Athletics to acquire Samardzija and Hammel

[Chappy]

I still think you have to add someone in the offseason if you want to have an above-average group in 2015. Add a top-30 starter, and roll with:

 

new guy

Hutchison

Stroman

Dickey/Buehrle

Norris/Nolin/random guys

 

That's a potentially nice group. I just don't think you can rely on a future Norris/Stroman/Hutch/Sanchez/Nolin rotation panning out. At least not if you have playoff aspirations.

 

Why is it Dickey or Buehrle? For 2015 it should be hutch/Stro/Dickey/Buehrle/FA. I talking 2016. Even then, I know all of Norris/Nolin/Sanchez won't work out, but if even one does, we have a great core with Hutch and Stroman.

[Chappy]

I'd take the Cubs side easily.

 

It's not as simple as that. A's had a great shot to win it all before the trade, now they put themselves in an even stronger position, plus they have Shark next season as well.

[BTS]

Why is it Dickey or Buehrle? For 2015 it should be hutch/Stro/Dickey/Buehrle/FA. I talking 2016. Even then, I know all of Norris/Nolin/Sanchez won't work out, but if even one does, we have a great core with Hutch and Stroman.

 

Just assuming/hoping that at least one will be traded in the offseason. $32 million on a couple of inning-eating fourth starters probably isn't the best allocation of resources.

[Chappy]

So, yea we get to face an extra right hander this weekend??

 

Small victories help me sleep at night

 

Lol.

[Chappy]

Just assuming/hoping that at least one will be traded in the offseason. $32 million on a couple of inning-eating fourth starters probably isn't the best allocation of resources.

 

It isn't, but a lot will free up after the 2015 season.

[sh3156]

Let's get to the playoffs first. This team doesn't need to mortgage the next 5-6 years of a potentially great and cheap rotation for one shot in the bucket that will likely end in failure with the quality of some of the other contenders.

 

This team will not make the playoffs in its current condition

 

This future you dream off we have already dreamt off for years with Marcum n McGowan and then with Cecil Romero and Morrow

 

It won't happen. Guys will get hurt. Guys will get worse. Furthermore jays won't have two top ten bats in all of baseball. Guys like Bautista and Encarnacion will cost $30M a year in free agency

 

Now is the time. If this team does not make the playoffs future jays team will not have money to compete against $300 payrolls. Fan support will collapse

[reedjohnsonfan]

I'd take the Cubs side easily.

 

Ya, but I think you underrate the win now mentality, so I don't take your opinion seriously.

[BTS]

It isn't, but a lot will free up after the 2015 season.

 

I'm expecting the team to face payroll contraints entering next year though. They currently don't have a LF, CF, 2B, and will need an ace. If moving Buehrle or Dickey frees up some cash to address those issues, they should be moved. Buehrle probable makes more next year than the AAV of Shields' next contratc.

[sh3156]

We had the second best pitching staff in baseball in 2008 and it wasn't enough. We had 4 good starters it wasn't enough

 

The bluejays will never have two big bats like Bautista and EE again. Once they are gone they are gone.

[Chappy]

This team will not make the playoffs in its current condition

 

This future you dream off we have already dreamt off for years with Marcum n McGowan and then with Cecil Romero and Morrow

 

It won't happen. Guys will get hurt. Guys will get worse. Furthermore jays won't have two top ten bats in all of baseball. Guys like Bautista and Encarnacion will cost $30M a year in free agency

 

Now is the time. If this team does not make the playoffs future jays team will not have money to compete against $300 payrolls. Fan support will collapse

 

Was Cecil or Marcum ever regarded as high as Sanchez or Norris? Plus we have Nolin ready once he gets healthy. Not to mention Dickey and Buehrle under contract next season as well to help bridge the transition.

[sh3156]

And I don't think if people have noticed but free agents do not want to come to Toronto and will not come to Toronto

 

You could have a hundred million freed up. Understand they do not want to come to Toronto

[theblujay]

Add Hoffman into the mix for 2016 rotation maybe?

[Chappy]

I'm expecting the team to face payroll contraints entering next year though. They currently don't have a LF, CF, 2B, and will need an ace. If moving Buehrle or Dickey frees up some cash to address those issues, they should be moved. Buehrle probable makes more next year than the AAV of Shields' next contratc.

 

They will have some cash next season if payroll remains the same. They should be able to resign Melky or Rasmus with Gose slotting into CF. I don't think they need an ace, rather I would focus on 2B or 3B. I think they can get that done with the current payroll coming off the books.

[Fearthedoc]

Castro/Russell/Baez.

 

What do you think the Cubs do with the 3? Do they try and convert one to fill 2B for them? I wouldn't be shocked to see them move Castro.

[Chappy]

Add Hoffman into the mix for 2016 rotation maybe?

 

Too soon to say.

[TwistedLogic]

Haven't felt as good for a Jays prospect as I do for Hoffman since Lawrie. Would be so great to have him pan out. Just feels like there's something special about him.

[torontofan]

Was Cecil or Marcum ever regarded as high as Sanchez or Norris? Plus we have Nolin ready once he gets healthy. Not to mention Dickey and Buehrle under contract next season as well to help bridge the transition.

 

Cecil was pretty highly regarded. Not overly fair to compare those guys at all though as they were coming out of college and Norris and Sanchez signed out of HS.

[sh3156]

Was Cecil or Marcum ever regarded as high as Sanchez or Norris? Plus we have Nolin ready once he gets healthy. Not to mention Dickey and Buehrle under contract next season as well to help bridge the transition.

 

No but McGowan was. That didn't turn out well what about Romero how fast did he lose it. Cecil was a top prospect and we heard for years from Wilner on how Cecil will be 1A to Halladays 1.

 

This team has the equivalent of manram/Ortiz of the early 2000s. Redsox turned into multiple championships. Jays are about to waste Encarnacion n Bautista

[Angrioter]

Can someone give an equilivent of Jays prospects to the ones the As have up

 

Russell-Lawrie, Straily-Norris, McKinney-Pompey

[Abomination]

I'm expecting the team to face payroll contraints entering next year though. They currently don't have a LF, CF, 2B, and will need an ace. If moving Buehrle or Dickey frees up some cash to address those issues, they should be moved. Buehrle probable makes more next year than the AAV of Shields' next contratc.

 

I wonder if Allen Craig could be a good fit in the outfield? He seems to be the odd man out in Stl right now, and his contract is reasonable.

[SantosLHalper21]

Castro/Russell/Baez.

 

What do you think the Cubs do with the 3? Do they try and convert one to fill 2B for them? I wouldn't be shocked to see them move Castro.

 

You might as well put Bryant in there too man. Baez or Russell were supposedly said to have an iffy future at short and could move to third. With Bryant at third, Rizzo at first...the Cubs corner infield is locked up.

 

Maybe the Jays should look into a prospect swap here...

 

Would the Cubs be open to a Sanchez+prospect for Castro or Baez swap.

 

If the Jays were really adventurous, they'd try to come up with a package to get Kris Bryant..afterall, the Jays did draft him first...haha.

 

In the end, I have no idea why the Cubs pulled the trigger on this deal. Yes Russell is a stud prospect..however, what the Cubs needed most was pitching..not only on their MLB team (due to the loss of their ace and #3), but in the minors where they are pretty thin for Starters outside of CJ Edwards.

 

If its about collecting assets, the Cubs certainly did.

 

With an infield that could include Bryant/Castro/Alcantara/Rizzo...backed up by Russell/Baez/Bonifacio/Vogelbach....the Cubs have an embarassment of riches in their infield.

[Angrioter]

I would say Straily is more like Hutchison in that hes a middle rotation arm with a year under his belt.

 

Last year Straily = Hutchison. This year Hutchison >>>>> Straily

[Angrioter]

[theblujay]

Haven't felt as good for a Jays prospect as I do for Hoffman since Lawrie. Would be so great to have him pan out. Just feels like there's something special about him.

 

I kinda have that same feeling!

[sh3156]

I still can't believe this deal. The Athletics now have to be favorites to win the world series. Amazing. Doing whatever it takes to win a world series. Got to admire that.

[Angrioter]

[Fearthedoc]

The Cubs pretty much have CJ Edwards/Pierce Johnson and that's it as far as pitching prospects go. Both are having underwhelming/injury bitten years as well. I would love to try and flip Sanchez/Norris for an infielder (Bryant isn't going anywhere, but Baez could be a nice buy-low candidate). It makes sense for both clubs and we can probably get good value taking advantage of their need for SP youth.

 

The Cubs could always end up moving Bryant to RF and Baez at 3B. Still have to move one of Russell/Castro though.

[sh3156]

So for the As is Tommy Milone out of a job? Assuming they keep Gray, Kazmir and Chavez in the rotation.

 

Jays wouldn't matchup as good partner, but I thought he was fantastic on the mound today. Good looking lefty

[Chappy]

Cecil was pretty highly regarded. Not overly fair to compare those guys at all though as they were coming out of college and Norris and Sanchez signed out of HS.

 

HS has nothing to do with it. That's why some HS guys drafted in the later rounds are regarded higher than college guys.

[Fearthedoc]

So for the As is Tommy Milone out of a job? Assuming they keep Gray, Kazmir and Chavez in the rotation.

 

Jays wouldn't matchup as good partner, but I thought he was fantastic on the mound today. Good looking lefty

 

That's not even factoring in what happens when Drew Pomeranz comes off the DL (end of July-ish).