Jose Molina has 2-year agreement with Rays.

[Angrioter]

[jaysblue]

He was my third guy after McCann and Ruiz. Pretty fail of an off-season so far. If JPA is back...

 

As a starting catcher?

 

I'm actually happy about this move from the Jays perspective since that crosses out one buyer for Hanigan.

[kcjaysfan]

He was my third guy after McCann and Ruiz. Pretty fail of an off-season so far. If JPA is back...

 

Hanigan, or bust?

[jaysblue]

Hanigan, or bust?

 

I'd like to see the Jays bring in Hanigan and one of Cervelli or Stewart from the Yankees. That would be a solid tandem behind the plate and likely wouldn't cost much in trade and salary.

[dineke]

Hanigan, or bust?

 

If not hanigan, then AJ, then PANAC.

[kcjaysfan]

I'd like to see the Jays bring in Hanigan and one of Cervelli or Stewart from the Yankees. That would be a solid tandem behind the plate and likely wouldn't cost much in trade and salary.

 

What would you do with Thole and his $1.25M for next year?

[KingKat]

All the positive value pitch framers are getting locked up. I think there's only Martin Maldonado left among free agents. Beyond that there's the Yankees guys and Hanigan.

[GD]

All the positive value pitch framers are getting locked up. I think there's only Martin Maldonado left among free agents. Beyond that there's the Yankees guys and Hanigan.

 

On the trade market, Conger, Rene Rivera, Kratz, Avila, Romine, Flowers, and Corporan are all some above average pitch framers we could probably acquire.

 

I hear the 15.8 RAA J.P. Arencibia is available on the trade market.

[TheHurl]

I still think Navarro is the back up plan for AA. Completely unpredictable, coming off a career year and, although AA would have no clue, he's just a slightly below average framer. There is still the Red Sox, Rangers and Angels to compete with and they are all said to be interested in Salty and Pieguy. If the Jays have any interest in Navarro they probably should grab him now before those two make up their mind.

[8D]

Good for Molina and the Rays. I hope this deal works out really well for both parties.

[Dr. Dinger]

Hanigan, or bust?

 

It's pretty dire when you're counting on a 33 year old journeyman catcher who just had a 53 wRC+ in 75 games to be your saving grace.

[Chappy]

It's pretty dire when you're counting on a 33 year old journeyman catcher who just had a 53 wRC+ in 75 games to be your saving grace.

 

Dire is exactly what it is. I'm guessing it's either him or Navarro at this point.

[Dr. Dinger]

Dire is exactly what it is. I'm guessing it's either him or Navarro at this point.

 

Get both and maybe you have a catcher between them.

[ElNik2013]

Remember all that catching depth the Jays had about 14 months ago? Didn't think so, me neither.

[Chappy]

Get both and maybe you have a catcher between them.

 

This is really sad. JP is probably laughing his ass off.

[Abomination]

It's pretty dire when you're counting on a 33 year old journeyman catcher who just had a 53 wRC+ in 75 games to be your saving grace.

 

It'll probably end up being someone none of us expected. Maybe Tommy Joseph from the Phillies or something else like that.

[GeorgiaPeach]

It's pretty dire when you're counting on a 33 year old journeyman catcher who just had a 53 wRC+ in 75 games to be your saving grace.

 

I look at it as an opportunity in locking up a solid defensive backstop, and having him catch more than he ever has over the course of the next couple years at very reasonable money.

 

IMO he makes the staff better, provides financial flexibility to address other areas and I see his bat playing more towards his career numbers than his 2013 numbers.

 

And if we could get him for a RP, it opens up a slot to slide Stilson into the pen.

[Dr. Dinger]

He's a 33 year old catcher, the odds are pretty good he's in decline. He was just about the only player in baseball who hit worse than Arencibia last year.

[GeorgiaPeach]

He's a 33 year old catcher, the odds are pretty good he's in decline. He was just about the only player in baseball who hit worse than Arencibia last year.

 

Molina's gonna be 39 and the Rays just hit the jackpot?

[Dr. Dinger]

Molina is an elite pitch-framer at least, and they got him dirt cheap. Even with a .266 wOBA, he hit considerably better than Hanigan last year.

[kgm1]

It'll probably end up being someone none of us expected. Maybe Tommy Joseph from the Phillies or something else like that.

 

 

Joseph is probably a 1st baseman as long as his bat plays there . He isn,t likely a catcher

[GeorgiaPeach]

Molina is an elite pitch-framer at least, and they got him dirt cheap. Even with a .266 wOBA, he hit considerably better than Hanigan last year.

 

We need a stable defensive catcher....Hanigan is. His contract is pretty much nothing. And sorry I don't discount an abysmal career for a blip of a decent hitting season, as much I wouldn't discount Hanigan falling off the map because of one.

Edited November 25, 2013 by GeorgiaPeach

[GeorgiaPeach]

Joseph is probably a 1st baseman as long as his bat plays there . He isn,t likely a catcher

 

If his minor league numbers are anything close to what he does in the majors......he isn't a 1B.

[kgm1]

Last year AA rushed into things . Seemed like he wanted the whole thing wrapped up by Christmas . This year he seems to want to take his time .

 

The problem with that is the decent guys will be all off the table.

[TheHurl]

I think Hanigan, if healthy, will have some kind of a recovery with the bat this season. But even if he does get close to the Steamer projection .254/.346/.344 the defense one would figure is on it's decline. It also should be noted that Hanigan isn't going to draw anywhere near the same amount of walks in Toronto, of the 44 walks Steamer projects for him, 10 are intentional. In the AL he gets zero intentional walks.

[GeorgiaPeach]

There's other options, but who really cares at this time.

 

Its all about panic and making the playoffs once, and then the big teardown because everyone's in their mid 30's and f***ing sucks.

[TheHurl]

Showing your owner's hand will make it much more difficult to tear down and start over. Fans know that Rogers is willing to spend $150M and coming back down to $75M will be a PR nightmare for Rogers (although profits probably won't change). I can see them spending 5 to 10 years in this continual spend but don't contend mode. We can become the Cubs or Mets of the first decade of this Century. Maybe even have a playoff made in that time just like the Cubs and Mets.

[Chappy]

Showing your owner's hand will make it much more difficult to tear down and start over. Fans know that Rogers is willing to spend $150M and coming back down to $75M will be a PR nightmare for Rogers (although profits probably won't change). I can see them spending 5 to 10 years in this continual spend but don't contend mode. We can become the Cubs or Mets of the first decade of this Century. Maybe even have a playoff made in that time just like the Cubs and Mets.

 

Sounds wonderful.

[GeorgiaPeach]

Showing your owner's hand will make it much more difficult to tear down and start over. Fans know that Rogers is willing to spend $150M and coming back down to $75M will be a PR nightmare for Rogers (although profits probably won't change). I can see them spending 5 to 10 years in this continual spend but don't contend mode. We can become the Cubs or Mets of the first decade of this Century. Maybe even have a playoff made in that time just like the Cubs and Mets.

 

You don't even need to tear down that drastically. A trade centred around Profar & Bautista appears on the surface to be a move backwards, but IMO its a move forward without completely stripping the team back down to a bare bones operation.

 

I f***ing hate the we're either all-in, or we're gutting mentality. Those aren't the only two options.

[Chappy]

You don't even need to tear down that drastically. A trade centred around Profar & Bautista appears on the surface to be a move backwards, but IMO its a move forward without completely stripping the team back down to a bare bones operation.

 

I f***ing hate the we're either all-in, or we're gutting mentality. Those aren't the only two options.

 

I agree, the key is knowing which guys to move and when. Right now Bautista should be moved. He is getting up there in age yet still has a ton of value, it's only going to go down from here.