Around Baseball

[G-Snarls]

Good read from an Arizona writer who voted for McCutchen:

 

[G-Snarls]

Just heard on ESPN radio that Alex Rodriguez cancelled his meeting today with MLB because he was sick, and actually SENT THEM A NOTE from a doctor stating he was too sick to travel to NY for it.

[Boxcar]

 

Lol @ your sig. Excellence. Wish I could give your posts two likes.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

MLBTR

 

•The A's are scheduled to meet with Adam Katz, Bartolo Colon's agent, this week to discuss a one-year deal for the veteran righty, CSNBayArea.com's Joe Stiglich reports. Colon has shown an interest in returning to Oakland but a number of teams would be interested on Colon for just a one-year commitment.

 

...

 

If all it takes is a 2 year deal to woo Colon up here... get it done. Something like 2/12-14 would be fantastic for him.

[G-Snarls]

If all it takes is a 2 year deal to woo Colon up here... get it done. Something like 2/12-14 would be fantastic for him.

 

Yes. This is exactly the type of guy AA should be signing this off season. Colon, Hudson, Kuroda, etc. Stabilize the rotation on a short term deal for an older guy while we see what becomes of Stroman/Sanchez/Hutch/Drabek.

 

Did they all get qualifying offers? If so, the protected first round pick plays nicely here. Other teams interested might lose their first rounder and therefore balk at signing them.

[jaysblue]

MLBTR

 

•The A's are scheduled to meet with Adam Katz, Bartolo Colon's agent, this week to discuss a one-year deal for the veteran righty, CSNBayArea.com's Joe Stiglich reports. Colon has shown an interest in returning to Oakland but a number of teams would be interested on Colon for just a one-year commitment.

 

...

 

If all it takes is a 2 year deal to woo Colon up here... get it done. Something like 2/12-14 would be fantastic for him.

 

No it wouldn't. I'm sure Colon would get lit up at the Rogers Centre and in the AL East. Knowing the Jays luck, Colon wouldn't work out and he'd regress significantly. I like Colon and all, though I wouldn't feel comfortable relying on him as a No. 2 or 3 in this rotation given his age and how he can just implode at anytime.

[jaysblue]

Yes. This is exactly the type of guy AA should be signing this off season. Colon, Hudson, Kuroda, etc. Stabilize the rotation on a short term deal for an older guy while we see what becomes of Stroman/Sanchez/Hutch/Drabek.

 

Did they all get qualifying offers? If so, the protected first round pick plays nicely here. Other teams interested might lose their first rounder and therefore balk at signing them.

 

And you think Colon will be as good as he was in 2013?

 

Secondly, there is no chance Hudson or Kuroda sign here in Toronto. Kuroda either signs with the Yankees, goes back to Japan or retires. Tim Hudson wants to win a championship and I'm sure there are far more NL teams that he has a better chance with. If the Jays want a chance at those arms, likely have to overpay significantly and that's something I wouldn't feel comfortable in doing with pitchers who are almost touching 40.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

No it wouldn't. I'm sure Colon would get lit up at the Rogers Centre and in the AL East. Knowing the Jays luck, Colon wouldn't work out and he'd regress significantly. I like Colon and all, though I wouldn't feel comfortable relying on him as a No. 2 or 3 in this rotation given his age and how he can just implode at anytime.

 

Guy just knows how to pitch. He's super consistent despite throwing like 90% fastballs. Would love him as a #3. Nothing bad can come from offering him a reasonable 2 year deal. We're not talking long-term here.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Plus, stem cellz

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Over the past 3 years, Colon is 30th in WAR for pitchers... Comparable to the likes of Kuroda, Derek Holland, Jordan Zimmerman, and even Latos.

 

He's not a fluke. Dude has been doing this for like 15 years.

[jaysblue]

Guy just knows how to pitch. He's super consistent despite throwing like 90% fastballs. Would love him as a #3. Nothing bad can come from offering him a reasonable 2 year deal. We're not talking long-term here.

 

He's at that age where there are more question marks with him and he can just flame out. I like Colon and how he has transformed himself over the past 2-3 years, though I don't think its rational to expect similar numbers to his 2013 season in 2014, especially with the Blue Jays. He's pitched in Oakland the past two seasons, so expecting him to pitch that well at the Rogers Centre over 15-16 starts is just unrealistic. If the Jays are going out to sign/trade for a No. 2 or No. 3, I want one with the least question marks. The Jays can't afford having Bartolo Colon just blowing up in their face, which is very possible. He's best suited for Oakland and I'm sure he stays there.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

He's at that age where there are more question marks with him and he can just flame out. I like Colon and how he has transformed himself over the past 2-3 years, though I don't think its rational to expect similar numbers to his 2013 season in 2014, especially with the Blue Jays. He's pitched in Oakland the past two seasons, so expecting him to pitch that well at the Rogers Centre over 15-16 starts is just unrealistic. If the Jays are going out to sign/trade for a No. 2 or No. 3, I want one with the least question marks. The Jays can't afford having Bartolo Colon just blowing up in their face, which is very possible. He's best suited for Oakland and I'm sure he stays there.

 

If it eases your worries, he pitched just as well away from that huge home ballpark last year and also pitched better in the 2nd half. He didn't really wear down too much. I think he still has a little air left in the tires.

[jaysblue]

Over the past 3 years, Colon is 30th in WAR for pitchers... Comparable to the likes of Kuroda, Derek Holland, Jordan Zimmerman, and even Latos.

 

He's not a fluke. Dude has been doing this for like 15 years.

 

He's 41-years-old? So you're expecting him to continue pitching at this level over the next two seasons, especially in the AL East? I don't care what Colon did the past 2-3 years - you pay him based on what you project from him moving forward. He's 41 and there are a lot of question marks on whether he can repeat that success over the next two seasons especially at the Rogers Centre. If the Jays are looking for a No. 2 or 3, I want one with the least question marks. I think the $7-8 million would be better spent elsewhere.

[jaysblue]

If it eases your worries, he pitched just as well away from that huge home ballpark last year and also pitched better in the 2nd half. He didn't really wear down too much. I think he still has a little air left in the tires.

 

He might, not denying that. Though the Blue Jays can't be relying on a 41-year-old pitcher to solve their pitching woes. Oakland got terrific value out of Colon these past two seasons. I'm not sure paying him $7-8 million is the smartest thing since you'd be really paying him more on what he has done the past two seasons then what he'll likely produce over the next two.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

He might, not denying that. Though the Blue Jays can't be relying on a 41-year-old pitcher to solve their pitching woes. Oakland got terrific value out of Colon these past two seasons. I'm not sure paying him $7-8 million is the smartest thing since you'd be really paying him more on what he has done the past two seasons then what he'll likely produce over the next two.

 

Well he was only paid 3M last year, maybe he settles for something less than 7M a year. (I just ripped that number out of nowhere). You'd have to be on board for something like 2/10, right?

[GD]

xFIP-'s of 100 and 101 past couple years pitching in Oakland. 9.1% and 6.0% HR/FB% the past couple years in O.co. I don't really care for him but if we added a pitcher better than him and him as well I could live with it.

[jaysblue]

Well he was only paid 3M last year, maybe he settles for something less than 7M a year. (I just ripped that number out of nowhere). You'd have to be on board for something like 2/10, right?

 

I would be on board with that - instead of that guaranteed second year perhaps replacing it with a club option. I'd only go year-to-year with Colon. I'm sure Colon gets a raise from his 3 million salary last season. $5 million is pretty reasonable, though don't you think Oakland then snags him at that price? If Oakland and Toronto are both offering $5 million, I think he stays in Oakland. Likely Toronto would have to outbid any offer Colon receives from Oakland.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

xFIP-'s of 100 and 101 past couple years pitching in Oakland. 9.1% and 6.0% HR/FB% the past couple years in O.co. I don't really care for him but if we added a pitcher better than him and him as well I could live with it.

 

Exactly, he shouldn't be a primary target... but if he's just getting s***** 1 year deals it's an absolute no brainer to try and snap him up.

[z3r0s]

He's also a guy who outpreformed his FIP 4 of the last 5 years. Some guys do buck their FIP consistently.

[8D]

I'm with ECJF on Colon.

[Boxcar]

Interesting article http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-1115-jp-howell-bullying-20131115,0,3775589.story#axzz2kf5NIk35

 

JP Howell on bullying in sports. Mostly what made it interesting for me was this line of incredible douchiness:

 

When he broke into the major leagues, he owned one suit, a gift from his father. A veteran player — Howell would not identify him — cut up the suit and did not replace it.

 

"I didn't know how to handle the situation," Howell said. "I wish I would have. I was distracted. I was scared to be around him in the gym. If you're intimidated by somebody because of their actions, that's bullying."

 

It really reminds you that players are just those unintelligent, ******* jocks you hated in high school. The fact that people accept them, without question, to know the game of baseball is absurd. It's like thinking one of those jocks that got a scholarship to Stanford is a genius just because he attends the school.

[G-Snarls]

No action on Josh Johnson yet?

 

Anyone think we still have a shot and signing him on a cheap-ish 1 year deal?

[jaysblue]

No action on Josh Johnson yet?

 

Anyone think we still have a shot and signing him on a cheap-ish 1 year deal?

 

Possibly, though he's been linked with the Royals I believe over the past couple of days.

[Nox]

I don't care what Colon did the past 2-3 years - you pay him based on what you project from him moving forward.

 

Who here is advocating paying him like a 4 win pitcher? Nobody.

 

He's 41 and there are a lot of question marks on whether he can repeat that success over the next two seasons especially at the Rogers Centre.

 

We have the ability to look at park adjusted numbers and make decisions off of them. Pretty sure that's what the majority here are using.

[Sammy225]

No action on Josh Johnson yet?

 

Anyone think we still have a shot and signing him on a cheap-ish 1 year deal?

 

I know the Royals are really interested in him but it would not surprise me if AA tries to bring him back in the 9-10M Range.

[Nox]

No action on Josh Johnson yet?

 

Anyone think we still have a shot and signing him on a cheap-ish 1 year deal?

 

I really think he'd prefer to pitch somewhere else. I'm also not sure our front office (or at least the portion of it that make decisions) realize he wasn't as bad as his OMGERA last year.

[z3r0s]

Wooo! Dan Johnson!

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/11/blue-jays-sign-dan-johnson.html

[Nox]

Wow, what an *******.

 

No kidding.

 

Not relevant to the bullying angle but can we all laugh for a minute at the fact JP Howell got first round money in the draft yet still didn't have a suit?

[Nox]

wooo! Dan johnson!

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/11/blue-jays-sign-dan-johnson.html

 

this changes everything

[wilko]

God damnit, I wanted Colon 5 years ago!