Toronto Blue Jays - Offseason Thread

[flambers]

With the Jay's already acquiring a DH and having Pearce/Smoak at 1st.

Not sure where Jose would fit into the lineup, in my view I would not place him in the outfield.

Hope the Jays do not re-sign the player.

[Otto-matic]

@JeffPassan

Edwin Encarnacion is in wait-and-see mode because of how his market cratered. At this point, no team even willing to go three years, $60M.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Ouch. That 80 mil is looking pretty good now I'm guessing.

[ClubFlames]

If I was EE, I would fire the agent. He messed up.

[REDVAN]

Jays should offer 3 for $50 and he should take it...

[Senator Clay Davis]

I'm really surprised the market has been so poor for Edwin. I'd rather have Edwin than Cespedes. And it's not like Edwin is Jose either with the potential locker room/fans hating him issues, nor does he have any injury concerns. At this point I'll be surprised if he doesn't sign a 1 year deal or an opt out deal, likely with Houston or Cleveland.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Jays should offer 3 for $50 and he should take it...

They should. Edwin can play 1B, Pearce in the OF and Kendrys at DH. When Edwin needs a day off from the field, you can give Kendrys a day off outright and have Pearce play 1B. Smoak could be traded.

[East Coast Flame]

Originally Posted by Cappy

Honestly, I'm surprised by all the Bautista hate the jays fans have given him over the last year

Jose Forever. I would love to have him back.

[jayswin]

Man, it's pretty frustrating to see this situation work our perfect for the Blue Jays, but now we can't take advantage of it. It couldn't have ben any more perfect...

- Edwin looking for $100+mil, rejects Blue Jays $80mil offer

- Market cools on him, suggests he's open to Jays $80mil offer...."That offer's been pulled".

- Market cools even more to the point where the perfect solution to keeping our playoff hopes alive next season is now available at a huge bargain........nope Blue Jays quickly patched up all possible positions via the bargain bin, no room for Edwin.

[howard_the_duck]

Desmond to the Rockies. 5 years, $70 million.

That makes Fowler more intriguing as the Cardinals were also vying for Desmond, which would have likely ruled out Fowler had he landed there.

On another note, what is Colorado doing? Give up the top unprotected pick at 11th overall for...Ian Desmond? Bizarre 'win now' move by a team that isn't really in that conversation.

[SportsJunky]

I'd like to see Bautista move on. That Odor punch pretty much sealed it for me. Not his fault. He took the punch but now it's all I see when I think about him. He needs a change of scenery too imo.

[calculoso]

I'd like to see Bautista back on a 1-year contract (although I'm sure he wouldn't accept that). Was his performance this year (at the plate plus not throwing in the field) due to injury and injury recovery or is this the new Bautista?

[cross16]

Atkins did mention the door wasn't completely closed on EE but they would need to get "creative". I wonder if EE would entertain a 1 year deal. I think, like alot of players, the struggle with signing EE is you are giving up big money AND a draft pick and the trend league wide seems to be against giving up draft picks especially for older players. Wonder if Jays and EE could find some traction on a 1 year deal and he can try again next year when there isn't a draft pick attached to him.

Probably not likely, but it's intriguing.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Let Jose walk and sign EE to a one year deal and sign Fowler.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Let Jose walk and sign EE to a one year deal and sign Fowler.

Haha, it would be a miracle if we signed one of them.

[Jason14h]

Trade Smoak and Morales and sign EE !

Then get a bullpen

[flambers]

Or, let EE and Jose sign with whom ever....

Hope to get a 1st round draft pick.

Pursue other options...

i.e. a speedy outfielder who can hit for average and lead-off the order.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Haha, it would be a miracle if we signed one of them.

I am not letting go of my EE fantasy.

[Cappy]

The way the situation worked out for both EE and JB is tough.

To give up a draft pick for a player over 35 is a hard pill to swallow, unless you are comfortable giving that player 4-5 year deal. The older the player is, the less likely they get that kind of term (and it's showing for both). The way prospects are being guarded in the league today, I don't see many teams taking a chance on either player for more than a 1 or 2 year deal. This works in the Jays favour. The way the compensation picks have worked in years prior, its not usually about getting the pick, its more about driving the cost down on players - which is why players wanted to get rid of it.

EE and JB could be had by the Jays for a song on a 1 yr to 2 yr deal. Something that 2/3 of the league would have to lose a pick for.

The only team i could see signing these guys with a protected comp pick is the angels (at 10) but they don't have the need or the money most likely.

As much as I would like Fowler, he is as good as gone at this point.

In other news, Russ Atkins name dropped some players today: Dexter Fowler, Brandon Moss, Ben revere, and JB.

The only redeeming quality of moss over JB is that he is a lefty.

Revere was crap last year, but depending on splits, could be a good Melvin platoon.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

On another note, what is Colorado doing? Give up the top unprotected pick at 11th overall for...Ian Desmond? Bizarre 'win now' move by a team that isn't really in that conversation.

Makes Edwin a pretty good target for them... He'd be a big improvement on what they have at 1B and now he no longer costs them a 1st round pick.