Toronto Blue Jays - Offseason Thread

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Parallex

They only need one now. Pearce (2016: 118 wRC+ vs RHB) and Upton (2016: 132 wRC+ vs LHB) can platoon in left and have Zeke or Pompey as the spare. They for sure need a full-time guy for RF thou. That should be priority #1 (Fowler please), then they just need a full inning LHP for the pen and a back-up catcher and they're good to go.

I read online the Jays are still looking for two outfielders, backup catcher and bullpen help,

Pearce will play primarily at 1st Base and platoon with Smoak (Left vs Righties)

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by flambers

Pearce will play primarily at 1st Base and platoon with Smoak (Left vs Righties)

Right...

LF: Pearce vs Righties, Upton vs. Lefties
1B: Pearce vs Lefties, Smoak vs. Righties

Pearce isn't a bad hitter vs RH... he's an average bat against them (Upton is good against lefties but bad against righties, and Smoak... isn't good against anyone... but is passable against righties). It's need vs. like. I'm sure they'd like an above average bat on the strong side of a platoon in the outfield but they no longer need an outfielder for that spot. It's now a luxury item for them.

[Jason14h]

Jays need 2-3 arms still for the bullpen.

We lost Cecil and Benoit, and our bullpen was not a strength last year.

This is also a team that had very few injuries to pitchers last year. They can not plan on that again.

[Jason14h]

LF: Pearce vs Righties, Upton vs. Lefties
1B: Pearce vs Lefties, Smoak vs. Rightie

So much yuck! Contending teams don't roll this out at LF and 1B! These are all bench platoon players at best.

God forbid we have any injuries as well.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Jays need 2-3 arms still for the bullpen.

I think we need one arm for the pen from outside the organization. We have Osuna, Grilli, and Biagini for higher leverage work from the right side and that's perfectly fine... low leverage arms can come from within (Danny Barnes/Ryan Tepera and the like). Loup fall in the later catagory for southpaws (low leverage/loogy work) but we still need another southpaw for higher leverage.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

These are all bench platoon players at best.

The only one of those guys who warrents a 'yuck' is Smoak. Everyone else is very good in their role. Upton hit lefties as good as EE hit righties and Pearce hit lefties better then EE hit righties. That's nothing to sneeze at.

I have no idea why they extended Smoak. Waste of a roster spot IMO. Frankly, I hope he's just holding a roster spot until after the super-two cutoff and Tellez keeps smacking the ball in the minors until then.

[Cappy]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...arket-picking/

Some interesting notes here, especially relievers.

Jays interest in Ziegler (won't come cheap)

I like the idea of Brandon Morrow coming back as a power arm out of the bullpen!

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Cappy

Jays interest in Ziegler (won't come cheap)

I like the idea of Brandon Morrow coming back as a power arm out of the bullpen!

I always liked Morrow... wouldn't mind seeing him back if the price was right. As for Ziegler... not super fond of sidearm pitchers except for the one out guys (and I don't think you should pay much for one out guys).

[Cappy]

Sale to the Red Sox...

Thankfully, we just picked up a lefty-masher

[jschick88]

Sale to Boston. Damn that starting rotation.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Cappy

Sale to the Red Sox...

...

At least he didn't come cheap.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Well fighting for a wild card spot again figures to be the best case Ontario for this upcoming season. Probably makes the Red Sox the AL favorite.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Well fighting for a wild card spot again figures to be the best case Ontario for this upcoming season. Probably makes the Red Sox the AL favorite.

They were the AL favorites beforehand anyways IMO. Combining a ton of money with a top 5 farm system will get you that. Damn.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Indians did sort of bitch slap them without two of their top starters. But those would obviously be the top two teams. Now go watch the Yankees respond with signing EE and trading for Harper.

Edit: Apparently the Cardinals are going to make an offer to Fowler today.

[cross16]

Red Sox were the better team anyway so i'm not sure this changes a ton for the Jays.

Really hope Cherington can influence the drafting and development system with Jays like he did for Red Sox. It's insane how good their prospect pool was and it's still one of the better ones even after this trade. so much depth and just allows them to do things other franchises can't.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Indians did sort of bitch slap them without two of their top starters.

But those would obviously be the top two teams. Now go watch the Yankees respond with signing EE and trading for Harper.

Edit: Apparently the Cardinals are going to make an offer to Fowler today.

Oh wow..

Jay's pitchers only allowed 12 runs in 5 games.

While the Red Sox allowed 15 runs in 3 games.

Jay's need to get a more balanced lineup, that does not strike out at such a high rate.

Their pitching is in good shape.

[Jason14h]

The only one of those guys who warrents a 'yuck' is Smoak. Everyone else is very good in their role. Upton hit lefties as good as EE hit righties and Pearce hit lefties better then EE hit righties. That's nothing to sneeze at

BJ Upton doesn't warrant a yuck?

Here are his WAR for the past 4 seasons
2013: (-1.6)
2014: (-0.5)
2015: 1.6
2016 SD: 1.8
2016 TOR: (-0.4)

In 4 years his combined WAR is 0.9 He should not be in the majors as more then a pinch runner, 4th OF at best.

Pearce is fine, if he only takes 250 AB's and gets sheltered AB's, However, right now we are counting on him to basically platoon every day for Upton and Smoak. IE: Be a full time player. At 34. Coming off injury riddled seasons.

Pearce has 2 career seasons with a WAR over 2.0. His career WAR in 10 seasons is 8.5. This includes 5.9 in 2014, when he was very good defensively before all his injuries.

If you don't think these 3 combined are a massive YUCK then I think you are going to be very sad watching us hit this season.

EDIT:

For argument sake let's even include Morales. Who in his past 4 seasons has WARs of (-0.7) (-0.3) (2.4) (0.9).

Having one of these 4 guys (Smoak included) is fine. Having 2 is acceptable if they are platoon/bench/injury replacements. Having 4 potentially playing major roles, at their ages? Recipe for disaster.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

So much yuck! Contending teams don't roll this out at LF and 1B! These are all bench platoon players at best.

God forbid we have any injuries as well.

The LF of your AL Championship Cleveland Indians: Brandon Guyer/Coco Crisp

The Jays, as of December 6th and basically all of the offseason left, could cobble enough internal options that would be comparable with that. There is tons of time to get things sorted.

[Jason14h]

The LF of your AL Championship Cleveland Indians: Brandon Guyer/Coco Crisp

Those 2 combined for a 1.7 WAR last year. Better then anyone we added this offseason.

And Cleveland wasn't built on offense per se. If we take the extra money and create the leagues top 5 bullpen then I will understand the moved.

Sure the team can make more moves. But right now the moves aren't anything that makes the team any better, or even close to on par to last seasons team.

[ClubFlames]

Mitch Moreland signs with the Red Sox. Pending a physical.

What a day for them.