2012-2013 Toronto Blue Jays Off Season Thread

[flambers]

Wow I would also echo that reaction..... I always felt the Jays would acquire Pitching via trades... figured it would be way to difficult to acquire a Starter via Free Agency.... However, never thought a trade of this magnitude would occur.

One of the key reason a team develops an outstanding farm system is make trades like this..... Only so many spots on the line up for rookies

Its a really good deal for both teams in my opinion.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by Gozer

I'd like to see a manager get a little creative with Davis - have a guy like Cooper lead off every away game and instantly sub him out for Davis.

It would artificially elevate Davis' SB potential (since he would be inheriting Cooper's OBP once a game) and there would be no impact on the defense.

Would shorten the bench a player, but the Jays essentially played a whole season down a bench player last year (Vizquel).

I'm sorry but that's just a terrible idea.

No way Cooper maintains a decent OBP with one AB every game.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

After a night of digesting this deal - I just want to say... BOOYAH!!! Still hard to believe we were able to upgrade our ss, two sp, and a platoon player who is capable of swiping 50 bags in Bonifacio. The immediate help to this lineup is insane, we finally landed a capable leadoff hitter of hitting .280+, 40 sb, and driving in 50 runs. I am still having a hard time controlling my excitement over this.

Up next - JPA for Ike Davis

I can't believe this happened! As a Rays fan I am worried. The Jays might actually be good this year after June which excites me for the AL East race and hope the Jays beat up on the Yankees and Sox and lose to the Rays so we both make it to the post season!

[GirlySports]

I'm excited too. I had lost interest last year with the way the team played, the stupid manager and idiot Escobar. Didn't think AA had it in him to pull off such a trade. I thought the Blue Jays would continue down the same road, donig things on the cheap.

I am happy to be proven wrong and I'm one of those fans mentioned above that will come back.

[Caged Great]

Well, here's our lineup give or take

Reyes (SS)
Bonaficao (2B)
Bautista (RF)
EE (1B)
Lawrie or Lind
Lawrie or Lind
Rasmus
Buck/JPA/Wilson/TDA
Rajai Davis or whomever we get as a full time guy.

That's close to being an awesome lineup top to bottom. Just need a LF and a guy who hits lefties really well for the DH position.

[howard_the_duck]

After a day to digest this, I think perhaps the biggest impact this will have is the positive PR for the Jays.

The excitement around this team has been building during the Anthopolous era, and you just knew that as soon as the moment came where they went out and added top notch talent the fans would come pouring in and support the hell out of this team.

That moment has come now. No more excuses. No more blaming Boston and New York for being big market, high payroll teams. The Jays ownership just made a statement and the fans will certainly stand up and take notice.

I fully expect the Rogers Centre to be as electric as it's been in years next season.

[troutman]

Exciting move by the Jays, but will this earn them 20 additional wins (in a tough division)?

Are other teams asking, "why weren't we approached about this"?

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by troutman

Exciting move by the Jays, but will this earn them 20 additional wins?

It should get them about 8-10. Not having half your rotation and other players hurt for extended periods should make the rest of the difference up. It'll also be interesting if the get another starter/DH/LF to completely fill out the entire depth of our roster with above average guys or if they go with Happ, Lind and Davis.

[Jiggy_12]

If I could have chosen two players to take from the Marlins and insert on the Jays it would have been Reyes and Johnson.

This is too good to be true...let's hope it gets confirmed

[moon]

Originally Posted by troutman

Are other teams asking, "why weren't we approached about this"?

Espn reported that Boston was trying hard to get Reyes (and I think Johnson) but that the Blue Jays "blew" their offer away.

[dustyanddaflames]

Originally Posted by troutman

Exciting move by the Jays, but will this earn them 20 additional wins (in a tough division)?

Are other teams asking, "why weren't we approached about this"?

If you are talking about it from a Marlins perspective - I think other teams did know, as reports surfaced last night the Red Sox were blown out of the water in comparison to the Jays' offer.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

If you are talking about it from a Marlins perspective - I think other teams did know, as reports surfaced last night the Red Sox were blown out of the water in comparison to the Jays' offer.

How bad was the Red Sox offer because the Jays offered not much.

Or maybe "not much" were the prospects the Red Sox don't even have.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

If I could have chosen two players to take from the Marlins and insert on the Jays it would have been Reyes and Johnson.

This is too good to be true...let's hope it gets confirmed

Not Stanton?

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by moon

Espn reported that Boston was trying hard to get Reyes (and I think Johnson) but that the Blue Jays "blew" their offer away.

You haven't said much of anything about this yet.

Do you like the trade?

[dustyanddaflames]

To be fair - I think the Marlins did get some good value in the deal, but I wouldn't put it as equal value for what they were sending the other way...

Nicolino was probably the most polished arm in Lansing. Hechavarria will be their shortstop of the future (though his projections really vary based off who is speaking). Henderson Alvarez could be a very nice #3 starter if he develops an outpitch (electric arm, and only 22 yrs old). Jake Marisnick has potential to be an everyday CF, but a little reading does show he comes with some flaws in the swing. Plus you toss in Escobar to play ss until Hech is ready to take over.

Like I said, I would never say Mia won the deal, or came close to getting replacement value back - but I do like the players they got in return. Just surprised that was all they were asking for...

[Muffins]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

How bad was the Red Sox offer because the Jays offered not much.

Or maybe "not much" were the prospects the Red Sox don't even have.

My guess is that Boston (or other teams for that matter) weren't going to give up as many prospects due to the fact that they are "helping the Marlins out" by taking on all that salary.

[moon]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

You haven't said much of anything about this yet.

Do you like the trade?

I have said a few times in this thread (although easy to miss since there has been so many posts in a short period of time) I think it is a good trade and something that the Jays needed to in moving their young guys for proven talent.

Not sure it is quite the steal that many fans think but easy for fans to be excited about a deal when the biggest downside is the money committed and they don't have to pay that money to the guys.

But any time you make a deal that raises you up to contender without destroying your future it seems like a good move to me.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Not Stanton?

I'm not sure I would. He's their best player, but Johnson and Reyes fit more of the Jays needs. We needed a middle IF and a leadoff hitter, Reyes accomplishes both. Johnson is a true ace and we badly needed that. Either way, getting these 2 guys is huge for the team.

[howard_the_duck]

TSN baseball 'insider' Scott Ferguson irritates me. Almost every article of his I read I end up thinking I'll never get those 2 minutes back afterwards.

Suggested Buerhle should be the Jays opening day starter. TSN does know that Johnson is the golden boy in this deal, right? The Jays ace would be between Johnson and Morrow.

The bulk of their media attention has revolved around Buerhle and Reyes.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

TSN baseball 'insider' Scott Ferguson irritates me. Almost every article of his I read I end up thinking I'll never get those 2 minutes back afterwards.

Suggested Buerhle should be the Jays opening day starter. TSN does know that Johnson is the golden boy in this deal, right? The Jays ace would be between Johnson and Morrow.

The bulk of their media attention has revolved around Buerhle and Reyes.

The point of the media attention is to promote the deal, you do this by pushing the bigger names in a deal. Johnson may be the golden boy in the deal, but Buerhle and Reyes are the names the casual fans know.

I personally don't care who starts opening night. But I am excited by the fact that our top 4 should be Buerhle, Escobar, Johnson and Morrow.

I also really like picking up Reyes, he is going to give the Jays a legit stolen base threat while hitting for a decent average. Buck should also provide more competition behind the plate to push JP.