2017-2018 Blue Jays Off-Season Thread

[calculoso]

Blue Jays go back to the well, select another Giants pitcher in Rule 5 draft

http://canoe.com/sports/baseball/tor...2-9880acf3c555

The Blue Jays caught the Giants sleeping two years ago and returned to the well again on Thursday.

During the 2015 MLB Rule 5 draft, the Jays plucked pitcher Joe Biagini from the San Francisco Giants and the big right-hander turned into an outstanding reliever, though he struggled in a starting role last season.

In this year’s Rule 5 draft, held on Thursday at the Walt Disney Swan & Dolphin Resort, the Jays selected another pitcher from the Giants organization, right-hander Drew Muren. Muren was picked in the triple-A phase of the draft, not the major-league phase, meaning that they don’t have to keep the 6-foot-6 fireballer on their major-league roster for the entire season or offer him back to the Giants.

Toronto GM Ross Atkins was relieved that the no MLB team took anyone from the Jays’ organization in the major-league phase of the draft — specifically catcher Max Pentecost and RHP Jordan Romano. They did lose third baseman Mitch Nay to the Reds in the minor-league phase. But other than selecting Muren and a couple of later minor-league picks — catcher Alberto Mineo from the Cubs and shortstop Ivan Castillo from the Indians — the Jays did not make a single deal at this year’s MLB winter meetings, though Atkins insisted that’s not necessarily disappointing. He said a lot of constructive conversations were held with GMs, agents and players this week that could turn into trades or free-agent signings over the next few weeks.

Tim Raines is leaving the Jays. The Hall of Fame outfielder was the organization’s outfield/base running coordinator. Ron Sandelli, the club’s director of team safety, is also leaving.

[alan21]

Not sure if it was even a possibility for the Blue Jays but CC Sabathia has re-signed with the Yankees.

https://www.tsn.ca/report-sabathia-y...-deal-1.945885

[bluejays]

Whatever. The Jays management seems to be failing at everything they're trying this off-season. I've never complained about the Jays not spending enough, and they've made the best of the Canadian dollar handicap, but if they really wanted him they'd have overpaid to keep scoop him. It doesn't hurt that they didn't get him, but it does speak to Jays' management not being able to get anything done this year. I'm now going to wait for the panic sideways trade that turns out to be useless for today and useless for tomorrow.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by fleury

Whatever. The Jays management seems to be failing at everything they're trying this off-season. I've never complained about the Jays not spending enough, and they've made the best of the Canadian dollar handicap, but if they really wanted him they'd have overpaid to keep scoop him. It doesn't hurt that they didn't get him, but it does speak to Jays' management not being able to get anything done this year. I'm now going to wait for the panic sideways trade that turns out to be useless for today and useless for tomorrow.

Agreed so far the new GM has not been able to do anything the last two years....

Another Winter meetings has gone by and the Jays stand pat.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by fleury

Whatever. The Jays management seems to be failing at everything they're trying this off-season. I've never complained about the Jays not spending enough, and they've made the best of the Canadian dollar handicap, but if they really wanted him they'd have overpaid to keep scoop him. It doesn't hurt that they didn't get him, but it does speak to Jays' management not being able to get anything done this year. I'm now going to wait for the panic sideways trade that turns out to be useless for today and useless for tomorrow.

C.C was never going anywhere.

[JTech780]

With Evan Longoria coming off the board and Baltimore taking Machado off the market, I wonder if the offers for Donaldson start to heat up.

[cross16]

Can't see the Jays moving Donaldson. i don't think they'll get what they want and if they do fall out of it by the TDL I'm not sure the offers then would really differ from what they would get now.

Cardinals seem the most interested but even their GM has said he doesn't see value in paying top dollar unless he gets some control. I think if the Jays wanted to move Donaldson the 2016 off-season was the time to do. Doesn't make a lot of sense to do it right now.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by JTech780

With Evan Longoria coming off the board and Baltimore taking Machado off the market, I wonder if the offers for Donaldson start to heat up.

Is Machado off the market? There's rampant speculation among Cubs Twitter that the Cubs are working on a trade with the Orioles to get Machado, and the Cubs would trade Javier Baez or Addison Russell as part of such a deal. Both of those guys have several years of team control left, while Machado only has one year.

Most of the folks on Twitter are aghast that the Cubs would consider such a trade, especially if it includes Baez.

Am I crazy to think the Cubs should jump at the chance to trade Baez for one year of Machado? I love watching Baez play; he brings such joy to the game. But still, he has a terrible eye, is basically a league-average hitter, and while he makes a lot of flashy plays, the metrics I've seen don't seem to like him all that much as a shortstop.

I think Russell has a higher upside than Baez, but still, I'd be sprinting to make that trade.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by fleury

Whatever. The Jays management seems to be failing at everything they're trying this off-season. I've never complained about the Jays not spending enough, and they've made the best of the Canadian dollar handicap, but if they really wanted him they'd have overpaid to keep scoop him. It doesn't hurt that they didn't get him, but it does speak to Jays' management not being able to get anything done this year. I'm now going to wait for the panic sideways trade that turns out to be useless for today and useless for tomorrow.

I really thing this management group is going to turn out to be a monumental failure for the Jays. Sure, Shapiro and Atkins played a large hand in building a stout Indians club of the last few years but in all reality they were gone before any real success did occur and don't appear willing to stand up and make any significant moves one way or the other now.

If the team goes into another season without adding anything or at least beginning to move players out and rebuild, I won't be tuning in to watch the train wreck that will ensue. This standing pat on a roster that is seriously flawed is beyond aggravating.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Is Machado off the market?

All I've been hearing is that they're threatening to take him off the market if offers don't improve.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by cross16

Can't see the Jays moving Donaldson. i don't think they'll get what they want and if they do fall out of it by the TDL I'm not sure the offers then would really differ from what they would get now.

Cardinals seem the most interested but even their GM has said he doesn't see value in paying top dollar unless he gets some control. I think if the Jays wanted to move Donaldson the 2016 off-season was the time to do. Doesn't make a lot of sense to do it right now.

Do they have a chance to be in it at the TDL? I don't think they do, their offense is going to be non existent. On paper they have a good pitching staff but all it takes is one injury and they are done, as they don't have any kind of depth, unless some of their prospects are ready to make the jump.

You are right about waiting till the TDL, the only thing that scares me about that is JD's ability to stay healthy. If he goes down before they can trade, there goes a chance to cash in on their only real trade chip.

[cross16]

Originally Posted by JTech780

Do they have a chance to be in it at the TDL? I don't think they do, their offense is going to be non existent. On paper they have a good pitching staff but all it takes is one injury and they are done, as they don't have any kind of depth, unless some of their prospects are ready to make the jump.

I do yes. 2nd Wildcard is pretty open and with their injuries they were 9 games back. Sanchez being healthy for the entire year likely eats into a good chunk of those 9 games.

Certainly don't think it's a lock nor do I think even the chances are that high. They still need help and they would need to stay relatively injury free to have a chance but I do think they should be a better team next year.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by JTech780

Do they have a chance to be in it at the TDL? I don't think they do,

They do. I wouldn't call it a likely chance because there are so many teams that are on a similar strata but they're not no hopers.

Originally Posted by JTech780

If he goes down before they can trade, there goes a chance to cash in on their only real trade chip.

The Jays are either going to trade Donaldson soon (the offseason) or not at all. I mean how much do position players with zero years of team control remaining return at the deadline? Sure, pitchers can net you a good return but every team that's buying at the deadline will need pitchers and they'll be 1... maybe 2... that will need a 3rd baseman. So you need someone that wants Donaldson and both can and will pay a price significantly higher then the comp pick.

[Jiggy_12]

Jays just acquired Yangervis Solarte from the Padres, for mid level prospect Edward Olivares.

Early impressions/research tell me that this is a good return.

Versatile infielder who has mostly played 3B but can spell at 2B, 1B and OF. Has decent pop and production, will provide great infield depth for our oft injured starters.

Cheap contract under team control through the 2020 season.

I very much like and approve.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Seems like a major improvement over Goins and Barney.

[Parallex]

Yeah, that's a good deal. Takes care of the super-sub spot we were told they really wanted.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Travis to the OF then?

[alan21]

Originally Posted by Wild GM

Travis to the DL then?

This is more likely.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by alan21

This is more likely.

With his knees on that turf? Yikes - I don't know.

[Roof-Daddy]

Looks like a solid pick up. Versatile player in the field and a switch hitter who can handle the bat.