2011/12 Toronto Blue Jays Off-Season

[flambers]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

his numbers may improve but his ceiling is at best an average 1b, JP is thought of as a great hitter because he plays center

I think Lind is average there

You need big production out of a few key positions and 1B is one of them

I don't think JP will ever be that good, but if he could that would be great

I believe JP can be an above average hitter. Only time will tell.

[flames_1987]

Dear god it's going to be a long weekend and monday, having to wait and wait until this is finally announced. No reports coming out to contradict the Jays had the highest bid, but I can't bring myself to fully accept or believe this is a sure thing just yet.

Jays sure are set up well if this happens though. Especially when you consider the ability to not lose anyone from one of the leagues top farm systems in baseball, while adding to the top few spots of your rotation. Going forward if the Jays land him, they're a team to be very afraid of if your in the AL East. A move like this would show the money Rogers is willing to spend, and that's a lethal combination when you have that on your side, and such a talented and deep prospect pool.

Outside of the effects it would have on the Roster, this would be a big PR move for the Jays for many reasons that have already been expressed.

Here's hoping....

[Caged Great]

A rotation of Romero-Darvish-Morrow-Alvarez-Drabek/Hutchison/McGowan is fairly good. Couple that with the offense we have currently and the pen we have and we'd be a wild card contender for sure. Add anything else and we'd pretty much be a lock.

[goldenbear85]

This would be amazing...not that I think he will set the league on fire (although I think he will do quite weel) but more so for baseball in toronto and canada. I have had multiple conversations with people about baseball today. I can't remember the last time that happened. Hopefully they do have the highest bid and can sign the guy.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

A rotation of Romero-Darvish-Morrow-Alvarez-Drabek/Hutchison/McGowan is fairly good. Couple that with the offense we have currently and the pen we have and we'd be a wild card contender for sure. Add anything else and we'd pretty much be a lock.

Never ever count your chickens before their hatched!! There are so many variables at play during a baseball season that no matter the roster, a team can still bottom out and not make the post season.
The fact that the BJs are actually in the news for positive reasons is gratification enough right now...they will need to gel in their new roles, whoever and whatever they are, stay away from serious injury, and not play error filled ball. I just hope they can stay "in it" until September.....then they may have a shot at the PS.

[goldenbear85]

Just read that the bid price topped Dice-K. Somewhere North of 51 million! Hope this guy is worth it

Does anyone know how this type of bid proscess affects the luxury tax in the MLB?

[socalwingfan]

^the posting fee is independant and has no luxury tax implications

[browna]

Also keep in mind, the Jays have to sign Darvish too, if they win.

Seems like a formality, but you never know. They have 30 days...if they don't sign him, the Jays get the posting $ back and Darvish can't get posted again for MLB until next year.

[bluejays]

I know teams would be reluctant to do something like this because it's not bargaining in good faith, but can't a team put in a bid for something like $60M, knowing full well they'll win, and lowball the guy for 8 years at $8 million per year in hopes he'll bite, and if not, oh well, no team can sign him anyway...and keep doing this year after year?

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by fleury

I know teams would be reluctant to do something like this because it's not bargaining in good faith, but can't a team put in a bid for something like $60M, knowing full well they'll win, and lowball the guy for 8 years at $8 million per year in hopes he'll bite, and if not, oh well, no team can sign him anyway...and keep doing this year after year?

Negotiating in bad faith...probably not the best idea if you want to have a decent reputation.

[VERVE]

Former MLB player, Aaron Guiel who once played for Kansas City and the New York Yankees had faced Darvish in the Nippon Professional Baseball a few times. According to Guiel, Darvish is like a Pedro Martinez:

“They don’t look anything alike, maybe zero physical similarities, but Darvish’s pitches and pitch sequences resemble Pedro because of the blend of power and finesse,”

" ...Martinez was often accused during of being a head-hunter. Darvish, 25, has that quality too, according to Guiel. ...He has an edge to him..."

"Guiel ... figures Darvish would rank among the top 10 pitchers he’s ever faced. With the Royals and the Yanks, he faced Cy Young Award winners Johan Santana, Roger Clemens, CC Sabathia, Roy Halladay, Randy Johnson, Barry Zito, Chris Carpenter, Pat Hentgen and Cliff Lee."

http://www.lfpress.com/sports/baseba.../19140911.html

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Yup, we could handle a Pedro in our rotation

Hope we can lock him in for 6 seasons and hes productive through 4 at least, that will make the posting fee 'nearly' worth it.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by fleury

I know teams would be reluctant to do something like this because it's not bargaining in good faith, but can't a team put in a bid for something like $60M, knowing full well they'll win, and lowball the guy for 8 years at $8 million per year in hopes he'll bite, and if not, oh well, no team can sign him anyway...and keep doing this year after year?

There is scuttlebutt that contends exactly this: the Jays bid high for Darvish with the intention of NOT signing him, instead with the intention of blocking his ability to sign with anyone else (two AL E rivals specifically).

I don't really buy it, but it's out there. So my answer is (an uninformed) no - there's nothing stopping the scenario you laid out from happening.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by Gozer

There is scuttlebutt that contends exactly this: the Jays bid high for Darvish with the intention of NOT signing him, instead with the intention of blocking his ability to sign with anyone else (two AL E rivals specifically).

I don't really buy it, but it's out there. So my answer is (an uninformed) no - there's nothing stopping the scenario you laid out from happening.

The problem is that the scuttlebutt is coming from New York writers who have no sources saying the Jays are doing this, but are just giving their opinion. It's just Yankee writers jealous that their team isn't involved in a big name free agent for once.

The best reason why this scenario is ridiculous is the long-lasting implications of it. The Jays would never be able to sign another player from Japan. Even Latin players would be affected by it too if they have smart representation. It's a slippery slope to go down by making moves that screw a player over for the sole purpose of hurting a rival team.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by JayP

The problem is that the scuttlebutt is coming from New York writers who have no sources saying the Jays are doing this, but are just giving their opinion. It's just Yankee writers jealous that their team isn't involved in a big name free agent for once.

The best reason why this scenario is ridiculous is the long-lasting implications of it. The Jays would never be able to sign another player from Japan. Even Latin players would be affected by it too if they have smart representation. It's a slippery slope to go down by making moves that screw a player over for the sole purpose of hurting a rival team.

Media types hardly ever get any rumours correct on the Jays. I agree with your view. There is no way Jays go over seas including AA to watch this guy only to bid high to block the other Eastern teams.

Seems like a silly rumour.

[octothorp]

Sounds like we'll hear between 6 and 7 (MST) tonight.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...rticle2276116/

[d_phaneuf]

if that was the jays strategy too, and Selig thought it was

he could re-open the bid, there's some clause in the process

so A. the jays wouldn't do it for all the reasons mentioned above, and b. it wouldn't work if they did

[GirlySports]

yeah it's absolutely wrong, the Blue Jays really want to compete and they really want this guy to kick some Yankee arses.

It's just money. Yankee writers must not realize that Rogers are richer than the Yankees and will start to flash their money power around. Expect to see Blue Jays payrolls of 100million+ over the next decade.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by JayP

The problem is that the scuttlebutt is coming from New York writers who have no sources saying the Jays are doing this, but are just giving their opinion. It's just Yankee writers jealous that their team isn't involved in a big name free agent for once.

The best reason why this scenario is ridiculous is the long-lasting implications of it. The Jays would never be able to sign another player from Japan. Even Latin players would be affected by it too if they have smart representation. It's a slippery slope to go down by making moves that screw a player over for the sole purpose of hurting a rival team.

Exactly, it was Jeff Nelson on First Pitch on MLB Network Radio that had that beauty.

[The Big Chill]

http://www.drunkjaysfans.com/2011/12...-on-latos.html

This article says the Jays were seriously interested in Latos. That is pretty interesting considering that AA still likely isn't sure whether or not they will get Darvish. Seems like AA is interested in acquiring more then one front/mid rotation guy.