2011 Toronto Blue Jays Offseason Thread

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by secol

consider though that if hinske could play catcher he'd probably have an everyday job somewhere so imo napoli isn't too bad....26 HR's last year was tops for catchers in the MLB

Ya he would have been alright if his average bounces back and he doesn't get 6 mil in arbitration, just personally don't enjoy watching the unathletic high strike out type players. He definately hits lots of solo shots but also was also pretty high up the AL strikeout list last year too.

[secol]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Ya he would have been alright if his average bounces back and he doesn't get 6 mil in arbitration, just personally don't enjoy watching the unathletic high strike out type players. He definately hits lots of solo shots but also was also pretty high up the AL strikeout list last year too.

true but in terms of SO/AB he was better than overbay

[flames_1987]

Originally Posted by JayP

This trade makes no sense considering our stable of RH relievers already.

He fills in for the loss of Downs, lefties only hit .205 against him

[flames_1987]

Originally Posted by flamesaresmokin

What the hell is anthopolous doing here? You've gotta think this was an ownership move and not a gm move. This leaves some pretty big question marks at first/catcher as well as offensively if arrencibia/snider don't have solid years.

I doubt Toronto ownership had anything to do with this, especially when you hear A.A talk about how long they've wanted Francisco.

You may have some question marks offensively, but you give Arrencibia and Snider a chance to grow as young players. This is not a team set on contending for a playoff spot this season.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by flamesaresmokin

What the hell is anthopolous doing here? You've gotta think this was an ownership move and not a gm move. This leaves some pretty big question marks at first/catcher as well as offensively if arrencibia/snider don't have solid years.

Personally I like the move, anytime they can add another solid arm to the pitching staff (especially the Relief Pitchers). That's a good thing.

As for a question mark at 1st, I doubt its a problem. I am sure Lind will be fine as the every day 1st baseman.

As for the Catching duties, I like the combo of JP and Molina. Hopefully JP can develop into a solid Catcher....

As for Napoli I bet he puts up decent numbers this year but it was hard to figure out how he fit into the Jays lineup....

I bet the next move for AA is find another Bench player.

[dustyanddaflames]

Originally Posted by flamesaresmokin

What the hell is anthopolous doing here? You've gotta think this was an ownership move and not a gm move. This leaves some pretty big question marks at first/catcher as well as offensively if arrencibia/snider don't have solid years.

I don't think that the Roger's Corp. would have decided to make a move like this simply based on the difference of Napoli/Francisco salary difference (if that was what you were referring to). I think that was moreso a move to bolster their bullpen, and getting something for their best trading piece at a position of strength.

Arencibia is the catcher of the future, and he is going to have to get his innings in some time, why not now when you aren't planning on being a "legitimate" contender for the next year or two? Molina is a nice cheap option that seems like a really good guy to groom a young catcher. Napoli was the odd man out, 3 catchers and 2 everyday 1B/DH with Lind/Encarnacion. The deal makes a lot of sense to me for the Blue Jays actually, and I continue to like what A.A. has done.
The rebuild process is never easy, but if done correct is well worth its wait.

[Caged Great]

Also, it's easier to gain a draft pick or from a reliever than from a position player who doesn't have a set position like Napoli.

[bluejays]

I'm not a huge fan of this deal, though I trust AA, simply because AA admitted he made the deal to not keep Napoli in limbo of what was next. He made the deal as quick as possible and that was a tad unfortunate because Napoli has quite a bit of pop in his bat and I'd have thought you would be able to get a little more, but AA's reasoning was sound and reasonable. You can always use the extra picks in baseball, and I don't mind that as well in order to continuously year after year, stock the farm. Any idea when the draft is this year?

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Also, it's easier to gain a draft pick or from a reliever than from a position player who doesn't have a set position like Napoli.

This.
Napoli is a lousy fit long term and would have finished the season in the 1B/DH class of free agents and had no shot at type A status.

Another shrewd move by AA.

[moon]

Originally Posted by fleury

Any idea when the draft is this year?

The draft is in June.

[Gozer]

AA might still be making trades, but Lawrie looks like he's going to get a shot in spring training.

[zukes]

I like this move, having Napoli here would have been nice for the added dingers, but it would have been too easy to give up on Lind or Arencibia, Cito-style if they had a veteran like that. Lind should be fine, and there will be growing pains with Arencibia, but he needs to be able tpo play through them and not be looking over his shoulder every time he slumps.

Need to find out what they have in him.

This also gives the team 4 guys who have closing experience, plus as pointed out Francisco does well against lefties, something Dotel struggles mightily with.

[Jason14h]

MLB top 50 Spects. Jays place 3 guys!

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_mlb&c_id=mlb

[JayP]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Also, it's easier to gain a draft pick or from a reliever than from a position player who doesn't have a set position like Napoli.

Yeah, that is true.

Here's a good analysis of the trade that breaks it down from all angles:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index...for-francisco/

[Cheese]

Blue Jays State of Franchise Meeting:

AA met with fans yesterday.

Earlier, he said the team was committed to a first base-DH combo of Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion, whom he suggested could hit 30 home runs this year.
Anthopoulos added that the savings from the Wells deal -- even after the Blue Jays apparently included US$5 million in the trade to the Angels -- can potentially be used this year on international free agents and in the draft, further strenthening a farm system he described as the "lifeblood" of the franchise.

[dustyanddaflames]

MLB radio is reporting that Anthopolous is potentially in on the Chone Figgins deal to Oakland, and are speculating Kouzmanoff heading to Toronto. Makes a lot of sense, in that it'll free up Bautista to go back to RF.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

MLB radio is reporting that Anthopolous is potentially in on the Chone Figgins deal to Oakland, and are speculating Kouzmanoff heading to Toronto. Makes a lot of sense, in that it'll free up Bautista to go back to RF.

.283 OBP... yuck.

By comparison Bautista had a .378 and Rivera a .312. I don't know enough about Kouzmanoff to rate his fielding but unless it's fantastic I think I'd rather the jays pass.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by Parallex

.283 OBP... yuck.

By comparison Bautista had a .378 and Rivera a .312. I don't know enough about Kouzmanoff to rate his fielding but unless it's fantastic I think I'd rather the jays pass.

The stats at Fangraphs.com rate him very highly defensively. Using UZR/150, he was 2nd for all 3rd basemen last season and was 5th for a 2008-2010 split.

[Jiggy_12]

AA just doesn't stop. Interesting to see how this one pans out, all just rumours and speculation at this point...everyone saying it's Kouzmanoff but no official word on who goes the other way. Lots of people speculating it would be Frasor...all this from the thread on the jays board.

[Caged Great]

Kouzmanoff is an exceptional 3B defensively and is similar to Napoli, but in a position that we don't really have anyone to play at, especially with Lind/EE at 1B.

Basically, we upgraded our pen by getting Francisco, while keeping the calibre of player that Napoli is, but at a position that we actually need.