Are the Jays going for it or not? Please say this isn't another year stuck in limbo..

[TwistedLogic]

Or because he's still an above average SS in the league.

 

Reyes himself isn't the problem. His contract is.

 

His contract is also not the problem, the bitter ragers that are still salty about the Marlins trade are.

 

Reyes has been more than worth his contract so far, and he'll probably be worth it in 2015 as well.

The positive value he provided in 13, 14 and 15 will carry over and compensate for the years he's no longer very useful in 16 and 17.

 

Not every player on the roster will be signed to a Bautista/Edwin-like contract.

 

Up until now, Buehrle and Reyes have provided significantly more value than their respective deals. There are far worse contracts around the game.

[L54]

His contract is also not the problem, the bitter ragers that are still salty about the Marlins trade are.

 

Reyes has been more than worth his contract so far, and he'll probably be worth it in 2015 as well.

The positive value he provided in 13, 14 and 15 will carry over and compensate for the years he's no longer very useful in 16 and 17.

 

Not every player on the roster will be signed to a Bautista/Edwin-like contract.

 

Up until now, Buehrle and Reyes have provided significantly more value than their respective deals. There are far worse contracts around the game.

 

Semantics. His contract hinders the Jays allocating that money in other ways if they so chose. I think the Jays could add 3 WAR including a SS if they had 22M more to spend.

 

I don't have a problem with Reyes the player. The way he came about though wasn't so efficient.

[Boxcar]

$11 bill.

 

All you really need to know right here.

[Mikeleelop]

I see it says 84 wins for the Jays. But of note though:

 

Red Sox - 87

Tigers - 86

Indians - 85

Angels - 84

 

If we don't win out the AL East, we have to know what the other teams around us project out as well if we're competing for a WC.

 

don't overlook Seattle projected at 89

 

don't know how they got to that number - Seattle has had a questionable off season IMO

[reedjohnsonfan]

don't overlook Seattle projected at 89

 

don't know how they got to that number - Seattle has had a questionable off season IMO

 

I think they were projected around 84-85 at the beginning of last season. So 89 doesn't seem like a stretch.

[AdamGreenwood]

I hate the 'all in' and 'go for it' mentalities.

 

Too many teams do this. Things are partially aligned, and then they unload most of the farm for one-year-rentals to push them the extra mile.

Or even worse, they want a player's next three productive years, but sign them to a seven year deal, because that's the only way to make it happen.

 

Instead, I'd like to see some smart baseball moves that allows us to contend every year. I realize that we have a limited window with Bautista and Encarnacion, but if we built a good, sustainable core around them, they might actually want to re-sign.

The Martin and Donaldson moves were great. Hopefully, we see more like that.

[Cyris]

As a fan, does the team saving money really matter to you? It matters only if they plan on spending the saved money. Gregerson was the guy this team should have signed with that 'saved' money. A reliable reliever is what this team needed. Now, we have Navarro as a trade chip, but small chance we get someone like a Gregerson with him.

 

And what if god forbid Gregerson didn't want to sign with the jays? And how do you know they didnt try to sign him?

The Jays play in a foreign country, in a hitters park, on a horrible surface and have the longest playoff drought in the league. Maybe the reason we so often hear about the Jays being on a players no trade list so often is that we arent the most attractive market to players. Just because the jay like a guy doesn't mean that player will like them.

 

I hope AA can add a couple more good players but at the same time people need to accept that this team is always going to have some holes. They will never be able to add a allstar caliber player at each position. They cant spend as much as teams like the Yankees, Dodgers or Red Sox nor will they be as attractive to free agents.(unless they can start making the playoff regularly)

[Atothe]

Baloojaz smh at you

[xposbrad]

And what if god forbid Gregerson didn't want to sign with the jays? And how do you know they didnt try to sign him?

The Jays play in a foreign country, in a hitters park, on a horrible surface and have the longest playoff drought in the league. Maybe the reason we so often hear about the Jays being on a players no trade list so often is that we arent the most attractive market to players. Just because the jay like a guy doesn't mean that player will like them.

 

I hope AA can add a couple more good players but at the same time people need to accept that this team is always going to have some holes. They will never be able to add a allstar caliber player at each position. They cant spend as much as teams like the Yankees, Dodgers or Red Sox nor will they be as attractive to free agents.(unless they can start making the playoff regularly)

 

He signed in Houston, I'm pretty sure if there was any kind of reasonable offer from the Jays he would have taken it. I would have liked to have seen Romo sign here also. But, remember, AA said he had NO open offers to any free agents, so it's kind of hard to sign players with no offers, wouldn't you say?

[Dirty SlobberKnocker]

The AL East is about as difficult as it has ever been. Most divisions have at least one or two s*** teams in them, the AL East has none. That's why some of those other teams in other divisions are projected to get higher win totals.

 

Check out the differences in team WAR projections vs win/loss projections.

http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=Standings

http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=Team

[Cyris]

He signed in Houston, I'm pretty sure if there was any kind of reasonable offer from the Jays he would have taken it. I would have liked to have seen Romo sign here also. But, remember, AA said he had NO open offers to any free agents, so it's kind of hard to sign players with no offers, wouldn't you say?

 

No formal offers doesn't mean AA hasn't made contact with the players agent. Texas also has no state income tax so the Jays would have to pay him much more for him to receive the same value on his contract. And finally didnt AA say he didnt see the team trading any of their starters just days befor he traded Happ for Saunders. Maybe we shouldnt take everything he says about roster moves at face value.

[labadee]

Or because he's still an above average SS in the league.

 

Reyes himself isn't the problem. His contract is.

 

no i agree with what you're saying. I think Reyes is still okay, but I just don't think his ego is the main issue here. It's mainly his contract (like you said).

[Orgfiller]

trade away Happ (could be a 3-4 starter)

 

I can't believe everyone else missed this. Happ is nowhere near a #3 or #4 starter, even in what most would consider one of his better years he was only 1.3 WAR, and at 32 years of age he shouldn't be expected to get any better.

 

I have a hard time believing one of or a combination of Estrada, Norris and Sanchez couldn't replicate that production if not flat out be a lot better.

[FireAlexAnthopoulos]

Are you serious? We've already added two 5 WAR players.

 

This... but personally, I think we need a legit starter in order to be in the playoff conversation.

[L54]

I can't believe everyone else missed this. Happ is nowhere near a #3 or #4 starter, even in what most would consider one of his better years he was only 1.3 WAR, and at 32 years of age he shouldn't be expected to get any better.

 

I have a hard time believing one of or a combination of Estrada, Norris and Sanchez couldn't replicate that production if not flat out be a lot better.

 

FWIW

 

Comment From _David_

What do you make of reporters saying everyone in the industry believes the Saunders trade was even? Even if you see them as equal players, it was still 2 years for one, so Happ would have to be quite a bit better, right?

 

9:34

Jeff Sullivan: Apparently a lot of people in the game see Happ as possessing rising stock. They think he’s got real upside, and so, you take that for what it’s worth

 

Interesting at least.

[CrackerJack]

with Alex in the last year of his contract ... and Beeston on the way out ... it's probably playoffs or bust for AA.

[Spanky99]

Every team has weaknesses. We've added more wins so far than pretty much every other team, and it's not even Christmas.

 

This^^^

 

I SAID GOOD DAY!

[Spanky99]

Nice to come across someone with a similar opinion. When I said we were done making moves a few weeks back, everyone was saying I should calm down cuz it's a long off-season and there was no way AA was done.

 

 

If just Stroman goes down or has a bad year, we are going to have a substantially worse year than 2014, 5 WAR players and all. We lost WAR too let's not forget that with all the departures. We made more problems for ourselves by not going the easy route and re-signing Melky, keeping Lind, and signing Martin. We HAD to go out and get Smoak, trade away Happ (could be a 3-4 starter) for Saunders, and are going to have to either trade Navarro for nothing or hold his salary and DH him.

If we just kept our team from last season and signed Melky and a SP, we are a better team right now.

 

 

If the off-season ended tomorrow, AA would get an F in my books for continuing to ignore the actual needs of the team. Potential wise, we are the same team from last season.

 

Oh my....

[Spanky99]

No I would say I made 5 bux. I wouldn't act as if I made $10 cuz the $5 was all in quarters and was just lying around anyways.

 

Also, if you see my other post about potential, we were given a $10 bill for a $11 bill.

 

K..........

 

 

 

Off to the ignore list.

[Spanky99]

Well with the way the pitching market has gone I can hardly fault the Jays for waiting for some value. Look at the stupidity in the Mott and Anderson contracts. The reliever market is way overpriced and waiting it out is about all AA can do.

 

Sure I would have liked to grab a Gregerson or Neshek but every team has a budget and the Jay,s budget is pretty darn good. Every teams fans scream for more payroll to be added even the Yankee fans. Jays have the added burden of having to deal with a canadian dollar costing 1.16 today. Yes I have read here about hedging but it still seems to me the Jays will have to spend 10 or so percent more.

Two months left for AA to find some pitching that has value .

 

Ken?

[glory]

I think the issue here is that AA did all of his off-season moves in a span of like a week in November, and some fans are taking the subsequent inactivity as him not doing anything. He added one of the best players in baseball for far less than it should have taken, added an elite catcher/framer in free agency, traded for a long-term 2B option with six years of control who Steamer thinks can be a league average hitter already, and traded for an OF who might be able to outproduce Melky for $11M less annually.

 

I agree the team needs another starter, and at least one reliever, but it's only December, and every team is going to have a hole here and there. At the end of the day, AA added wins, and that's really all he can do.

[RealAccountant]

I suspect the rest of AAs moves will be in the new year. However if he isn't able to plug the bullpen holes I fully expect Sanchez n Norris to be in the pen

[shortstop]

it's been a really good off-season so far for the jays & AA.

 

if I'm AA, I try to plug 2B and I have no doubt the bullpen situation will take care of itself.

 

after that, it'll be about depth & staying as healthy as possible.

[jays76]

I think the issue here is that AA did all of his off-season moves in a span of like a week in November, and some fans are taking the subsequent inactivity as him not doing anything. He added one of the best players in baseball for far less than it should have taken, added an elite catcher/framer in free agency, traded for a long-term 2B option with six years of control who Steamer thinks can be a league average hitter already, and traded for an OF who might be able to outproduce Melky for $11M less annually.

 

I agree the team needs another starter, and at least one reliever, but it's only December, and every team is going to have a hole here and there. At the end of the day, AA added wins, and that's really all he can do.

 

I think some people might be misconstruing my concerns. For me personally my criticism lies more with the organization than it does with AA. Although I did find his spin doctoring annoying last year with all his "the money is there if we need it" proclamations what else could he say really? I think it was obvious he was financially neutered by the organization.

 

He's done an outstanding job this off season and I just pray he doesn't get handcuffed again, that's my main concern. I get there's a fiscal responsibility and they may not have the flexibility of the Yankees or Red Sox but there's a limited window of opportunity in baseball when you're competitive and last year was a mess on so many levels imo (from the pathetic salary deferral rumors, to AA continuously blowing smoke up everybody's ass, to the clubhouse publicly calling out management for being cheap, to management doing absolutely nothing the entire year, and more importantly when we were in the midst of a playoff drive).

 

It was an embarrassment of riches to say the least and I'm just hoping this year won't be a repeat of that when push comes to shove.

Edited December 18, 2014 by jays76

[z3r0s]

with Lowrie off the board, Toritani is someone we really need to add. Play him at 2B to let Travis spend some more time in the high minors. Can play SS if Reyes goes down (with Travis coming up).

 

Our other options right now are carrying Kawasaki or Goins as a MIF backup and rolling with Travis right out of the gate. For what it seems like it will cost, this pretty much has to happen IMO.

[L54]

with Lowrie off the board, Toritani is someone we really need to add. Play him at 2B to let Travis spend some more time in the high minors. Can play SS if Reyes goes down (with Travis coming up).

 

Our other options right now are carrying Kawasaki or Goins as a MIF backup and rolling with Travis right out of the gate. For what it seems like it will cost, this pretty much has to happen IMO.

 

At 3/10 and a viable back up at SS. It makes as much sense as the Saunders trade did (which AA capitalized on).

 

Come on Alex, we know you read the board.

[KingKat]

with Lowrie off the board, Toritani is someone we really need to add. Play him at 2B to let Travis spend some more time in the high minors. Can play SS if Reyes goes down (with Travis coming up).

 

Our other options right now are carrying Kawasaki or Goins as a MIF backup and rolling with Travis right out of the gate. For what it seems like it will cost, this pretty much has to happen IMO.

 

Toritani was signed by the Padres. Heck, even much maligned option Alberto Callaspo has signed with the Braves. The options are dwindling. It's a damn good thing AA made the Devon Travis trade when he did. Not a lot of alternatives left out there.

 

 

Edit: O.K. I guess it's not official with the Padres yet. I thought offering him a starting SS gig had sealed the deal for them but I guess there's still hope. Let's hope it happens.

[baloojayz]

Baloojaz smh at you

 

Buy why? what did I say that is deserving of a head shake?

[jays76]

I'm sure this has been brought up many times already but does anyone know what the Jays budget is exactly at as of today and how much salary they have left to spend? I keep hearing different figures.

[Chappy]

I'm sure this has been brought up many times already but does anyone know what the Jays budget is at as of today and how much salary they have left to spend?

 

No one knows how much they have to spend, it's all just speculation. They never release hard numbers.