2012-2013 Toronto Blue Jays Off Season Thread

[TitovFTW]

McCarthy is going to lose out on a ton of money if he stays in Oakland. Hopefully he tests the market

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by fleury

^ Care to elaborate why? A's insider?

I know 2 guys that have high positions within the A's. No one in management but they do get access to info every now and then.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by fleury

I really wish the Jays had interest in Josh Hamilton. The guy has apparently really turned his life around and for some reason, his personality would really fit in with the Jays organization. Of course, you wouldn't have him around for that, but the guy has one hell of a bat and is relatively young. I'm glad they didn't go after Fielder, because of conditioning, but you can't complain about Hamilton's work ethic. To me he's worth a 5 year contract for $20M each year, though I believe about a month ago I read on PSD that the Jays weren't interested in him. Bats like him don't come around often.

Yeah. Guys like Hamilton don't sign for 5 years, they sign for 8 or 9 at 20+ per which doesn't interest the Jays. He'll get a Fielder type 214 million contract.

[Sylvanfan]

Which is really closer to 25 million per year average. Meaning you're either paying him 30 million the first 3-5 years...or you're paying a 36 year old guy who's no longer that productive a massive salary like the Yankees are with Rodriguez.

Hamilton would be exactly the type of bat the Jays lineup could use, but they'd be far better off stocking up on starting pitching. They really can't afford to spend that much on any one player.

[Matty81]

Doesn't surprise me that the Jays went after another guy with closer velocity but am a bit surprised he's another righty.. pen needs a lefty or two now, if Oliver doesn't come back it will be a little ridiculous.

Hopefully Alex wraps up a manager like today to or tomorrow. Letting your old guy go a couple days before free agency was a bonehead move IMO. Not that I liked Farrell but either do it early and hire fast or don't - free agency is absolutely vital for the jays and who would take a job without knowing who their boss will be?

[GirlySports]

yeah I'm not sure what's taking so long. AA interviewed or eliminated most of these guys two years ago. Just a few new interviews of newer candidates and it should be good to go!

[TitovFTW]

No way Josh Hamilton gets Prince Fielder money.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Hopefully Alex wraps up a manager like today to or tomorrow. Letting your old guy go a couple days before free agency was a bonehead move IMO. Not that I liked Farrell but either do it early and hire fast or don't - free agency is absolutely vital for the jays and who would take a job without knowing who their boss will be?

How was it a bone head move, last thing Jays want is for a Manager to be part of the organization who does not want to be there...

There is no hurry to hire a Manager, AA is better off taking his time and getting the correct candidate.

[TitovFTW]

Yeah not sure what the mind set would have been in terms of keeping Farrell for an extra week or two.....

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by TitovFTW

No way Josh Hamilton gets Prince Fielder money.

He's looking for 7-175

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

He's looking for 7-175

And he will be incredibly lucky to get it as most people in baseball have scoffed at that price. That being said, it just takes one team to offer him the moon. He comes with so much more baggage and risk then Fielder, I wouldn't feel comfortable as a team committing that many years and that much money to a player like that. A lot of teams are going to get really sobering thoughts to these big contracts as they witness the decaying corpse of the brutal A-Rod contract.

I think he ends up with the Rangers. When we look at the teams that are big market, Dodgers have no use for him, Angels none, Yankees none, Red Sox none, Cubs aren't going to go after him, Tigers neither.

[TitovFTW]

That being said, I won't be so quick to dismiss what Girly said. If we remember last season, Fielder held out and held out and held out and the price finally got to what he want. Teams can go crazy when bidding on free agents.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by flambers

How was it a bone head move, last thing Jays want is for a Manager to be part of the organization who does not want to be there...

There is no hurry to hire a Manager, AA is better off taking his time and getting the correct candidate.

It's not a bonehead move to get rid of Farrell, it's boneheaded to go into free agency without a manager when you desperately need to sign a free agent or two. Jays and Sox starting talking about Farrell moving, if you believe the rumors, roughly one month ago. It took them a week and a half or so to hash out the move and it's been 3 weeks since the move took place - 4 or 5 weeks is lots of time to get your ducks in a row. I'm all for getting the right guy but get on your bloody horse already.

Would you sign a contract with a new employer if they told you, we're not sure who your boss is going to be? Probably only if the employer overpaid you relative to other companies. It is vital for the Jays to pick up a starter in free agency if they want to hang on to most of their farm talent.

[bluejays]

I see what you're saying Matty, but most people don't know who their boss is when they're starting anyway. I think you're overestimating baseball players' relationship with their managers. Basketball is the one sport where players may sign to be with a particular coach, but baseball is about the almighty dollar. Players couldn't care less who the managers is when they're a FA. They care about the money, simple as that. I'm with flambers here. AA knows what's going on, and perhaps he's got an inkling that a manager is about to be fired from another team, who he wants. No biggie.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Matty81

It's not a bonehead move to get rid of Farrell, it's boneheaded to go into free agency without a manager when you desperately need to sign a free agent or two. Jays and Sox starting talking about Farrell moving, if you believe the rumors, roughly one month ago. It took them a week and a half or so to hash out the move and it's been 3 weeks since the move took place - 4 or 5 weeks is lots of time to get your ducks in a row. I'm all for getting the right guy but get on your bloody horse already.

Would you sign a contract with a new employer if they told you, we're not sure who your boss is going to be? Probably only if the employer overpaid you relative to other companies. It is vital for the Jays to pick up a starter in free agency if they want to hang on to most of their farm talent.

Jays are going to make the same moves with or without Farrell or who ever is going to be the new Manager, AA and his staff I am sure have been working the off season plan a lengthy time,

[Matty81]

Ya I hear you guys and hope you're right that the same moves will take place with or without a manager.

I'm certain the Jays will sign somebody, just hope they get their top targets. I'm sure some guys would sign for money regardless but you've gotta think there are a few manager players would want to avoid that they might dislike strongly. I'm sure if they had say, traded managers with the red sox there might be a few guys shying away.

Hopefully the blank slate is all good. They do still have papi in place for pitchers so that goes a long way. Probably a pipe dream but Greinke is the guy I want to see at all costs.

[TitovFTW]

I think the Jays will land one free agent pitcher who's middle of the crop, someone they can really show interest in and perhaps over pay. I do suspect they make a big trade for a big arm here too. Fact is, I think AA thought they'd be a much more desirable place to come play in when he finally spent his money but last year a lot of stuff happened that was out of anybody's control.

I suspect we do find out who the Jays manager will be in the next few days.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by TitovFTW

I think the Jays will land one free agent pitcher who's middle of the crop, someone they can really show interest in and perhaps over pay. I do suspect they make a big trade for a big arm here too. Fact is, I think AA thought they'd be a much more desirable place to come play in when he finally spent his money but last year a lot of stuff happened that was out of anybody's control.

I suspect we do find out who the Jays manager will be in the next few days.

I suspect, the key acquistion in terms of a Starting Pitcher is acquired via trade.

Jays will of course try to sign a Starter via UFA but its going to be tough to be a major player....

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by TitovFTW

I think the Jays will land one free agent pitcher who's middle of the crop, someone they can really show interest in and perhaps over pay. I do suspect they make a big trade for a big arm here too. Fact is, I think AA thought they'd be a much more desirable place to come play in when he finally spent his money but last year a lot of stuff happened that was out of anybody's control.

I suspect we do find out who the Jays manager will be in the next few days.

I think it is a desirable place to play. But when you offer $10 for Yu Darvish you're not going to get him.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I think it is a desirable place to play. But when you offer $10 for Yu Darvish you're not going to get him.

Bids were blind, quite tough to figure out who offered what for Darvish.

Jays are never going to be able to out spend the big teams.... they need to make smart moves.....