2010 Blue Jays Season Thread

[zukes]

Since there are 3 (at least) off-season MLB threads on the go, I am just going to post this here, since it is Jays specific.

If you were Alex Anthopolous, what would you do this winter?

Here is what I would do:

- Sign Victor Martinez. He catches some, plays 1B some. Arencibia starts half the time, Martinez gets some (only because he will stipulate that he still wants to catch). Molina is kept around for defensive replacment/mentorship. Martinez splits time at 1B with Lind.

- Move Aaron Hill to 3B and trade prospects for Dan Uggla, sign Uggla 4 years $55 million.

- Try to sign Rafael Sorriano to close. If not him, try Putz, Fuentes or even Joaquin Benoit who was amazing in set-up last season.

- Shore up the 'pen with two of Putz, Benoit or Fuentes (if they do not get closer jobs elsewhere) Crain or Wheeler.

- Say no to Manny, unless it's a one year deal, $5 million or less plus incentives

- Trade for Grienke

failing that

- Depending on Drabek, sign Jon Garland at slightly above market rate (higher because, well it's Toronto)

This gives you a line-up that looks like this:

Escobar SS
Hill 3B
V. Martinez 1B
Bautista RF
Uggla 2B
Lind DH
Wells CF
Snider LF
Arencibia C

Bench is weak-ish with MacDonald, Molina, Wise, Lewis

Starting Rotation

Marcum
Romero
Garland/Grienke (#1 starter if Grienke)
Morrow
Cecil

(spares Drabek, Rzep...ski, Mills, Litsch, S. Hill)

Bullpen

Camp
Purcey
Crain
Putz
Janssen
Tallet

(spares Carlson, Accardo, Buchholz, R. Lewis, Ray, JJ Reyes, Roenicke)

Closer

Sorriano

[Flickered Flame]

^^You have some interesting thoughts on signings, etc. but I don't think Martinez would sign with the Jays, I really think he is ending up in Detroit. Uggla is interesting because I believe that he just turned down a fairly big offer from the Marlins. There are several teams asking the Marlins about him though.

Do you like the idea of picking up Bobby Jenks from the White Sox as the Jays new closer? My guess is he is traded this off season.

[flambers]

Here is the steps I would guess AA will make

(1) Trade for a 1st Baseman...... I would bet Overbay will leave via Free Agency.

(2) Trade for "RP" help, I would guess, Frasor, Downs will leave via Free Agency. Jays will also need a closer.

(3) Jays have the following "Non Tender" Options... I hope they exercise the option on "Accardo" and "Encarnacion". E5 simply makes to many errors to play 3rd Base.

(4) Catcher position, Make a decision on JP... is he ready or do they try to ressign John Buck

(5) 3rd Base... do they switch Hill or look for a new 3rd Baseman.

(6) As for Starting Pitching... I would guess they will do nothing. Kyle Drabeck will make the team... Morrow, Cecil, Marcum, Romero, Drabeck

[zukes]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

^^You have some interesting thoughts on signings, etc. but I don't think Martinez would sign with the Jays, I really think he is ending up in Detroit. Uggla is interesting because I believe that he just turned down a fairly big offer from the Marlins. There are several teams asking the Marlins about him though.

Do you like the idea of picking up Bobby Jenks from the White Sox as the Jays new closer? My guess is he is traded this off season.

No, Jenks to me is a scary closer, much like Gregg. His save totals have declined every year since '06, with his ERA steadily climbing. Fat pitchers, with the notable exception of David Wells (I am sure there are a few others) do not tend to age well. Jenks will be 30 this season.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by zukes

- Depending on Drabek, sign Jon Garland at slightly above market rate (higher because, well it's Toronto)

I like a lot of your ideas here, but I just don't see the value in Garland. He might eat some innings, but he seems to be getting worse, and is a shadow of the guy who threw in Chi-town. That said, he is a proven arm.

I doubt that there will me a substantial free-agent signing group for the jays, though some of the guys out there would look solid in Jays colours.

[CaramonLS]

I'd consider moving Bautista back to 3B. Already has experience and plays it pretty decent.

Look for a big bat in RF (those are easier to find, as defensive ability is quite overvalued in the corner OF IMHO).

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Look for a big bat in RF (those are easier to find, as defensive ability is quite overvalued in the corner OF IMHO).

except in the case of vlady nowadays.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I'd consider moving Bautista back to 3B. Already has experience and plays it pretty decent.

Look for a big bat in RF (those are easier to find, as defensive ability is quite overvalued in the corner OF IMHO).

I personally believe Bautista is a far better outfielder than 3rd baseman. I would leave Bautista at right field for sure.

I believe the Jays will need to explore the possibility of moving Hill to 3rd and find a new 2nd.

[zukes]

Yup, not much outside of Beltre out the at 3B. Bautista and his arm are a ++ in RF, gotta leave him there. Hill to 3B and there a plenty of 2B options. Even O-Dawg is getting alook. Also heard the Jays in their Grienke talks have inquired about Alex Gordon for 3B.

[dustyanddaflames]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

I like a lot of your ideas here, but I just don't see the value in Garland. He might eat some innings, but he seems to be getting worse, and is a shadow of the guy who threw in Chi-town. That said, he is a proven arm.

I doubt that there will me a substantial free-agent signing group for the jays, though some of the guys out there would look solid in Jays colours.

Jon Garland was a huge benefactor of playing inside PETCO Park, guys ERA was 1 point higher on the road than at home (4.00 ERA on the road this past year). An inning eater, sure, but really no better than what the Jays could throw on the mound as of now.

I think the Jays are better off to leave the rotation as is, let them take their lumps (I mean they aren't the Oilers, they are going to win some games). When the time is right, pull the trigger on a proverbial ace.

[secol]

i also don't see martinez signing here.....agree that hill should move to third, bautitsta staying in RF and get a 2B (not o-dog) who can bat 1 or 2 and get on base with some decent/+ speed. however the options for FA 2B is so thin that i could see them moving bautista back to third, hill stays at second and they sign a corner outfielder

[Gozer]

Do:
Make a move for Grienke, offer Arencibia (C), Zep and Litsch (SP) - not top prospects like Drabek though.

Absolutly do not:
Sign a top-teir free agent, especially not a lousy defensive catcher that will need to be hidden at DH, nor a top closer that will never be a bargain.

[Gozer]

I'd be ok with E5 being kept around at 3rd/DH for a season, if they plan on making a bigger move later.

He's a prototypical Jay, smashes homers and has an Achilles' heel.

[OILFAN #81]

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=340839

Encarnacion claimed by the A's. Tallet now a UFA.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=340839

Encarnacion claimed by the A's. Tallet now a UFA.

Great news that E5 is gone, that fellow is an error machine.

[Gozer]

Bau wins Silver Slugger.

http://www.bluejayhunter.com/2010/11...-bautista.html

[Gozer]

Southpaw floats Tsuyoshi Nishioka:

[quote]

Nishioka won the Pacific League batting title this year with a .346 average. He scored 121 runs, stole 22 bases and had 206 hits, the most by a player in that league since Ichiro Suzuki in 1994. Nishioka, a switch-hitter, batted leadoff for the Marines and his team recently won the Japan Series.

"He is a good player, he is a talented kid," said ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine, who managed Nishioka in Japan. "If he had been a college kid four or five years ago, he would have been a first-round pick. He runs faster than a lot of people. He can get a hit. He can steal a base. He can bunt. He is still developing physically and mentally. And this year, he stayed healthy all year. He has style issues, positive and negative: he likes to be noticed. How he develops will depend on what team signs him."

[Flickered Flame]

Interesting move by the A's claiming E5. Not sure what to think of it. Last week when I chatted with my buddy who works within the A's organization, I was lead to believe Beane had a much bigger vision at 3rd base for the A's. Maybe they realized they don't have the resources to go after Beltre.

[secol]

Originally Posted by Gozer

Do:
Make a move for Grienke, offer Arencibia (C), Zep and Litsch (SP) - not top prospects like Drabek though.

Absolutly do not:
Sign a top-teir free agent, especially not a lousy defensive catcher that will need to be hidden at DH, nor a top closer that will never be a bargain.

i doubt that kind of package would get it done especially considering grienke is still locked up for more than 1 season

[Antithesis]

Originally Posted by secol

i doubt that kind of package would get it done especially considering grienke is still locked up for more than 1 season

At a very reasonable salary, if I remember correctly. The Royals are going to want a package full of top-notch prospects in any trade involving Grienke. I'd rather the Jays keep guys like Drabek and Arencibia on their roster.