(New) Aaron Sanchez in AFL video

[ReturnOfTheYeti]

Yep. No team can afford to pay their whole starting rotation 10-20M per guy..

 

Any chance you can go back in time and whisper that in AA's ear this time last year?

[theblujay]

 

Hnnnnnnghhhh....*unzips*

 

Please don't trade them AA. Its all we have left.

 

Just imagine if Synder was there on the other side of Stroman...

[KingKat]

Lackey - $15.95M

Peavy - $14.5M

Dempster - $13.25M

Lester - $13M

Buchholz - $7.95M

 

Average - $12.93M

 

Yes, Doubront may fit in here at a more reasonable cost, and they may or may not shed one of these starters before the 2014 season, but if they stuck with the above rotation, they wouldn't have to purge from their roster, even if Buchholz was making $10M or more. Without adding or subtracting anyone from the expected roster (based on current in-house alternatives) for next year, they're sitting at a total cash payroll of under $135M, with arby estimates.

 

The Jays and BoSox basically payed the same cost per win this year. This illustrates the biggest problem with the Jays, the team is operating as if it had the same budget as the top teams in the division and it's sacrificing a lot of potentially cost controlled talent to operate this way. The only way out is for the team to win big and use the results to finance a higher payroll.

[ace3113]

Just imagine if Synder was there on the other side of Stroman...

 

We'd only see his belly button beside Stroman's head.

[G-Snarls]

We'd only see his belly button beside Stroman's head.

 

HDMH!

 

Suckas

[Angrioter]

Top-20 AFL Prospects

1. Byron Buxton, OF, Twins (Glendale): Baseball's best prospect strained his left shoulder swinging a bat, which hampered him before he was shut down after 12 games. That still was enough time to show off five tools that grade as plus or better, the worst of which might be his merely above-average power -- he slugged three homers in 52 at-bats.

 

2. Kris Bryant, 3B, Cubs (Mesa): If this were a list based solely on top prospects' performances in the AFL, Bryant would be No. 1. The No. 2 pick from the 2013 Draft and AFL MVP has legitimate power that should put him in the bigs soon, though he has to prove to some he can stay at third base.

 

3. Addison Russell, SS, Athletics (Mesa): Russell is the rarest of all prospects, a legitimate five-tool shortstop. A 19-year-old, he had no problems handling AFL pitching and he showed the range and arm to make all the plays at short.

 

4. Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Blue Jays (Salt River): The best starter in the AFL, Sanchez dominated hitters. He has top-of-the-rotation stuff and is ready for a move to the upper levels of Toronto's system.

 

5. Alex Meyer, RHP, Twins (Glendale): Meyer recovered from a shoulder strain that limited him to 78 regular-season innings to throw an easy 94-97 mph in Arizona. Meyer showed a wipeout slider at times and good command for someone with an extra-large 6-foot-9 frame.

 

6. Austin Hedges, C, Padres (Peoria): Hedges showed off his defense in the Fall Stars Game, throwing out two would-be basestealers. There's still some question about how well he'll hit, but most believe he'll swing the bat well enough. His glove might be big league-ready now.

 

7. Andrew Heaney, LHP, Marlins (Glendale): Some evaluators named Heaney as the league's best pitching prospect, citing his three above-average pitches (fastball, slider and changeup) and his plus command. No AFL starter permitted fewer baserunners -- 9.1 -- per nine innings.

 

8. Jorge Alfaro, C, Rangers (Surprise): Watching Alfaro, you wouldn't guess he was only 20 and coming off a season spent almost exclusively in the Class A South Atlantic League. He can hit, he's athletic and he has perhaps the strongest arm of any catcher in the Minors.

 

9. Kyle Crick, RHP, Giants (Scottsdale): Hitters had a tough time handling Crick's fastball when he threw it up in the zone -- it hit 98 mph in multiple starts -- and he topped AFL starters with 15.9 strikeouts per nine innings. Crick's slider is a potential out pitch, though his secondary offerings and command still need work.

 

10. Albert Almora, OF, Cubs (Mesa): At age 19, Almora was the second-youngest player in the AFL but he certainly didn't play like it. The center fielder more than held his own, hitting for average and playing solid defense all while continuing to show how plus-rated makeup can maximize one's tools.

 

11. Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers (Glendale): The AFL's youngest player struggled more than any prospect on this list, batting .181 with 25 strikeouts in 72 at-bats. Once Seager calms down a little at the plate, he should hit for both power and average and could be a Gold Glove winner if he moves to third base.

 

12. Marcus Stroman, RHP, Blue Jays (Salt River): Stroman had a solid turn in the Rafters bullpen, holding hitters to a .186 batting average and striking out 10.03 per nine, but his future is as a starter. A 2012 first-round Draft pick, he should be able to help Toronto's rotation at some point next season.

 

http://ht.ly/r0WVz

 

13. Jorge Soler, OF, Cubs (Mesa): The third Cubs position player on this Top 20, Soler has top-of-the-scale raw power that rivals that of any AFL player. "He hits the ball to Yellowstone, he has a fabulous body and he's a poster for what you want the body to be," one scout said, "though the day-to-day focus isn't there."

 

14. Colin Moran, 3B, Marlins (Glendale): The 2013 No. 6 pick started slowly but finished by hitting in eight of his last nine games. An advanced former collegian, the left-handed hitter showed a solid approach, albeit without any power.

 

15. C.J. Cron, 1B, Angels (Mesa): Cron recovered from a down year in Double-A to lead the AFL in hitting (.413) and total bases (56) while finishing second in homers (five) and RBIs (20). Cron also made progress with his plate discipline, the key to him becoming a big league regular.

 

16. Garin Cecchini, 3B, Red Sox (Surprise): Cecchini won the AFL's Stenson Award for sportsmanship and work ethic, but he can also hit, run and play third. He has an advanced approach at the plate, which led him to finish in the top 10 in the league in on-base percentage.

 

17. Delino DeShields Jr., OF, Astros (Peoria): DeShield's main point of emphasis in Arizona was transitioning from second base to center field, and though he still needs work on his outfield play, he has the plus-plus speed to make it work. With his wheels, on-base skills and surprising pop, DeShields can be a catalyst as a leadoff hitter.

 

18. Stephen Piscotty, OF, Cardinals (Salt River): Piscotty, a Stanford product, finished the Fall League with a 12-game hitting streak, including a four-hit game that helped him finish fourth in the AFL in batting average. He showed an innate ability to square up the ball, run the bases well and play a decent outfield, a position he's still learning.

 

19. Mookie Betts, 2B, Red Sox (Surprise): Having put together one of the biggest breakout performances of the Minor League season, Betts continued to display his all-around ability. He controls the strike zone, has double-digit homer and steal potential and plays a solid second base.

 

20. Tyler Naquin, OF, Indians (Surprise): While there's always been concern about where on the field Naquin profiles -- he has the arm but not the power to be a right fielder -- he's always hit wherever he's played. That continued in the AFL, where he led the circuit in hits while also proving to many he can play center field every day.

 

http://ht.ly/r0WVz