2015 Blue Jays

[Brenner]

The 2014 Bluy Jays are red hot and we are all enjoying their great baseball, but you can always speculate what will happen next year. Hopefully the team keeps going and makes the playoffs and then who knows what happens. But I am curious how people see the team shaping up next year.

 

Lets start with SP. Health permitting I think the top 4 in the rotation is set for next year.

 

1. Hutch

2. Dickey

3. Stroman

4. MB

5. Happ/Morrow

 

The number five spot is where it gets interesting. Unless one of the top 4 are hurt I can only see 1 of Happ/Morrow returning. Given Morrows price tag and injury proneness I think he is cut. The team can use his money elsewhere. If everyone maintains decent performance/health we might not be looking for a SP at all this off season. Hopefully guys like Nolin/Sanchez/Hendricks/McGuire in the minors ready to step in as injury subs.

 

For the bullpen, the likely returning players are:

 

Janssen/FA Closer - Would like the jays to resign Janssen, likely something like 4x8m? I don't know, but I hope he is back.

Cecil

Delebar - Yes is struggling right now but is dirt cheap, hopefully recovers during the 2nd half.

Santos/McGowan - Both of these guys have relatively pricey options for a reliever, Santos as 6 mil and McGowan at 4. If they aren't the closer then only 1 should be brought back. Health & performance during the 2nd half will determine who but right now McGowan is the choice.

Loup

Jenkins/Wagner - likely one of these young guys is with the team next year full time.

Redmond - need a long arm

FA Signing - likely need a veteran depth signing here.

 

Minor league depth includes Rasmussen/Stilson/Others

 

C - Navarro/Thole/Kratz - likely keep the Trio going

1b - Edwin/Lind - Lind might be traded but if not his option likely picked up again

2b - FA/Lawrie - Would like to see Lawrie at third.

SS - Reyes

3b - Lawrie/Francisco -

LF - Cabrera/FA - I think Melky is resigned. With declining options on Santos/Morrow should have enough money to give Cabrera on a 4x14 deal.

CF - Gose/Pillar - I think Rasmus is let go we go younger.

RF - Joey Bats

 

Letting Morrow/Santos/Rasmus go should free up enough money to resign Cabrera and add a 2b. If Francisco proves to be the real deal than Lind could be traded to further free up some money. Izzy might be back next year but at $3 mil could easily eat his salary in the minors for a better bench 2b/SS option. Barring injury not to many holes in the line up and should be able to handle it with only a minor payroll increase. If they actually make a WS run this year hopefully given the green light to really make some nice FA signs like they did in 93.

[GD]

wrong forum

 

Aoki OF, Headley 3B, Shields SP pls