Jays probably done being big players in Free Agency, no truth to Lester/Panda rumors

[TwistedLogic]

This is funny/awkward, because I just posted a thread where Bob McCown speculated that the Jays had the means and the willingness to go a lot further than Martin in the free agent market, but now straight from the horse's mouth, it seems there's no truth to those rumors.

 

Here's the link for AA's interview with MLB Network from today: https://soundcloud.com/mlbnetworkradio/alex-anthopoulos-tor-gm-discusses-whats-next-this-off-season-on-mlb-network-radio-on-siriusxm

 

Based on what he says, the Jays haven't had any activity in the free agent market the past few days due to the Martin signing (occupied with marketing/celebrations?) and they'll be diving back into it tomorrow.

 

The bullpen seems to be a priority, and he seems satisfied with the rotation. Mentions the Orioles getting to the playoffs without an ace, but four solid under-4 ERA guys, thinks they've got something similar.

 

There's 0 truth to the Sandoval rumors, and when asked how much payroll they have to work with, he basically contradicts every rumor out there, implying that they do have some space, but probably not nearly as much as people think they do. ("I've read some things that we're going to go crazy and spend all kinds of money, if that was the case then you would have seen Martin's deal spread out as an even number with the AAV"). Mentions the dreaded word "creative" in how they'll need to approach the remaining payroll.

 

The 5-year policy seems to still be firmly in place, says they wouldn't be opposed to going higher on the AAV to avoid more years.

 

This should probably temper the wildfire that is the expectations of Jays fans right now, and goes back to what I said earlier today; the baseball media blows up a hunk of s*** about the Jays every offseason, whether by drawing up random ******** narratives about their payroll, or about their seemingly miserable clubhouse, or how they're in on every free agent in the market, and the Martin signing has only enabled those people further.

 

Relax your expectations, keep your hopes where you can see them and if something happens, it happens, and if it doesn't, then it was never going to.

[xposbrad]

ok so sounds like another year of missing the playoffs by 5-7 games, doing enough to excite the casual fan but not enough to realistically win unless EVERYTHING goes right, which will never happen.

[TwistedLogic]

There's already a thread for AA's interview on 590, and now this one for his interview on MLB Network, so I'm not going to make a third thread and I'll just post his TSN interview here as well:

 

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/anthopoulos-talks-martin-sandoval-and-torii-hunter-1.140243

 

Haven't heard it yet, listening to it now.

 

ok so sounds like another year of missing the playoffs by 5-7 games, doing enough to excite the casual fan but not enough to realistically win unless EVERYTHING goes right, which will never happen.

 

He can only do as much as ownership lets him do.

[o2cui2i]

The Os didn't have an ace... end of comparison lol

 

there D didn't commit many errors and they hit really well and there bullpen didn't blow 20 games.

 

so what is he actually comparing?

[o2cui2i]

Just his way of appealing to casuals that an "ace" is not needed.

 

that's a bloody hard sell. lol

 

SF had an ace and he almost single handily won a world series for them?

[TwistedLogic]

AA doesn't like tipping his hand. Don't take news from him.

 

This is true to a certain extent, but every time AA tries to get people to chill out by saying they probably won't go crazy, or that they don't have a wide open payroll, people write it off as AA keeping his cards close to his chest, and continue buying into the industry rumors. Then, after it turns out that the Jays didn't make any major moves, or that it was true that payroll was limited, people turn back onto AA as if he lied to them and beat their children.

 

All I'm saying is that take everything with a grain of salt. Sure AA is probably not gonna tell you the whole truth, but a lot of what we're reading in the news is also probably over-dressed garbage. It's probably/hopefully somewhere in the middle.

[o2cui2i]

This is true to a certain extent, but every time AA tries to get people to chill out by saying they probably won't go crazy, or that they don't have a wide open payroll, people write it off as AA keeping his cards close to his chest, and continue buying into the industry rumors. Then, after it turns out that the Jays didn't make any major moves, or that it was true that payroll was limited, people turn back onto AA as if he lied to them and beat their children.

 

All I'm saying is that take everything with a grain of salt. Sure AA is probably not gonna tell you the whole truth, but a lot of what we're reading in the news is also probably over-dressed garbage. It's probably/hopefully somewhere in the middle.

 

Darvish

 

 

nuff said lol

[RealAccountant]

Get melky back

 

AA still.has holes

[Ziggyy108]

that's a bloody hard sell. lol

 

SF had an ace and he almost single handily won a world series for them?

 

ya but that one team over there had some success without one

[o2cui2i]

ya but that one team over there had some success without one

 

yeah, they made the playoffs and then got their ass handed too them on a golden platter.

[TwistedLogic]

Darvish

 

 

nuff said lol

 

Exactly. Darvish will forever be the most accurate portrayal of the Jays' fan base's relationship with Alex Anthopoulos. A situation driven completely by media hype, and the guy got absolutely roasted for something he absolutely never committed to.

 

"You went to Japan. Which means you scouted Darvish. Which means the Jays had interest in Darvish. Which got our hopes up. Which lead to a bunch of ******** media fluff. Which meant the Jays were now front runners for Darvish. Which meant that it was pretty much a done deal. YOU PROMISED US THAT YOU WOULD SIGN DARVISH AND NOW---- we will patiently wait for a full MLB season to actually evaluate whether Darvish is a valuable pla--- WE WILL FLIP THE f*** OUT AT YOU, YOU SCHEMING, CONNIVING, DECEITFUL DEMON OF A FAT GREEK MAN."

[o2cui2i]

Get melky back

 

AA still.has holes

 

we all have holes bro.... just sayin

[o2cui2i]

Exactly. Darvish will forever be the most accurate portrayal of the Jays' fan base's relationship with Alex Anthopoulos. A situation driven completely by media hype, and the guy got absolutely roasted for something he absolutely never committed to.

 

"You went to Japan. Which means you scouted Darvish. Which means the Jays had interest in Darvish. Which got our hopes up. Which lead to a bunch of ******** media fluff. Which meant the Jays were now front runners for Darvish. Which meant that it was pretty much a done deal. YOU PROMISED US THAT YOU WOULD SIGN DARVISH AND NOW---- we will patiently wait for a full MLB season to actually evaluate whether Darvish is a valuable pla--- WE WILL FLIP THE f*** OUT AT YOU, YOU SCHEMING, CONNIVING, DECEITFUL DEMON OF A FAT GREEK MAN."

 

exactly.... too many desperate sports fans in TO and the entire media has been brain dead since 1967.

[canadiansportsjunkie]

To say AA hasn't made big moves during his time is crazy.

 

I don't want Panda on this team and Lawrie is the guy like it or not.

 

SP is a problem that I don't think they will fix. There is depth to our rotation and when there is depth, there is hope...he will hope.

 

They will continue to try to fix the bullpen ex. Miller

 

Personally I'd love to see Shields workhorse, Andrew Miller, Melky Cabrera, and Chase Headley. Not going to happen except Miller and maybe Melky/Headley

[burlingtonbandit]

Well if they were to only make one "big move" then Martin was the guy to do it. They don't have to go nuts on Free agents for me to be happy. Acquire a decent LF and get a short term 2B who is better than Izturis and I will be happy. Bullpen seems like a thing AA can build without having to use tons of money.

[Deadpool]

Get melky back

 

AA still.has holes

 

I know I'm not as high on Melky as a lot of people, but even I think he's too good to be playing in AA...

[Ziggyy108]

We'll prob trade for Saunders and sign Crain and that'll be that.

 

Go Canada.

[TwistedLogic]

Based on the TSN interview, Dickey isn't going anywhere, and AA didn't dismiss the Hunter rumors off the bat like he did the Sandoval ones, so it seems there might be some legitimacy there. I personally hate Hunter, so that's probably one of the very few players that I'll be genuinely unhappy if we acquire. Hoping the turf scares him away.

[canadiansportsjunkie]

Based on the TSN interview, Dickey isn't going anywhere, and AA didn't dismiss the Hunter rumors off the bat like he did the Sandoval ones, so it seems there might be some legitimacy there. I personally hate Hunter, so that's probably one of the very few players that I'll be genuinely unhappy if we acquire. Hoping the turf scares him away.

 

Care to explain why? I don't think he's the right fit as I prefer to re-sign Melky or go with younger talent

 

Also AA cannot move Dickey after that trade. He has to ride him out and hope for the best...which imo is the way to go with Dickey

[Smokey]

This is true to a certain extent, but every time AA tries to get people to chill out by saying they probably won't go crazy, or that they don't have a wide open payroll, people write it off as AA keeping his cards close to his chest, and continue buying into the industry rumors. Then, after it turns out that the Jays didn't make any major moves, or that it was true that payroll was limited, people turn back onto AA as if he lied to them and beat their children.

 

All I'm saying is that take everything with a grain of salt. Sure AA is probably not gonna tell you the whole truth, but a lot of what we're reading in the news is also probably over-dressed garbage. It's probably/hopefully somewhere in the middle.

 

Exactly. Darvish will forever be the most accurate portrayal of the Jays' fan base's relationship with Alex Anthopoulos. A situation driven completely by media hype, and the guy got absolutely roasted for something he absolutely never committed to.

 

"You went to Japan. Which means you scouted Darvish. Which means the Jays had interest in Darvish. Which got our hopes up. Which lead to a bunch of ******** media fluff. Which meant the Jays were now front runners for Darvish. Which meant that it was pretty much a done deal. YOU PROMISED US THAT YOU WOULD SIGN DARVISH AND NOW---- we will patiently wait for a full MLB season to actually evaluate whether Darvish is a valuable pla--- WE WILL FLIP THE f*** OUT AT YOU, YOU SCHEMING, CONNIVING, DECEITFUL DEMON OF A FAT GREEK MAN."

 

There's a lot of nonsense being spewed by you recently and it's becoming nauseating. To claim that Alex has taken unnecessary heat for sitting on his hands during the 2012 offseason or for his terrible mismanagement of the budget over the last couple of seasons is being completely deceitful. In fact, he has it pretty easy compared to what he'd have face in places like NY and Boston where mediocrity isn't applauded by clowns like yourself.

[TwistedLogic]

Care to explain why? I don't think he's the right fit as I prefer to re-sign Melky or go with younger talent

 

Also AA cannot move Dickey after that trade. He has to ride him out and hope for the best...which imo is the way to go with Dickey

 

Care to explain why what? I'm not sure if you misread my post, but if you don't think that Hunter is the right fit, then you're in agreement with me. I'd also ask the question of why the Jays are interested in him, because I don't have the answer to that.

[o2cui2i]

There's a lot of nonsense being spewed by you recently and it's becoming nauseating. To claim that Alex has taken unnecessary heat for sitting on his hands during the 2012 offseason or for his terrible mismanagement of the budget over the last couple of seasons is being completely deceitful. In fact, he has it pretty easy compared to what he'd have face in places like NY and Boston where mediocrity isn't applauded by clowns like yourself.

 

the discussion is more about the TO media making people think AA was going to do more than he was ever going to.

[TwistedLogic]

the discussion is more about the TO media making people think AA was going to do more than he was ever going to.

 

Don't mind him, I don't think he had any real interest in the actual discussion in this thread. If you look at his profile, you'll quickly notice that every single one of his posts over the last two days (outside of a random Putin picture) have been directed at me, despite the fact that I never actually respond to him. I don't remember ever having interacted with him before in any way (other than to tell him that I don't remember ever talking to him), but for whatever reason, he's got some creepy obsession with me, where he spends the entirety of his time on this forum quoting my posts and trying far too hard to troll me. I've never seen someone try so hard to get a rise out of someone and fail so completely by being met with such indifference.

 

There must be something in the water (...pixels?) on this forum that makes so many of the people here so creepy and intense. I don't know why they're like that, but realizing how rare it must be for weirdos like this to exist, and then realizing the abundance of them that we have on this forum, it's really sort of marvellous when you think about it.

[Smokey]

the discussion is more about the TO media making people think AA was going to do more than he was ever going to.

 

The media is in large part owned by Rogers and they have no incentive to make him look any worse. He's entering his sixth season as the GM and third since he's declared the team is going "all-in" and so far hasn't accomplished anything as far as winning is concerned. Considering that, I'd say the fans have been too easy on him and he's far from the victim that some apologists paint him out to be.

[o2cui2i]

The media is in large part owned by Rogers and they have no incentive to make him look any worse. He's entering his sixth season as the GM and third since he's declared the team is going "all-in" and so far hasn't accomplished anything as far as winning is concerned. Considering that, I'd say the fans have been too easy on him and he's far from the victim that some apologists paint him out to be.

 

I'm not saying he's a good GM. he should be fired on asset management alone. I dont know if the Martin deal is a PR stunt or if they are really trying to move forward. We will know if he gets more done before spring training starts. If AA thinks the team is ready to go now, the he's an idiot and needs to go.

 

but once again, the media has made people think we were in on guys who were never going to come here. The Darvish posting was the biggest one. Canadian media took the country to a stand still and the fair weather fans were sold on the Jays not only getting Darvish, everyone was sure that not getting him was a huge loss.

 

If AA was in charge of the Leafs he'd have been out a couple years ago. lol

[Smokey]

Don't mind him, I don't think he had any real interest in the actual discussion in this thread. If you look at his profile, you'll quickly notice that every single one of his posts over the last two days (outside of a random Putin picture) have been directed at me, despite the fact that I never actually respond to him. I don't remember ever having interacted with him before in any way (other than to tell him that I don't remember ever talking to him), but for whatever reason, he's got some creepy obsession with me, where he spends the entirety of his time on this forum quoting my posts and trying far too hard to troll me. I've never seen someone try so hard to get a rise out of someone and fail so completely by being met with such indifference.

 

There must be something in the water (...pixels?) on this forum that makes so many of the people here so creepy and intense. I don't know why they're like that, but realizing how rare it must be for weirdos like this to exist, and then realizing the abundance of them that we have on this forum, it's really sort of marvellous when you think about it.

 

Yup, it's definitely the water and it has absolutely nothing to do with you sounding like a hormonal teenage girl in every other post.

[ElNik2013]

The media is in large part owned by Rogers and they have no incentive to make him look any worse. He's entering his sixth season as the GM and third since he's declared the team is going "all-in" and so far hasn't accomplished anything as far as winning is concerned. Considering that, I'd say the fans have been too easy on him and he's far from the victim that some apologists paint him out to be.

 

So you you feel about the owners not firing your whipping boy and instead letting him spend 82M on Martin? Must be really disappointing.

 

I'd buy the team if I were you.

[Smokey]

So you you feel about the owners not firing your whipping boy and instead letting him spend 82M on Martin? Must be really disappointing.

 

I'd buy the team if I were you.

 

The ownership's main responsibility is to make a profit and satisfy its shareholders. I might not like it as a fan, but I can understand that it's part of the business. The GM'S job on the other hand is to produce the best team he can with what he has at his disposal and considering what Alex has been given, I think it's safe to say that he has failed so far. The fact that the ownership hasn't canned his wobbly ass yet is more reflective of the terrible sports culture that exists within the media and the fans in this city. There's basically very little pressure on the owners to take a drastic measure and as you can even see in this thread, some people are actually dumb enough to portray him as a victim.

[Daniel Labude]

Us making a 150 million dollar offer is more believable than us being done completely with big FAs

[RIPEXPOS]

So we've basically traded Melky, Janssen, and Lind for Martin. If we're done with FA, we're worse than last year.