IYO: The Blue Jays did NOT mortgage their future in July of 2015.

[TwistedLogic]

When the Blue Jays made their signature moves in the infamous offseason of 2012, they didn't just acquire a host of big named players and take on a ton of salary; they gave up on a lot of their future prospect capital. Trading away pieces like Noah Syndergaard, Travis d'Arnaud, Jake Marisnick, Yan Gomes and Henderson Alvarez was no small story, and in complete fairness, nobody acted like it was. Many were upset over the talent that the Jays turned their back on in a year where going all-in was a suspect approach at best, considering where they were on the win-curve.

 

As much as people have a right to be upset over what happened in 2012, one thing that nobody can deny is this: the Blue Jays front office under Alex Anthopoulos, for all their faults and flaws, have shown a very strong propensity to rebuild the farm system.

 

Many believed that in 2012, the Jays had obliterated hopes of their future for a shot to win now. Very little talent was left in the system beyond Aaron Sanchez and Anthony Gose, with names like Osuna, Stroman and Norris still unproven or far away.

 

Just two years after the much maligned offseason of 2012, the Jays had rebuilt an arsenal of prospects rich enough to afford them trades for Devon Travis, Michael Saunders, Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki and David Price in a span of eight months, while having promoted Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez and Roberto Osuna to the major leagues.

 

When Anthopoulos became the GM in 2009, he inherited a bottom ranked farm system. Two years was all it for the new administration to evolve the system into one of the best in the game, and two years was all it took to return it to that level after the blockbuster moves of 2012. If we are to take into account this team's ability to draft, sign and develop prospects in recent history, they should have more than enough time before their current major league core is gone to rebuild the system.

 

6 years of control after 2015: Dalton Pompey, Anthony Alford

5 years of control after 2015: Troy Tulowitzki, Marcus Stroman, Devon Travis, Kevin Pillar, Roberto Osuna, Aaron Sanchez

4 years of control after 2015: Russell Martin, Liam Hendriks, Chris Colabello

3 years of control after 2015: Josh Donaldson, Drew Hutchison, Aaron Loup, Steve Delabar

[o2cui2i]

not my job to worry. there are enough people who get paid well to worry for me.

 

I'll spend my energy watching really good baseball the rest of the season and maybe even into the post season.

[Atothe]

If he's back, he can rebuild the farm system because he's done it multiple times now

[sdyment]

Correct, but many sandwich and comp picks that aren't available any more make a rebuild of the minors slower this time. Probably.... Saying that, I hoped AA stays on after this season because of his skills at rebuilding the depth in the minors.

 

He seems to be improving his ability to construct an MLB roster tho. IMO, his biggest failing up to now by far.

[King]

tldr

[Swervin81]

If he's back, he can rebuild the farm system because he's done it multiple times now

 

I agree. He's built up a farm system from nothing in 2 years twice. No reason he can't do it again. Even the new CBA didn't deter him.

[TwistedLogic]

Correct, but many sandwich and comp picks that aren't available any more make a rebuild of the minors slower this time. Probably.... Saying that, I hoped AA stays on after this season because of his skills at rebuilding the depth in the minors.

 

He seems to be improving his ability to construct an MLB roster tho. IMO, his biggest failing up to now by far.

 

The rebuild from 2012 to 2014 wasn't made on the basis of sandwich and comp picks. I do hope it's tougher to rebuild this time, because it means the Jays are winning and signing free agents, but they have three to four years before this current window begins to close, and that's a lot more time than they've needed in the past.

[bill]

they literally sold the farm for a risky shot at the wild card. They still have the bumbling Gibbons as a manager. Huge risk

[GD]

they literally sold the farm for a risky shot at the wild card. They still have the bumbling Gibbons as a manager. Huge risk

 

Thanks, Miscellaneous Toronto Sun Commenter #1296

[Followthelight]

they literally sold the farm for a risky shot at the wild card. They still have the bumbling Gibbons as a manager. Huge risk

 

But they never sold the farm...........

[Hipfan]

It's all about the major league team, and that team is a whole lot better today than earlier this week. Only one significant player (Price) that they acquired over the past year is a free agent, so even though they gave up prospect capital, they have received elite performers that are controllable for numerous years. Even if you factor in regression over the next 5 years, they should still be solid above average players, so I don't think the future is bleak.

[closetjaysfan]

If this season falls apart he can deal EE and Bautista and refill the farm. This was a good time to make these kinds of moves. Norris, Castro and Hoffman can be replaced easily enough. There is a good chance the others dont pan out at all.

[baloojayz]

You can't worry about the future and want to win it all right now at the same time.

 

Yet I still feel AA has taken care of both.

[baloojayz]

I agree. He's built up a farm system from nothing in 2 years twice. No reason he can't do it again. Even the new CBA didn't deter him.

 

There are many ways to build the farm as well, not just through the draft. AA got this.

[Caper]

Jeff Hoffman and Daniel Norris..... and then a bunch of guys. Does the franchise future really hinge on that?

[Governator]

You can't tell me your not excited for the next 2 months and thrilled to have Tulo manning ss over Reyes going forward. This makes up for last years abysmal effort.