2011/12 Toronto Blue Jays Off-Season

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Johnson Molina, Rauch and Francisco were offered arbitration Camp was not.

I'm still trying to figure out why they offered it to Rauch. Guy was terrible last year.

[Chump]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

I'm still trying to figure out why they offered it to Rauch. Guy was terrible last year.

I was thinking the same thing. I'd rather keep Camp.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

I'm still trying to figure out why they offered it to Rauch. Guy was terrible last year.

AA must believe/hope Rauch will decline.

[CofR]

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired second baseman Luis Valbuena from the Cleveland Indians on Saturday in exchange for cash considerations.
The 25-year-old Valbuena appeared in 17 games for Cleveland last season, batting .209 with one home run and one RBI.
In 133 games for triple-A Columbus, the five-foot-10, 195 pound infielder, posted a .302 average with 17 home runs and 75 RBI.

http://tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=381358

[dustyanddaflames]

I like it..... for Las Vegas.

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

trying to scare Johnson a lil bit?

[flambers]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

I like it..... for Las Vegas.

Guessing he maybe John Macdonald's replacement....

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by flambers

Guessing he maybe John Macdonald's replacement....

He's a whiz defensively like Johnny Mac, but I think his bat has quite a bit more pop.

Considering what they gave up I like this move. Maybe he can serve as a stop-gap until they pick up a better option mid-season.

In an ideal scenario he's coming off the bench but options never hurt anybody.

[dustyanddaflames]

Royals have signed Jonathan Broxton. Rangers get Joe Nathan. Philadelphia gets Jonathan Papelbon. The Blue Jays are running short on options via free agency if that was the route they were exploring. Who is even left? Ryan Madson, Heath Bell, Francisco Cordero, Matt Capps, Joakim Soria (highly doubtful, but with Broxton there, you never know with KC), Matt Thornton (MLBTraderumors.com reference), or day I say it - Octavio Dotel? I don't know anymore - maybe we will see a trade to land a closer.

Also this.... from MLBtraderumors.com

The Blue Jays are looking for a closer this offseason and Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun says the team has checked in on free agents Francisco Cordero and Matt Capps. Heath Bell is another option for the Blue Jays, who had interest in Jonathan Papelbon before he signed with the Phillies. Here are more notes on the Blue Jays, who have yet to make a major move so far this offseason...

• The Blue Jays would listen to offers on 24-year-old first baseman David Cooper, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. Cooper, the Blue Jays' first round draft pick in 2008, debuted with the team in 2011 and posted a .678 OPS in 81 plate appearances. He won the Pacific Coast League batting title with a .364/.439/.535 line this past season, adding nine home runs and 51 doubles.
• Blue Jays president Paul Beeston isn't a fan of the posting system and Elliott suggests Toronto's interest in Yu Darvish is "lukewarm."
• The Yankees are interested in Kyle Drabek, according to Elliott. Drabek started the season in the Blue Jays' rotation before being demoted to the minor leagues. He had a standout season in 2010, but struggled with command in the Majors (6.3 BB/9) and in the minors (4.9 BB/9) in 2011.
• The Royals have some interest in Colby Rasmus because of concerns that Lorenzo Cain may not be ready for an everyday role, Elliott reports.
• The Phillies have discussed ways of re-obtaining Travis d'Arnaud, the Double-A catcher who arrived with Drabek in the 2009 Roy Halladay trade. As Elliott points out, the Blue Jays would need a ton to part with this year's Eastern League MVP.

[Parallex]

Trading or signing guys considered "closers" is silly. They cost way more then they're worth, better to just designate someone already in the org/system or find someone with the peripherals but without the reputation to sign more cheaply. Or just do away with the whole notion (which I consider antiquated anyways) and just play the best guy for the situation at hand. Then you can reinvest the money/assets you saved into getting a guy like Fielder/Reyes/Darvish.

[Caged Great]

I would rather run out one of the kids as a temporary closer (turn them into a starter in a couple seasons) than trading multiple decent prospects, or giving up a ton of cash for one.

We have a ton of pitching prospects, it wouldn't be a bad thing to throw one of them in there like Nestor Molina.

[dustyanddaflames]

Toronto Blue Jays showing interest in Heath Bell according to Fox...

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

Toronto Blue Jays showing interest in Heath Bell according to Fox...

I just posted this in the MLB thread but it sounds like the Marlins have signed Heath Bell.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

Toronto Blue Jays showing interest in Heath Bell according to Fox...

....and ESPN reports that he has signed with.....the Marlins.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/73...al-sources-say

[flames_fan_down_under]

I'm with Caged Great and Parallex on this one. Don't blow the bank on a free agent closer and fill the role with one of the arms we already have.

[howard_the_duck]

I think giving a prospect like Nestor Molina a shot is worth it. He's already supposed to have lights out closer stuff and great control, so no need to spend big money on a free agent closer and give up type A compensation.

Heath Bell to the Marlins is music to my ears - that would have been a terrible signing for the Jays.

Fox's Jon Morosi suggested yesterday that the Jays make the most sense out of any team in the MLB to aggressively pursue Prince Fielder, and I tend to agree with many of his points. Yes, AA would have to give term and $ that he'd be uncomfortable with, but we're talking about a 27 year old free agent that almost never reaches the market in any other offseason. His impact on the lineup would be tremendous and he would hit the tar out of the ball at the Rogers Centre. Also, from a marketing standpoint, he would put butts in seats.

Beaston and AA have forecasted that $120 million is a reasonable payroll for the Jays when they feel they'll be competitive. Big bats like Fielder/Pujols almost never hit the market, and when they do they are almost always scooped up by the Yankees and Red Sox. I know it's an extremely unlikely scenario, but Fielder would make this team an overnight wildcard contender IMO, and I wish it were being strongly considered by AA.

[dustyanddaflames]

I guess I have a little bit of a different stance on the closer role, though I can certainly see what you guys are refering to. I think that a closer is of a completely different mind set, has to deal with the pressure of getting a ninth inning shut down, and if it were me - I'd want someone throwing the ball that has done it before.

The Blue Jays are inching closer and closer to becoming relevant in September, and over a 162 game season - these blown saves add up, as we seen last year. I for one, do not want us to waste a potential playoff birth because we decided to groom a closer from within and save some cash. Obviously, if I had to choose between Fielder and Bell, I'd go with Fielder - but I don't think that is a scenario that has taken place yet. I agree in the fact that we need a middle of the order bat to protect Bautista and produce - but I have a hard time believing that there is a choice to be made between closer/middle of order bat.

Maybe I am just sick and tired of these band-aid projects like Ryan, Francisco, Raunch - and want someone back there that knows what the hell they are doing and are comfortable in that spot. I don't think the answer is to bring in someone who has never done it before - just because he has electric stuff. I'd rather see that guy as a middle inning guy than a closer for the club. Like I said, maybe I am just getting old on this song and dance, and would finally like to see someone that can get the job done.

Like I said, I'd choose Fielder over Bell everyday of the week - but I don't feel that is a choice that has to be made. Especially with a younger club, the difference between a win and a loss in the ninth ininng - could be the difference between a three game winning streak and a three game losing streak.

[Otsy]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

I think giving a prospect like Nestor Molina a shot is worth it. He's already supposed to have lights out closer stuff and great control, so no need to spend big money on a free agent closer and give up type A compensation.

Heath Bell to the Marlins is music to my ears - that would have been a terrible signing for the Jays.

Fox's Jon Morosi suggested yesterday that the Jays make the most sense out of any team in the MLB to aggressively pursue Prince Fielder, and I tend to agree with many of his points. Yes, AA would have to give term and $ that he'd be uncomfortable with, but we're talking about a 27 year old free agent that almost never reaches the market in any other offseason. His impact on the lineup would be tremendous and he would hit the tar out of the ball at the Rogers Centre. Also, from a marketing standpoint, he would put butts in seats.

Beaston and AA have forecasted that $120 million is a reasonable payroll for the Jays when they feel they'll be competitive. Big bats like Fielder/Pujols almost never hit the market, and when they do they are almost always scooped up by the Yankees and Red Sox. I know it's an extremely unlikely scenario, but Fielder would make this team an overnight wildcard contender IMO, and I wish it were being strongly considered by AA.

I don't understand how adding Fielder would change them overnight into a contender. Fielder is tremendous, RBI's and HR are high. 2 things the Jays have not had problems with over the last couple years. 5th in HR and 7th in RBI's last year. They have bigger issues to fill I think. Would it be nice to have him in the lineup, sure, but I agree with addressing bigger needs first like the closer role and maybe another high end starter.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Otsy

I don't understand how adding Fielder would change them overnight into a contender. Fielder is tremendous, RBI's and HR are high. 2 things the Jays have not had problems with over the last couple years. 5th in HR and 7th in RBI's last year. They have bigger issues to fill I think. Would it be nice to have him in the lineup, sure, but I agree with addressing bigger needs first like the closer role and maybe another high end starter.

I suppose addressing the pitching needs is logical, but looking at the Red Sox and Yankee lineups of the last few years, they basically hit their way into the playoffs/wild card race. Fielder and Bautista would provide thump to the middle of the order that we haven't seen in 20 years for the Jays, not to mention the impact it would have on the young hitters around them.

Even if the Jays do pick up another middle of the rotation arm and decent closer, they still won't have an unbelievable pitching staff in 2012. If another starting pitcher and closer still won't make the Jays a playoff team next year, what's the harm in adding a massive bat that has a chance to pay huge dividends when the team will truly be competitive?

I'm aware of the risk that comes with those contracts, and given J.P Ricciardi's failure handing out those contracts, I can see why AA is reluctant to do the same. But anytime you have spending aspirations in the near future like the Jays, and a bat the significance of Prince Fielder on the market, I fail to see how it would be anything but positive.

[Otsy]

I'm not saying it wouldn't be positive. Just need to address other things first. If they got a real closer and another starter and had money for this I'm all for it. Bautista/Fielder combo would be unreal, especially with the other bats around the lineup. Yankees and Redsox hit their way to the postseason but have failed due to pitching. I think that's a big key.