Is a bat now more important than a starter

[kgm1]

With Happ pitching OK every 2nd start, Stroman pitching well and the Offense floundering i'm wondering what people think. Bautista is back and Kawasaki has been ok but we suck against leftie pitchers and Lawrie is probably out for another month.

Do we need an Infield bat who can hit lefty pitching more than we need a starter?

[kgm1]

I voted for a bat as it is easier to get and would cost less . Still hoping one of our starters besides Buehrle steps up and get consistent.

[Daniel Labude]

Starting pitching should be the priority, but I think we could get both a starter and a decent 2B

[kgm1]

Starting pitching should be the priority, but I think we could get both a starter and a decent 2B

 

 

Reason i didn't give that option is everyone would have voted for both

[Jimcanuck]

headley

[Chappy]

Do nothing. Stroman and Hutch have been good and with Nolin, Norris, and Sanchez all likely pushing for rotation spots next season, we could have a good young and cheap rotation. Buehrle and Dickey will be in their final years and would help bridge the transition.

[GeorgiaPeach]

Starting pitching should be the priority, but I think we could get both a starter and a decent 2B

 

Instead of making a push this year I'd rather see the Jays be patient in 2014 and instead make a hard push for Kenta Maeda when he gets posted & keep the farm intact. I still don't understand why the Jays have their 5 year contract limit in place. It's not like they're prevented from trading a player in year 3 or 4 if they ink them to a 7 year deal to avoid full risk.

[o2cui2i]

With Happ pitching OK every 2nd start, Stroman pitching well and the Offense floundering i'm wondering what people think. Bautista is back and Kawasaki has been ok but we suck against leftie pitchers and Lawrie is probably out for another month.

Do we need an Infield bat who can hit lefty pitching more than we need a starter?

 

what AA does in the next two weeks will determine all in out not. if he makes a major move it will cost us so much that there will be no turning back. they are not completely committed to winning this year, but it they make a move this is it..... I dont think they can make it without miracles and trades. the lineup has too many lefties who do absolutely nothing against RHP, but I think they need a starter too.

[Governator]

How many second basemen have we seen this year? We need a legit 2B who can hit for avg (or I guess 3B but I'm not in favour of moving Lawrie). Also some stability in the BP would be nice, combined might still cost less than a starter... With a fresh start, Brandon Morrow might still be the added arm we need for the rotation this year.

[Convo]

I don't know how anyone can say we "need" a starter more at this point. Nobody is making an obvious case to be out of the rotation.

[CJ-Freeway]

What would Daniel Murphy cost us? His bat addition would bolster the lineup considerably. Yes, I can dream lol.

[kgm1]

Do nothing. Stroman and Hutch have been good and with Nolin, Norris, and Sanchez all likely pushing for rotation spots next season, we could have a good young and cheap rotation. Buehrle and Dickey will be in their final years and would help bridge the transition.

 

The thing I'm not in favor of is gutting the farm . A cheap Right handed bat for one of our infield spots I would be in favor of . Even a salary dump if Rogers is willing . i suspect they would prefer to dump prospects rather than add salary but that is so short sighted. The new management at Rogers says keep winning, Pelly says AA has the money but I'm very skeptical. Martin Prado is available for nothing if we eat the salary. The more salary they eat the higher the cost in prospects . While Prado isn't hitting great this year he has hit lefties to the tune of 782 OPS. His defense has been good and he is a career .291 hitter albeit with little power. Good in the clubhouse and able to play both 2nd and 3rd. It is all dependent on the cost in both salary and prospects

[kgm1]

What would Daniel Murphy cost us? His bat addition would bolster the lineup considerably. Yes, I can dream lol.

 

I don't dream . His defense is terrible which is why the rumors are the Jays are NOT interested in him

[GD]

I don't dream . His defense is terrible which is why the rumors are the Jays are NOT interested in him

 

http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2014/6/23/5836300/mets-trade-rumors-daniel-murphy-drawing-interest-from-blue-jays-giants

[kgm1]

Instead of making a push this year I'd rather see the Jays be patient in 2014 and instead make a hard push for Kenta Maeda when he gets posted & keep the farm intact. I still don't understand why the Jays have their 5 year contract limit in place. It's not like they're prevented from trading a player in year 3 or 4 if they ink them to a 7 year deal to avoid full risk.

 

I don't like deals more than 5 years personally and while Maeda may make sense i doubt the current payroll situation gets us a shot. I don't want to gut the farm system but if we are in first place after the allstar break I think you have to add some cheap pieces that are salary dumps.

[kgm1]

http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2014/6/23/5836300/mets-trade-rumors-daniel-murphy-drawing-interest-from-blue-jays-giants

 

I trust Heyman more than that guy. This from MLBTR

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports adds, also via Twitter, that while the Blue Jays are looking at second base options, they’re not considering Daniel Murphy of the Mets. Toronto is looking for more defense that Murphy offers at the position. It’s been reported that the Mets could extend Murphy rather than trade him. I examined what a Murphy extension might cost the Mets yesterday.

[GD]

I trust Heyman more than that guy. This from MLBTR

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports adds, also via Twitter, that while the Blue Jays are looking at second base options, they’re not considering Daniel Murphy of the Mets. Toronto is looking for more defense that Murphy offers at the position. It’s been reported that the Mets could extend Murphy rather than trade him. I examined what a Murphy extension might cost the Mets yesterday.

 

Hm, interesting. Not sure who to believe.

[Convo]

I made a similar point on a different site, and it opened up a floodgate of butthurt. Everyone seems obsessed with the idea that starting pitching is our biggest problem, when the opposite is true.

 

With that said it almost seems like our entire rotation is comprised of 3-5 starters. Though Buehrle has been pitching like a 1-2, it's just not who he is.

[GD]

I made a similar point on a different site, and it opened up a floodgate of butthurt. Everyone seems obsessed with the idea that starting pitching is our biggest problem, when the opposite is true.

 

MjwW is right (as he usually is), we're a very good offensive team minus some injuries. We need a good starter and one offensive piece.

[kgm1]

Hm, interesting. Not sure who to believe.

 

I would suggest both are just speculation. As AA said there is a lot of BS getting printed right now. I just look at his defense on grass and think how horrible that would be on turf. I would rather just stay with Kawasaki . That is how bad I think his defense is.

[CJ-Freeway]

Just saw Murph's fielding stats, yup he's not really good. We already have to deal with Reyes' ******** at Short.

[Art Vandelay]

I wouldn't be disappointed if they decide to go after another starter, but right now it's our offence that is letting the team down. We're not being blown out of too many games, and a lot of the games we're losing are winnable. But look at today's lineup (vomit):

 

[BTS]

Chase Headley please. Then extend him while his numbers are down.

[kgm1]

MjwW is right (as he usually is), we're a very good offensive team minus some injuries. We need a good starter and one offensive piece.

 

I would agree with that if we were willing to gut the farm and add payroll. I'm not willing to do that. Sure we aren't going far without at least 1 pitcher stepping up . i know some are more than willing to totally gut the farm for a year and a half of the shark. Me I want salary dumps that cost little except money. Rogers probably won't do that .

Still this is an age when people want now and f*** the consequences . Live for today right .

 

Me ! I retired comfortably at age 54 so i can travel the world hunting and watching Baseball. I'd rather watch Norris and Sanchez pitch for the Jays

[GeorgiaPeach]

I don't like deals more than 5 years personally and while Maeda may make sense i doubt the current payroll situation gets us a shot. I don't want to gut the farm system but if we are in first place after the allstar break I think you have to add some cheap pieces that are salary dumps.

 

If you look past the long term commitment of say 6 or 7 years and think at some point we could trade this pitcher/player. Why not take the plunge? IMO it's a way better alternative than dealing top prospects and trying to extend 30- 30+ year old pitchers who are looking for 4 & 5 year extensions.

 

As for current payroll?

 

Rasmus better be gone, Morrow could be gone, incoming TV money of what 25m, big money coming off old player contracts in subsequent years. How can't they afford that going forward?

[kgm1]

Chase Headley please. Then extend him while his numbers are down.

 

I would be fine with Headly if the cost was right. Prado interests me as a salary dump that should cost nothing but money . Can Rogers look long term?

[CJ-Freeway]

What about Chase Utley from the Phils? He plays good defense at 2B and the Phils will most likely be sellers at the deadline. Plus he wouldn't cost too much, prospect wise (I would imagine)

[BTS]

What about Chase Utley from the Phils? He plays good defense at 2B and the Phils will most likely be sellers at the deadline. Plus he wouldn't cost too much, prospect wise (I would imagine)

 

Utley looks to be in the middle of a 4+ WAR season and has three reasonable options after 2015. He'd probably cost Norris +, as he should.

[GeorgiaPeach]

Utley looks to be in the middle of a 4+ WAR season and has three reasonable options after 2015. He'd probably cost Norris +, as he should.

 

Wasn't there talk Utley would refuse a trade?

[kgm1]

If you look past the long term commitment of say 6 or 7 years and think at some point we could trade this pitcher/player. Why not take the plunge? IMO it's a way better alternative than dealing top prospects and trying to extend 30- 30+ year old pitchers who are looking for 4 & 5 year extensions.

 

As for current payroll?

 

Rasmus better be gone, Morrow could be gone, incoming TV money of what 25m, big money coming off old player contracts in subsequent years. How can't they afford that going forward?

 

Rasmus will be gone . Morrow better be gone and Happ, Janssen/Santos will likely be gone . With the new posting system I highly doubt we ever get a top Japanese pitcher. We just have to develop our own . That said we could add a salary dump like Prado for nothing in prospects.