What is needed next year so that the Jays keep winning?

[Boxcar]

I hear you, but any decisions have to be made with an eye to 2017 as well. A team that costs 150 this year will cost 170+ in 2017 and beyond. If there is room to go higher, I hope it's spent on very short contracts. We've seen so many teams fall into the trap of falling short in the playoffs and then adding expensive free agents every year to try and put themselves over the top.

 

Names like Price, Zimmermann, and a $200M Heyward are scary. I hope AA picks his spots well if he does go to the market. His one big splash to date was perfect, with low risk and a ton of upside.

 

I'm not worried about a Heyward deal but I'm not spending big on pitching. I actually also forgot John Lackey is a free agent, I'd definitely go hard after him too. Old and probably won't cost an arm and a leg.

[GD]

A $200m Heyward isn't that ​scary. Zimmermann really comes down to the price.

[reedjohnsonfan]

I'm not worried about a Heyward deal but I'm not spending big on pitching. I actually also forgot John Lackey is a free agent, I'd definitely go hard after him too. Old and probably won't cost an arm and a leg.

 

Bartolo Colon would be a cheap old option as well. Not as good obviously, but can fill in the 5th spot when Sanchez loses his control again. I like that he seems durable and doesn't walk anyone, reminds me of David Wells when he got old. Just threw s*** over the plate and racked up a bunch of innings and quality starts.

[BTS]

A $200m Heyward isn't that ​scary. Zimmermann really comes down to the price.

 

A $200M anyone is scary. There are a few players worth the risk, but that's just a huge commitment that could break a wrist/femur or something and never be the same. There are like 5 guys I'd tie that kind of money up in.

[reedjohnsonfan]

A $200m Heyward isn't that ​scary.

 

No his floor is really high, and everyone who watches him realizes he's an elite player who could still show a lot more power. Even if the power doesn't come, he's still a great player and 200m isn't bad for his age.

[BTS]

I'm not worried about a Heyward deal but I'm not spending big on pitching. I actually also forgot John Lackey is a free agent, I'd definitely go hard after him too. Old and probably won't cost an arm and a leg.

 

Lackey, Anderson, Hill, Colon, and Happ are all interesting to some degree and likely to come on reasonable 1-2 year deals. Maybe Samardzija too?

[dineke]

I thought defense was the thing that declines the fastest. Or do we think there's more potential in his bat?

[intentional wok]

Man just imagine it...

 

Heyward

Donaldson

Bautista

Encarnacion

Tulowitzki

Martin

Travis

Pillar

Pompey

 

I'd break the bank for Heyward. Whatever it takes.

 

This hinges on Bautista agreeing to move positions, but holy s***.

[Boxcar]

I would kill to have Bartolo Colon on this team. Kill.

[Boxcar]

This hinges on Bautista agreeing to move positions, but holy s***.

 

He's gotta realize he's a liability. He seems like a team first guy and if the team thinks it's best I doubt he'll raise a stink.

[Effit]

This hinges on Bautista agreeing to move positions, but holy s***.

 

Just looking at that lineup increased my heart rate considerably.

[BTS]

He's gotta realize he's a liability. He seems like a team first guy and if the team thinks it's best I doubt he'll raise a stink.

 

He seems like the kind of guy would be pist.

[Boxcar]

I thought defense was the thing that declines the fastest. Or do we think there's more potential in his bat?

 

Heyward gets good reads and takes good routes. He's not a, basically, all speed defender like, say, Pillar is. (disclaimer: Pillar is great but he doesn't always get great reads or take good routes is my point)

[Boxcar]

He seems like the kind of guy would be pist.

 

When they moved him to third for a while a few years ago, he said he felt he serves the team best in the OF but if they needed him elsewhere it was fine. He just didn't like moving around on the fly. So, he's no Ben Zobrist but I think he will understand that he's not the defender he once was (which wasn't special to begin with.)

[GreekFatAss]

In my dream world. I sign Gordon and Upton (who won't command uber years) and move Jose to 1B so we have a deep lineup 1-9 and then use the rest of the budget on pitching, if Stroman, Hutchison and Osuna are the main 3 in the rotation, you can get by with some cheap innings eaters in the 4th and 5th spot as long as we have a good pen.

[BigCecil]

This hinges on Bautista agreeing to move positions, but holy s***.

 

1B wastes his + arm but it has to happen. His routes and D just seems to continue to slide. He will fight it I think. Last time we played him at 3B he missed time for his back and made it clear he preferred the OF.

 

I love the idea of Heyward but we are also going to need some pesos given we will likely lose Price, Estrada, Mark B and RA if we don't take option.

[glory]

2016 will be Bautista's free agent year. I'm not sure how being a 1B or a RF will change his value, if it does at all, but in his mind, would he want to move positions in his final season before the last big pay day of his career? I don't think he'll mind playing 1B occasionally, but full time might be a tough sell. I agree they should try to move him to 1B, though. His defense in the outfield has become a huge issue. Whether he agrees to it is the problem.

[dineke]

In my dream world. I sign Gordon and Upton (who won't command uber years) and move Jose to 1B so we have a deep lineup 1-9 and then use the rest of the budget on pitching, if Stroman, Hutchison and Osuna are the main 3 in the rotation, you can get by with some cheap innings eaters in the 4th and 5th spot as long as we have a good pen.

 

Osuna can't really be counted on as a starter next year, at least for the whole season.

[Stangstag]

So everyone is just giving up on Hutchison? I don't see him in anybody's projected rotation...

[intentional wok]

1B wastes his + arm but it has to happen. His routes and D just seems to continue to slide. He will fight it I think. Last time we played him at 3B he missed time for his back and made it clear he preferred the OF.

 

I love the idea of Heyward but we are also going to need some pesos given we will likely lose Price, Estrada, Mark B and RA if we don't take option.

 

I think RA is confirmed to be returning.

[ElNik2013]

In my dream world. I sign Gordon and Upton (who won't command uber years) and move Jose to 1B so we have a deep lineup 1-9 and then use the rest of the budget on pitching, if Stroman, Hutchison and Osuna are the main 3 in the rotation, you can get by with some cheap innings eaters in the 4th and 5th spot as long as we have a good pen.

 

How do you sign Gordon and Upton and still replace Price, Buehrle, Estrada and possibly Dickey?

 

Also, you can't count on Osuna as a SP in 2017 and while I'm not giving up on Hutchison at all, you have to view him as a #4 at this point. Team needs a 2 and a 3 which will likely cost 25M.

[ElNik2013]

I'm not convinced that payroll will be effected by the run. Their people would have known beforehand what kind of income the playoffs would generate, and they still couldn't afford Valencia or Revere for two months. I'll be surprised if payroll is much higher than 130M.

 

 

 

Hate to say it, but I agree. People are getting way too carried-away with their payroll expectations. This ownership has pulled the rug from under their GM 2 times already (JP and AA). Hopefully, AA learned his lessons and continues to make good moves like last offseason.

[EMK19]

1B wastes his + arm but it has to happen. His routes and D just seems to continue to slide. He will fight it I think. Last time we played him at 3B he missed time for his back and made it clear he preferred the OF.

.

 

Yeah, I don't think Bautista would take too lightly to any suggestions of a positional change... he probably sees that cannon arm of his as part of what makes him a perennial all star player and a source of pride for him... but IMO it needs to happen for the long term due to his declining range and his chronic leg/back issues. I have a feeling if Jose does leave the Blue Jays after 2017, then this would be the main issue that causes that divide.

[burlingtonbandit]

Heyward gets good reads and takes good routes. He's not a, basically, all speed defender like, say, Pillar is. (disclaimer: Pillar is great but he doesn't always get great reads or take good routes is my point)

 

lol wtf one of the reasons why Pillar is so good is because his reads and routes are some of the best in baseball. I think hes actually the opposite of what you said. His top speed isn't the best but its the insticts/tracking that makes him so good. There will be the odd time he breaks back on a ball off the end of the bat but that happens with everyone...

[burlingtonbandit]

Hate to say it, but I agree. People are getting way too carried-away with their payroll expectations. This ownership has pulled the rug from under their GM 2 times already (JP and AA). Hopefully, AA learned his lessons and continues to make good moves like last offseason.

 

I think Rogers knows if they keep payroll the same fans will be pissed and rightfully so. When you make an extra $100 million (probably even more) on the team and don't put it back into the team that would cause a backlash from fans. Especially since they will raise ticket prices etc...

 

I think Payroll should be at least in the $160 range

[BigCecil]

Hate to say it, but I agree. People are getting way too carried-away with their payroll expectations. This ownership has pulled the rug from under their GM 2 times already (JP and AA). Hopefully, AA learned his lessons and continues to make good moves like last offseason.

 

You know I would have thought this too....but they signed Martin...they made the moves at the deadline.

 

Then they got a taste of what the fan base for the Jays can be again from a business perspective....right across the country if we put a truly quality product on the field. I felt so long out in the wilderness as a fan in Calgary where so few I know seemed to care about the Jays, I wondered if would/could come back. It did. Its going to be interesting regardless.

[jaysblue]

So everyone is just giving up on Hutchison? I don't see him in anybody's projected rotation...

 

I haven't given up on Hutch. I just don't think you can expect him to be a No. 2 or 3 at the start of the season however.