2011/12 Toronto Blue Jays Off-Season

[flambers]

Originally Posted by nik-

I'm of the mindset that we need to get an ace so Romero is our number 2.

I like Ricky Romero, I just don't see us as a legit AL East contender if he's our number 1 guy.

Only way to get an Ace like "Halladay" etc in my opinion is to draft the pitcher and develop the players....

Jays need to continue to draft well and develop well.

[Cheese]

sportsnetbarry Barry Davis
Peter Walker is the #bluejays new Bullpen Coach. PAT HENTGEN has stepped down for family reasons. Will remain as special assistant.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by nik-

I wonder if the Jays are going to bother with trying to get Yu Darvish in the end. I have the feeling the price is going to get stupid with the Yankee's needing another legit starter.

There are so many questions with Darvish, being that he is unproven, that the only way I see Rogers releasing the 100+ million required to get him is if they see a way of utilizing the Japanese market to make their money back. I don't think we will pay the $$ just for Darvish's services alone.

I still have a hard time believing that he will be able to cope with the workload of the mlb. He is scrawny, has an odd arm motion, and pitches less often then he will be asked to over here.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Seriously, you sound more delusional than any Oiler fan when it comes to the Blue Jays with your overevaluation of prospects, and how good Anthopolis is going to make the team. Any of those guys is easily the #2 starter for the Blue Jays, and aren't that far behind Romero for the #1 spot in the rotation.

Once you count park/opposition factors, both Cahill and Gonzalez would not be as good in the AL East in Rogers center. Morrow and Alvarez would be more or less in the same overall abilities as either Cahill or Gonzalez. I give preference to the guys that we know that players that might transition poorly.

As for my evaluation of AA and the jays prospects, The jays went from more or less 30th to #1 or #2 in the team's farm system in just over a year with most of the prospects that the jays have are still only in A or lower. It's a bit unusual for a team to be rated so high with only a handful of guys at AA or AAA considering that the only guy who's doing exceptional there is D'Arnaud.

[Cheese]

Two years after missing out on Aroldis Chapman, the Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly in the hunt for anther Cuban defector.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Blue Jays are among nine teams who are looking at adding outfielder Yoennis Cespedes, when he is expected to be declared a free agent later this month.
The 26-year-old Cespedes, who defected from Cuba in the summer, plays centrefield and by all accounts is regarded as a five-tool player.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=379903

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

I can't believe the Yankees aren't involved in talks with the A's... Cahill or Gonzalez are perfect #2 starters that the club needs IMO. Same goes for the Blue Jays - Flick do you happen to have any idea what the A's are looking for in return?

They obviously need bats. Willingham is going to sign elsewhere and Matsui was a waste of a year. Its going to be another year of the same old A's.

As for Alvarez or Gio, I would take Gio everyday of the week. Proven pitcher in the bigs, walks lots of guys but was a 16 game winner on a team that lost 90 games. Wins aren't everything but the guy can pitch.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Two years after missing out on Aroldis Chapman, the Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly in the hunt for anther Cuban defector.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Blue Jays are among nine teams who are looking at adding outfielder Yoennis Cespedes, when he is expected to be declared a free agent later this month.
The 26-year-old Cespedes, who defected from Cuba in the summer, plays centrefield and by all accounts is regarded as a five-tool player.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=379903

How many 5 tool players are there in the world nowadays? This saying is really beginning to be used way too much recently. Pardon my ignorance, I've never seen the guy play, but I'm very skeptical of a Cuban with HR power. I'm all for loading up on prospects, but this 5 tool thing is thrown around way too much when there is likely a very small chance of said player developing into the 5 tool all-star every scout dreams of.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by fleury

How many 5 tool players are there in the world nowadays? This saying is really beginning to be used way too much recently. Pardon my ignorance, I've never seen the guy play, but I'm very skeptical of a Cuban with HR power. I'm all for loading up on prospects, but this 5 tool thing is thrown around way too much when there is likely a very small chance of said player developing into the 5 tool all-star every scout dreams of.

From what I've read, Cesepedes seems to have corner outfielder range/defense, 20 SB speed, a decent but unspectacular arm, can hit for a decent average and broke Cuba's record for most HR's in a season.

I think having 5 tools means that you're above average in all areas, so you have a decent chance at being an above average MLB player. Having 5 elite tools means that you're basically Ken Griffey, but those guys definitely don't come around often at all.

[nik-]

The last true 5 Tool player I can think of was the pre-Mets Beltran.

[d_phaneuf]

Justin Upton and Matt Kemp are pretty close

[d_phaneuf]

Saw something today that said the Brewers know that Fielder isn't an option for them anymore and have moved on to Reyes

think his bat would give the Jays a top 3 offense next year

[nik-]

I'd like Fielder for 3 or 4 years ... but not for the 7+ he's going to get.

There's no way he doesn't start breaking down in his mid 30's

[dustyanddaflames]

Ya I agree with D_P, in that Matt Kemp is probably the best five-tool player out of the 145 the MLB now has...

[Cheese]

REPORT: JAYS DISCUSSING SIGNING BIG-NAME FREE AGENT CLOSER
According to ESPN.com, the Blue Jays have discussed signing one of the free agent relievers available, including Jonathan Papelbon, Heath Bell or Joe Nathan.
Another possibility the Jays are reportedly looking at is acquiring Andrew Bailey from the Oakland A's.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Cheese

REPORT: JAYS DISCUSSING SIGNING BIG-NAME FREE AGENT CLOSER
According to ESPN.com, the Blue Jays have discussed signing one of the free agent relievers available, including Jonathan Papelbon, Heath Bell or Joe Nathan.
Another possibility the Jays are reportedly looking at is acquiring Andrew Bailey from the Oakland A's.

Really hoping the Jays don't give up their top draft pick for a free agent reliever, knowing they will also be breaking the bank to do so, just not worth it on either front.

Andrew Bailey would be a nice pickup although his health is a bit of a concern. I'm late with this one but I also think way higher of Gio Gonzalez than many. I think he's easily a 20 game winner on a better offensive team the last two years running and a better starter than CJ Wilson the top FA pitcher on the market.

[Caged Great]

The closer I could see the Jays targeting would be K-Rod. He likely won't get an arbitration offer from Milwaukee, so he wouldn't cost a pick, and shouldn't be too bad.

Personally though, I would much prefer that they funnel that cash into Fielder and a Starter instead.

[bluejays]

^ I agree with you CG, but if somehow they have an opportunity to get Nathan despite him returning from TJ surgery, I'd go for it (if under 4 years). Nathan is one of those bonafide closers in the same ilk as Rivera IMO, and I'd roll the dice on a guy like that making a full comeback.

[Caged Great]

I have it on good authority that the Jays new jersey is going to be a darker blue (similar to the leafs) along with a white and black alternates.

[Caged Great]

It will look pretty close to this.

[bluejays]

Not bad, but KC Royals-esq. Not digging it really. The current uniforms look good. I don't know why the constant change especially considering the current ones are selling well, league wide.