2012-2013 Toronto Blue Jays Off Season Thread

[TitovFTW]

Rasmus is one of the Jays going on the Canadian tour this winter to a bunch of different cities. it's awesome to see Rasmus volunteer to do something like this and the comedic gold that will be him attempting to curl, as I know the Jays at one of their stops are going to a curling rink I think in Manitoba.

[Bar-Down]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...he-ace-pitcher

Fellow Bleacher Report writer Benjamin Klein has been tracking rumors surrounding the season's top 100 free agents, and he names the Angels, Dodgers, Rangers and Blue Jays as teams rumored to be pursuing the right-hander.

Odds

Los Angeles Dodgers: 3/1
Los Angeles Angels: 7/2
Texas Rangers: 8/1
Toronto Blue Jays: 18/1
Milwaukee Brewers: 20/1
Baltimore Orioles: 30/1
Minnesota Twins: 40/1
Washington Nationals: 40/1
Kansas City Royals: 100/1

Everyone else is a long shot to sign him at this point, but given how their offseason has shaken out to this point, I don't think anyone would be completely shocked if the Blue Jays came out of nowhere and blew Greinke away with an offer.

Would be awesome to get Greinke!
Anyone have an idea of when he will sign somewhere?

[moon]

Originally Posted by Bar-Down

Would be awesome to get Greinke!
Anyone have an idea of when he will sign somewhere?

Isn't Greinke a guy with anxiety issues and a guy that already blocked a deal to TO?

I can't imagine being on a team like Toronto with its hype would be his first choice. Although with Johnson and possibly Buerhle there to protect him he would be interested in it.

Personally I think lower key teams like KC or Milwaukee seems to make the most sense for him. And as a homer I will say St. Louis actually seems like the perfect fit because of the chance to win and the easiness of playing in that market.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by moon

Isn't Greinke a guy with anxiety issues and a guy that already blocked a deal to TO?

I can't imagine being on a team like Toronto with its hype would be his first choice. Although with Johnson and possibly Buerhle there to protect him he would be interested in it.

Personally I think lower key teams like KC or Milwaukee seems to make the most sense for him. And as a homer I will say St. Louis actually seems like the perfect fit because of the chance to win and the easiness of playing in that market.

To be fair, most guys who would've blocked a trade to Toronto six months ago would have to be rethinking that about now. Especially a guy like Grienke. If the jays get him, they're almost assuredly a playoff team if not outright World Series favourites.

[bluejays]

I'd love to have Greinke on the team, though with all the money being spent right now, I'd seriously doubt Rogers would open the wallet any more than current levels. Besides that, I don't know if Greinke would want to be in our division given his anxiety issues. With all this, I'd be shocked if the Jays landed him.

[TitovFTW]

1. That is a bleacher report article, so I really don't put that much stock into it.

2. I don't think we understand or grasp any type of anxiety Greinke has, and that he'd avoid a team that was a favorite because of it. He had a no trade last season and went to a big market in LA in the middle of a playoff race.

3. The Dodgers will offer him the most money and years that's for sure. Right now still so early on in the process though, numbers or terms have not even been exchanged with his agent by any team.

[Flickered Flame]

He may sign elsewhere but I think Grienke either ends up in Texas or with the Dodgers.

[Cheese]

From Scott Fergusons article this morning:

I don't know if Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News knows something we don't know or if it is just wishful thinking. He is still predicting Ricky Romero and J.P Arencibia will be in Texas by the time the season starts.

[dustyanddaflames]

Josh Johnson has yet to throw a pitch for the Blue Jays after being acquired in a 12-player blockbuster earlier this month, but the right-hander is open to remaining with the team beyond 2013. Agent Matt Sosnick told Brendan Kennedy of The Toronto Star they'd be receptive to a new deal to remain in Toronto.
"If there is anyone in the game I’d be receptive to talking to about it it’s (Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos)," said Sosnick. "It hasn’t come up in any of our conversations ... (Anthopoulos) hasn’t volunteered it and I haven’t asked him about it. It’s probably something that if he wants to talk about it we’ll talk about it down the road."
Johnson, 28, will earn $13.75MM next season, the final year on the four-year, $39MM contract he signed with the Marlins prior to 2010. He pitched to a 3.81 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 191 1/3 innings this season, though his fastball velocity dipped and both his strikeout and walk rates declined for a second straight year.
From 2009-2011, Johnson posted a 2.64 ERA with 8.6 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 453 innings across 70 starts. A return to that level of performance with the Blue Jays this year would potentially put Johnson in line for a nine-figure contract as a free agent next offseason, when he be arguably the best starter on the market.

Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#cw2KBhYmRBFGCbEu.99

From MLBTR.com

[KootenayFlamesFan]

That's great news. Johnson is still a fairly young guy, if he pitches well next season and wants to stay.............sign me up.

[dustyanddaflames]

I think it brings up and interesting question - at what point does AA begin negotiating a contract extension w Josh Johnson? I know the the average fan says that it should be as soon as possible, but what if Johnson doesn't regain his 2010 form? I'm not saying that he's still not a great, young arm - but what if you sign him expecting him to bounce back and overpay by 4-6 million/year?

Could be crucial if the Jays are up against an internal cap... If there is one thing the Jays do have going for them, it's that johnson's agent has came out and acknowledged the risk involved in re-signing his client, by (paraphrasing) meeting them half way.

[Cheese]

^^^ I think they try to get it done early. They can use the last few years as a basis to work from and perhaps get him to sign for the 3-5 they like for 10-12 a year. That's likely living in a dreamworld though.

Wonder what the BJs would want or ask for in the Texas scenario above...JPA and Romero to Texas for what? Return would have to be pretty big IMO. Maybe we could get Darvish? LOL

[SportsJunky]

If Romero isn't traded, I'll be interested to see how he responds this season. He will have a lot less weight on his shoulders certainly and if he stays healthy I'd love to see him come out and deal the way I thought he would last season.

[Alberta_Beef]

I don't want to trade JP or Romero. I think Buck could be flipped, but I think the top 4 in the rotation will still be here come spring training.

But I would like to see another starter added to the rotation so that Happ can be used as depth for the rotation and perhaps a long reliever.

So who is out there besides Grienke? Because I think Grienke is is unlikely.

What about Dan Haren?

[Cheese]

heres the list

I think Marcum would be great

[Caged Great]

I'd personally give JJ a 5/100 contract with a mutual option after year 3. Basically gives him 60 million dollars and the option to renegotiate or get turfed. Win win for both sides from my POV as he'll still be young enough to get a long term contract for another 5+ years @20+ if he's still good.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

The Toronto Blue Jays will hire DeMarlo Hale as their bench coach, according to two industry sources. One source said Hale could receive a three-year contract.

Hale would replace Don Wakamatsu, the Blue Jays' bench coach last season. Toronto recently hired John Gibbons as manager, his second stint with the club.

http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_...nch-coach.html

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Ervin Santana would be a great pitcher to pick up as well.

AA is an absolute genius. Now, there's at least a decent chance at big name free agents now that the Jays are considered contenders.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Ervin Santana would be a great pitcher to pick up as well..

Not a Santana fan, and plus he's now with the Royals - traded this off season from the Angels to KC.

[TitovFTW]

Seems like there's 0 chance of Marcum to Toronto.

I can't see the Jays trading Romero, it would make no sense at all. They'd get nothing back in return and they can't afford to give up a spot in the starting rotation.