Offseason Roster Thread

[Spanky__99]

Matt Hague is going to Japan. A bit disappointing, as was looking forward to having Hague as depth.

Not sure why Jays would let him go for $300,000. Can only assume Hague had a chance to make some decent money and Jays didn't want to stand in his way, and couldn't make the same commitment.

Obviously, mate.

[burlingtonbandit]

People probably don't realize the low Canadian dollar would help out players a bit as well. Its not a huge difference by any means since players don't own houses but it helps. A star player has more marketing potential in Toronto I would think as well. Outside of New York/LA the endorsement deals here would be one of the highest of any MLB city.

[rydermike]

Matt Hague to Korea. Didn't Shapiro say we needed depth. Let's send our depth away. I will never forget that pinch hit double that was a couple inches from a home run to tie. Instead, we lost with Smoak's grounder next at bat

[King]

Matt Hague to Korea. Didn't Shapiro say we needed depth. Let's send our depth away. I will never forget that pinch hit double that was a couple inches from a home run to tie. Instead, we lost with Smoak's grounder next at bat

 

Literally posted a thousand times! And it's not even new news.

[The Cats Ass]

And we didn't really choose to send him away. It would be 100% his choice.

[Sammy225]

And we didn't really choose to send him away. It would be 100% his choice.

 

I bet Rogers has those underground people who could send them away if they saw fit lol

[The Cats Ass]

I bet Rogers has those underground people who could send them away if they saw fit lol

 

I think this has happened already with a few players.

[Nafro]

Matt Hague is going to Japan. A bit disappointing, as was looking forward to having Hague as depth.

Not sure why Jays would let him go for $300,000. Can only assume Hague had a chance to make some decent money and Jays didn't want to stand in his way, and couldn't make the same commitment.

 

I think they want his roster spot to acquire some potential pitching in the Rule 5 draft. I think we pick one and maybe even two players this year. It would appear the Jays are going to use the fact they have 6 spots on the forty to take advantage of other teams who are right up against it. Maybe some actual productive use of the 40 man moving forward.

[Brownie19]

You have any proof of this? Why isn't this ever mentioned in articles discussing KBO players coming to MLB?

 

I don't know. Because journalists are terrible at their jobs maybe?

[500LevelSTH]

Rule 5s must stay on 25 man roster, not 40 man. Taking 3 and holding all for the entire season on 25 man is a slim shot at best

[BTS]

Rule 5s must stay on 25 man roster, not 40 man. Taking 3 and holding all for the entire season on 25 man is a slim shot at best

 

Has any team ever retained two into the regular season?

[KingKat]

Has any team ever retained two into the regular season?

 

Blue Jays did it in the eighties at one point.

 

Edit: Manny Lee and Lou Thornton in 1984

Edited November 25, 2015 by KingKat

[Dr. Dinger]

It's kinda amazing that a Rule 5 guy just had a 4 WAR season. Before that, it feels like there hasn't been a noteworthy Rule 5 pick in like 15 years.

[Dr. Dinger]

Hmm, Hector Rondon was a Rule V, I did not know that. That's pretty neat.

[KingKat]

Hmm, Hector Rondon was a Rule V, I did not know that. That's pretty neat.

 

This blows my mind...

 

In the good old days, though, nobody worked the Rule 5 like Pat Gillick and your Toronto Blue Jays. It started with Willie Upshaw, picked in 1977 off the roster of Gillick’s old team, the Ne York Yankees. Upshaw would eventually become the first Blue Jay ever to drive in 100 runs in a season (103 in 1983) and was the first baseman on the Blue Jays’ first division winner in 1985.

Another Rule 5er was a big part of that ’85 team as well, and he’s still the only Blue Jay ever to win the American League MVP award. George Bell was taken from the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980. Under Gillick, the Blue Jays also used the Rule 5 draft to select Kelly Gruber and Manny Lee -- the left side of the infield on the Blue Jays’ first World Series championship team -- as well as helpful pieces like Jims Acker and Gott.

 

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-have-rich-history-with-rule-5-draft/

 

This is an insane run. Probably the best in the history of the Rule 5:

 

1980 George Bell

1981 Jim Gott

1982 Jim Acker

1983 Kelly Gruber

1984 Manny Lee, Lou Thornton

Edited November 25, 2015 by KingKat

[Pulk_Pull]

lol at outrage over losing a career MiLB first baseman with 91 MLB PA. Much better uses of roster spaces around.

[KingKat]

lol at outrage over losing a career MiLB first baseman with 91 MLB PA. Much better uses of roster spaces around.

 

Hague was an excellent use of a 40 man roster spot but you're right that it's not worth crying over. It's not like the Jays could offer him the kind of job security he will have overseas.

[baubau]

Axford elects free agency. Wondering if the Jays could target him as bullpen depth. His walks are always a issue but his other numbers are pretty good: 10.02 K/9, 56.1% GB% and 3.74 xFIP. Could be great for blowout games.

[Jimcanuck]

Axford elects free agency. Wondering if the Jays could target him as bullpen depth. His walks are always a issue but his other numbers are pretty good: 10.02 K/9, 56.1% GB% and 3.74 xFIP. Could be great for blowout games.

 

Abso-f***ing-lutely

[Nafro]

Rule 5s must stay on 25 man roster, not 40 man. Taking 3 and holding all for the entire season on 25 man is a slim shot at best

 

I think they will use 1 or 2 Rule 5's if at all. I think where they will take advantage with the 40 man roster is that they will claim players DFA'd as free agents are signed. A lot of teams are at the 40 or one or two spots under. They didn't add and protect players in a calculated risk that they will not be solid enough to stick on teams 25 if picked, or likely not advanced enough to be picked compared to what is available. (Perdomo, DSJ, Robson, etc.)

[Pulk_Pull]

Hague was an excellent use of a 40 man roster spot but you're right that it's not worth crying over. It's not like the Jays could offer him the kind of job security he will have overseas.

 

Hague would of been nice to bring into ST to see what he could do, but the likelihood he contributes at a ML level without a significant injury causing a call-up is minimal in my mind. Would prefer to use roster spaces on more utility based position players and lotto ticket pitchers can can be used in the pen; but hey, that's just me.

[glory]

I think they will use 1 or 2 Rule 5's if at all. I think where they will take advantage with the 40 man roster is that they will claim players DFA'd as free agents are signed. A lot of teams are at the 40 or one or two spots under. They didn't add and protect players in a calculated risk that they will not be solid enough to stick on teams 25 if picked, or likely not advanced enough to be picked compared to what is available. (Perdomo, DSJ, Robson, etc.)

 

Yeah, with Shapiro emphasizing lack of depth, I think they'll try every avenue to get talent without touching any prospects or spending outlandish amounts in free agency. So as you said, waiver claims (like Smoak last year), a Rule 5 pick up, etc. They don't have many expendable trade assets, which is why they had to take from the pen in order to improve the rotation last week, so they'll have to be creative in adding talent wherever they can.

[King]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sTjc9-YafU&feature=youtu.be

[Abomination]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sTjc9-YafU&feature=youtu.be

 

Lol, a commercial that actually didn't totally suck.

[Grant77]

Axford elects free agency. Wondering if the Jays could target him as bullpen depth. His walks are always a issue but his other numbers are pretty good: 10.02 K/9, 56.1% GB% and 3.74 xFIP. Could be great for blowout games.

 

I think we can do better. For cheap, one year RH options, I'd first target Jonathan Broxton, Ryan Madson, and David Hernandez.

[RealAccountant]

I'd go the other way. We are trying to win a championship in 2016 we can't have a lot of flyers. We need sure things even if they cost a little more. I'd go for Oday and Lowe. Real shutdown guys. Combined with Osuna Sanchez and Cecil we would have a championship worthy bullpen

[Grant77]

I'd go the other way. We are trying to win a championship in 2016 we can't have a lot of flyers. We need sure things even if they cost a little more. I'd go for Oday and Lowe. Real shutdown guys. Combined with Osuna Sanchez and Cecil we would have a championship worthy bullpen

 

You rarely get what you pay for with these 'real shutdown guys'. I'd rather have depth. If they brought in something like Hernandez, Rzepczynski, and Trevor Cahill, I'd be perfectly happy.

[burlingtonbandit]

I'd go the other way. We are trying to win a championship in 2016 we can't have a lot of flyers. We need sure things even if they cost a little more. I'd go for Oday and Lowe. Real shutdown guys. Combined with Osuna Sanchez and Cecil we would have a championship worthy bullpen

 

If you were going to sign Lowe for 5-7 Million why do you make the trade for Chavez? Hendriks was just as good making league min with more control. In theory it would be like paying Chavez 10+ million while giving away 3 years of Hendriks. I think the Jays go cheap in the bullpen. Maybe pick up a couple of failed starters.

[RealAccountant]

If you were going to sign Lowe for 5-7 Million why do you make the trade for Chavez? Hendriks was just as good making league min with more control. In theory it would be like paying Chavez 10+ million while giving away 3 years of Hendriks. I think the Jays go cheap in the bullpen. Maybe pick up a couple of failed starters.

 

I dont think they wanted to trade Hendriks. They wanted Chavez, and Hendriks was what Chavez cost.

 

Also keep in mind that the views of Bluejays management may not be highly correlated with the views on this board.

[burlingtonbandit]

I dont think they wanted to trade Hendriks. They wanted Chavez, and Hendriks was what Chavez cost.

 

Also keep in mind that the views of Bluejays management may not be highly correlated with the views on this board.

 

I don't think they did either but it makes no sense to trade him and then pay Mark Lowe 5-6 Million per season. People say releivers are risky well Mark Lowe comes with extreme risk compared to Hendriks. Last year was his first good year in like 5+ seasons.

 

I was advocating signing Lowe this offseason but there would be no point to trade away Hendriks to pay Chavez 4.7 then replace Hendriks with a releiver making 6 million. You would effectively be paying what Chavez provides for $10.7 Million. You may as well just kept Hendriks and the 4 years of control and signed a swing starter like Blanton for like 6 or 7.