second in Major League Baseball with a .274 average and the '11 squad was fourth at .275.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=435511

Jays interested in White Sox Beckham at 2B

MLB.com reports that the Blue Jays have interest in acquiring second baseman Gordon Beckham from the Chicago White Sox and adds that general manager Alex Anthopoulos is intent on upgrading the infield position.
Anthopoulos has recently stated that second base, left field and starting pitching are areas of need going into next season.

MLB.com adds that the Blue Jays may look to expand a possible deal with Chicago to include a starting pitcher like Hector Santiago or John Danks, while the Sox are 'strongly interested' in Blue Jays right-handers Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman.

With the World Series over and Boston winning its third title since 2004, the odds are already out for next year on various gaming sites and on Vegas.com, the Blue Jays have literally gone from first to worst in the AL East. This year they are listed at 40-1.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=435579

[alan21]

There were rumblings about The Jays bringing in a n older established pitcher who comes from a winning environment and a couple names tossed around were former Jays Halladay and Carpenter. Personally for nostalgic reasons I would like to see it happen but then again, they are very well past their prime.

[nik-]

I put my hand right on the element last year, I'm going to be a lot more hesitant this year.

I want Masahiro Tanaka, I don't want another Darvish situation. Although I'm worried he won't be a Darvish (even though everyone says he's better).

[CaramonLS]

The Jays are in a position where they have to be aggressive and continue acquiring pieces, which can mean trading away some futures.

While last year was a disaster, you have to keep going forward with the way the team is built.

[Caged Great]

The Jays have an average or better

1B, SS, 3B, CF, RF, LF, 3rd/4th/5th Starters, Bullpen.

In order for the Jays to become a playoff team, they need a Catcher, a 2nd baseman, a quality DH and a starter or two.

Realistically, they could get by if they upgrade the Catcher and second base positions to a league average level. Getting a quality DH shouldn't be that difficult. Find someone that has good lefty splits to platoon with Lind and you're good to go.

If you then add a quality starter, a legit #2 or two (Anibal Sanchez level of pitcher) then they should be set.

One rumour was that they were after Iwakuma and Seager from the Mariners. If you could get them, you could shift Lawrie over to 2B fixing that problem and that would plug a couple of holes.

It really depends on how they go about fixing the problems. They don't need to go out and get Cano and McCann to fill the C and 2B positions, but wouldn't that be awesome if they did.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Are the Jays World Series favorites yet?

[REDVAN]

This year wouldn't have been so bad if Morrow wasn't hurt.

Still need another good starting arm, but they likely only need one. AND to upgrade 2B and C...

[Flickered Flame]

I will not be surprised if and when the A's trade Brett Anderson to the Jays.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

I will not be surprised if and when the A's trade Brett Anderson to the Jays.

Yes, this is almost coming across as a foregone conclusion in a way.

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Yes, this is almost coming across as a foregone conclusion in a way.

As I have mentioned before, I know 2 guys who work well up in the A's office. Not on the baseball side of things but they have access to some info. I don't think it is any secret that AA has been after Anderson for awhile and from what I've been told, this winter he will get him.

[Cheese]

^^^ is that good for the Jays?

[moon]

Originally Posted by Cheese

^^^ is that good for the Jays?

Likely depends on what they give up and whether Anderson is healthy but it doesn't address the need for a #1/2 starter and adds to the could be decent more likely to be inconsistent #3/4 guy to go with Morrow, Buerhle, Dickey.

I guess having more guys to throw out there and hope the perform above history is a good thing for them.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

The Jays have an average or better

1B, SS, 3B, CF, RF, LF, 3rd/4th/5th Starters, Bullpen.

In order for the Jays to become a playoff team, they need a Catcher, a 2nd baseman, a quality DH and a starter or two.

Realistically, they could get by if they upgrade the Catcher and second base positions to a league average level. Getting a quality DH shouldn't be that difficult. Find someone that has good lefty splits to platoon with Lind and you're good to go.

If you then add a quality starter, a legit #2 or two (Anibal Sanchez level of pitcher) then they should be set.

One rumour was that they were after Iwakuma and Seager from the Mariners. If you could get them, you could shift Lawrie over to 2B fixing that problem and that would plug a couple of holes.

It really depends on how they go about fixing the problems. They don't need to go out and get Cano and McCann to fill the C and 2B positions, but wouldn't that be awesome if they did.

Iwakuma was better than Felix and has 1 year left at a bargain rate for a 1/2. Seager is under club control till 2017 at $500K per until next year. Mariners management is suspect but they aren't owned by Jeff Loria.

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by Cheese

^^^ is that good for the Jays?

He is exactly what the Jays need, another injury prone starting pitcher!

[dustyanddaflames]

No QO for Johnson - which could mean a couple things to me... 1. The jays have a longer term deal for less dollars already worked out, or 2. The money train coming from Rogers isn't what I was hoping it'd be. Either way - interesting to see how it unfolds.

[Cheese]

^^or they have other plans altogether

[flambers]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

No QO for Johnson - which could mean a couple things to me... 1. The jays have a longer term deal for less dollars already worked out, or 2. The money train coming from Rogers isn't what I was hoping it'd be. Either way - interesting to see how it unfolds.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/tor/...&vkey=news_tor

Here is a good article.

In my view, he was not qualfied due to Arm related Health concerns.

I doubt the Money train was any factor....

[flames_fan_down_under]

Rajai Davis should stick around for the Jays IMO. I think he brings a lot of value for a bench player.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by flambers

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/tor/...&vkey=news_tor

Here is a good article.

In my view, he was not qualfied due to Arm related Health concerns.

I doubt the Money train was any factor....

Yeah, that just sounds like a "cut our losses" decision. It's the right choice.

[GirlySports]

Tanaka is an amazing pitcher, I've watched quite a bit of him in the NPL. The only flaw on his record is that he lost Game 6 of the Final Series 4-2 at home when his team had a chance to clinch. He got rocked for 3 runs in the 5th and ended up throwing 160 pitchers.

It was in fact the Eagles 3rd pitcher who won Games 3 and 7 to be the series MVP. But amazingly, Tanaka came back in Game 7 to get the save.

FWIW, I don't think the Jays will pony up the 50-60 million it will take to bid on Tanaka.