Toronto Blue Jays - Offseason Thread

[ClubFlames]

Dexter Fowler signs with the Cardinals.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Of course he did.

I don't know why I expected him to choose the Jays. In the end the Cardinals, a team that has a history of winning, put more money on the table, doesn't have a turf field and isn't Canada.

[Caged Great]

So that leaves the jays with nothing outside of trades to help the team and they can't trade prospects....

yeah. fun.

[ClubFlames]

The Cardinals reportedly agreed to a deal with free-agent outfielder Dexter Fowler on Thursday, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Heyman adds the deal could fall in the five-year range, valued between $80-$90 million. The Cardinals are believed to have gone over-the-top with an offer in order to outbid the Toronto Blue Jays. Both teams reportedly submitted four-year, $60-million offers earlier this month.

Glad the Jays didn't get in a bidding war. I want them to improve the team but let's not get dumb and stupid in the process.

[jschick88]

Rumor is 5 years @ 16m a year. Wonder if the Jays now circle back to Edwin.

[Jason14h]

So happy they didn't get Fowler! This will be the contract people laugh at over the next 5 years.

[cross16]

I liked the fit for Fowler but at what is rumoured that's a pretty bad contract IMO. Glad they didn't do that.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Still better than Heyward's contract I guess.

[Caged Great]

I wonder if they circle back to both Jose and Edwin and basically offer JB a 1/2 year 15/18 mil per deal and Edwin a Cespedes type deal as a 3/20 but with an opt out after year one.

They cost 30 mil last year, bumping that up to 38-40 wouldn't be too bad.

Have Pearce and Upton platoon in the OF, with Pearce being able to shift around for days off. Edwin goes back to 1B and the team has a great offense again.

Find a filler arm or two and you're good.

[The Hendog]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I wonder if they circle back to both Jose and Edwin and basically offer JB a 1/2 year 15/18 mil per deal and Edwin a Cespedes type deal as a 3/20 but with an opt out after year one.

They cost 30 mil last year, bumping that up to 38-40 wouldn't be too bad.

Have Pearce and Upton platoon in the OF, with Pearce being able to shift around for days off. Edwin goes back to 1B and the team has a great offense again.

Find a filler arm or two and you're good.

Dump Smoak and I think that works

How is Pearce in the OF? Curious how many games he has played out there

Edit: looks like just over 200 games in the outfield; more than I would have thought but still not a ton

[flambers]

Originally Posted by The Hendog

Dump Smoak and I think that works

How is Pearce in the OF? Curious how many games he has played out there

Edit: looks like just over 200 games in the outfield; more than I would have thought but still not a ton

I doubt this is an every day option. Pearce is more of the 4th outfielder.

Jays need to trade for an outfielder.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I wonder if they circle back to both Jose and Edwin and basically offer JB a 1/2 year 15/18 mil per deal and Edwin a Cespedes type deal as a 3/20 but with an opt out after year one.

They cost 30 mil last year, bumping that up to 38-40 wouldn't be too bad.

Have Pearce and Upton platoon in the OF, with Pearce being able to shift around for days off. Edwin goes back to 1B and the team has a great offense again.

Find a filler arm or two and you're good.

I would bet neither will be back, Jose maybe open to sign a 1 year deal (could be June before that happens)

I would think Edwin would want a 3 to 4 year deal.

Both agents will be patient.

[CaramonLS]

Might not be a bad thing to go back to the well on a guy like Saunders, especially if you can get him short term and at a reasonable price. I think this lineup needs to continue adding some more lefties.

Another one might be Alejandro De Aza - plays all positions in the OF, bats Left handed and has really solid platoon splits vs. RHP. Would come in cheap too.

[JTech780]

Trade Stroman and Smoak to Colorado for Blackmon and McGee. Use the money saved on Fowler to sign EE. Move Biagini to the rotation.

Blackmon LF
Donaldson 3B
Encarnacion 1B
Morales DH
Tulo SS
Pearce RF
Martin C
Pillar CF
Travis 2B

Sanchez
Estrada
Happ
Liriano
Biagini

Osuna
Grilli
McGee
Schultz
Loup
Barnes
Bolsinger

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by JTech780

Trade Stroman and Smoak to Colorado for Blackmon and McGee.

No.

[ClubFlames]

What about a guy like Brandon Moss? Plays 1B and an OF.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by flambers

I would bet neither will be back, Jose maybe open to sign a 1 year deal (could be June before that happens)
.

Doubt anyone that age takes a 1 year deal.

Same thing with Iggy. You want to ensure you get a contract for as many years as possible.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Doubt anyone that age takes a 1 year deal.

Same thing with Iggy. You want to ensure you get a contract for as many years as possible.

Only if they have no choice

Not sure many teams will sign him to a multiple year deal.

His defense has declined in my view but he still has power and offense.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by Parallex

No.

Want to elaborate?

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by JTech780

Want to elaborate?

Blackmon has had one really good offensive season... hitting in Colorado.

It is very hard to trust hitters from there.

His lifetime Home/Away splits are .900/.727 OPS.