Blue Jays 2013/14 off season

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I just assumed Goins was going to get a good look there to take the 2B spot. Keep Lawrie at 3B and Rios at SS.

[Cheese]

Jays linked to Cuban Backstop Bello...

http://jaysjournal.com/2014/01/24/re...r-news-rumors/

An industry source told Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com that Cuban catcher Yenier Bello has been cleared by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and will soon be free to sign with an MLB club. Back in October, the Blue Jays were said to be one of the clubs linked to interest in Bello

[Cheese]

Left-hander Erick Hurtado has signed a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports. The 19-year-old has limited professional experience, logging just 12 1/3 innings in two seasons for Astros and Yankees affiliates, but stands an imposing 6' 4".

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/toronto_blue_jays/

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez are the free agents most often linked to the Toronto Blue Jays, but they may not be the only high-profile players on the club’s radar. The Blue Jays are one of four teams “in the mix” for shortstop Stephen Drew, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported Monday.

“They’re in the mix for a lot of players right now, so I think they’re a team of definite interest,” Heyman said on MLB Network.

The Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and New York Mets are also possibilities for Drew, a client of agent Scott Boras. Heyman says the Yankees “seem more interested in Drew than ever,” and notes that the Red Sox are “probably the favourite right now.”

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...nfielder-drew/

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...nfielder-drew/

As much as I'd love to have Drew man 2B for Toronto I think the Yankee's will get him... take a look at the Yankee's infield. Kelly Johnson playing off position at 3B, 40 year old Jeter coming off a missed season due to injury at SS, Brian Roberts who's nobodies idea of a star player at 2B, another guy on the wrong side of 30 coming off a season ending injury in Teixeira. I just don't see the NY Yankee's deciding to blow past the luxery tax threshold with the Tanaka/Ellsbury/McCann signings and not upgrading that infield (even if they want to bank on Jeter and Teixeira being their old selves).

[Stanathan]

Can someone please fill me in on Stephen Drew and why he is a big fish this offseason? He is going to be 31 and his statline is average. Perhaps he is a gold glove level defender?

[moon]

Because there are about 8-10 decent SS in the Majors so an average stat line means you are still a top 15 guy and better options than what most teams have.

Edit: Also from a Blue Jays my guess is Drew plays 3rd and Lawrie to 2nd or Drew plays 2nd. Either way he is an upgrade over Goins.

In NY he replaces Roberts. In Boston he plays SS or 3B depending on where they want Bogarts competing against such studs as Brock Holt and John MacDonald.

[dustyanddaflames]

I can't see the Jays' moving Lawrie back to second, tried it, didn't work out. Keep him and his future gold glove at that position, move Drew to 2B. Better to take one out of the natural position than two. IMO, anyways...

[Cheese]

Reports surfacing Wednesday in The Globe and Mail and Thursday in the Toronto Star suggest that the Jays could be considering a run at free agent starter A.J. Burnett, now that he's believed to be available.
http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=442575
Please Dont Jays!

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Ugh. No thanks.

[alan21]

Burnett should only get the same contract the Doc got last month.

[nik-]

This year feels like we're getting setup to be the last one standing in the game of musical chairs.

[zukes]

Why are you guys saying you don't want Burnett? You can get him on a one or two year deal, likely for $15million per or less, rather than 4 - 5 years of Santana or Jimenez. Burnett had a tough time as a Yankee, but he has been really good the last two years in Pittsburgh.

I say yes please!

[browna]

When AA is reduced to going after players that were thought to be retiring and convincing them otherwise, it's clear the options are exhausted.

Should try and convince Halladay to come out for spring training and see what happens. Save that, David Cone or Jimmy Key, and Alomar at 2nd base.

There's a reason the Blue Jays caravan didn't leave S. Ontario this year. The one positive (?) is that that this team won't have any expectations on them this year.

[Jiggy_12]

Burnett on a cheap 1 year deal would be fine.

He had two of his best years in Pittsburgh (granted its the NL). He wouldn't be coming in as a savior but as our #4 guy...sure. Why not?

Burnett also does not cost a draft pick where as Jiminez and Santana both do.

let's put it this way...with the way the team is now..I'd rather have Burnett than not have Burnett.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Burnett also does not cost a draft pick where as Jiminez and Santana both do.

Jays first round picks are protected, however, so that's not necessarily that big of a deal - i.e. they can sign jiminez or santana (ugh) and not lose it.

[Cheese]

still have to give up a 2nd rounder though I think.

[howard_the_duck]

I'd be shocked if Burnett came to Toronto.

The last time he left it was to be closer to his family in Maryland. Nothing has changed on that front.

If Ubaldo's demands have truly dropped to 3/39 then that's the move I want AA to make. Sure, there is volatility, but I'd prefer him to Santana who I think would get rocked in the RC.

[Since1984]

I know this is off topic...but I just grabbed tickets to the Jays home opener April 4! Making the trip to see the flames raps and Jays


So they better grab one of of not both Jimenez and Santana..preferably Jimenez.

Sent from my SGH-T989D using Tapatalk

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Cheese

still have to give up a 2nd rounder though I think.

Yeah, I'm ok though with that price if they do a move they think improves them. Plus, if I remember correctly, don't they have 2 first round picks? If so, and both are protected, its no worries to give up the 2nd rounder.

Yup and AA suggests this: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/0...s-orioles.html

• Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos hopes his club can benefit from the qualifying offer system given its array of draft picks, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports. With two protected first rounders, the Jays would stand to lose only a second-round choice by signing a free agent who comes burdened with draft pick compensation. "It's significant," said Anthopoulos. "I think if we had to give up a first round pick, it would changes thngs in a significant manner. I think that's where the draft pick compensation component is impacting some of these clubs." Though he said that "there's still value with the second round pick ... and you still build that into an offer," Anthopoulos explained that "it's not close to the value of round one."