AA on PTS

[GNick49]

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.

You make it sound like one or the other. We still have 6m in salary room. There's room to get depth in the pen and keep Navarro. Jays not going to get top reliever for Navarro's 5 million. What's more an extra year out of Martin or middle reliever? Travis should have 2b as glove is there, offense not a problem on this year's Jays.

[glory]

AA is terrible with depth. Always has been. Puts way too much pressure on his 25-man roster to stay healthy and effective.

 

I'm not a fan of Sanchez, but he better be the #5 starter. Not because he will be good, but because Norris can start in AAA. If Norris is the fifth starter and Sanchez is the closer, then this team is screwed the moment a starter gets hurt.

[saskjayfan]

AA is terrible with depth. Always has been. Puts way too much pressure on his 25-man roster to stay healthy and effective.

 

I'm not a fan of Sanchez, but he better be the #5 starter. Not because he will be good, but because Norris can start in AAA. If Norris is the fifth starter and Sanchez is the closer, then this team is screwed the moment a starter gets hurt.

 

Estrada can start. Redmond can start. Sanchez could be stretched out. Albers and Francis can spot start. If any team loses 3 starters for an extended period of time in a season they're likely done. I think Sanchez will be the 5th starter anyways.

[Angrioter]

Estrada can start. Redmond can start. Sanchez could be stretched out. Albers and Francis can spot start. If any team loses 3 starters for an extended period of time in a season they're likely done. I think Sanchez will be the 5th starter anyways.

 

Estrada and Redmond can start, but they shouldn't.

The depth is a big problem right now for the Jays.

[jays76]

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.

 

I think that depends on if everything breaks right for your org and you're filled with all the right FO personnel. They've mastered the art of drafting & building within (Less so with Billy Beane but then again how many GM's do they make a movie about). Cutch's huge hometown discount also really helped the Pirates and the Rays are in limbo now, however kudos to them for being awesome the past decade with the bare minimum.

 

The thing that bothers me about our payroll isn't the amount but it's the perennial BS factor from Rogers and our FO. They constantly try to double talk and insult the intelligence of our fan base on the regular with their media spins. How do we have 6mil left when we've currently spent less than 120mil (117 was reported in the last Sportsnet article) and Beeston had promised it was going up? Even now he's saying they can easily take on significant salary if it fits within their plan. What about filling holes (some at a reasonable price) doesn't fit the plan??

 

Let me guess this mega corporate conglomerate forgot to hedge and protect themselves against the falling dollar right, I'm just tired of the games and lies with this team. You haven't made the playoffs in 20+yrs and you've come this far in the offseason, pony up the extra money needed and knock off the garbage already Rogers. Stop crying false budget restrictions and limitations to the press, I think most fans don't want to hear it anymore.

[RealAccountant]

Estrada and Redmond can start, but they shouldn't.

The depth is a big problem right now for the Jays.

 

This

 

Just BC someone can start doesn't mean they will be good at it. Over the years this team has suffered greatly from throwing patchwork starters out there

[Boxcar]

Actually to be fair, most of his "great contracts" were negotiated while Sartori still worked here, before he left for Apple.

 

Well, he's done well settling with arb players this year at least. There haven't been any major extensions recently, probably why there's been nothing noteworthy since Sartori left.

 

For me, the whole "good at extension negotiations" thing is the only thing I value AA for so I'm just going to assume it's true.

[Governator]

Pretty sure Gibbons will be deciding who he wants as a starter, who he wants in the BP and who he sees as the best fit for a closer. Wait till Spring Training, AA is just having to speak to save face after running out of money and not actually plugging up the holes in the BP or 2B.

[Caper]

That was after the suspension.

 

 

In college?

[RealAccountant]

Pretty sure Gibbons will be deciding who he wants as a starter, who he wants in the BP and who he sees as the best fit for a closer. Wait till Spring Training, AA is just having to speak to save face after running out of money and not actually plugging up the holes in the BP or 2B.

 

I think what AA is sure of is that barring any injuries is that Norris and Sanchez are going to be on the mlb roster

[NorthOf49]

I actually don't mind Estrada making a few starts here and there, especially away from Rogers Centre. He's a pretty interesting swingman.

[TheHurl]

offense not a problem on this year's Jays.

 

Take one of Reyes, EE, Donaldson or Bautista out with Injury...think about who is set up to replace them and do you still think that? Smoak taking a step forward does so much for this team, cause even if Saunders or Pompey do, I don't expect consistency.

[Mikeleelop]

Before everyone continues to criticize AA for not filling problems at 2b and bullpen look at the overall quality of the everyday lineup. In the majors the Bluejays have one of the top five lineups. Sure 2b could have been upgraded, but can get by with Pompey in CF and izuturis/tolleson/goins/Kawasaki with the talent at every other position. Every other lineup in baseball has holes or question marks - Boston, LAA, Washington, LAD etc

 

The bullpen is not settled. With Sanchez likely there to start and one or two late FA additions the pen should be acceptable. It all depends on how Cecil, Loup, Sanchez, Estrada, (Castro potentially) perform in pressure situations

 

I am excited that the lineup black hole Thole may be on the way out. Of course AA may have just been piling horseshit for potential trade partners to hear, but I'm excited about that possibility.

[Governator]

If the starting line up looks something like this:

 

S Reyes

C Martin

RF Bautista

3B Donaldson

DH E.E.

LF Saunders

1B Smoak

2B Travis

CF Pompey

 

What does our bench look like?

 

Izturis

Pillar?

Navarro

Thole?

 

Look at that speed off the bench. Please tell me I'm missing someone.

[jays76]

Before everyone continues to criticize AA for not filling problems at 2b and bullpen look at the overall quality of the everyday lineup. In the majors the Bluejays have one of the top five lineups. Sure 2b could have been upgraded, but can get by with Pompey in CF and izuturis/tolleson/goins/Kawasaki with the talent at every other position. Every other lineup in baseball has holes or question marks - Boston, LAA, Washington, LAD etc

 

The bullpen is not settled. With Sanchez likely there to start and one or two late FA additions the pen should be acceptable. It all depends on how Cecil, Loup, Sanchez, Estrada, (Castro potentially) perform in pressure situations

 

I am excited that the lineup black hole Thole may be on the way out. Of course AA may have just been piling horseshit for potential trade partners to hear, but I'm excited about that possibility.

 

The big hole will be 2B where we see ground ball after ground ball get ripped through at critical times.

[glory]

If Travis is the starting 2B, then the back-up infielder will have to play some SS, which would eliminate Izturis from that spot. Probably Goins or Kawasaki in that scenario.

 

Pillar, Valencia, Goins, and Navarro would be my guess with the above lineup. I still think the 0 WAR tandem of Izturis/Goins will win out over Travis, though.

[Mikeleelop]

The big hole will be 2B where we see ground ball after ground ball get ripped through at critical times.

 

depends who they go with - izturis is a defensive liability. Goins is not

[KingKat]

To furthere complicate matters, Steve Tolleson is out of options.

[glory]

Man, Izturis will get $4M this year (counting the buyout). Couple that with Romero's $8.1M (counting buyout), and that's so much money being spent on crap. Imagine eliminating those two deals and then trading Navarro? It's a whole new ball game. Damn.

[Governator]

Man, Izturis will get $4M this year (counting the buyout). Couple that with Romero's $8.1M (counting buyout), and that's so much money being spent on crap. Imagine eliminating those two deals and then trading Navarro? It's a whole new ball game. Damn.

 

Pretty sure every team has a couple of contracts they wish they could get shred to save some salary.

[Angrioter]

Lineup

 

 

Alex has a chance.

 

Winz, winz and more wins.

 

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mlb/players/full/5411.png&w=350&h=254 3 Winz

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mlb/players/full/6390.png&w=350&h=254 4 Winz

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mlb/players/full/5890.png&w=350&h=254 5.3 Winz

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mlb/players/full/5904.png&w=350&h=254 3.6 Winz

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mlb/players/full/29563.png&w=350&h=254 5.6 Winz

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mlb/players/full/29505.png&w=350&h=254 1.8 Winz

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/mlb/players/full/30175.png&w=350&h=254 1 Winz

http://cdn-png.si.com/sites/default/files/teams/baseball/mlb/players/549230-328x278.png 0 Winz

http://www.milb.com/images/592647/t424/180x270/592647.jpg 0.3 Winz

[jays76]

depends who they go with - izturis is a defensive liability. Goins is not

 

I'm down with Goins to start the season just to build some confidence and get the defensive mindset going with the infield but then it'll boil down to that bottom of the order trade off where it's Saunders, Smoak, Goins, Pompey.

 

Then again substituting Izturis/Kawasaki/Tolleson for him at the plate isn't that much much better..

[Governator]

Alex has a chance.

 

Winz, winz and more wins.

 

 

yes. Stay healthy everyone... stay healthy. Saunders eat your spinach please and no one better be eating undercooked food this season. Watch your steps guys, we don't need another broken leg and Josh, please don't leap in to walls and over railings like a red bull raged man would. Sanchez, watch your stride we're a little worried about your elbow and for the love of God Stroman stop putting on your helmet and trying to be like Ricky Henderson, we can't replace you. Reyes, if you leave after game 1 with an injury we're blaming you for putting Pompey as a lead off man.

 

Find us some depth, please Alex.

[JaysRap]

I know we talk about salary restraint for payroll, but let's look at our books going forward (coming off):

 

2015 - Buehrle: $19M, Dickey: $12M (assuming they don't pick up his option), Navarro: $5M, Romero: $8.1M, Thole: $1.75, Izturis: $4M,

2016 - Batista: $14M, Encarnation: $14M (we probably pickup both options though)

2018 - Reyes: $23M

 

Look how much bleeping money is coming off after this year!! Then we have guys on arb cases going forward (Donaldson), guys on rookie contracts (Stroman), other guys we probably just roll another 1 year deal on... Plus we have a decent farm system so really - if you want to leave even more flexibility for guys to come up from the farm and fill out this roster then a contract like a Rickie Weeks or a John Axford on a 1 year won't kill us! Protect your depth! It makes too much sense not to even increase the payroll heaven forbid for 1 year to $145 - $150 million in 2015 because you know you're going to have so much room going forward, and at the same time - short term gain of making a serious run at contention! And not just hoping for health or guys stepping up.

[burlingtonbandit]

To furthere complicate matters, Steve Tolleson is out of options.

 

Shouldn't complicate anything. The guy sucks. He got hot for the beginning of the season and rode that out the entire year. He can't hit at ALL vs RHP and while he was decent vs LHP I don't think its sustainable. Not to mention he is a bad base runner and his fielding is average at the very best as well.

[RealAccountant]

29 wins from offense. Gotta have at least 11 from pitching. How many wins is replacement projected to be

[Angrioter]

29 wins from offense. Gotta have at least 11 from pitching. How many wins is replacement projected to be

 

48 RLW + 29 bats + 11 P = ~88 Wins

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Shouldn't complicate anything. The guy sucks. He got hot for the beginning of the season and rode that out the entire year. He can't hit at ALL vs RHP and while he was decent vs LHP I don't think its sustainable. Not to mention he is a bad base runner and his fielding is average at the very best as well.

 

Tolleson had major vision problems last season that were corrected this offseason by laser surgery. I'm not suggesting he's Alomar, but he might end up being a decent option now that he can see the ball.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

48 RLW + 29 bats + 11 P = ~88 Wins

 

That's not enough. What a depressing post.

[burlingtonbandit]

Tolleson had major vision problems last season that were corrected this offseason by laser surgery. I'm not suggesting he's Alomar, but he might end up being a decent option now that he can see the ball.

 

meh he still isn't a good player and never has been in his career.