2011/12 Toronto Blue Jays Off-Season

[Heavy Jack]

Jays are going with Johnson as their 2B - he has accepted the team's arbitration offer of a non-guaranteed one-year deal.

http://tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=382221

Johnson hit 21 home runs and drove in 58 runs in 2011. His batting average on the year dipped over 60 points from his .284 mark from 2010, however he hit a respectable .270 while with Toronto.


The Blue Jays would have received a pair of draft picks had Johnson signed with another team due to his classification as a modified Type-A free agent.

[Parallex]

Good. Johnson was probably the best 2nd Baseman potentially available this offseason. I hope the team get's an extra year or two (preferably as options) on him before the hearing.

With the number of playoff teams expanding I think the Jays are just one piece (T.O.R. Pitcher) away from having a real legit shot at the post-season.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Parallex

With the number of playoff teams expanding I think the Jays are just one piece (T.O.R. Pitcher) away from having a real legit shot at the post-season.

Jays have improved for sure....

In my view; the 1 piece is another top end starter who can pitch big innings.

On the Wish List

More quality Relief Pitchers.

Ideally a better DH would help. E5 is okay but not an ideal DH.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by flambers

More quality Relief Pitchers.

I don't know I think the Bullpen is looking okey.

Litsch (replaces Camp)
Villaneuva
Carreno (replaces Janssen - see below)
Janssen (replaces Rauch)
Santos (replaces Francisco)

That fully takes care of Righties right out of the gate. Get a #2 Pitcher (say... Darvish) and allow him to push Cecil to the pen and then use Luis Perez as your other lefty and you end up with...

Perez LHP
Cecil LHP
Litsch RHP
Villaneuva RHP
Carreno RHP
Janssen RHP
Santos RHP

and a starting rotation of...

Romero
Darvish
Morrow
McGowen
Alvarez

That's a true quality pitching staff on opening day. Combine that with the bats already on hand and I see potentially one of the 5 best teams in the American League.

Add a big right-handed bat and I think you have a contender for the AL BEast crown. But a high quality starter should be priority #1.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Boy that sounds like a LOT to give up for Gio Gonzalez

Depends on the definition of what high end prospects means.

If it was something like Thames, McGuire, Cooper and say Sierra or some other guy equivalent guy, I don't really see that as much of an issue.

If they are asking for say Snider + Hutchison + Thames + McGuire or something along those lines, you pretty much hang up the phone.

[Otsy]

Overpriced / hyped Japanese pitchers are no lock to step in and dominate. I don't mind letting other teams take the chance on them rather then sit with expensive #5 starters like Dice K for Boston who had one good year on a 60 million dollar deal.

[Parallex]

Yeah it's a tough call on getting Japanese NPB guys, I mean you don't want to end up with another Dice K... on the other-hand you'd hate to miss out on another Ichiro Suzuki. You just gotta trust in your scouts.

I expect the Jays to be in on Darvish... I don't know if they'll win the bid but I expect them to place one. I mean Toronto to Japan is a 19hour flight that's 38hours round trip just in transit, I doubt that AA would make that trip without hearing glowing reports from scouts beforehand.

[CaramonLS]

Darvish has put up much better numbers than Matsuzaka has in his career - and it is a little harsh to label him a #5, probably a number 3/4 guy with some injury issues.

I think Darvish's best season is a great deal lower (ERA) than Matsuzakas and is more consistent. I know Matsuzaka was more of a stuff guy as well, which had the scouts drooling over him.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Darvish has put up much better numbers than Matsuzaka has in his career - and it is a little harsh to label him a #5, probably a number 3/4 guy with some injury issues.

That sounds about right to me (3/4) the Sox paid way more then you want to for that though. Really though I recall reports that Dice K's arm wasn't protected at all by his NPB club, IIRC he had way more mileage on his arm when he came over then Darvish will.

[CaramonLS]

One thing to consider is that getting a Japanese Player automatically expands your market reach. It is something to consider if the Jays want to appeal to more people across Canada / the World.

Especially one with the hype / talent of Darvish.

[Lil Pedro]

Does anyone here think that Cecil can reform his old self from two years ago and be a SP for the Jays next year? Or do we think he is destined for relief appearances?

[dustyanddaflames]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

One thing to consider is that getting a Japanese Player automatically expands your market reach. It is something to consider if the Jays want to appeal to more people across Canada / the World.

Especially one with the hype / talent of Darvish.

Good point, and something I just saw on mlbtr.com was the attraction to the Latin community that Pujols would have brought to Florida as opposed to Fielder.

Also - says Pujols turned down 21 million extra dollars to go to Anaheim instead of Florida. Also noted with Florida's lack of a state income tax and incentives - the Marlins offer would have amounted to 300 million. That's some nice milk kitty.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Lil Pedro

Does anyone here think that Cecil can reform his old self from two years ago and be a SP for the Jays next year? Or do we think he is destined for relief appearances?

I actually have him as a dark horse for the #3 spot in the rotation. the problem he has last season was a lack of offseason training due to the birth of his daughter. Having him get his fastball back to 92 instead of 89 is huge, and if he can do that, I don't see any problem with him being a starter. Definitely consider him a better option than McGowan at this point.

[cross16]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I actually have him as a dark horse for the #3 spot in the rotation. the problem he has last season was a lack of offseason training due to the birth of his daughter. Having him get his fastball back to 92 instead of 89 is huge, and if he can do that, I don't see any problem with him being a starter. Definitely consider him a better option than McGowan at this point.

Farrell and AA have both commented on the fact he's already lost about 15 to 20 pounds and they are singling him out already for his training program.
I agree, it's far too early to suggest Cecil is done. Even for stretchs last year he was good but your right without the consistantly on the fastball he'll be in tough. I think he'll bounce back and at worst be a solid 4/5 guy for them.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

Also - says Pujols turned down 21 million extra dollars to go to Anaheim instead of Florida. Also noted with Florida's lack of a state income tax and incentives - the Marlins offer would have amounted to 300 million. That's some nice milk kitty.

Risk with the Marlins ........are they going to build a contender for 1 year only to sell it off again?

I bet that was an issue discussed between Pujols and the Marlins.

[dustyanddaflames]

I agree that there is a risk based around the Marlins' history, but realistically - how many teams would be prepared to take that kind of salary on via a trade and give up the prospects/picks to acquire such players as Reyes/Bell/Buehrle (the last two to a less extent). Even if you trade the two arms you just signed, you still have Reyes, Pujols, Ramirez, Morrison, Stanton... that is still a really good hitting club regardless of their staff.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

I agree that there is a risk based around the Marlins' history, but realistically - how many teams would be prepared to take that kind of salary on via a trade and give up the prospects/picks to acquire such players as Reyes/Bell/Buehrle (the last two to a less extent). Even if you trade the two arms you just signed, you still have Reyes, Pujols, Ramirez, Morrison, Stanton... that is still a really good hitting club regardless of their staff.

Risk is not trading the star player... but trading the supporting cast around the player.....

Reyes or Buehrle or Ramirez etc.....

[zukes]

Was just listening to MLB Network radio and they had kind Casey Stern, Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette on together. Duquette has Darvish as a #2 or #3 starter, with upside potential, Bowden has him pegged at a #2, with potential to be more.

These guys both say that he is an athlete first. Guys like Nomo and Dice-K came with tricks and gimmicks. This guy is a pitcher and an athlete. They say for sure his control and command are there. Control being balls and strikes, command meaning he can hit corners on strikes not as a nibbler like Dice-K.

They figure the best way to get him is to win the bid obviously, but sign him to a higher salary, shorter deal and sell the fact that if he performs he'll be on the FA market with a big chance to cash in.

Might be a tough sell, but don't the Jays seem like the kind of team that could offer that, along with inticing big money team-option years?

[dustyanddaflames]

Originally Posted by flambers

Risk is not trading the star player... but trading the supporting cast around the player.....

Reyes or Buehrle or Ramirez etc.....

Agreed, my point was is that I don't believe Miami will fire sale right after a successful season simply due to the contracts they handed out this off-season. How many teams can afford Reyes, let alone the prospects/picks that it will require to get a deal done? Same goes for Buehrle, but more so due to his salary. The team may just be together for a long time based on player/salary relationship - that was my point. I think Lauria is serious about being competitive for more than the first three years - especially entering a new phase in their franchise with it's re-branding and stadium.

[dustyanddaflames]

Red Sox sign Jesse Carlson.