Toronto Blue Jays - Offseason Thread

[jayswin]

Haha, that's kind of predictable.

"The Jays are only willing to go to 4 years, 80 million, but they are seriously in on him if he'll sign at that".

"Okay, now he'll sign for that" ......."The Blue Jays have taken that offer off the table, they were not actually serious in on him".

[868904]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

Apparently, according to Sportsnet, Moreland is looking more and more like a Blue Jays target. Not sure what I think of that.

It's getting a lot of hate from jays fans but if you are stuck with Smoak, Moreland seems like a decent platoon partner for him. Moreland hits lefties very well compared to Smoak who can't hit lefties at all. Moreland also won a gold glove last year and bats left.

I'd be okay with this especially if they can use that saved money (which would have gone to EE) to sign Fowler.

[ben voyonsdonc]

According to Buster Olney, the Jays signed Steve Pearce. 2 years/12.5 mil.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Haha, that's kind of predictable.

"The Jays are only willing to go to 4 years, 80 million, but they are seriously in on him if he'll sign at that".

"Okay, now he'll sign for that" ......."The Blue Jays have taken that offer off the table, they were not actually serious in on him".

You're conveniently forgetting that the Jays signed an exclusive DH in Morales in between. As soon as the Jays signed Morales, there wasn't much chance of Edwin returning. He can call himself a first baseman, but over a 4 year deal there is basically zero chance he stays there the whole time. You'd end up with two aging players who can only DH probably with-in 2 seasons of those contracts which is a disaster.

With Morales around, I'm sure the Jays would still like to re-sign Edwin, but 4 years just isn't feasible anymore. Some team is going to get a real bargain on him though.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

According to Buster Olney, the Jays signed Steve Pearce. 2 years/12.5 mil.

Woof.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Davidi thinks that's it for EE and the Jays.

Guess I shouldn't have held my hopes up, what a major letdown. Ugh.

[greyshep]

Yuck. Not liking the way this offseason is shaping up so far for the Jays. I also dont understand what is going on in the EE camp. Looks like they have overplayed their hand at this point.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

According to Buster Olney, the Jays signed Steve Pearce. 2 years/12.5 mil.

Excellent signing.

Mashes lefties while still being average against righties, some positional versitility, inexpensive. Only real question is whether he can stay healthy.

Nice pick-up.

[Cappy]

Pearce is a great pick up

Why does everyone crap on depth signings but then pout during the season that our bench sucks?

[ClubFlames]

Pearce is a pretty versatile player, plays 1B/2B and also OF. Not sure if that completely closes the door on EE but I don't know what other team can offer him a 100MM contract he's looking for.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Cappy

Pearce is a great pick up

Why does everyone crap on depth signings but then pout during the season that our bench sucks?

The problem isn't that Pearce is picked up for the bench.. At the present time, he appears to be signed for day-to-day action. Is a Pearce/Smoak tandem at 1st base a good full-time solution? Not in my opinion.

Now, obviously the Jays aren't yet done. They simply can't be. I'll hold off on complaining until closer to opening day... but so far, I can't see the vision.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Dream scenario: The Jays get rid of Smoak, sign EE, and him and Pearce share first base duties throughout the season. Soon reality will creep in for me but let me have this dream because not re-signing EE is a major let down.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by calculoso

The problem isn't that Pearce is picked up for the bench.. At the present time, he appears to be signed for day-to-day action. Is a Pearce/Smoak tandem at 1st base a good full-time solution? Not in my opinion.

Now, obviously the Jays aren't yet done. They simply can't be. I'll hold off on complaining until closer to opening day... but so far, I can't see the vision.

But we are putting the cart before the horse right now. Off season is still young. I'll await judgment if that's the case.

The guy can play 2nd as well. He's a better option to fill in for Travis than Barney or goins

[ClubFlames]

Ken Rosenthal reporting that word is circulating around the winter meetings EE's agent might have overplayed his hand after rejecting Jays offer of 4year/80million since teams who have rumored to be interested in him have moved on. Also, Cleveland has checked in with EE's camp as well.

Could be a good thing if the Jays pulled their initial offer by getting a read on the market for EE and maybe sign him back for cheaper (wishful thinking)

[howard_the_duck]

I will miss EE like hell but I don't see a reasonable scenario where you have him and Morales on the same roster. Getting Pearce is an astute move by the Jays IMO.

I think the Jays game plan is pretty clear. Get veterans on short term contracts who can help us win in the immediate future, but avoid LT deals to prevent our top prospects from being blocked (Vlad Jr., Tellez, Urena). This should allow us to maintain the competitive window and allow for budget flexibility when the prospects push for roster spots.

[Senator Clay Davis]

More than likely Edwin now signs the Cespedes deal of last winter where it's 2 or 3 years for a big cap hit, but with the ability to opt out immediately. Rosenthal's thinking is also that the draft pick compensation is the hold up, and teams would rather give Edwin a 4 year deal next year without the draft compensation. So maybe he comes back on the short opt out deal, but I'd also think that brings in Houston again and probably Boston and a few others who'll take a short run at it with Edwin as a stop gap.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by calculoso

The problem isn't that Pearce is picked up for the bench.. At the present time, he appears to be signed for day-to-day action.

... So.

Let me break down Steve Pearce for you

2016:
Vs. LFH: 176 wRC+
Vs. RHB: 118 wRC+

Career:
Vs. LFH: 130 wRC+
Vs. RHB: 100 wRC+

In other words if he hits like he has in his career he's an average hitter against righties and significantly above average against lefties. If he hit's like he did last year he's a star player. Steve Pearce probably will be a day-to-day player because he should be a day-to-day player. The only reason he hasn't been is because he's had trouble staying healthy.

A guy that adequately defends 4 positions and is an above average hitter should not be a bench player.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Parallex

... So.

Let me break down Steve Pearce for you

2016:
Vs. LFH: 176 wRC+
Vs. RHB: 118 wRC+

Career:
Vs. LFH: 130 wRC+
Vs. RHB: 100 wRC+

In other words if he hits like he has in his career he's an average hitter against righties and significantly above average against lefties. If he hit's like he did last year he's a star player. Steve Pearce probably will be a day-to-day player because he should be a day-to-day player. The only reason he hasn't been is because he's had trouble staying healthy.

A guy that adequately defends 4 positions and is an above average hitter should not be a bench player.

Great

And yet he's never been a full-time ball player. What makes you think that he can all of a sudden absorb the greater playing time AND keep the numbers up?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...earcst01.shtml
2012 - 61 GP
2013 - 44 GP
2014 - 102 GP
2015 - 92 GP
2016 - 85 GP - Age 33

Compared to Smoak:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...moakju01.shtml
2012 - 132 GP
2013 - 131 GP
2014 - 80 GP
2015 - 132 GP
2016 - 126 GP - Age 29

It seems obvious that he'll be a platoon / bench player, not full time. Sure, I might be surprised and he may be about to break out, but his history sure doesn't show that.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Great

And yet he's never been a full-time ball player. What makes you think that he can all of a sudden absorb the greater playing time AND keep the numbers up?

Because the playing time issue is health rather then performance related. I won't bet on him staying healthy... but I would bet on him performing well when he is.

If Pearce stays healthy then this is a steal of a deal and if he doesn't then it's probably fair value for what he'll provide.

[ClubFlames]

MLB Network Radio Verified account
‏@MLBNetworkRadio
MLB source close to the negotiation tells our Steve Phillips the #BlueJays are OUT on Edwin Encarnacion.


Jon Morosi Verified account
‏@jonmorosi
Edwin Encarnacion spoke today with his agent, Paul Kinzer, following Jays' signing of Pearce. "He's disappointed," Kinzer said. @MLB