Blue Jays sign J.A. Happ 3-years $36M

[Save Dtieb]

Trade Dickey for a good reliever.

 

Trading a SP for a RP would be disastrous. Especially the type a 41 year old knuckerballer would give. Dickey is much more valuable in the Jays rotation than anything he gets in trade.

[glory]

Trading Dickey kind of defeats the point of depth accumulation, unless his direct replacement comes back in that trade (which likely won't happen). I know DIckey is annoying with his personal catcher stuff, but really, the Jays won't be getting a 200 IP/sub-4.00 ERA starter for less than what Dickey's making. Just bite the bullet and stick with Thole's corpse while hopefully getting a decent depth catcher in AAA in case of injury.

[jaysfan2014]

I like this move. It gives us depth, and if we get Pirates Happ, we will be in good shape. It also allows us options with Sanchez and Osuna, possibly to keep them in the bullpen. And it relegates Hutchison to the bullpen as a swing man or AAA.

 

Now the next aim is some bullpen depth--we need some.

[Jayzfan79]

you'd think with the reactions we are mid way through spring training and soon entering into the season....

 

christ guys, it is November freaking 27th and we have gotten depth with our starting rotation and 'could' enter the season with this as our top 5. this doesn't mean it is set in stone.

 

lots of time left. good signing, gets the holes plugged and is manageable. We got Donaldson last year on the 28th of November. still haven't gotten to that date yet.

 

simma down.

[nonamejays]

This is a steady half measure type acquisition that I am exceedingly familiar with over the past 25 years watching the jays. Happ will be there and will pitch okay, as Chavez will. The Jays will fit right into their usual 80 win +/- 5 season that we have all become accustomed to.

 

Yay mediocrity.

[vilifyingforce]

Just bite the bullet and stick with Thole's corpse while hopefully getting a decent depth catcher in AAA in case of injury.

 

Humberto Quintero says hello.

[Atothe]

you'd think with the reactions we are mid way through spring training and soon entering into the season....

 

christ guys, it is November freaking 27th and we have gotten depth with our starting rotation and 'could' enter the season with this as our top 5. this doesn't mean it is set in stone.

 

lots of time left. good signing, gets the holes plugged and is manageable. We got Donaldson last year on the 28th of November. still haven't gotten to that date yet.

 

simma down.

 

Are you expecting Jose Fernandez?

[Brownie19]

Terrible strawman argument, has nothing to do with price, it has everything to do with throwing out a patch work budget pitching staff with a team with a legit WS chance. There were way better moves then happ that did not include price.

 

Then do us all a favour, fall off the bandwagon, break you leg and go cheer for another team

[Captain Adama]

Are you expecting Jose Fernandez?

 

Don't worry, Sanchez and Jenkins will get it done.

[vilifyingforce]

you'd think with the reactions we are mid way through spring training and soon entering into the season....

 

christ guys, it is November freaking 27th and we have gotten depth with our starting rotation and 'could' enter the season with this as our top 5. this doesn't mean it is set in stone.

 

lots of time left. good signing, gets the holes plugged and is manageable. We got Donaldson last year on the 28th of November. still haven't gotten to that date yet.

 

simma down.

 

Well, yes and no.

Stroman is a lock for the rotation, dealing him unless for some fantasy just makes no sense.

Dickey is a lock for the rotation, whatever his value is is likely less then the 200IP he's good for next season.

Estrada is a lock for the rotation, he didn't re-sign to be a pen arm.

Happ is a lock for the rotation, he didn't sign to be a pen arm.

 

There's really only one spot open and that will be Chavez/Hutchinson or a FA as it is early, but, this rotation is essentially locked in imo. Either people like it or they don't, but, I'd say it's at least 80% locked in as of right now.

[Jayzfan79]

Are you expecting Jose Fernandez?

 

i never said that. i am just saying that cool it the f*ck down. its a signing that didn't affect our farm and there is alot of time left till the season starts.

[CJ-Freeway]

This thread is somewhat unbearable.

 

It's not David Price...whhhhaaaaaaaa I'm so upset

 

No, we're saying there's plenty of choice between Happ and Price. This team has a legit shot at the WS in 2016 but it needs strong pitching. Sadly, Happ doesn't represent that.

[bronson44]

This is a steady half measure type acquisition that I am exceedingly familiar with over the past 25 years watching the jays. Happ will be there and will pitch okay, as Chavez will. The Jays will fit right into their usual 80 win +/- 5 season that we have all become accustomed to.

 

Yay mediocrity.

 

Except they're miles better offensively and defensively than you are "accustomed to"

[nonamejays]

Except they're miles better offensively and defensively than you are "accustomed to"

 

To go along with what may be the worst rotation 1-5 in all of baseball.

[BTS]

To go along with what may be the worst rotation 1-5 in all of baseball.

 

lmao

[TheHurl]

No, we're saying there's plenty of choice between Happ and Price. This team has a legit shot at the WS in 2016 but it needs strong pitching. Sadly, Happ doesn't represent that.

 

is this rotation weaker than the rotation was on April 1st 2015? There is lots of opportunity to establish these guys as starters...and add a front of the line starter at the deadline. All without handcuffing the payroll. What I don't get at all is how some people can praise the Estrada signing and add a better pitcher and call our rotation the worst.

[IBTrini]

I don't hate this, but I really don't love it either.

I feel the same however I do not think this is the final starting rotation - maybe I am just an optimist. With a front end starter still to be added it gives the team some starting depth or currently as it stands, something to add as a package for the needed starter. The off-season is clearly not finished so there is still time for some other additions.

[fireballW]

I really think the regime change happened at the perfect time. Shapiro inherits a monster offense, and will try and keep them competitive with thrifty additions like Chavez/Estrada/Happ, but he doesn't feel compelled to break the bank and make an irresponsible move for an ace. I like how this offseason has gone so far.

 

I really think Happy is a guy that they loved under AA and we're going to try and sign either way. AA did not make irresponsible FA signings either. You are happy seeing us go into the season with a crappy rotation just so we don't spend as much money or lose a prospect. I know you don't like it, but at this point the Jays really need to make something happen this year. If the team sucks and misses the playoffs the whole franchise will take a big step backwards. I like Happ, but we need to upgrade at least one spot.

[Captain Adama]

To go along with what may be the worst rotation 1-5 in all of baseball.

 

lol

[Atothe]

No, we're saying there's plenty of choice between Happ and Price. This team has a legit shot at the WS in 2016 but it needs strong pitching. Sadly, Happ doesn't represent that.

 

Not having David price isn't going to kill this team. They may not win as many games but they will be in the hunt.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

I like it. Best case scenario, they find a way to acquire/sign another quality starter and Chavez moves into a swingman role ala Estrada from the 1st half of last year.

 

Rotation depth is there now. Offence is #1 by a mile. Just need to pick up a few fireballers for the pen and we're ready to go.

[xposbrad]

At the beginning of last year, if someone would have said we'd have Estrada/Happ on the team with 70m worth of contracts, you would said they were on crack. You would have then checked them into a very expensive rehab. Well that crack dream is now a reality.

[Candy Maldonado]

is this rotation weaker than the rotation was on April 1st 2015? There is lots of opportunity to establish these guys as starters...and add a front of the line starter at the deadline. All without handcuffing the payroll. What I don't get at all is how some people can praise the Estrada signing and add a better pitcher and call our rotation the worst.

welcome back

[Atothe]

At the beginning of last year, if someone would have said we'd have Estrada/Happ on the team with 70m worth of contracts, you would said they were on crack. You would have then checked them into a very expensive rehab. Well that crack dream is now a reality.

 

You're really full of it tonight. This is free agency. Paying Happ 12 mill a year is to be expected

[bronson44]

To go along with what may be the worst rotation 1-5 in all of baseball.

 

lol, not even the worst rotation in the division.

[CJ-Freeway]

is this rotation weaker than the rotation was on April 1st 2015? There is lots of opportunity to establish these guys as starters...and add a front of the line starter at the deadline. All without handcuffing the payroll. What I don't get at all is how some people can praise the Estrada signing and add a better pitcher and call our rotation the worst.

 

No you're right, on April 1st 2015, we had a weak rotation too. Which continued to be weak until Price showed up halfway through the season.

[fireballW]

is this rotation weaker than the rotation was on April 1st 2015? There is lots of opportunity to establish these guys as starters...and add a front of the line starter at the deadline. All without handcuffing the payroll.

 

Handcuff the payroll? If you never want to spend money and some of you guys always want to go full prospects then we won't have to ever need to be near the top of our payroll. I swear some of you are more interested in saving Rogers money than anything. The franchise doesn't know what it is doing. Rogers brought in Shapiro when things looked bleak to come slash the budget, then we went on a big win streak and the fans were amazing for 1/3 of the year. Shapiro pumped up his ability to save money I'm sure and now it is this odd position. Rotation is not good enough. I'd be more comforted knowing AA would be working on all kinds of trade possibilities to get us a starter. No way AA would sign any overpriced FA either.

[reedjohnsonfan]

welcome back

 

lol Logan Forsythe and James Loney not cutting it as cleanup threats for him! Who would've thought!?

[nonamejays]

Jays rotation

 

#2 in Stroman

 

three guys that could either be decent #3's or be mediocre 5th starters - Estrada, Chavez, Happ

 

then Dickey who is up and down from start to start.

 

That is not exactly something to be thrilled about.

[Atothe]

Handcuff the payroll? If you never want to spend money and some of you guys always want to go full prospects then we won't have to ever need to be near the top of our payroll. I swear some of you are more interested in saving Rogers money than anything. The franchise doesn't know what it is doing. Rogers brought in Shapiro when things looked bleak to come slash the budget, then we went on a big win streak and the fans were amazing for 1/3 of the year. Shapiro pumped up his ability to save money I'm sure and now it is this odd position. Rotation is not good enough. I'd be more comforted knowing AA would be working on all kinds of trade possibilities to get us a starter. No way AA would sign any overpriced FA either.

 

Wat?