Toronto Blue Jays - Offseason Thread

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Jiminez has been released. I guess Salty (not going to try and spell it) is the backup by default?

Pretty much.

I mean if you're pretty much convinced that Jiminez won't be an MLB quality player why keep him around. They have a better Starter (Russell), Back-up (Salty), 3rd stringer (Graterol) and they have younger prospects (Jiminez is 26) that they need to make space for (McGuire & hopefully Pentecost).

I wouldn't be surprised if the Jays used one of their 1st on a NCAA catcher (Evan Skoug maybe).

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Pretty much.

I mean if you're pretty much convinced that Jiminez won't be an MLB quality player why keep him around. They have a better Starter (Russell), Back-up (Salty), 3rd stringer (Graterol) and they have younger prospects (Jiminez is 26) that they need to make space for (McGuire & hopefully Pentecost).

I wouldn't be surprised if the Jays used one of their 1st on a NCAA catcher (Evan Skoug maybe).

Jays also have Ohlman at the catcher position. He could potentially challenge Salty.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Stro wins his arb. case.

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeyman
stroman gets $3.4M, not the $3.1M the jays proposed

[Roof-Daddy]

TSN baseball insider Steve Phillips was on this morning on completely felating the Jays starting rotation. Figures from top to bottom its the best in baseball. Sure hope hes right. They were certainly amazing last year and hopefully they can stay healthy and repeat the performance

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

TSN baseball insider Steve Phillips was on this morning on completely felating the Jays starting rotation. Figures from top to bottom its the best in baseball. Sure hope hes right. They were certainly amazing last year and hopefully they can stay healthy and repeat the performance

Should be good. I really wish Estrada was not playing in the WBC though. Would prefer he puts as little stress on his nagging lower back injury as possible.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

TSN baseball insider Steve Phillips was on this morning on completely felating the Jays starting rotation. Figures from top to bottom its the best in baseball. Sure hope hes right. They were certainly amazing last year and hopefully they can stay healthy and repeat the performance

It is very good... if unconventionally so (no strikeout artists). I can't see it not being good, IMO the only infielder that isn't at least an above average defender is Travis (and he's "just" average) so the Jays should be a very good run suppression team.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

Should be good. I really wish Estrada was not playing in the WBC though. Would prefer he puts as little stress on his nagging lower back injury as possible.

You mean like this?

Estrada will only pitch for Mexico at WBC if he's '100 per cent' - Sportsnet
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...-100-per-cent/
22 hours ago - Marco Estrada told Team Mexico officials that he will only pitch in the WBC if he's "100 per cent ready for the Blue Jays season."

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by calculoso

You mean like this?

Estrada will only pitch for Mexico at WBC if he's '100 per cent' - Sportsnet
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...-100-per-cent/
22 hours ago - Marco Estrada told Team Mexico officials that he will only pitch in the WBC if he's "100 per cent ready for the Blue Jays season."

I don't even want him pitching in that meaningless tournament if he is 100%. Start the MLB season off right. No need to potentially re-aggravate it. He's apparently been having problems all off-season with it.

That's the first time anything about him not playing has been reported though. Hopefully that's just his way of bracing Mexico for his impending decline of the invitation.

[calculoso]

Sportsnet had a story from early January that shows it has been going on for a while.

Marco Estrada uncertain on status for World Baseball Classic - Sportsnet
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...eball-classic/
Jan 4, 2017 - Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marco Estrada is not certain if he will be able to pitch for Mexico at the WBC given his lingering back issue.

MLB Network Radio ✔ @MLBNetworkRadio
Estrada on WBC "dealing with this back issue, unfortunately I don't think I'll be pitching in it, maybe if they make round 2" #BlueJays
4:16 PM - 4 Jan 2017 · Washington, DC


I'm more concerned about the comments about his arm...

“Everybody thinks it’s because of my back – it’s my arm. I just want to make sure it’s ready to go because when you’re out there, you want to give it your all and it’s hard to hold back, whereas in spring training games you can hold back and you can work on stuff." (from the article 22 hours ago)

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Sportsnet had a story from early January that shows it has been going on for a while.

Marco Estrada uncertain on status for World Baseball Classic - Sportsnet
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...eball-classic/
Jan 4, 2017 - Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marco Estrada is not certain if he will be able to pitch for Mexico at the WBC given his lingering back issue.

MLB Network Radio ✔ @MLBNetworkRadio
Estrada on WBC "dealing with this back issue, unfortunately I don't think I'll be pitching in it, maybe if they make round 2" #BlueJays
4:16 PM - 4 Jan 2017 · Washington, DC


I'm more concerned about the comments about his arm...

“Everybody thinks it’s because of my back – it’s my arm. I just want to make sure it’s ready to go because when you’re out there, you want to give it your all and it’s hard to hold back, whereas in spring training games you can hold back and you can work on stuff." (from the article 22 hours ago)

I don't interpret that as an injury. Just that you need to go full tilt in WBC and in Spring you can work up your pace to prepare for the season. Higher chance of risk if you go from zero to 100 with short work. I think he's just managing his body as a veteran, which has me happy as a Jays fan.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

The Toronto Blue Jays’ search for pitching depth has led them to a veteran right-hander seeking a bounce-back season. According to industry sources, the club is far along in discussions with Mat Latos.

While there’s no guarantee the sides reach a deal, the Blue Jays have been in contact with Latos in recent weeks as they’ve rounded out their pitching staff. The 29-year-old, a veteran of 194 MLB starts, would provide the Blue Jays with additional rotation depth. In theory, he could also pitch out of the bullpen, where his stuff might play up.

Latos earned Cy Young votes in his age-22 season, when he posted a 2.92 ERA in 31 starts for the 2010 San Diego Padres. Four more stellar seasons followed, but he struggled in the two seasons after being traded to the Marlins in December of 2014. Since that deal, he has played for five organizations while posting a 4.93 ERA.

Most recently, Latos spent the 2016 season with the Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals, pitching to a 4.89 ERA in 70 innings. He started 12 times while also setting a career high with eight relief appearances.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...der-mat-latos/

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

TSN baseball insider Steve Phillips was on this morning on completely felating the Jays starting rotation. Figures from top to bottom its the best in baseball. Sure hope hes right. They were certainly amazing last year and hopefully they can stay healthy and repeat the performance

The thing with baseball is that you're one or two bad luck injuries away from having to rethink an entire season. Being that the rotation was so healthy last season, I'm quite hesitant to say that group will fare the same this year.

Hopefully I'm wrong.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...der-mat-latos/

That seems like an inefficient use of money when we're currently staring at Zeke getting the lions share of starts in LF.

[Jason14h]

1.5 mil if he makes the team . MLB average for a pitcher is like 4 mil.

[ClubFlames]

Mat Latos signs with the Jays.

[TheAlpineOracle]

That's a solid pickup. Hope he's in the pen though and kept stretched out in case of injury.

[Roof-Daddy]

Jays management doing an excellent job building depth in order to guard against injuries woes to the starting rotation.

Stretching out Biagini
Bolsinger still kicking around
Signing Oberholtzer
Signing Latos
Signing Harrell, Floyd and House

Quite a bit of depth now that's for sure.

[REDVAN]

The bullpen has nicely shaped up here, lots of longer men and possible injury replacement starters.

How is AAA looking for arms? Do we have anyone else to bring up, or are these guys being signed out of need?

Still leaves a big question mark in LF, but honestly that doesn't seem like a tough spot to fill. Some decent free agents out there if desperation sets in too.

[BOSSY]

Originally Posted by Parallex

That seems like an inefficient use of money when we're currently staring at Zeke getting the lions share of starts in LF.

I doubt that... No way he's a majority of the time player....

[Cappy]

Read somewhere that Latos hasn't used his curve in two years, working on a splitter to use more often. Potentially gearing up for a late career in relief.