Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports hears the Blue Jays have "little interest" in trading Marco Estrada.
Estrada has been claimed off revocable waivers by an unknown team, but the Jays can simply pull him back and keep him for the stretch run. The 34-year-old right-hander boasts a 2.08 ERA over his last four starts, but he's still sporting a rough 4.85 ERA for the season. Estrada is earning a $14.5 million salary in the final year of a two-year, $26 million deal.
I have no problem with them going for it as it is owned by a corporation. Though I say this depending on the possible return. There is little chance unless they go for a crazy tear this late in the season. I'm extremely doubtful given the number of teams ahead, and given this I'd give a 5% chance at best of them making it.
Despite how unlikely the odds are of them making playoffs (and that's more to do with basically trotting out a 3-man rotation than anything else) throwing in the towel when they are 3.5 out would be a little insulting.
I remember a certain 22 years in a row when I would have been ecstatic to be 3.5 out on August 15th. The window is open for them on account of the rest of the AL's mediocrity this season and lets not forgot, that grouping of teams in front of the Jays is rather unimpressive, those are some beatable inconsistent teams.
I haven't watched every game the last few weeks, but every time I do it seems Rob Refsnyder is making an error or striking out and basically being useless out there. Really nobody better they can play? Like is he a top prospect or something they want to develop and are just being patient with or what? He's brutal out there.
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Well Refsnyder is basically 5th on the depth chart for the middle infield, so it's not surprising he's having some troubles. But with Travis and Tulo out for extended periods of time, you can't expect Barney and Goins to play every day so that's why Refsnyder is getting in more games. He does have a little MLB experience from the past two years, but not much and surely not in the role he finds himself now.
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I haven't watched every game the last few weeks, but every time I do it seems Rob Refsnyder is making an error or striking out and basically being useless out there. Really nobody better they can play? Like is he a top prospect or something they want to develop and are just being patient with or what? He's brutal out there.
He was a former top Yankee prospect that has hit pretty much everywhere except for the majors and a guy who should have been able to fill in respectably at a few different positions around the diamond. 2 years ago the Yankees really thought he would develop into something good at the major league level.
Ideally for the Jays now he might develop to be your Devon Travis backup / utility guy that can fill in on the corners if guys need a day off. At minimum, be an upgrade over guys like Goins and Barney, who have proven they cannot hit in the majors.
To date and 250 MLB at Bats later, he can't put it together and also manages to look like a real project defensively.
One good thing about this season is the Jays seem to have found 3 solid, young-ish, cheap and controllable bullpen arms in Barnes, Tepera and especially Leone.
Sure would be nice to have a lefty like Mayza turn into something as well.
Also will be interesting to watch Biagini and Rowley finish out the year in the rotation assuming they can stick.
Leone pumping himself up after striking out two with the bases loaded top of the 7th, Stroman waiting in front of the dugout to embrace him, Osuna's reaction to the final pitch of his save....all so beautiful
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you know how Jays pitchers are having trouble with umps? It's going on everywhere.
Spoiler!
At least in that one time was call just prior to him starting the pitch. Storman has had two or three this year when he actually starts his wind-up and time is called after that.
Also, loved how Osuna pumped the fastball right past Souza for strike three to end the game and Souza was complaining as if the pitch wasn't right down the heart of the plate. Definitely enjoyed that one.
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In a way it's too bad guys like Votto and Stanton are on such awful teams right now. At least the Angels are showing some life so a guy like Trout doesn't completely waste away.
In a way I like that Votto is being a total jerk on the road in game like that...but at some point he's going to nail an unsuspecting fan with a throw and than he'll have problems. It's only a matter of time till someone bobbles a friendly toss foul ball and sues for the dental bill...being hit by an errant unnecessary throw would be a lawyers dream.
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