2015-2016 Blue Jays Off-Season Thread

[Jason14h]

I know it won't be popular but I would have preferred to trade Pillar while his value was optimal and let Saunders/Pompey fight it out for Center field while keeping Revere to lead off.

Pillar was top 30 in AL WAR last season. He's young and if he learns to take the outside breaking ball could be one of the top OF in the game.

Revere can barely hit the ball out of the infield. (I also really liked him though)

I'm not sold on the trade. Storen of 4 years ago sure, but I just don't think he's that great. I'm really worried that we are hoping Saunders can come back and play LF, or Pompey who consistently can't hit his weight.

[cross16]

I think the lead off position is the most overrated in baseball so i think this trade is a slam dunk for the Jays. Typically he leads off once and never again so just give me a guy who is a slightly above avg runner and better than avg OBP and your fine. Revere was an avg OF and at 6 mill was overpaid to boot so to get a legit closer or potentially elite set up man is a slam dunk in my books.

I'm do agree about the player to be named later. Sometimes that can be a draft pick and obviously if that is the case I would change my opinion on the trade. Having said that if it was a decent name I feel like it would have leaked by now.

[Jiggy_12]

Rumours of R.A. Dickey in play with a possible NL team. Storen acquisition means they will likely at least try to get Sanchez in the rotation, so he'll take Dickey's spot if dealt. Storen takes Sanchez's 8th inning spot. I'm very curious as to what the Jays are seeking in return for Dickey.

[cross16]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

This is good for a couple reasons. Alford is also close as well, and we might have to make additional room for him as well. It might be possible that the outfield to start 2017 consists of Pompey-Pillar-Alford.

Getting Storen allows them to put Osuna in AAA to stretch him out. It would be good to stretch out both Sanchez and Osuna this year and have them start next year. Would help to keep the budget down.

Alford is really a forgotten guy sometimes. I like Pompey too but Alford has huge potential and I agree could factor for a spot so while I understand the concern some have about this trade and Saunders health I think the Jays have enough Of depth they don't have to rely completely on Saunders.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by cross16

Alford is really a forgotten guy sometimes. I like Pompey too but Alford has huge potential and I agree could factor for a spot so while I understand the concern some have about this trade and Saunders health I think the flames have enough Of depth they don't have to rely completely on Saunders.

hehe.

[cross16]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Rumours of R.A. Dickey in play with a possible NL team. Storen acquisition means they will likely at least try to get Sanchez in the rotation, so he'll take Dickey's spot if dealt. Storen takes Sanchez's 8th inning spot. I'm very curious as to what the Jays are seeking in return for Dickey.

If they can get value for RA I'd be very interested. However you can't give him away like some fans would. It's not easy to find someone who is automatic for 200 innings at a sub 4 era. He's a bit undervalued by a lot of people but if they could get another late inning guy or maybe another starting option it's worth considering.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by cross16

If they can get value for RA I'd be very interested. However you can't give him away like some fans would. It's not easy to find someone who is automatic for 200 innings at a sub 4 era. He's a bit undervalued by a lot of people but if they could get another late inning guy or maybe another starting option it's worth considering.

As much as I can't stand RA Dickey and how I'll never forget what he cost us, I can't think of any good reason for the Jays to Move him in a go for it type of year. The guy is a straight innings eater like you said, and they can't go into the season without a guarantee of his 200 innings and 10+ wins in the 3rd or 4th spot in the rotation.

RA Dickey is never going to fetch the Jays anything remotely close to the value he'll bring to the team in 2016.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by cross16

Alford is really a forgotten guy sometimes. I like Pompey too but Alford has huge potential and I agree could factor for a spot so while I understand the concern some have about this trade and Saunders health I think the Jays have enough Of depth they don't have to rely completely on Saunders.

I'm a big fan of Alford, but I don't think he is ready yet and I'd prefer they don't repeat the same mistake they made with Dalton Pompey.

[zyzz]

Where does a guy like Travis slot in? I liked him

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by zyzz

Where does a guy like Travis slot in? I liked him

He'd likely be the lead off assuming he picks up where he left off when he got injured last year. Going to be hard to decide betwe Goins' defence and Travis' offence when he comes back.

[zyzz]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

He'd likely be the lead off assuming he picks up where he left off when he got injured last year. Going to be hard to decide betwe Goins' defence and Travis' offence when he comes back.

Good problem to have. Goins needs to beef up a bit and I think he'll be a stud.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Shi Davidi ‏@ShiDavidi
Ross Atkins says #BlueJays "feel great" about Michael Saunders' knee, expected to be ready for first day of spring.

Shi Davidi ‏@ShiDavidi
Ross Atkins non-committal about leadoff hitter, points out #BlueJays still have time left in off-season for other things

Shi Davidi ‏@ShiDavidi
Ross Atkins says April at some point remains rough timeline for 2B Devon Travis to resume baseball activities. #BlueJays

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Marcus Stroman ‏@MStrooo6
Excited to have @DrewStoren join the squad. Nasty, electric stuff right there. Let's go! @BlueJays

Drew Storen ‏@DrewStoren
@MStrooo6 thanks man. Really excited to join the fun.

Marcus Stroman ‏@MStrooo6
@DrewStoren it's going to be a fun ride my man. Love the new bio. Lol see you soon!

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Shi Davidi ‏@ShiDavidi
Michael Saunders says his knee "feels great, running again, agility, everything, it borderline feels like I haven’t had surgery." #BlueJays

[Roof-Daddy]

Don't the Jays still have Carrera kicking around as an outfielder too?

[browna]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Shi Davidi ‏@ShiDavidi
Michael Saunders says his knee "feels great, running again, agility, everything, it borderline feels like I haven’t had surgery." #BlueJays

Should hope so. It's been about 10 months, hasn't it? For a pro athlete who can afford to rehab everyday, that's pretty standard.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

New Toronto Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins appeared on MLB Network Radio Sunday, and said the team has let both Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion know they'd like to keep them past next season, when both their contracts expire.

"What we’ve been focused on to date is how do we make this team better without sacrificing our future and we’ll continue to do that as we factor in the decision to extend them or hopefully come to terms with something that makes them happy," Atkins told MLB Network Radio. "Would we like to have them here long term? Absolutely. The challenge is, can we see eye to eye on what that value is going to be? That will be the challenging part."

Atkins added he hasn't entered into contract talks with either player at this point.

http://www.tsn.ca/jays-gm-says-he-wa...eason-1.420873

[jayswin]

I doubt either will be back, but my money is on Bautista leaving first via a trade next season, depending on the standings.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Pillar was top 30 in AL WAR last season. He's young and if he learns to take the outside breaking ball could be one of the top OF in the game.

He's not that young... he's 27. It would be nice if he could somehow improve his plate discipline but at this point I think it's a longshot to happen. The good news is that a lot of the stuff he does is (IMO) entirely sustainable... he's good at getting the barrel on the ball so he should continue to hit for a decent average (even if his lack of plate discipline leads to mediocre on-base percentage), he's a smart baserunner, and his defense is very good (he might regress a bit on his defense but it'd be a regression from insanely good to merely just great). He's got a bit of power so he's not just a slap hitter like Revere.

I'll take Pillar over Revere everyday of the week and twice on Sundays.

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I'm not sold on the trade. Storen of 4 years ago sure, but I just don't think he's that great.

I'm entirely sold on Storen . I mean sure I'd take Storen of 4 years ago... but that's just because Storen four years ago was cheap and controllable vs. the expensive Storen of today. On talent alone Storen is really really good he K's a lot of guys and doesn't give up a lot of dingers. Barring any other moves he should definitely get the Closer job. Trading from a position of significant depth to get something in a position of thin depth is an A+ move.

Rumours of R.A. Dickey in play with a possible NL team.

That would be a very bad move. Dickey pitched very well in the second half and eats a lot of innings. He's pretty much the only guy we have that can reliably do that. Moving him would be a mistake.

Originally Posted by jayswin

I doubt either will be back.

I think we'll keep one of them... probably EE. I'd rather have Bautista but I think a lot of teams would rather have Bautista so the bidding will be higher on him. I don't think either will be traded... they both have 10-5 rights and I believe the Jays will make the playoffs.

[Parallex]

In the absence of any real news... Jersey Numbers for Spring Training! (Where did the time go?) http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/roster/40-man/

Seeing Biagini get #66 kinda makes sad. Probably means no MILB deal for Kawasaki.