2012-2013 Toronto Blue Jays Off Season Thread

[KootenayFlamesFan]

As per MLBTR

The Blue Jays have signed right-hander Neil Wagner to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training, MLBTR has learned. Wagner has a 3.77 ERA, 2.95 K:BB ratio and 10.2 K/9 rate in 312 career minor league relief appearances in the Padres, A's, and Indians' systems, plus pitched five Major League innings with Oakland in 2011.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#EcrwuceUHbRRyC7Z.99

[Ped]

Forgive my complete ignorance, but what is WAR?

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by Ped

Forgive my complete ignorance, but what is WAR?

http://www.fangraphs.com/library/index.php/misc/war/

Wins Above Replacement (WAR) is an attempt by the sabermetric baseball community to summarize a player’s total contributions to their team in one statistic. You should always use more than one metric at a time when evaluating players, but WAR is pretty darn all-inclusive and provides a handy reference point. WAR basically looks at a player and asks the question, “If this player got injured and their team had to replace them with a minor leaguer or someone from their bench, how much value would the team be losing?” This value is expressed in a wins format, so we could say that Player X is worth +6.3 wins to their team while Player Y is only worth +3.5 wins

[jschick88]

Jays give Melky Cabrera a 2-year, $16 million contract per ESPN Deportes. http://espndeportes.espn.g

[Caged Great]

Well, that's awesome.

Now we just need a platoon guy with Lind for DH (Johnny Gomes please come on down)

and

1 starting pitcher. Preferably a #3/4 guy who could be slotted down in the 4/5 spot with Romero.

[jschick88]

Possible Jays' lineup: SS Reyes LF Cabrera RF Bautista DH Encarnacion 3B Lowrie 1B Lind C Arencibia CF Rasmus 2B Izturis/Bonifacio. Speed.
https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN

Not a single weakness in that lineup. Can baseball start now?

[CaramonLS]

Moderate risk.

The guy has only been a decent player for the past 2 seasons. One of them, he was busted for PED use. He was pretty bad during his seasons with the Yankees and was barely a replacement level guy.

But, if he can get you 800-850+ OPS in the OF, you pretty much break even. If he gets you anything more, you've won the deal.

I do like AA's style of going for broke here in the AL East. The BoSox are weaker than they have been for a while and the Yankees are very vulnerable. I still don't believe in Baltimore. They've got a real shot at winning the division with this lineup.

[jschick88]

Melky gets 2yrs $16m from #Jays. Had he not tested postive, he'd have gotten 4 X $14m ($56m). Paid price of approx $40m
https://twitter.com/JimBowdenESPNxm

[Sylvanfan]

I think that Rasmus would hit ahead of Arencibia as he's a better contact guy, and would help break up all those right handed hitters in a row. Might even go this way if they did add Cabrera.

Reyes
Cabrera
Bautista
Encarnacion
Rasmus
Lawrie
Lind
Arencibia
Izturis/Bonaficio

Gets a bit more balance in the lineup.

Cabrera used to be a good defensive outfielder, and he can be a 800+OPS guy even without the enhancers. He always seemed to find his way into the Yankees lineup even when they had bigger names to play in place.

[The Big Chill]

Good signing, this can also push Davis into a role as the 4th outfielder which he is highly useful for.

[Caged Great]

Just look at that bench

Davis
Bonificio/Izturis
Buck
platoon guy with Lind

That's a pretty awesome bench.

[jschick88]

Think you had a productive week? Alex A. has upgraded #Jays bullpen, rotation, lineup and still kept many #Bluejays prospects. In one week.
https://twitter.com/ArashMadani

[Pagal4321]

AA: Hey Melky, want to stick it to the Yankees for 2 years?
MC: Hell yes, where do I sign!
AA: Just stop using the PEDs, we'll take the speed not the pop.
MC: Signed, sealed, delivered.

[JayP]

Great deal.

Melky isn't going to put up numbers anywhere near last season (which was largely a product of batted ball luck), but the guy was on pace for 6 WAR season before the suspension. At only $8 million a year it's going to be pretty easy for him to exceed that value.

Great opportunity to sign a potential impact player for very little. The suspension thing is a concern, but well worth the risk at that price.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

AA: Hey Melky, want to stick it to the Yankees for 2 years?
MC: Hell yes, where do I sign!
AA: Just stop using the PEDs, we'll take the speed not the pop.
MC: Signed, sealed, delivered.

[howard_the_duck]

Best.offseason.ever.

So much awesomeness packed into one week I don't know what to do with myself.

We legitimately have the best team on paper in the AL East, possibly AL.

One more arm, if AA can somehow find a way, and the Jays can avoid injury catastrophe of last year....wow.

[jschick88]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Best.offseason.ever.

So much awesomeness packed into one week I don't know what to do with myself.

We legitimately have the best team on paper in the AL East, possibly AL.

One more arm, if AA can somehow find a way, and the Jays can avoid injury catastrophe of last year....wow.

Still wondering if AA will use JPA to get another arm in the rotation.

[KOgear]

Quick everyone switch/buy rogers products so they can sign more players! I want marcum!

[mac_82]

I was a bit worried for a bit there. TSN took down the Melky article for about 45 mins, but it's back up now.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by jschick88

Still wondering if AA will use JPA to get another arm in the rotation.

JPA + say Carreno and something else to the Mets for Dickey?