2015-2016 Blue Jays Off-Season Thread

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

No doubt it was a negative thing from a fan perspective, but you are grossly over-estimating the impact that will leave on the entire offseason.

We already nailed down one of the top free agent SP in Estrada, so let's not get carried away. At worst I would say this offseason thus far has been break even - at worst. Still plenty of time to go to improve on and off the field.

I'm happy they signed Estrada, but he's with the Jays because no one was going to offer him more than the Jays did as they would have had to give up a compensation pick on a second-tier free agent that may or may not replicate a career year that deviated greatly from past performance.

I don't care about what the fans think about AA leaving (though Rogers may). All I care about is the impact it has on agents, prospective free agents, and the organization's rep around the league and I think you you are grossly under-estimate that impact. The Jays do not have a good reputation around the league, especially with agents, and having the home-grown head of their ship walk away from a contending team he built, isn't going to do anything to do help that. I think their run did a lot of a good in that department last year, and AA leaving pulled the rug out from under that.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

Last year he hit .326 and .308 respectively.

I'd hate to walk into next season with Colabello pencilled in as an everyday player and no back-up plan. Yes he hit incredably well last year (fuelled by an unsustainable .411 BABIP) but he has no significant history as MLB calibre bat. To risky IMO.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I'd hate to walk into next season with Colabello pencilled in as an everyday player and no back-up plan. Yes he hit incredably well last year (fuelled by an unsustainable .411 BABIP) but he has no significant history as MLB calibre bat. To risky IMO.

Definitely risky. Though Colabello was also off to a torrid start in 2014. He injured his wrist/hand (can't remember) and did not disclose the injury to Twins management in an attempt to stick in the show and ended up playing through it, making it worse.

I'm thinking Jose Bautista might start getting exposed to be playing first base at some point next year. I know he is hurt his arm, but he was a liability at the times last year out in the field, and that's only going to continue to get worse as his age is setting in.

[Pagal4321]

God this thread is so glorious without people hitting quote someone's negative posts.

I've got to wonder if this team is looking at trading Dickey plus some position players to get another pitcher?

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

God this thread is so glorious without people hitting quote someone's negative posts.

I've got to wonder if this team is looking at trading Dickey plus some position players to get another pitcher?

And once again, you've contributed not much to it, other than " I don't like theAlpineOracle's posts, so please stop quoting them so I can continue reading about the Jays riding around on unicorns".

[TheAlpineOracle]

Tony LaCava was interviewed yesterday and said the focus is on starting pitching and they'd let the bullpen "Come to the them", and that Sanchez was more likely to be in the starting rotation than Osuna. Not exactly sure what he means by "Come to them", but he gave some examples of mid-season bullpen picks ups that occurred last year.

I don't know if going into the season with our bullpen is the greatest of moves, but I guess these bullpen guys tend to come out of nowhere, so spending a lot of cash on it, may not make sense. I'd really like to resign Mark Lowe though.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Yankees have acquired Starlin Castro today in exchange for Brett Gardner. I hope that doesn't mean they are going after Alex Gordon. Adding Gordon and Castro to their lineup are some pretty serious upgrades to their roster, and all signs point to them adding some big time pitching as well through free agency.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

Tony LaCava was interviewed yesterday and said the focus is on starting pitching and they'd let the bullpen "Come to the them",

That's good. unless your relief pitcher is named Mariano Rivera there's not a lot of consistency there. Never over-spend on relief pitchers.

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

and that Sanchez was more likely to be in the starting rotation than Osuna.

That's bad. Sanchez has had pretty poor results as a starter at all levels. Osuna's inning limits may prohibit using him as a starter this year so maybe he just means that Osuna needs a build-up year in the minors before starting... at least I hope so.

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

Not exactly sure what he means by "Come to them", but he gave some examples of mid-season bullpen picks ups that occurred last year.

Yeah, starters cost "A" prospects in trade, relievers cost more "B" guys and the Jays already sold their "A" guys but have plenty of "B" guys left.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Parallex

That's good. unless your relief pitcher is named Mariano Rivera there's not a lot of consistency there. Never over-spend on relief pitchers.



That's bad. Sanchez has had pretty poor results as a starter at all levels. Osuna's inning limits may prohibit using him as a starter this year so maybe he just means that Osuna needs a build-up year in the minors before starting... at least I hope so.



Yeah, starters cost "A" prospects in trade, relievers cost more "B" guys and the Jays already sold their "A" guys but have plenty of "B" guys left.

Agree on Osuna. If this is projected to be a starter, he needs to start to work up his innings in the minors and develop secondary pitches. I fear he's going to be a our closer again, which definitely fills a short-term hole, but is a terrible idea for Osuna's development in my opinion if they project him as a starter.

I also agree on not spending much money on the bullpen. That said, something does have to be done. We cannot start this year this year like we did last year. I'm pretty sure by June, the bullpen had already blown between 10 and 15 games. I'm seeing the Yankees and Red Sox making a strong push this offseason and making a cakewalk to the division/wildcard a non-existent possibility.

[ClubFlames]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

Yankees have acquired Starlin Castro today in exchange for Brett Gardner. I hope that doesn't mean they are going after Alex Gordon. Adding Gordon and Castro to their lineup are some pretty serious upgrades to their roster, and all signs point to them adding some big time pitching as well through free agency.

Where's the confirmation for that? It's just a rumor for now.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by ClubFlames

Where's the confirmation for that? It's just a rumor for now.

ESPN Radio had it as a done deal at one point this morning, maybe they have toned it down since. I hope it is just a rumor, because to me adding Castro and getting rid of Gardner signifies to me the Yankees are solidifying their infield and adding a big name to the outfield. Combine that with a full year of Tanaka, and likely one or two free agent starters, and the Jays route to a division repeat sure get a lot harder.

Not saying they can't beat the Yankees even if they do make these moves, but it would be much easier to if they didn't.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I also agree on not spending much money on the bullpen. That said, something does have to be done. We cannot start this year this year like we did last year.

Like I said relievers are very inconsistent year to year. For that very reason something does not have to be done because any guy we get won't have any assurance of not being inconsistent and the guys that we already have don't have any assurance of being inconsistent.

Pretty much the only thing that could have been done was acquire Craig Kimbrel (and someone else already paid a huge price to do that) because he's the closest thing to a Rivera in MLB today. I suppose you could trade for Chapman but too would cost a fortune (in $$ and prospect capital).

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Like I said relievers are very inconsistent year to year. For that very reason something does not have to be done because any guy we get won't have any assurance of not being inconsistent and the guys that we already have don't have any assurance of being inconsistent.

Pretty much the only thing that could have been done was acquire Craig Kimbrel (and someone else already paid a huge price to do that) because he's the closest thing to a Rivera in MLB today. I suppose you could trade for Chapman but too would cost a fortune (in $$ and prospect capital).

I know he sucked last year, but I wouldn't mind giving Fernando Rodney a whirl if it was a reasonable asking price.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I know he sucked last year, but I wouldn't mind giving Fernando Rodney a whirl if it was a reasonable asking price.

That would depend on two things...

1: What is a "reasonable asking price", and
2: I'd need to talk to him first to find out why he changed his pitch selection in 2014

When Rodney was at his best (With the Rays) he made roughly equal useage of his four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, and change-up but starting in 2014 he almost completely abandoned using his four-seam and was strictly a two-seam/change-up pitcher. If that was by design then I'd sign him if the price is right... if it's not then I'd stay far far away.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Parallex

That would depend on two things...

1: What is a "reasonable asking price", and
2: I'd need to talk to him first to find out why he changed his pitch selection in 2014

When Rodney was at his best (With the Rays) he made roughly equal useage of his four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, and change-up but starting in 2014 he almost completely abandoned using his four-seam and was strictly a two-seam/change-up pitcher. If that was by design then I'd sign him if the price is right... if it's not then I'd stay far far away.

He as pretty dominant in Seattle in 2014 as well. I'm thinking around 1 million. He made 1.4 last year I believe.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

He as pretty dominant in Seattle in 2014 as well.

Right... when the book on him was that he had two fastballs and a change. Almost anyone can have a good go around the league when the league doesn't have a good book on you. That's why I would want to know why he altered his pitch selection. To see if he's "fixable".

I mean late last year he was apparently tipping his change... if old Rodney was tipping his change the batter still wouldn't know if they were getting his two or four seam when he didn't show the tip, whereas when the latest Rodney was pitching if the batters had a good book on him they knew exactly what he was gonna throw.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Right... when the book on him was that he had two fastballs and a change. Almost anyone can have a good go around the league when the league doesn't have a good book on you. That's why I would want to know why he altered his pitch selection. To see if he's "fixable".

I mean late last year he was apparently tipping his change... if old Rodney was tipping his change the batter still wouldn't know if they were getting his two or four seam when he didn't show the tip, whereas when the latest Rodney was pitching if the batters had a good book on him they knew exactly what he was gonna throw.

I go to Seattle every time the Jays play there. I remember in 2014 when he came out of the pen, as a Jays fan, you knew it was over and the Mariners fans knew it as well.

When I went back in July, the Seattle fans did a collective sigh, and the Jays roughed him up.

Interesting that's the reason why there was such a shift. I knew he sucked last year, but had no idea why until you pointed it out. I thought it may have been just age.

[Harry Lime]

I haven't heard anything concrete about Castro. The rumours of the moment seem to be that Jeffery Loria may be himself again, and trade Jose Fernandez because Jose has issues with treating Marlin management like they are a bunch of clowns. Fernandez hitting the trade market could reverberate all the way up to Price and Grienke.

Toronto most likely wouldn't have any chance of landing this player, but it would have the effect of potentially dropping the asking price of everyone, adding a player to the top of the pyramid, and knocking everyone else back.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I thought it may have been just age.

It still could have been. Without knowing why he dropped his four-seam it's impossible to know for sure. I'd be in favor of Rodney at the right price but I don't sign him without that knowledge.

[Jiggy_12]

@mlbtraderumors: #BlueJays to acquire Jesse Chavez from #Athletics, per @Ken_Rosenthal. Liam Hendriks at least part of the return. https://t.co/yBREZS4AEM