Blue Jays have begun contract talks with Melky Cabrera.

[reedjohnsonfan]

I think they sign him and it wouldn't be the worst thing. Short term he's the best option unless AA gets really creative. It's a move that given the circumstances they probably should make, as much as the Saunders trade idea sounded interesting.

[Brenner]

Melky is not that old compared to the other guys hitting the market. Cruz is 4 yrs older and likely will get a 3-4 year deal. Melky was durable this year with no nagging type injuries causing him to miss time, just a fluke broken finger that could happen to any player in any game. I think something like 4 yr 50-55 mil plus option on 5th that can become guaranteed if healthy and productive but becomes league min salary if he has another PED hit (similar to Lackey's deal) is likely fair in this market. I really liked Melky and think his consistent high average bat helps balance out the inconsistent power bats we have. Sure 3 year 30 would be great but lets get real.

[RealAccountant]

i don't even want Melky on a one year QO, spend that money on a short term deal for McCarthy or Headley

 

Lol.

[RealAccountant]

I think its stupid to sign a well performing player when we can have a draft pick which might make us a better team in 2020

 

Winning is overrated anyways. Real pleasure is in drafting prospects and dreaming about their potential.

[kgm1]

I think its stupid to sign a well performing player when we can have a draft pick which might make us a better team in 2020

 

Winning is overrated anyways. Real pleasure is in drafting prospects and dreaming about their potential.

 

So you add Melky at say 4/14, now your at about 144 mil even with hedging and only 15 players with the other 10 at league minimum. What do you do with 2nd base and the bull pen. Do you think Rogers will add another 10 mil to fix the pen.

[glory]

Play Gose at CF and Pompey in LF against RHP, and Pillar in LF and Pompey at CF against LHP. That's what I'm guessing the OF will look like. Whether they move Bautista to 1B or keep him at RF is the question.

[Governator]

I think too many of you undervalue Melky while overlooking Toronto's inability to attract free agents.

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

I for one have no problem with paying for Melky on a 3 year deal and letting Lind walk! One less platoon.

 

Melky can DH full time and spell off in the outfield or against left hand pitchers? When we need to sit Gose !

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

Also could a outfield of Pompey LF, Bautista CF, Gose RF play then sign someone like Denorfia to round it out and gain a nice bench bat as well !

[kgm1]

Also could a outfield of Pompey LF, Bautista CF, Gose RF play then sign someone like Denorfia to round it out and gain a nice bench bat as well !

 

Yep , makes perfect sense to me to have a CF in right a CF in left and Bautista in center.

 

How much Rum have you had tonite

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

I just thought the two young guns could cover the gaps from the corner spots better! And Bautista has the stronger arm from Center . Plus the Fact that Gose doesn't play well with others and putting him and pompey beside each other might be dangerous for their health! Lol hence why I " kept them separated" plus I always found Center the easiest position in the outfield to play myself!

[RealAccountant]

So you add Melky at say 4/14, now your at about 144 mil even with hedging and only 15 players with the other 10 at league minimum. What do you do with 2nd base and the bull pen. Do you think Rogers will add another 10 mil to fix the pen.

 

Its stupid to invest any money in the bull pen. Relievers tend to go up and down throughout their career,

 

As far as 2B is concerned, its a priority. However you cannot get stronger as a team by letting one of your strengths go and replacing it with a weaker player. Gose is already penciled in for CF, so what then are we looking at Pillar in Left field. Terrible just terrible. The 3 year offering is a clear attempt to discourage Melky, while at the same time show the weak fans, hey we tried.

 

At the current rate, this is going to be a below .500 team next year.

[Brenner]

Its stupid to invest any money in the bull pen. Relievers tend to go up and down throughout their career,

 

As far as 2B is concerned, its a priority. However you cannot get stronger as a team by letting one of your strengths go and replacing it with a weaker player. Gose is already penciled in for CF, so what then are we looking at Pillar in Left field. Terrible just terrible. The 3 year offering is a clear attempt to discourage Melky, while at the same time show the weak fans, hey we tried.

 

At the current rate, this is going to be a below .500 team next year.

 

Bad day at work? You've spammed the message board with nothing but negative posts the last few hours.

[RealAccountant]

Bad day at work? You've spammed the message board with nothing but negative posts the last few hours.

 

Reality is negative bud for the Jays. I rather live in the negative reality of this team, than delude myself in the fantasy of next year. This team hasn't made the playoffs in 21 years, 11 more than the Mariners. That's how bad this team has been. Its the truth, and however sad the truth will set us free.

 

lets be realistic, how does anyone see this team being any closer to the playoffs next year,

[Jimcanuck]

Pompey + Draft Pick >>> Melky on a 3 or more years deal

[TDotttt2005]

I think too many of you undervalue Melky while overlooking Toronto's inability to attract free agents.

 

THIS. Although, I believe the inability to attract free agents here is a myth. The inability comes from not offering enough money and contract term. Not Canada/Not the Turf.

 

Assuming payroll is pretty much stagnant, to those saying take Melky's money and use it to shore up 2B/3B and the Pen... For the Pen, they wont spend on high end guys, so i'd assume money in = money out there. But who do you think we'll get at 2B/3B? Similar to Melky, what will happen is that we will be unwilling to give the dollars and term thats necessary for a guys like Headley, Hanley, Weekes, Panda, so we will have to use our prospect capital, a Norris, Sanchez, Pompey, etc. to acquire that. So then we don't have Melky and we've given up top prospects.

 

Unless we're getting 1993 Roberto Alomar to play 2nd, and importing the whole 2014 KC bullpen, then there is no way a Pompey, Gose, Pillar, Bautista OF rotation competes in the AL East. No Way.

[Terminator]

I wouldn't resign Melky but hopefully it's nothing longer than 3 years if we do.

[RealAccountant]

Pompey + Draft Pick >>> Melky on a 3 or more years deal

 

You know its not an either or situation? We can have both Pompey and Melky in the same lineup. I don't know if you saw Gose play last year, but I'd take Dwayne Wise's bat over his.

[TheHurl]

People seem to think that because Pompey's a switch hitter he can automatically hit both righties and lefties. Fact is he's completely useless against lefties.

 

Last two years in the minors...

 

Vs. LHP .292/.372/.465 (288 PAs, 20.5% K's)

vs RHP .287/.375/.421 (719 PAs, 17.8% Ks)

[shortstop]

what happened to Aoki in the discussion?

 

my sense is the Melk Man is gonna get paid & it'll be too many years & too rich for the jays

[Jimcanuck]

You know its not an either or situation? We can have both Pompey and Melky in the same lineup. I don't know if you saw Gose play last year, but I'd take Dwayne Wise's bat over his.

 

I saw Gose play last year and expect him to be better in 2015, and have no problem with him in CF and #9 in the lineup if it means a #1B or #2 starter or an above average 2B or 3B comes to the Jays with the money not invested in Melk.

[LongTimeReader]

Pompey + Draft Pick >>> Melky on a 3 or more years deal

 

I don't see this team competing after 2016 for a long time, so... this is not necessarily true.

 

No Edwin, No Bautista = No Offense

[glory]

I don't think expecting 2 WAR from a Gose/Pillar platoon is that far-fetched.

 

Agreed. Gose was at 1.3 last season in half a season's worth of AB's, and he was playing all over the outfield most of the time instead of strictly CF. If they utilize his base stealing ability a bit more, and he remains an elite upside defensive player, then I can easily see him and Pillar being a net positive out there.

[Atothe]

Agreed. Gose was at 1.3 last season in half a season's worth of AB's, and he was playing all over the outfield most of the time instead of strictly CF. If they utilize his base stealing ability a bit more, and he remains an elite upside defensive player, then I can easily see him and Pillar being a net positive out there.

 

He is our Jarrod Dyson

[Jimcanuck]

I don't see this team competing after 2016 for a long time, so... this is not necessarily true.

 

No Edwin, No Bautista = No Offense

 

Totally disagree

 

Pitching is more important than offense and more valuable on the trade market and the Jays have lots of high end pitching coming up. Chances are one of the high upside arms in the Jays system will be a MLB ace.

[Jimcanuck]

A win is a win is a win.

 

Yes. What I mean is pitching is more volatile than offense, hence more valuable.

[Laika]

Yes. What I mean is pitching is more volatile than offense, hence more valuable.

 

I think you mean "less".

[Gorlak]

In Rogers centre offence is more important.

[Gorlak]

Unless you think park size has no effect on the way runs are produced or distributed, it is true. WAR takes this into account, the scoreboard doesn't. A hitters park is like a run tax on pitchers.

[Chappy]

Unless you think park size has no effect on the way runs are produced or distributed, it is true. WAR takes this into account, the scoreboard doesn't. A hitters park is like a run tax on pitchers.

 

Hitting is not more valuable in the RC, not in any park. Wins are more important, how they are obtained is irrelevant.