Any guesses who'd be going the other way? I don't see the two teams as trading partners as KC is in a position to win now as well, so just prospects going the other way doesn't work, but Toronto can't afford to deal a roster player at the moment aside from perhaps a rookie starter and Navarro. I'm thinking it may have to open up to a larger deal if anything, but I don't see both teams as good partners in this.
The Jays have had some high profile closers come in and eventually stink it up. In a perfect world they could run with one of their guys currently on the roster but I guess there isn't one. Sanchez?
1: Anthopolous really wants that Closer with big time stuff. Casey got the Closer role later then he should have because AA wants that exploding fastball/wipeout slider type. Witness the acquisition of Frank Francisco & Sergio Santos... by the numbers Casey should have been the Closer over either of those guys but he only got it after Fransisco had departed and Santos flamed out (several times). He basically got it by default.
2: Closer tag comes with a payday premium. The team probably (hopefully) doesn't want to pay it for a guy that will give you 60ish innings per year.
3: Casey has some serious red flags. His K/9 way down last year, his groundball rate way down last year, his ERA (or his FIP/xFIP if you want the fielding independant stats) way up, his HR/9 way up. He lost a few MPH on his fastball.
I'd take Casey back but I'd take him back (and pay him as) more as a low leverage 6th/7th inning BP guy then as a backend high leverage guy. Casey likely isn't going to accept that.
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Any guesses who'd be going the other way? I don't see the two teams as trading partners as KC is in a position to win now as well, so just prospects going the other way doesn't work, but Toronto can't afford to deal a roster player at the moment aside from perhaps a rookie starter and Navarro. I'm thinking it may have to open up to a larger deal if anything, but I don't see both teams as good partners in this.
Bob Elliott on Prime Time Sports said he's hearing the Royals are asking for Daniel Norris in a potential Holland trade.
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Don't the Blue Jays have some one they could move into a closer role, while keeping Sanchez and Norris as starters? Who was the setup man for the closer last year?
To trade Norris for Holland now when AA might have gotten something for Norris at the trade deadline seems a little odd to me. The Blue Jays were in a playoff race at that time and bringing in some one might have helped the Jays push for that playoff spot.
Hey Flickering Flame, was there ever any confirmation on why Oakland did the Donaldson deal? Was the "Billy Boy" reference the catalyst?
The Billy Boy thing strikes me as just the MSM searching for a narrative that isn't there. Really the simplist answer is probably the right one and the simplest answer is that the Oakland Athletics are a poor team and Josh Donaldson is about to get very expensive. Billy Beane got three young and cheap MLB ready players and a hunk of prospect capital (which he'll probably spend later) in exchange for someone that was basically found money. The Jays won the trade but it's not an indefensible move on Oakland given the payroll limitations they have to operate under.
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Hey Flickering Flame, was there ever any confirmation on why Oakland did the Donaldson deal? Was the "Billy Boy" reference the catalyst?
It actually started back in July when the A's traded Cespedes for Lester, Donaldson was very vocal about the deal then and the relationship between management and player just soured.
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I'd sooner wish they'd make Norris the closer than trade him for one.
No kidding.
Although I respect a strong opening position (the worst that happens is that you get told no) but that's crazy. Personally I highly suspect that once the super-two cut-off happens Norris is probably in the Jays rotation.
Personally I'm coming around to just making Sanchez the closer (even though I think the Closer role makes no sense whatsoever). As much as you hate to see a guy with ace like stuff put in the pen his walk and K rate in the minors is nothing to write home about so maybe he's just better suited for the Pen.
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I don't think it's sound asset management to put Sanchez into the closer role (which I agree is ridiculous) without giving him a shot at the rotation. As you say, he has ace stuff.
Lester snubbing the Red Sox for Chicago, is just about as good as Lester signing in Toronto. Was becoming worried that the Sox were going to get a top end starter without impacting their roster depth. Good news all around so far for the Blue Jays this off-season. The Red Sox filled a couple of holes with Sandoval/Ramirez, but that rotation... I realize that Opening Day isn't today, but their rotation is pretty bare right now, and they are going to have to either spend big on Scherzer, or move out some of their top end, young players to acquire a front line starter via trade.
Tough to be upset with the way the AL East is shaping up for the Jays to date.
Sandoval/Ramirez, but that rotation... I realize that Opening Day isn't today, but their rotation is pretty bare right now, and they are going to have to either spend big on Scherzer, or move out some of their top end, young players to acquire a front line starter via trade.
They'll fill out their rotation. As annoying as it is Boston has tons of money and surplus parts (likie Cespedes) to use as trade fodder (on top of a strong farm system).
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I don't think it's sound asset management to put Sanchez into the closer role (which I agree is ridiculous) without giving him a shot at the rotation. As you say, he has ace stuff.
Yeah, ideally you don't want to put a guy in the pen until you're sure he can't start but if the Jays can't find a solid reliever at a decent price I could see them putting Sanchez there to start the year and try to swing an in-season deal later. Although there are pluses and minuses to that plan, the plus is that you can keep Sanchez's innings down since he's probably on a flexible innings limit so you can ride him the whole year, the minus is that he won't get to work on whatever it is that's held him back as a starter (I'm guessing his secondary offerings aren't as advanced as his short-relief arsenal).
