Blue Jays kicking tires on Shields

[fireballW]

What do you suggest discussing on February 6th? This is part of being a fan, and it's fun to bounce ideas and opinions off of other fans who actually know what they're talking about. It creates for great dialogue. I'd much rather be discussing James Shields here, than asking my casual fan friends what they think. Because I know their answers.

 

I used to agree with you. There was a time I'd spend tons of time each day discussing things on here. Then I realized that there are some pretty cool other things to do in the world. 100% you should discuss James Shields and be a fan, but once is enough. He has been talked about at length this summer. The only reason this thread exists is because of a rumor days after our GM pretty much outright shot down the possibility of this happening. I get why the rumor was posted and appreciate the people who post that stuff, but five more pages on Shields? Wouldn't you rather look and come up with a completely new scenario that would be a possibility?

[fireballW]

No, not really but as long as he's still theoretically available, it's only natural to speculate.

 

Yeah, fair enough I guess.

[Dr. Dinger]

Giving a 33 year old pitcher the type of money and years that it would likely take to lure him to Toronto strikes me as, almost categorically, a bad idea.

 

Obviously there's some price where it makes sense.

 

Why do you care about our future payroll? Winning before Bautista leaves and/or declines is really all that matters. A playoff appearance or two would go a long way to defraying the s***** investment anyway. Get the good player here while we're still competitive and deal with the financial fallout afterwards. It's not like he's asking for 7/140, anyway. In any case it's manageable.

[L54]

I used to agree with you. There was a time I'd spend tons of time each day discussing things on here. Then I realized that there are some pretty cool other things to do in the world. 100% you should discuss James Shields and be a fan, but once is enough. He has been talked about at length this summer. The only reason this thread exists is because of a rumor days after our GM pretty much outright shot down the possibility of this happening. I get why the rumor was posted and appreciate the people who post that stuff, but five more pages on Shields? Wouldn't you rather look and come up with a completely new scenario that would be a possibility?

 

And that's completely fair as well. To each their own. For me, I enjoy reading others opinions on what it would take to happen, if they think it's a good/bad idea and why, etc. There are obviously differing levels of interest on this board, ranging from casual lurkers to people who have very good insight.

 

As for looking towards another scenario, if it was December yes I would. I thought Brandon McCarthy was the perfect target for the Jays. But that ship has long sailed, and Shields seems to be one of the last remaining feasible options to improve SP until the season actually starts.

[Spanky99]

I think a lot of you are forgetting he has already turned down a deal worth more then 100mil(assuming that is true). Money isn't what he is looking for. He wants to play some where he likes i'm assuming. My guess Toronto isn't high on his list.

 

C'mon bro...it obviously wasn't true.

[jays76]

I used to agree with you. There was a time I'd spend tons of time each day discussing things on here. Then I realized that there are some pretty cool other things to do in the world. 100% you should discuss James Shields and be a fan, but once is enough. He has been talked about at length this summer. The only reason this thread exists is because of a rumor days after our GM pretty much outright shot down the possibility of this happening. I get why the rumor was posted and appreciate the people who post that stuff, but five more pages on Shields? Wouldn't you rather look and come up with a completely new scenario that would be a possibility?

 

Crazier things have happened, I wouldn't be shocked if it actually went down but I'm also realistic about the situation. I think there is some slight validity to the rumors though and he definitely makes sense for us. It was great seeing Buck mention it on PTS when Beeston was on and having McCown agree, and then also when Gibby mentioned it and then laughed about it to AA at the State Of The Franchise.

[Spanky99]

People really believe this has any chance of happening, whatsoever? AA has all but squashed this idea already, not to mention that, as he continuously says, if the Jays are linked to a player repeatedly in the media, it's most likely fabricated. I'd be completely shocked. I know it is quiet these days and boring, but this rumor hardly deserves to be discussed.

 

The Jays themselves brought up Shields, at the State of the franchise yesterday, did you think the Birds would sign Martin? Trade for Donaldson? I don't believe it true, but c'mon, stop painting a brush John, you do this far to often. Who knows, right?

[Sammy225]

The interesting thing about Shields is that he is a good fit for both Toronto and SD... The funny thing is both teams are faced with the same payroll questions as tho whether the money is there or not. I don't know what to say. At the end of the day i think that it will be a team with big pockets like LAD.

[L54]

The odds of the Jays landing one of Price/Cueto/Greinke or whoever else next offseason are probably significantly smaller than signing Shields right now. As it stands, next season's rotation will probably still require the addition of another SP, so why not take care of that now by signing Shields? Basically replacing Buehrle as a younger, more effective guy who can log 200 innings, while reducing the risk of this rotation this season.

 

Stroman

Hutch

Dickey

Norris?

?

 

That's what the rotation looks like in 2016 as it stands. Adding Shields allows you to focus on other areas of need (1B/RF, 2B?).

[jays76]

And that's completely fair as well. To each their own. For me, I enjoy reading others opinions on what it would take to happen, if they think it's a good/bad idea and why, etc. There are obviously differing levels of interest on this board, ranging from casual lurkers to people who have very good insight.

 

As for looking towards another scenario, if it was December yes I would. I thought Brandon McCarthy was the perfect target for the Jays. But that ship has long sailed, and Shields seems to be one of the last remaining feasible options to improve SP until the season actually starts.

 

Yeah I've said that too, McCarthy was a perfect fit for the RC being a groundball pitcher and at an affordable price who could bridge the gap for the young guns. We missed the boat on that one imo.

[KingKat]

Why do you care about our future payroll? Winning before Bautista leaves and/or declines is really all that matters. A playoff appearance or two would go a long way to defraying the s***** investment anyway. Get the good player here while we're still competitive and deal with the financial fallout afterwards. It's not like he's asking for 7/140, anyway. In any case it's manageable.

 

The future is full of hypotheticals and really hard to plan out effectively. Within reason, sacrificing some future flexibility to make moves that help you win now is perfectly sensible.

[jays76]

The interesting thing about Shields is that he is a good fit for both Toronto and SD... The funny thing is both teams are faced with the same payroll questions as tho whether the money is there or not. I don't know what to say. At the end of the day i think that it will be a team with big pockets like LAD.

 

Anyone but the Yankees.

[L54]

Yeah I've said that too, McCarthy was a perfect fit for the RC being a groundball pitcher and at an affordable price who could bridge the gap for the young guns. We missed the boat on that one imo.

 

I agree with you, but I don't like saying that "we missed out" per se. It could've been that playing for the Dodgers was more appealing, AA was comfortable with the price, etc. Unless its a situation like the Darvish one, where all that was required was ponying up cash, its nearly impossible to say for sure the Jays weren't in on him. Just my opinion.

 

Your assessment is spot on though.

[JFD]

why isn't it done yet

[JFD]

do it

[jays76]

I agree with you, but I don't like saying that "we missed out" per se. It could've been that playing for the Dodgers was more appealing, AA was comfortable with the price, etc. Unless its a situation like the Darvish one, where all that was required was ponying up cash, its nearly impossible to say for sure the Jays weren't in on him. Just my opinion.

 

Your assessment is spot on though.

 

Oh Yu, the one that got away..

[L54]

Oh Yu, the one that got away..

 

Missed the boat on that one

[Spanky99]

And that's completely fair as well. To each their own. For me, I enjoy reading others opinions on what it would take to happen, if they think it's a good/bad idea and why, etc. There are obviously differing levels of interest on this board, ranging from casual lurkers to people who have very good insight.

 

As for looking towards another scenario, if it was December yes I would. I thought Brandon McCarthy was the perfect target for the Jays. But that ship has long sailed, and Shields seems to be one of the last remaining feasible options to improve SP until the season actually starts.

 

Heck, I was hoping on Billingsley a week or so back, with a Cuban 2nd baseman signing...I'll take what we can get, this team is pretty effing good.

[Spanky99]

Yeah I've said that too, McCarthy was a perfect fit for the RC being a groundball swing/strike pitcher and at an affordable price who could bridge the gap for the young guns. We missed the boat on that one imo.

 

Ftfy...mate!

[jays76]

Heck, I was hoping on Billingsley a week or so back, with a Cuban 2nd baseman signing...I'll take what we can get, this team is pretty effing good.

 

I liked Billingsley too for depth, especially at the price he went for.

[jays76]

Ftfy...mate!

 

Cheers

[Abomination]

Heck, I was hoping on Billingsley a week or so back, with a Cuban 2nd baseman signing...I'll take what we can get, this team is pretty effing good.

 

Beachy is still out there too, and probably isn't going to cost a fortune.

[Spanky99]

Cheers

 

Right back at you!

[Spanky99]

Beachy is still out there too, and probably isn't going to cost a fortune.

 

Tommy 2 times scares me man, plus he wouldn't be ready till the AS break.

[KingKat]

Tommy 2 times scares me man, plus he wouldn't be ready till the AS break.

 

Didn't he flat out announce that he wasn't signing?

[Spanky99]

Didn't he flat out announce that he wasn't signing?

 

Yeah, for another 2 weeks to showcase or something, it was redundant, really.

[Spanky99]

The 2nd TJ usually puts said player in the BP, there's exceptions obviously, but it's alarming.

[KingKat]

The 2nd TJ usually puts said player in the BP, there's exceptions obviously, but it's alarming.

 

I wouldn't mind the whole putting him in the rotation until his arm falls off approach. He shouldn't cost that much anyways.

[Spanky99]

I wouldn't mind the whole putting him in the rotation until his arm falls off approach. He shouldn't cost that much anyways.

 

Yup, million dollar commodities.

[jays76]

He'd probably need to be shut down for the playoffs if he went 30+ starts. Norris isn't close to being a 200 inning guy.Stroman and Hutch are no locks either.

 

I really don't see the downside of having your 6,7,8 starters in the bullpen to start the year in this case.

 

Cecil

Sanchez

Norris

Loup

Estrada

Delabar/Drabek/Romero/Jenkins/Redmond/Rasmussen/Hendricks/Guilmet/Oramus/.

 

Shields adds to the rotation and the pen.

 

If his arms not about to fall off/he'd come here/he'd sign for 3 years or less/he'd sign for under 60M. If not fck him and go with what's there,with a tryout for the 5 spot in spring training.

 

I hate to say it but I think we need Shields more than he needs us right now and I doubt he's signing for 3yrs at less than 60M, or even for 3yrs for that matter.

 

What a disaster Romero turned out to be, I just read that he didn't get an invite to spring training in spite of being fully healthy now after his knee operation. What that must do to his already fragile confidence..