2012-2013 Toronto Blue Jays Off Season Thread

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN

Dickey asked for some of his '14-'15 extension to be pushed up front to '13, to help offset tax difference...


Slight correction: Dickey's signing bonus from the Jays will apply in 2012 -- immediately -- not 2013.

[Machiavelli]

D'Arnaud...

[CaramonLS]

I don't know... I think the Opening Day starter should probably be the guy who won the NL Cy Young. I also don't think anyone wants to face a knuckleballer indoors on the opening day of the season.

My order is probably:

Dickey
Johnson/Morrow
Buerhle
Johnson/Morrow
Romero

This gives strong rotational balance, breaks up the Power pitchers and the L/R set ups. Between Johnson and Morrow, who ever has the stronger spring training gets that spot.

Romero should be 5th without a doubt. I think he needs that this year to get his confidence back and this will help show him that he doesn't need to try too hard or overthink things to get wins.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I was kind of hoping for 3 years, but 2 is ok. Thought it was going to be more than 26 million? Kind of surprised by the 25 number, but that's ok.

I'm fine with it being 2.

It means he is under control for 3 seasons (he was signed for only 5 million this year).

He'll be 41 at the end of the contract, which means that any team who wants him will likely only go year to year - and he really wont be able to demand anything over and above the 12.5 million dollars per season, unless he somehow completely sets the world on fire.

[jschick88]

Jays GM flew in to visit Dickey at his home, smart by AA and is part of the norm with him in the way he does business. #classymove

https://twitter.com/Jim_Duquette

[howard_the_duck]

Now we wait for the other 2 unnamed prospects to trickle in.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I'm fine with it being 2.

It means he is under control for 3 seasons (he was signed for only 5 million this year).

He'll be 41 at the end of the contract, which means that any team who wants him will likely only go year to year - and he really wont be able to demand anything over and above the 12.5 million dollars per season, unless he somehow completely sets the world on fire.

Yeah, I kind of had 3 years stuck in my mind, but I guess with next year added it's fine.

I like when you take this season plus his extension he's making 30 million over the 3 years. 10 million a season for a Cy Young winner........not too shabby.

[Roof-Daddy]

Very exciting. Hopefully this team can gel and make the post season for the first time in 20 years.

Mine as well win the WS on their 20 year anniversary of their 2nd WS title.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Shi Davidi ‏@ShiDavidi

With Dickey in agreement pending physical as per @Ken_Rosenthal, #BlueJays have $125.6m on books for '13, $102.5m for '14, $89.25m for '15

Correction, $119.1m on #BlueJays books for '13 including Oliver, arb projections for Bonifacio, Rasmus, Happ. 0-3 renewals remain atop that

A reason price in prospects for Dickey was so high was the value in his affordability. With way FA market going, a good contract is an asset

[jschick88]

Talent evaluators who have heard Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos say no to possible deals for catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud in the past are stunned -- completely shocked -- that Toronto has said yes to a to a trade for R.A. Dickey.

There's even more to this deal than d'Arnaud: Noah Snydergaard, regarded as the Jays' best pitching prospect by some teams, is the cherry on top of this trade for the Mets.

"I can't believe [Anthopoulos is] thinking about doing this," said one AL official Saturday, before the Jays and Mets finished the structure of the deal.

"He's out of his mind," said another.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/...ickey-deal-mlb

[Fire]

I haven't been this interested in the Blue Jays since the World Series days. I just hope the team can mesh well with all these new players.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

SportsCentre ‏@SportsCentre

R.A. Dickey was 7-0 vs. AL teams between 2010-2012 with a 1.77 ERA. #Mets had .556 win % in his starts, and .453% when he didn't.

[howard_the_duck]

Everyone is talking about World Series - I just want to see some playoff baseball!

Meaningful baseball late into September hasn't really happened in 20 years. An incredible amount of things would have to go wrong for them to at least not be in that position so that is really exciting.

First thing is first, this team needs to make the playoffs. Health permitting, they would certainly have a chance to make a legitimate run if they get in.

[FakenHaken]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I don't know... I think the Opening Day starter should probably be the guy who won the NL Cy Young. I also don't think anyone wants to face a knuckleballer indoors on the opening day of the season.

My order is probably:

Dickey
Johnson/Morrow
Buerhle
Johnson/Morrow
Romero

This gives strong rotational balance, breaks up the Power pitchers and the L/R set ups. Between Johnson and Morrow, who ever has the stronger spring training gets that spot.

Romero should be 5th without a doubt. I think he needs that this year to get his confidence back and this will help show him that he doesn't need to try too hard or overthink things to get wins.

Although you are likely to be proven correct. I kind of thought what about a Johnson/Morrow as number 5. It would set things up real nice for Dickey going into the next start. 95mph Johnson/Morrow fast ball to Dickie knuckleballer back to a Johnson/Morrow slider fast ball. Hitters will look real stupid and have zero rhythm.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Gozer

http://thesouthpawbaseball.blogspot.ca/

Southpaw takes this on, more-or-less says TdA is being undervalued.

He's never played a big league game. As the team's 'top prospect', he can only be over-valued.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Fire

I haven't been this interested in the Blue Jays since the World Series days. I just hope the team can mesh well with all these new players.

Yup they didn't deserve our interest.

I abandoned this team in August last year because it had become a joke, especially with a crap manager that was just stealing money.

Rogers has now spent the money and AA has pulled the strings. Expect near sellouts and HUGE tv ratings.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

I'm just saying, comparatively, I would much rather give up D'arnaud, Syndergaard +++ for a guy like Price than the current package on the table for Dickey. I would be prepared to sell the farm for a younger starter with 5+ years ahead of him as a Jay rather than a guy with a 2-3 year window.

I doubt Tampa would deal Price inside the division - especially to a team that's the obvious favorite to win the division with the addition of guys like Price/Dickey. Either way, you'd probably have to add in at least Osuna and Gose to get Price. Elite level pitchers who are still arbitration eligible rarely get traded and are going to be worth more than guys like Halladay, Lee, Dickey, etc.

[Pacem]

I like the trade. This is the time to gun for it all. The next 2-3 years are the best years to push hard with this division. The AL East is not a kind division to be in, and this is the time.

In 3 years AA has done a great job turning around the Jays farm system. I have total faith that in the next 2-3 years he will be able to restock pile the farm. The Jays farm system still has talent, and will be able to survive the loss of 2 prospects.

Dickey is a quality arm, and at an average of 10m for the next 3 years is a great ad to the rotation.

Originally Posted by fleury

35K per game is insane for a city like Toronto. So much buzz in the city since THE trade a month ago.

Originally Posted by whosurnabby

I think I've read somewhere that when the Skydome opened, during the "glory years", the Jays were leading the league in attendance. It wouldn't surprise me if the fans starts to "re-embrace" the Blue Jays, specially in Toronto. That city is STARVING to root for a CONTENDER (Argos don't count).

I feel old. Yes back in the hay day the Jays would average 50k a night. They set attendance records for 2 or 3 years straight in the early 90's.

Players wanted to sign in Toronto, it was a good time to be a Jays fan. With the way AA is doing business we might see players want to come play in Toronto. When you can draw Free Agents to your team then you don't have to trade these prospects away to get established ball players. This move might be enough to sway Johnson to sign an extension here.

[whosurnabby]

Everyone is talking about World Series - I just want to see some playoff baseball!

Meaningful baseball late into September hasn't really happened in 20 years. An incredible amount of things would have to go wrong for them to at least not be in that position so that is really exciting.

First thing is first, this team needs to make the playoffs. Health permitting, they would certainly have a chance to make a legitimate run if they get in.

THIS x 100%. Let's all remember that this is a franchise that's been stuck being mediocre for the past 20 years. Personally, I'd be ecstatic to see the Blue Jays make the playoffs. If they go past that...then my goodness.

If we make the playoffs, I have this feeling that a certain free agent is going to want to list "Toronto" as his first destination to fulfill his longtime dream in 2014. I would be ecstatic if Roy Halladay (#3 starter tops) comes back to get what he deserves in Blue Jays uniform! Let's go Blue Jays! Flags Fly Forever!!!

[TitovFTW]

Agreed on the playoffs. Fans create a narrative that players either choke or must play at their best possible level every second of the playoffs. Fact is, there's so much luck involved that you can really only build a team to make the playoffs.

AA flying to Nashville is just another reason he is so well respected. The value in Dickey's contract cannot be understated. Jays still could add payroll during the season. Toronto is going to be a buzz about the Jays that we've never seen before