BREAKING: Jays acquire Melvin Upton Jr.

[Pendleton]

Hansel did seem like one of our more intriguing young arms, but he's years away and the big-league roster just go a fair bit stronger, I'm cool with this.

[Dr. Dinger]

Career is pointless though. Upton is a much worse hitter now then he was for his career and Smoak is better than his career.

 

I don't think that's a statement you can definitively make; you of all people should know how long splits take to stabilize. Looking at either of their weak hand splits over the last 2 seasons or w/e doesn't really tell us much of anything. Any way you slice it, Smoak is at best a league average hitter on his better half, while we're playing pylons in LF and RF every night.

[crmr]

Great deal. Upton was worth $12 mil last year and another $12 this year. At a 1.5 year deal for $5 mil that's probably one of the best contracts in baseball.

 

Really liking this for them

[Terminator]

Those splits don't mean much, and Saunders and Bautista are brutal defensively.

 

I'd probably just play Upton a pretty fair amount full-time, install EE as the starter at 1B and then use the DH to give regular rest to Saunders, Bautista and EE the rest of the season.

 

Smoak can play every so often when EE needs a rest and he can also be used as the primary pinch hitter. This deal also helps a lot in case of injury.

[Cyborg]

I don't think that's a statement you can definitively make; you of all people should know how long splits take to stabilize. Looking at either of their weak hand splits over the last 2 seasons or w/e doesn't really tell us much of anything. Any way you slice it, Smoak is at best a league average hitter on his better half, while we're playing pylons in LF and RF every night.

I wasnt saying look at recent splits. Projections plus projected split. Melvins projections suck.

 

I would platoon them for sure.

[Statman]

Career splits

 

Upton 110 wRC+ vs LHP, 95 vs RHP

Smoak 101 wRC+ vs RHP, 85 vs LHP

 

6 point career wRC+ gap on that platoon... meh. Keeping Bautista out of the outfield is far more meaningful IMO.

 

Agree.

[Dr. Dinger]

I'd probably just play Upton a pretty fair amount full-time, install EE as the starter at 1B and then use the DH to give regular rest to Saunders, Bautista and EE the rest of the season.

 

Smoak can play every so often when EE needs a rest and he can also be used as the primary pinch hitter. This deal also helps a lot in case of injury.

 

I think this is exactly what we're looking at. It's not going to be a straight platoon, Upton will get the bulk of time and Smoak will be a late inning defensive replacement for EE, give him the odd day off, and be a PH when we could benefit most from a lucky HR.

[HERPDERP]

Is everyone forgetting about Jose's feelings?

 

I wonder what he is going to say

[nmrch]

Eh I think you were making some good points when we all thought that we'd have to pay Upton 12 million or so next season. But at 5 million for a season and a half? That changes the dynamics a lot.

 

Well i respect that, i think we're just looking at things from different perspectives. To me this is like the Smoak deal, i just don't get why we're bothering with fringe guys, whether we might actually get a couple of million in extra value(and that's literally what the projection say) that will make it worth Rodriguez is almost irrelevant because its still a fringe guy. Guys like Smoak and Upton should be picked up off the scrap heap, not offered extensions nor should you give up anything for these bums.

[Dick_Pole]

Good trade, bad thread.

 

I'm a bit shocked that the Jays did so well considering that they weren't the only ones in on him. The ones kicking themselves should be the O's front office for not topping that.

[Terminator]

And how did someone else not outbid that??

 

Yeah I don't understand how the Orioles don't outbid that offer. Upton a clear upgrade over Nolan Reimold.

[Dr. Dinger]

Is everyone forgetting about Jose's feelings?

 

I wonder what he is going to say

 

I don't think he has a leg to stand on. He knows damn well that his shoulder is f***ed up and he hasn't been able to throw a ball with zip since last year (the Delmon Young spite throw incident). On top of that, his range was in steep decline even before turf toe.

[Jonn]

Is everyone forgetting about Jose's feelings?

 

I wonder what he is going to say

 

Bautista is better mad. Personally I don't give a s*** about his feelings. Its time for the organization that employees him tells him he can't play RF and needs too DH or play 1B.

 

Give him every opportunity to try too make 1B work.

[Jimcanuck]

Good trade. Pillar for a SP?

[Dr. Dinger]

Bautista is better mad. Personally I don't give a s*** about his feelings. Its time for the organization that employees him tells him he can't play RF and needs too DH or play 1B. Give him every opportunity to try too make 1B work.

 

Why

[Cyborg]

Why

Just too bug you.

[nmrch]

I don't think he has a leg to stand on. He knows damn well that his shoulder is f***ed up and he hasn't been able to throw a ball with zip since last year (the Delmon Young spite throw incident). On top of that, his range was in steep decline even before turf toe.

 

He's still Bautista, i think he believes that he has the final say on whether he should play the outfield

[Jonn]

Why

 

Cause that's what my iPhone wanted and I always do what my iPhone says

[vilifyingforce]

Well i respect that, i think we're just looking at things from different perspectives. To me this is like the Smoak deal, i just don't get why we're bothering with fringe guys, whether we might actually get a couple of million in extra value(and that's literally what the projection say) that will make it worth Rodriguez is almost irrelevant because its still a fringe guy. Guys like Smoak and Upton should be picked up off the scrap heap, not offered extensions nor should you give up anything for these bums.

 

I don't get it. Smoak and Upton are quite different players. Upton had two terrible seasons in Atlanta and as soon as he left he started getting better. Do you value Rodriguez more then Upton?

[King]

Cause that's what my iPhone wanted and I always do what my iPhone says

 

Nice work.

[Jonn]

Just too bug you.

 

And this too

[Seanie]

Nice work, good platoon'ish bat.

[vilifyingforce]

Good trade. Pillar for a SP?

 

No.

[BTS]

I wonder if it's realistic that Bautista sees almost all of his time down the stretch at DH. It's pretty obviously the best configuration going forward.

 

Smoak looks... completely superfluous. That extension was so bizarre. He doesn't even have a role on the team.

[King]

And this too

 

This to.

[frizzer1]

I'm happy with any move that gets Smoak out of the lineup......terrible hitter who only make contact if they are dumb enough to throw him fastballs..

But...is Upton any better?

[BTS]

Well i respect that, i think we're just looking at things from different perspectives. To me this is like the Smoak deal, i just don't get why we're bothering with fringe guys, whether we might actually get a couple of million in extra value(and that's literally what the projection say) that will make it worth Rodriguez is almost irrelevant because its still a fringe guy. Guys like Smoak and Upton should be picked up off the scrap heap, not offered extensions nor should you give up anything for these bums.

 

Upton was just picked up off the scrap heap.

[Jonn]

I would take a flyer on Melvin Upton Jr if San Diego would pretty much give him away and eat half his salary next year.

 

I will always have this as well. So f*** y'all too.

[Terminator]

I think this is exactly what we're looking at. It's not going to be a straight platoon, Upton will get the bulk of time and Smoak will be a late inning defensive replacement for EE, give him the odd day off, and be a PH when we could benefit most from a lucky HR.

 

SSS Alert: According to UZR/150 this season Upton (+5.6) has been 20.7 runs better in LF than Saunders (-15.1) has been. That's a 2 win upgrade right there. Geezus.

[HERPDERP]