What will it take for you to be 'okay' going into the season?

[admin]

What does AA have to do for you to be somewhat comfortable going into the season?

 

For me, if we got someone like Tanaka (like as in it might be impossible for us to acquire him), I would be okay. I'd still want more, but if we got a potential ace, I'd feel we'd atleast be competitive.

Or two B player, an Infante caliber 2B (3WARish), and a decent pitcher, Garza/Anderson.

 

Personally, I think the Jays need to up payroll another $15M and go all in, or blow this team up. There's too many question marks in this team to make minor improvements and hope for the best.

Fister for one of our relievers + prospect would have been such an amazing trade for us. Such a let down.

 

PS I had a dream we signed Infante

[jayswin11]

A starting pitcher or 2 for sure, but if we give up Sanchez, Stroman, Gose I'll be pissed. That is unless the SP is Price. I'd like to see Lind moved, bring in another OF so we can rotate Bautista and Cabrera and the new guy at DH/OF. Actually wouldn't break my heart to see Bautista moved, depending on what we get in return.

 

What about taking a gamble on Grady Sizemore, might not be a bad idea

[Jays]

What about taking a gamble on Grady Sizemore, might not be a bad idea

 

The problem is, people have been saying this for years and it has yet to work out. His last really good year was 2008 and he hasn't played for since 2011. A minor league deal would be okay though.

[G-Snarls]

A solid right handed bat on the bench to platoon with Lind

 

A quality mid rotation or better starter

 

Yes, a lot will have to go right to make the post season but I think that's all AA is even going to attempt to do.

 

And done with only giving up one among Gose Stroman and Sanchez

[ElNik2013]

I'd like to see them get a good 2B, SP and RH bat off the bench that's decent defensively and keep the prospects. Use FA to plug the holes and I think they can create payroll space by trading Janssen/Santos and Happ.

[NorthOf49]

Homer Bailey. And a second baseman, maybe Infante.

[Anemic0ffense]

I can part with Gose, but giving up Sanchez/Stroman would be tough to swallow if the return isn't big... I could part with one for Shark, but why not just try to lure Garza here, since his buddy Navarro is here already? I find it tough to believe that Garza wouldn't love to come back to the AL East

 

Infante/Franklin/Ackley

Garza/Shark (either being the innings eating guy) & Anderson (Anderson being the gamble guy)

Perhaps a decent bench bat? Not sure

 

2B and a SP is pretty mandatory though... If he doesn't address these issues with guys who will add wins, ya might as well kiss the season goodbye before it even begins

[Jays]

If he doesn't address these issues with guys who will add wins, ya might as well kiss the season goodbye before it even begins

 

that's some deep poetry bro.

[xposbrad]

I still can see the reds wanting to dump phillips. I think if the Jays eat the majority of his salary we could get away with giving b level prospects. I'd be ok with trading for Phillips and signing Garza. Those moves would make me a believer for next season. It all will depend on Dickey being the #1 ace he was supposed to be. A 20+ game winner. If he's a #3 starter again then this team has no chance. Now, I know Morrow is also a wildcard, I'd be ok with trading him in a phillips package.

 

Now, imagine

Garza

Tanaka

Dickey

Buerhle

Happ /Drabek

 

Yes, a man can dream! You throw in Phillips into 2b and then you can't tell me this team wouldn't contend for a playoff spot. Now it would also require a bit of a payroll bump but you can either spend 10-15m and most likely not make the playoffs, or spend 20-30m more and have a good shot. The value of this franchise, sales, ticket revenue, would all dwarf that 20-30m spent, so your call Rogers!@

[GD]

Two starters and a not-s*** 2nd baseman.

[G-Snarls]

I'm glad they upgraded catcher I really am but he did pull his punches there a little bit.

 

Because of this I want him to aim higher on the pitching front

 

If he does land a quality starter on top of the catcher change, you can count me among the minority on here who are OK with Goins/ I Izturis at second base. Izturis will almost certainly be better in 2014. And the other infielders (Edwin, Reyes, Lawrie) should compensate offensively. I am again predicting a breakout season for Lawrie. If I'm wrong (again) then I concede that's s major problem.

[Laika]

A team with a win projection in the mid to high 80s should be willing to spend a lot in order to cross that 90th win mark. The value of these marginal wins is immense.

 

I'd like to see them spend money, not prospects (assuming than an overpay is necessary, I'd rather them overpay with money).

 

Tanaka or Garza to fill the team's biggest need, and then something like Mark Ellis and Youkilis to provide offensive depth. I think they can win 90 with that team.

 

Youkilis can DH against lefties, cover 1B and 3B, cover a full DH role. Mark Ellis is the starting 2B. I'd probably cut Izturis, just eat the money, and make Goins the backup 2B/SS. Would need another Kawasaki type in Buffalo though for when Reyes gets hurt. They could maybe DFA Mouser and send him there, but he'd probably prefer to be released. Some team might even claim him if Toronto pays some/most of his salary.

 

Alternate to Youkilis would be Mike Morse, if he'd take a non-guaranteed starting role (which I doubt he'd be interested in).

 

I'd be very pleased with something like that. I think it would be spreading stupid on top of stupid to put this team together and then stop investing in short term wins all of a sudden.

[GD]

Really one of our good relievers should be enough for Phillips.

 

Janssen + something of mild use should be good enough, but it probably won't be. Doesn't matter, AA will throw in Sanchez.

[G-Snarls]

I call for a Lawrie season of .280 BA and 20-25 HR with lots of doubles and a smattering of stolen bases. We all know he has that in him. he just needs to stay healthy-ish and focused.

[Laika]

Homer Bailey. And a second baseman, maybe Infante.

 

Homer is on the block?

[G-Snarls]

You must be really high on Navarro. I'm more inclined to view him as the backup he's been his whole career. An upgrade, yes, but I'm still expecting a below-average C.

 

Not really. That's what I meant by pulling punches. Didn't aim that high. He could be below average to quite good. He's been both in his career.

[G-Snarls]

One thing for sure - with Bonifacio and Arencibia both gone there will be fewer holes in the lineup.

[G-Snarls]

Youk would be the perfect RH DH backup 1B/3B guy. I'm in on this.

 

Has he said for sure he wants to play next year?

 

If so yeah as part time DH and backup to the oft injured Lawrie? Sweet. But Yanks likely resign for much less $ than he got this year.

 

Edit On second thought I think the Yankees decide to let him go. they have too many other old often injured guys. It burned Cash man badly last year. I expect he's learned from that.

[admin]

I'm pretty sure I'm the only person outside of Boston who loves Youkilis. I'd be very much on board with him in DeRosa's role.

 

I repeatedly said I wanted him here when Red Sox dumped him and he was going to have a huge year. Well he wasn't that great but .236/.346 .771 isn't too bad!

[Pete_7]

Two starters and a not-s*** 2nd baseman.

 

This

[Dylan]

A better 2B and 2 more starters and I'll be happy. To be greedy i'd like another OF but I can live without for now

[G-Snarls]

The problem is, people have been saying this for years and it has yet to work out. His last really good year was 2008 and he hasn't played for since 2011. A minor league deal would be okay though.

 

I think I've asked this before but don't remember the answer. Do the Indians still have any rights on Sizemore or is he free to sign with whomever he wants??

[John_Havok]

What does AA have to do for you to be somewhat comfortable going into the season?

 

For me, if we got someone like Tanaka (like as in it might be impossible for us to acquire him), I would be okay. I'd still want more, but if we got a potential ace, I'd feel we'd atleast be competitive.

Or two B player, an Infante caliber 2B (3WARish), and a decent pitcher, Garza/Anderson.

 

Personally, I think the Jays need to up payroll another $15M and go all in, or blow this team up. There's too many question marks in this team to make minor improvements and hope for the best.

Fister for one of our relievers + prospect would have been such an amazing trade for us. Such a let down.

 

PS I had a dream we signed Infante

 

THe night before Cano signed with Seattle, I had a dream the Jays signed him for 10/261. I woke up in a very cold sweat.

[L54]

That's why people are indicating they'd be comfortable with additions to the starting rotation, Robert.

[SAAviour]

Don't under estimate the power of addition by subtraction. Not having black holes at 2b, catcher, and LF will be a huge upgrade on the field and mentally.

 

Plus all those starts for AAAA pitchers we used last year already look more promising going into next year.

 

I'm certain AA will pull something off at the winter meetings that will get us all legitimately excited to!

[Angrioter]

Who are we better than

 

85-87 win team right now.

[TheHurl]

Keeping Stroman, Hutch, Nolin and Sanchez. At least two true platoons.

[Angrioter]

Don't under estimate the power of addition by subtraction. Not having black holes at 2b, catcher, and LF will be a huge upgrade on the field and mentally.

 

Plus all those starts for AAAA pitchers we used last year already look more promising going into next year.

 

I'm certain AA will pull something off at the winter meetings that will get us all legitimately excited to!

 

1-Melky, JPA and Izturis had a bet "who was the worst player" among them 3.

2-Ortiz, Jenkins, Wang, Romero, Laffey, Nolin and his 17 GS

 

That cost us some wins.

[mitchf]

I said to most people close to me that I would become a Rays fan if this organization went into 2014 with JP Arencibia as our starting catcher.

 

Now that that's done, I'd like to see nature take its course with this roster and hopefully by 2015 Alex and Co. are all fired. New people step in and we can start to project a well structured lineup again like its 2011.

[Chappy]

A mid rotation SP or better (Shark, Bailey, Garza, etc), a 2B upgrade (Infante or Ellis), A solid bench option that can platoon with Lind and offer us some defensive flexibility.

 

Accomplish that and I think this team is in the playoff hunt.