Predict AA's Next Move

[Dick_Pole]

Holy s***, RA Dickey is a 40 yo southern US white guy on a team filled with latinos in their 20's and early 30's. He grew up pitchforking those type of people back over a barb-wired fence. Just because he's not dancing in a circle singing kumbaya to a raggaeton beat doesn't mean he's a clubhouse cancer. He's a guy who keeps to himself and his job is to give up a few gopher balls every 5 days and give us poor shmucks on this forum ulcers. And he does it well. Pitchers don't need to be high on team chemistry anyways.

[bill]

Reyes gets traded for a top reliever

[canadiansportsjunkie]

The Jays biggest improvement to the pitching staff was already made behind the plate and are best served to continue to do so up the middle of the infield. I'm especially looking forward to improved numbers from Hutchison given this new team configuration.

 

If the Jays have money to land one of the top FA pitchers then sure go ahead. If not, I'm not losing sleep over it. But I'd be very worried if they went through the trade route if AA is as determined for an ace as others are here. One thing with the Donaldson trade is that it gives up trading chip depth. It was an amazing move without giving up MLB roster depth but the Jays don't have the pieces to do that again. Barreto was the best low MiLB prospect this team had and Nolin was everyone's favourite add-on. Well he was added on now. The next Donaldson-like trade would pretty much have to include Osuna and one or two of Hutch, Stroman Norris or Sanchez as the starting point.

 

Holy s***, RA Dickey is a 40 yo southern US white guy on a team filled with latinos in their 20's and early 30's. He grew up pitchforking those type of people back over a barb-wired fence. Just because he's not dancing in a circle singing kumbaya to a raggaeton beat doesn't mean he's a clubhouse cancer. He's a guy who keeps to himself and his job is to give up a few gopher balls every 5 days and give us poor shmucks on this forum ulcers. And he does it well. Pitchers don't need to be high on team chemistry anyways.

 

Perfects posts regarding how to obtain a top SP and Dickey. Hamels is great but how can we land him? not easily. The Jays have the money for a Shields PLUS Melky and RP let's not kid ourselves but will they spend more? I'm not sure.

 

I like Dickey and have no problems with him, he stays unless the offer is overpayment.

[JTech780]

Billingsley...gross. No thanks.

 

 

I was thinking more of minor league deal with an invite to spring training, or a dirt cheap major league contract. I see it as a low risk/high reward signing. IF he can return to what he was before the injuries then we have a very solid starter.

[L54]

Shi Davidi was on PTS on Friday and said the talk of Dickey being bad in the clubhouse was ********. Said he is quiet and does his own thing since its hard to relate with other pitchers since his routine is completely different with the knuckleball but there isn't an issue of him being a bad teammate. Shi would know the clubhouse atmosphere probably more than anyone outside the org. I mean Halladay wasn't the best teammate in the world and he did just fine in Toronto.

 

Especially now that the Jays traded a good amount of their SP depth I expect Dickey to stay unless the trade made the Jays a lot better. Dickey is severly undervalued by fans it seems. 200 dependable innings is huge for a young rotation and the Dickey effect increases his value to someone like Shields if Thole doesn't catch him.

 

Couldn't agree more. Pitchers are some of the oddest people in the world too it seems. They all have their own routines unique to themselves to help them prepare for their start. Just because he's not tossing our former 3B Brett Lawrie alley oops in the clubhouse doesn't mean he's a cancer. If anything, some of those guys (and current guys) could learn a thing or two from the way Dickey approaches his job.

[baubau]

Couldn't agree more. Pitchers are some of the oddest people in the world too it seems. They all have their own routines unique to themselves to help them prepare for their start. Just because he's not tossing our former 3B Brett Lawrie alley oops in the clubhouse doesn't mean he's a cancer. If anything, some of those guys (and current guys) could learn a thing or two from the way Dickey approaches his job.

 

Indeed. They have yet to arrest his vocabulary when it comes with dealing with the media.

[Stangstag]

Dickey + Thole for Cespedes.

 

Would you do it?

[Lawrie22]

Dickey + Thole for Cespedes.

 

Would you do it?

 

Value isn't bad but I would rather keep Dickey and resign melky or aoki/Saunders

[burlingtonbandit]

Dickey + Thole for Cespedes.

 

Would you do it?

 

No. Dickey is a lot more valuable to the Blue Jays than Cespedas. Dickey also has the extra year of control and when you are competing against the Red Sox for the division this is not a trade you make. Boston gets a lot better in this deal likely 2-2.5 wins, meanwhile the Jays don't improve.

[Stangstag]

Value isn't bad but I would rather keep Dickey and resign melky or aoki/Saunders

 

Yeah I'd probably rather keep Dickey too. Our lineup with Cespedes would be f***ing nasty though.

 

Reyes

Donaldson

Bautista

Encarnacion

Cespedes

Martin

[Stangstag]

No. Dickey is a lot more valuable to the Blue Jays than Cespedas. Dickey also has the extra year of control and when you are competing against the Red Sox for the division this is not a trade you make. Boston gets a lot better in this deal likely 2-2.5 wins, meanwhile the Jays don't improve.

 

I'm pretty sure both Dickey and Cespedes only have 1 year left on their contracts. But yes, I agree with you. I was just thinking about it today and felt like it was a realistic potential trade.

[burlingtonbandit]

I'm pretty sure both Dickey and Cespedes only have 1 year left on their contracts. But yes, I agree with you. I was just thinking about it today and felt like it was a realistic potential trade.

 

Dickey has a team option for 2016. Another thing is Cespedes is RH and it would be nice to get a LH bat in the lineup.

[Stangstag]

Dickey has a team option for 2016. Another thing is Cespedes is RH and it would be nice to get a LH bat in the lineup.

 

Oh ok I didn't know about the option. And yes, I would also rather get a Lefty bat like Jay Bruce.

[burlingtonbandit]

Oh ok I didn't know about the option. And yes, I would also rather get a Lefty bat like Jay Bruce.

 

Im not a fan of Bruce. I'd honestly rather pay Melky 3/45 than trade for Bruce. Melky really is the perfect hitter for this lineup as he doesn't strikeout, switch hits and has a lot of hard contact. If only he was a bit better in the field.

[Stangstag]

Im not a fan of Bruce. I'd honestly rather pay Melky 3/45 than trade for Bruce. Melky really is the perfect hitter for this lineup as he doesn't strikeout, switch hits and has a lot of hard contact. If only he was a bit better in the field.

 

I'm kinda iffy on Melky. I don't think he'll be able to hit like he did in 2014, and his defense will continue to decline. I wouldn't go higher than 3/40

[o2cui2i]

Im not a fan of Bruce. I'd honestly rather pay Melky 3/45 than trade for Bruce. Melky really is the perfect hitter for this lineup as he doesn't strikeout, switch hits and has a lot of hard contact. If only he was a bit better in the field.

 

Melky isn't graceful in the field and his routes are not always the best, but he gets to most of the balls he should and makes the throws he should. His offense more than makes up for the 2 or maybe 3 balls he doesn't get too.

 

I'd sign Melky and go with the Devil I know.

[Maine Jays]

Im not a fan of Bruce. I'd honestly rather pay Melky 3/45 than trade for Bruce. Melky really is the perfect hitter for this lineup as he doesn't strikeout, switch hits and has a lot of hard contact. If only he was a bit better in the field.

 

Considering the cost in terms of both players to acquire him and the money left on his contract, I'd rather take a chance on a buy low like Dominic Brown. Less risk, same potential reward (25+ hr power, low BA)

[Jimcanuck]

Already reasonable internal options for LF and 2B. Heck, I'd be fine with Travis in LF.

 

Use the money saved by not signing Melky and by moving Happ and Navarro (for good, cheap RP) to sign Shields for 4 years, and Lowrie for 2.

 

The bottom 4 of the lineup would be Smoak/Pillar/Valencia, Lowrie, Travis, Pompey which is not bad, and besides the top 5 will create plenty of runs.

 

SP

 

Shields

Dickey

Stroman

MB

Hutchison

 

That's one heck of a good and durable rotation. Remember the days of crossing our fingers on Morrow, McGowan, Johnson, etc

[TheHurl]

Next move...bringing PJ Walters back. Donaldson's best friend. Got to keep the new guy happy.

[saskjayfan]

I'm kinda iffy on Melky. I don't think he'll be able to hit like he did in 2014, and his defense will continue to decline. I wouldn't go higher than 3/40

 

his defensive numbers couldn't help but be terrible in 2013 as he had a tumor on his spine and couldn't move. He was much better in 2014 and won't be as bad as he was in 2013 until he's 45 years old. That's how he was moving in 2013..as a 45 year old dude. Melk man will hit till he is 40...he's a pure hitter and power has never been his game.

[Jimcanuck]

his defensive numbers couldn't help but be terrible in 2013 as he had a tumor on his spine and couldn't move. He was much better in 2014 and won't be as bad as he was in 2013 until he's 45 years old. That's how he was moving in 2013..as a 45 year old dude. Melk man will hit till he is 40...he's a pure hitter and power has never been his game.

 

He's above average at one thing. Not worth more than $10M AAV. And not a good fit for the Jays, offense is the least of the Jays needs at this point.

[nutz003]

He's above average at one thing. Not worth more than $10M AAV. And not a good fit for the Jays, offense is the least of the Jays needs at this point.

 

Actually he is a really good hitter, and played decent defence last year. He also has a WAR of over 3, three of the last 4 years, which makes him pretty valuable to the team, not mention he is a switch hitter in a righty heavy batting order. He is worth the $10-15 million he will get. I just hope we are the ones to get him.

[saskjayfan]

He's above average at one thing. Not worth more than $10M AAV. And not a good fit for the Jays, offense is the least of the Jays needs at this point.

 

You may be right. One guy I would go get right away that isn't going to break the bank is Grilli. He did fairly well throwing to Martin in the past. We need to address the bullpen. This is what let the team down more than anything last year, but the most difficult to address because you never know what you're going to get from year to year. I'd roll the dice and add him because I dont' think it's going to cost you very much.

[labadee]

Reyes gets traded for a top reliever

 

then we'd have glaring holes at 2b and ss

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

Still going Shields then miller sign both and players wanting to play on or in a World Series will come to us! Few no trades may go away also at that point if trading!

[Jimcanuck]

You may be right. One guy I would go get right away that isn't going to break the bank is Grilli. He did fairly well throwing to Martin in the past. We need to address the bullpen. This is what let the team down more than anything last year, but the most difficult to address because you never know what you're going to get from year to year. I'd roll the dice and add him because I dont' think it's going to cost you very much.

 

Agree. Need two bullpen pieces to go with Cecil, Loup, Estrada, Redmond. Sanchez needs to be starting in Buffalo and be the injury callup. Jenkins might be good but better to have him as depth in Buffalo.

[RealAccountant]

The bottom 4 of the lineup would be Smoak/Pillar/Valencia, Lowrie, Travis, Pompey which is not bad, and besides the top 5 will create plenty of runs.

 

I assure you that if the bottom 4 is Smoak, Pillar, Valencia, and Travis. That is a pretty bad bottom 4. Valencia is the only MLB bat, and he is below average at that. All 4 should be projected to have an OBP of less than .300

 

This is the problem, the hockey mentality. These aren't scoring lines. Almost 40% of the plate appearances will come from the bottom of the lineup.

 

I rather sign an Ichiro for example. A guy who knows is role, still gets on base at average. Doesn't strike out a lot.

[Jimcanuck]

I assure you that if the bottom 4 is Smoak, Pillar, Valencia, and Travis. That is a pretty bad bottom 4. Valencia is the only MLB bat, and he is below average at that.

 

Except that's not what I said.

[jerb]

 

Jim Duquette Verified account

‏@Jim_Duquette

Alex Anthopoulos - just told us there next focus is LF, 2B, and relief pitching @MLBNetworkRadio

[jerb]

Jim Duquette Verified account

‏@Jim_Duquette

AA told us " we don't expect to be involved with the big dollars in the bullpen pieces" on the free agent market @MLBNetworkRadio