Is AA a Good GM?

[Angrioter]

Yup. Romero was extended during his sophomore season. There were still 4+ years of team control. The $22 million or so in wasted money is a reminder that guaranteeing a pitcher real long-term money well before you have to is probably not a great idea.

 

For that reason Lawrie and Rasmus hasn't received extension offer yet. Nice move Alex.

[Abomination]

I'm not saying it was a horrible decision at the time, but it was a risk without risk being necessary, and he's paying for it now. I've become a big believer in taking players year-to-year until 1-2 years before they're set for free agency.

 

Yeah, I think I agree with that, and it appears that AA does now too. I'd probably say closer to 2 years before though as opposed to 1.

[ElNik2013]

I'm 99% sure that was ordered by Rogers. I don't blame AA for dumping Escobar at all unless we were to find out it was his idea to do so (which I highly doubt)

 

 

Agreed. I think AA's choices with Escobar were to either outright release him and eat his salary or find someone to take him and his salary even if it was a good deal. Does anyone remember if there were reports of Escobar being put on waivers at the time of the homophobic incident?

[ElNik2013]

For that reason Lawrie and Rasmus hasn't received extension offer yet. Nice move Alex.

 

 

How do you know this, did you grow up with Lawrie and Rasmus too?

[Abomination]

Agreed. I think AA's choices with Escobar were to either outright release him and eat his salary or find someone to take him and his salary even if it was a good deal. Does anyone remember if there were reports of Escobar being put on waivers at the time of the homophobic incident?

 

I recall there being reports that they were seriously considering just releasing him. Waivers would have been part of the process I'd assume.

[Angrioter]

How do you know this, did you grow up with Lawrie and Rasmus too?

 

Anthopoulos didn't say whether or not he'd recently discussed a contract extension with Colby Rasmus, who is eligible for free agency next winter. Rasmus has raised his value after a big 2013 campaign, though Anthopoulos noted that larger-market teams like Toronto had the luxury of waiting before locking players up. "We don’t mind paying a little more to be sure we get a little more information," Anthopoulos said.

 

The team did explore an extension with Rasmus during last year's All-Star break. “We wanted to see how he was going to play. We could look to do it this offseason, All-Star break, end of the season. I never divulge it because it becomes a daily watch," Anthopoulos said.

[ElNik2013]

Anthopoulos didn't say whether or not he'd recently discussed a contract extension with Colby Rasmus, who is eligible for free agency next winter. Rasmus has raised his value after a big 2013 campaign, though Anthopoulos noted that larger-market teams like Toronto had the luxury of waiting before locking players up. "We don’t mind paying a little more to be sure we get a little more information," Anthopoulos said.

 

The team did explore an extension with Rasmus during last year's All-Star break. “We wanted to see how he was going to play. We could look to do it this offseason, All-Star break, end of the season. I never divulge it because it becomes a daily watch," Anthopoulos said.

 

How do you know Rasmus didn't reject an offer? All speculation, no big deal.

[connorp]

Imagine if we locked up Lawrie after 2011 for like 8 years and big money..A LOT of posters were on board with that. Good posters I mean

[connorp]

I'm 99% sure that was ordered by Rogers. I don't blame AA for dumping Escobar at all unless we were to find out it was his idea to do so (which I highly doubt)

 

Youre prob right. Was such a brutal handling though. All AA had to say was Esco was a really great guy in the clubhouse/this wasnt like him and it was isolated incident. But they just fried him

[havok24]

The Dickey and Marlins trades need their own colour.

 

We all knew the Dickey trade was going to be a disaster, but the progression of Synderlander has been amazing. That kid is a god.

[Tuco]

We all knew the Dickey trade was going to be a disaster, but the progression of Synderlander has been amazing. That kid is a god.

 

Talk about overreaction.

[havok24]

Talk about overreaction.

 

"Monster" any better for you?

[mitchf]

No he's f***ing horrible.

[Captain Adama]

No he's f***ing horrible.

 

I don't care if you're joking or not, f***ing reported.

[GeorgiaPeach]

That window story is BS.

 

It is? What do you think this team will be in 2 years if they follow the path they're on now? An even older, more expensive team. And when the core is gone, the window is closed and the talented portion of the farm in the low minors from a beloved prospect hound to the Illuminati on here, is still a good 2-4 years away from contributing.

 

There's a window.

Edited December 23, 2013 by GeorgiaPeach

[GeorgiaPeach]

Well like your belief that AA won't admit failure, which is ONLY an opinion. Your explaining anything doesn't make it fact. It is an opinion, just like mine. The OP question asked what our opinion of AA is, that is mine. I can't help it if you don't like it.

 

I guess we'll find out if this collection of vets fails to make a playoff appearance. And then someone better take responsibility for the failure. And hopefully one day the details come out to see where the blame lies in pushing for this all-in or half-in approach the Jays demonstrated.

 

He took a chance. It is yet to be decided whether it has worked or not. But if it doesn't work, they are no different than they were before the trades. The Jays will be a club with one of the top farm systems, and that will be it.

 

IMO the team will be much worse at the end of the experiment than where we were. It'll be closer to a true 70-75ish win team. And no I don't want the FO to do the same thing again, even if it does net the Jays a playoff appearance. I want sustained winning. Not a late 90's-2000's Marlins style operation. It's a very hollow way to operate a franchise.

Edited December 23, 2013 by GeorgiaPeach

[GeorgiaPeach]

I'm sure at least 20 other franchises would want a Beane/Friedman/Mozeliak, but if 20 franchises had them, they wouldn't be as good. The thing is, are you confident that Beeston would hire a better GM to succeed AA? I doubt it and doubt even more that a Beane or Friedman could be lured to work for the Blue Jays. I certainly hope I'm wrong.

 

At the end of the day, if they win 85 games and are in the 2nd WC race, AA will stay.

 

I hope Beeston is gone soon. I'm tired of hearing about 1992 & 1993.

[Jimcanuck]

Below average GM

 

Of the top of my head, Morrow, Delabar, Escobar, Santos all good moves

 

Will not give him any credit for Wells, that one dropped in his lap - LAA shitshow organization

 

AA does not seem to have a clue about building a sustainably winning ballclub, and that sinks him to below average IMO

[Dr. Dinger]

I disagree on a few of those, but especially Daniels. He's assembled a team that has won 90+ games 5 years running and has made multiple great decisions and very few poor ones of consequences. It's absurd to rank him below AA based on two moves in which the players haven't played a single game.

 

I'd actually have Daniels firmly in the Top 5, maybe 3rd.

[The_DH]

I think AA just needed a mentor. He could be better.

[Dr. Dinger]

It'd be nice if we could get rid of Beeston and at least get Boras clients back on our draft board.

[Dr. Dinger]

So would I. Friedman, Beane, Daniels, Mozeliak would be my top four.

 

Jocketty would probably round out my Top 5, although I might be forgetting someone.

[LunchBox]

Frank Wren

[Angrioter]

So would I. Friedman, Beane, Daniels, Mozeliak would be my top four.

 

Friedman, Beane, Mozeliak, Daniels, Luhnow, Jocketty, Cherington

[mitchf]

I was thinking him, but there are a lot of guys in the conversation. Even Neal Huntington has been making a case lately.

I was just going to mention him. He's starting to break through.

[Angrioter]

Wren, Huntington, Jocketty, Cherington even though he might not know about DIPS, Luhnow, Hoyer are all guys I could see being in the top-5. The top-4 are a cut above right now IMO.

 

Huntington one hit wonder?

Come on!!

AA > Hunt

[GD]

So would I. Friedman, Beane, Daniels, Mozeliak would be my top four.

 

Mozeliak behind Daniels? I dunno.

[Boxcar]

So would I. Friedman, Beane, Daniels, Mozeliak would be my top four.

 

I'd probably have Hoyer or (surprisingly) Huntington over Daniels...his moves lately haven't been top 5 calibre, though I still regard him as a much, MUCH better GM than AA. Huntington's moves over the past couple of years have been nothing short of incredible.

[Dr. Dinger]

What has Luhnow done to get mentioned in the top tier? That team is going to be very bad for the foreseeable future.

[Dr. Dinger]

Whats so great about Huntington? I still think the Pirates are pretty shabby beyond Cutch and Cole. I think they're back below .500 next year.