AA on PTS

[Ehjays]

 

My post from Jan 24......."I can see Castro make the team in the pen out of spring"

Just the way AA was preaching about him gave me subtle hints he was leaning that way. I don't think its wise for reasons already stated I just see AA going with youth.

[Laika]

Looking like the Jays are gonna more less run with what they have. Ticket sales must be good enough, I guess.

 

AA said that they have like 6M left. Call it 11M if they trade Navarro.

 

They've effectively waited out the FA market at this point and there are still a basket of intriguing relievers left. I'd bet that Toronto signs one or two of them for nice 1 year contract(s).

 

Also, for 2B there is Rickie Weeks, Everth Cabrera, Rafael Furcal, and Mark Ellis (unless any of the latter two retired and I missed it?). All project above replacement level.

 

In the OF Eric Young Jr. is still a free agent and he's at least interesting as a 4th OF option.

 

Still some risk/reward SP left too in Billingsley and Beachy. Hernandez, Villanueva, and Correia wouldn't be the worst possible swing man options either.

 

I really think (and hope) that Toronto will still add a bit to the major league team. Need depth.

[admin]

Bluejays FO, spend enough to almost be a contender, then just stop and go with whatever you have. Then wonder why the f*** you're not in the playoffs.

[baseballsss]

Welcome to Rogers

 

Rogers has put in enough money to win. This is a product of s*** trades.

[Captain Adama]

Buehrle and Reyes make more than they should...Bautista and Encarnacion make less than they should.

 

Rogers has gone 90% of the way there but don't want to go all the way.

 

I don't see how giving a top 10 payroll isn't going all the way, Rogers isn't the problem.

 

It's like putting a hand near a flame, "I got burned once, it hurt, I don't want to get near that again."

[GD]

How is there still some notion that a payroll over $120m isn't enough to win? The Rays, A's and Pirates do substantially better on substantially less.

[gbill2004]

How is there still some notion that a payroll over $120m isn't enough to win? The Rays, A's and Pirates do substantially better on substantially less.

 

Can you please stop with the logic? s***ing on Rogers is much more fun.

[GD]

Can you please stop with the logic? s***ing on Rogers is much more fun.

 

Well, I'm afraid I can't argue.

[Jimcanuck]

a $120M payroll is insufficient if you try to fill out a roster with expensive players in their FA years. To win, the team needs to balance the FA salaried players with cost controlled youth. this is why the 2013 trades were so f***ing dumb. at least now in 2015 there are some young players that can contribute without costing an arm and leg

[ScientificReason]

Bluejays FO, spend enough to almost be a contender, then just stop and go with whatever you have. Then wonder why the f*** you're not in the playoffs.

 

Its maddening, no wonder we wallow in mediocrity.....This team lacks depth in numerous areas, could see this team being good enough to challenge for wildcard at best, or be near the bottom of the division. Not going to make the playoffs with this roster imo, way too many holes.

[saskjayfan]

Its maddening, no wonder we wallow in mediocrity.....This team lacks depth in numerous areas, could see this team being good enough to challenge for wildcard at best, or be near the bottom of the division. Not going to make the playoffs with this roster imo, way too many holes.

 

and where's the team without holes in the AL east? Which team is the sure fire 90 win team? Which team is far and away better than the Jays in the AL east?

[TwistedLogic]

and where's the team without holes in the AL east? Which team is the sure fire 90 win team? Which team is far and away better than the Jays in the AL east?

 

I'd say the Red Sox are considerably better.

[CrackerJack]

I'd say the Red Sox are considerably better.

 

interesting choice for your avatar ... didn't know that Melissa Giraldo had fans in Canada ... my wife knows Melissa fairly well as they were neighbours when they were younger ... I chatted with her a few times when we were training at the same gym in Medellin a couple of years ago.

[TwistedLogic]

interesting choice for your avatar ... didn't know that Melissa Giraldo had fans in Canada ... my wife knows Melissa fairly well as they were neighbours when they were younger ... I chatted with her a few times when we were training at the same gym in Medellin a couple of years ago.

 

http://i.gyazo.com/944af1a9b2258a885cbe19d94f2dc388.png

[Boxcar]

If AA gets removed from the GM post, I really f***ing hope they figure out a way to keep him in the organization.

 

Can't say I really understand your undying love for AA.

[burlingtonbandit]

I don't think anyone hates on Rogers because of the overall payroll number. Its more because they limit the spending when 5-10 million could make this team a whole lot better. Rogers didn't add any money last year when they could have used it to acquire a player that would of made a difference and quite possibly made the owners a whole lot more money. Also Rogers is a massive company so an extra 5-10 million is probably not a huge mountain to climb.

 

Another thing I can't stand is the they have a "top 10 payroll" BS. This market is one of the largest in all of baseball and when you consider Rogers owns the TV deal and Stadium the Blue Jays payroll is most likely smaller than it should be relative to the revenue they bring in. When Scott Boras is saying the Jays should spend in the top 5 he is right even if he says it only because it would make him more $.

[L54]

If we're honestly going to just make him a reliever, then I'd rather trade him while his value is considerable.

 

Been a fan of this thinking for a while now. His value could be at it's peak right now.

[TheHurl]

and where's the team without holes in the AL east? Which team is the sure fire 90 win team? Which team is far and away better than the Jays in the AL east?

 

90 wins the division. 81 comes last.

[L54]

You don't think other organizations are wondering why they are seeming abandoning the idea of him as a starter. Sanchez going to the pen is telling me 2 things. They don't think he will develop a consistent enough third pitch considering he hasn't even consistently been able to throw a second pitch. He was throwing nothing but fastballs out of the pen. And that Sanchez value around the league isn't as high as people think it is.

 

It will be a whole lot lower if he can't throw strikes out of the bullpen this year.

[TwistedLogic]

Can't say I really understand your undying love for AA.

 

Can't say that I didn't have an undying love for AA once upon a time, but that's withered in recent years. When he made the Lind trade I was about ready to give up on him, and then he redeemed himself in a big way shortly after that, which sort of rekindled my appreciation for him. I'm still not as high as I used to be on him, but I still think he's an asset and that he benefits this organization more than he hurts it. If he gets removed from his post, I can't see him hurting the team if he's kept on in a Tinnish-like role. That said, I do think there will probably be decent demand for him on the open market, and I also think that if he gets to work with a better ownership group, he might make Jays fans regret their hate for him.

 

90 wins the division. 81 comes last.

 

Someone's going to have a trainwreck of a season and up in the 70s.

[burlingtonbandit]

Right now I'd say the division looks like this:

 

Tier 1-BOS

Tier 1B-TOR

Tier 3 NYY, TB

Baltimore

[burlingtonbandit]

As it stands unless a lot of emerging takes place no way this team finishes first. They will battle for the second wild card at best. To many question marks not enough answers. Elite players will need to stay healthy. I would have way rather they looked at some veteran one year options and let most of these guys atleast begin the year in the minors. Pompey and Norris especially.

 

I don't know about you guys but I wouldn't hate Shields at 3-years 60-65 mill. I can't imagine anyone will give him 5 years. Perhaps 4.

 

Blowing 20 million/year on a pitcher who is probably only a couple wins at best better than Norris/Estrada/Sanchez is not the way I would go. The rest of the available money needs to go to 2nd base/bullpen/another starter/OF depth.

[Boxcar]

Can't say that I didn't have an undying love for AA once upon a time, but that's withered in recent years. When he made the Lind trade I was about ready to give up on him, and then he redeemed himself in a big way shortly after that, which sort of rekindled my appreciation for him. I'm still not as high as I used to be on him, but I still think he's an asset and that he benefits this organization more than he hurts it. If he gets removed from his post, I can't see him hurting the team if he's kept on in a Tinnish-like role. That said, I do think there will probably be decent demand for him on the open market, and I also think that if he gets to work with a better ownership group, he might make Jays fans regret their hate for him.

 

 

 

Someone's going to have a trainwreck of a season and up in the 70s.

 

I don't know how much of an asset AA is. He seems to be great at contract negotiations, but that's really the only thing he does well. Considering payroll and relative strength of the division, a good GM would have this team as a prime contender by now. 2 years after the disastrous Marlins/Mets trades, we're hoping to nab a WC.

 

Call me cynical. I've also heard stories of AA and his constant need to hire as many old school scouty former GMs as possible to bounce things off of. This likely lead to keeping Sanchez over Syndergaard, letting d'Arnaud go, etc. He surrounds himself with the wrong type of people, and it is concerning. He's not Ruben Amaro but he sure isn't Theo or Friedman. He's just a guy.

[TwistedLogic]

I don't know how much of an asset AA is. He seems to be great at contract negotiations, but that's really the only thing he does well. Considering payroll and relative strength of the division, a good GM would have this team as a prime contender by now. 2 years after the disastrous Marlins/Mets trades, we're hoping to nab a WC.

 

Call me cynical. I've also heard stories of AA and his constant need to hire as many old school scouty former GMs as possible to bounce things off of. This likely lead to keeping Sanchez over Syndergaard, letting d'Arnaud go, etc. He surrounds himself with the wrong type of people, and it is concerning. He's not Ruben Amaro but he sure isn't Theo or Friedman. He's just a guy.

 

Actually to be fair, most of his "great contracts" were negotiated while Sartori still worked here, before he left for Apple. Maybe there's a coincidence in there somewhere, but we don't actually know if AA himself is good with contracts, which sucks to say, because I used to hold that as one of his bigger positives.

 

I don't know, there's so much ******** revolving around the Jays FO that you never really know who's at fault for what, it just feels like there's been an evolution of sorts recently. I get that there's still holes on the roster, but that in itself is okay. Not having assets is one thing, misusing the ones you do have is another, and I feel like (or at least I'm optimistic) the Jays have shown growth on the latter front. I know they can still f*** it up by regularly DH'ing Navarro, but if it's true that they're looking to start Thole in Triple-A, that's an improvement.

[TwistedLogic]

I really wish they trade Navarro. I feel like that's a small move that will show a lot, and will go a long way in appeasing the people that are still unsold on them.

[GNick49]

I really wish they trade Navarro. I feel like that's a small move that will show a lot, and will go a long way in appeasing the people that are still unsold on them.

Navarro may have value here...as he allows Martin more days off and gives team depth in terms of injury. Martin is 32 with a lot of mileage. Catching 110 games in 2015 may allow him another year on back end

[TwistedLogic]

Navarro may have value here...as he allows Martin more days off and gives team depth in terms of injury. Martin is 32 with a lot of mileage. Catching 110 games in 2015 may allow him another year on back end

 

I like Navarro as the backup. I like that he's good in high leverage situations and has a decent bat. I like that having Navarro as the backup, and by proxy, having Thole in the minors, makes a strong statement. All that said, Navarro's 5M can be used in an area where there's a much bigger need, whether that gets you a guy like Weeks, or whether that gets you another bullpen arm or two.

[Angrioter]

I like Navarro as the backup. I like that he's good in high leverage situations and has a decent bat. I like that having Navarro as the backup, and by proxy, having Thole in the minors, makes a strong statement. All that said, Navarro's 5M can be used in an area where there's a much bigger need, whether that gets you a guy like Weeks, or whether that gets you another bullpen arm or two.

 

5M backup catcher?

AJ Jimenez is almost ready for that kind of role for free. Everth Cabrera is a better 5M dollars option.

[Caper]

I must say I'd be pretty disappointed if Castro made the team as a RP out of spring training and they didn't give him the chance to stick as a starter.

 

 

Why can't he be a starter? Marcus Stroman closed for a while when he was his age. Didn't hurt at all.

[Angrioter]

Why can't he be a starter? Marcus Stroman closed for a while when he was his age. Didn't hurt at all.

 

That was after the suspension.