Offseason Roster Thread 2016-17

[Bobthe4th]

If he were to pitch for us, at any point, I just might have to say the season is over.

 

Starting depth:

Floyd

Bolsinger

House

Oberholtzer

 

Plus potentially Biagini and Sparkman.

 

All of these players are just as likely to appear in the bullpen (Floyd, Biagini and Sparkman may be the only ones to start the season there though).

 

It's not great depth to be honest, apart from Floyd, but he can't be relied on to stay fit if he's required as a starter.

[Laika]

It's bloody awful depth

[jerb]

 

 

Ken Rosenthal Verified account

‏@Ken_Rosenthal

 

Sources: #BlueJays, #Indians, #Twins strong on Breslow. #Mets, #Dodgers in, too. Likely to wait on decision until after Blevins, Logan sign.

 

 

Ken Rosenthal Verified account

‏@Ken_Rosenthal

 

FWIW: Breslow has connections with #BlueJays (Shapiro, Cherington, pitching coach Walker); #Indians (Miller, Francona); #Dodgers (Hill).

[L54]

Woof

[LGBJ29]

Breslow sucks

[RealAccountant]

Breslow awful and we are salivating over him like he was Chapman

[Jonn]

Breslow? f*** off bring in Blevins and/or Logan

[THANOS]

Why not just let Chris Smith, Matt Dermody, Loup, and Girodo battle it out for the 2 lefty positions? Breslow is trash.

[glory]

Didn't Breslow change his arm slot or something? Might be worth a look if they feel it will change his performance for the better. If he's the same old guy, then yeah, I'll pass.

[THANOS]

Didn't Breslow change his arm slot or something? Might be worth a look if they feel it will change his performance for the better. If he's the same old guy, then yeah, I'll pass.

 

Out of the current crop, I'd rather go with internal options.

[Nafro]

Didn't Breslow change his arm slot or something? Might be worth a look if they feel it will change his performance for the better. If he's the same old guy, then yeah, I'll pass.

 

Yes he's been working with a similar process that worked well for Rich Hill. I think he's a perfect target.

 

Note: Rich Hill's raw tools were much better then Craig Breslow's.

[RealAccountant]

Barnes was good in small sample size last year

 

I hope he isnt a disappointment this spring

[Nafro]

Breslow could have been a doctor. I'd like to see him signed to get all the young pitcher's working with the Raspodo. I think he could be very useful in our bullpen over the next couple years and morphed into an analytics based coach of great benefit.

[jays4life19]

Blue Jays have talked to Hector Mendoza. Another team expects the Jays to be the eventual winners when the negotiations are done. This is news you aren't going to find elsewhere. Just have to trust me and pat me on the back if I'm right and ridicule me if I'm wrong.

 

Full scouting report:

 

 

12. Hector Mendoza, rhp, La Isla De La Juventud

 

Age: 21. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 195.

Certainty Level: Category 3 (Medium).

 

Scouts first saw Mendoza as a teenager pitching on the Cuban youth national team at the COPABE Pan American 16U Championship in Mexico, where he faced a United States team that included Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager and Cubs outfielder Albert Almora. While Mendoza has become one of the top young pitching prospects in Cuba, it was surprising given his lack of experience and polish when he was one of four Cuban players who signed contracts to play in Japan last year. Mendoza reported to the Yomiuri Giants but never pitched in a game for their top Nippon Professional Baseball team. When he returned to Cuba, he took time off and didn’t pitch at all during the first half of the season, though scouts were able to get an in-person look at him because he did pitch in Mexico in November at the Central American and Caribbean Games. Mendoza, who is the closer for La Isla De La Juventud, didn’t pitch much in the second half either, but scouts did see him again at the Caribbean Series in Puerto Rico in February. He did pitch key innings for the Pirates down the stretch and in the playoffs in the team’s run to the finals, posting a 1.42 ERA with a 9-4 K-BB mark in 12 2/3 innings in six playoff appearances.

 

Mendoza has the attributes to be a starter and would certainly be in that role if he were in the United States. Instead he’s a reliever in Cuba, although bullpen usage patterns there aren’t as rigid as they are with major league clubs, so Mendoza does throw two or even three innings in a game sometimes. At his best, he throws 90-94 mph with downhill plane, with solid strike-throwing ability and fastball command for his age. When Mendoza has to go more than two innings in a game he doesn’t hold his velocity, dropping to 88-92 mph, but he has a strong, durable build, so that’s likely more a function of how he’s been used than anything else. Secondary pitches are often about feel, and the two international tournaments Mendoza pitched in during the 2014-15 season weren’t great evaluation environments, especially in Mexico where it was essentially spring training for Mendoza. While his offspeed stuff didn’t stand out there, he showed better secondary pitches late in the season and during the playoffs. His 76-80 mph curveball is a solid-average pitch that occasionally floats away from him but but flashes plus with sharp break and good top-to-bottom depth. While the curveball is Mendoza’s primary secondary weapon, he started to use his changeup more as the playoffs progressed, throwing it to both lefties and righties. The changeup isn’t consistent and he leaves it up in the zone a lot, but it has excellent separation off his fastball. It projects as at least an average pitch and flashes above-average with good sink and fade when it’s on and he keeps it down. He has also tried to work a slider into his mix.

 

With the potential for three average to plus pitches, Mendoza has the repertoire to develop into a midrotation starter. While he doesn’t have the track record of Norge Ruiz, his stuff at his best is just as good if not better in some areas and he has a more appealing frame to scouts. Mendoza has mentioned his desire to be a starter, and if he succeeds in that role and his stuff and command continue to progress, he could easily jump ahead of Ruiz on this list. Given his present talent level, Mendoza would probably pitch in high Class A right now if he were with an MLB organization. He just finished his fourth season in Serie Nacional, so he will need one more season in Cuba and then turn 23 on March 5, 2017 before he would be exempt from the bonus pools.

[P2F]

I was really hoping you'd come through with the BA scouting report. Thanks!

[jays4life19]

I was really hoping you'd come through with the BA scouting report. Thanks!

 

No problem!

[RealAccountant]

Cafardo says we had discussions with CWS about David Robertson.

 

Let's give up assets for things there are completely viable options for in the FA Market

[Grant77]

Cafardo says we had discussions with CWS about David Robertson.

 

I'd gladly take on the salary for a mid range prospect, but I suspect that they would want more.

[Spanky99]

Cafardo says we had discussions with CWS about David Robertson.

 

I don't ever believe a thing Cafardo says... he's the biggest click bait, hoseshit, beat writer, out there.

 

lol... he even says we were in on Wieters... WAT?

[george09]

[Brownie19]

holy skinny arms!

[Maine Jays]

Who cares how fast he throws or what his secondary pitches grade out at. The really important question is, where would he rank on the board's hotness list?

[wk680]

I'd gladly take on the salary for a mid range prospect, but I suspect that they would want more.

 

If it was only for 1 year I might agree. But he is due $12M in 2017 and $13M in 2018. That's too much for a reliever who is about to turn 32 and showing signs of decline (only an 84% save success rate in 2016 with inflated BB9 and FIP).

 

Maybe if they would send Robertson and $10M and take the likes of a Danny Barnes in return, it makes sense. Otherwise I agree with others it is better to spend the money on available free agents.

[wk680]

Ya they'll get way more at the deadline if he bounces back.

 

Jays already got burned in 2016 with Storen, assuming he was likely to bounce back. Too much money to take on here, hoping for a return to elite form.

[Grant77]

Jays already got burned in 2016 with Storen, assuming he was likely to bounce back. Too much money to take on here, hoping for a return to elite form.

 

We can't be afraid to take a calculated risk because of what happened with Drew Storen. We took similar risks (statistically, not financially) with Grilli and Benoit and it worked out.

 

You make a valid point about Robertson having a down year, but if the FO believes that he will bounce back then it's a good risk to take. We need a guy like Robertson badly and we have the money to spend.

[wk680]

We can't be afraid to take a calculated risk because of what happened with Drew Storen. We took similar risks (statistically, not financially) with Grilli and Benoit and it worked out.

 

You make a valid point about Robertson having a down year, but if the FO believes that he will bounce back then it's a good risk to take. We need a guy like Robertson badly and we have the money to spend.

 

Yes they gambled successfully on Grilli and Benoit. But they didn't give up much of anything in those trades and both were free agents after 2016. I guess taking on the salary without having to give much in return, like you suggested, might be a worthwhile risk and would certainly be a strong signal to the fans that they are serious about contending now.

[Jonn]

Not sure I like the idea of blowing our entire international bonus on a relief pitcher unless they plan on transitioning him.

[Abomination]

If it was only for 1 year I might agree. But he is due $12M in 2017 and $13M in 2018. That's too much for a reliever who is about to turn 32 and showing signs of decline (only an 84% save success rate in 2016 with inflated BB9 and FIP).

 

Maybe if they would send Robertson and $10M and take the likes of a Danny Barnes in return, it makes sense. Otherwise I agree with others it is better to spend the money on available free agents.

 

The save% is too small a sample size to mean anything. The difference in xFIP is concerning, however it appears to be related directly to a loss of command of his fastball. Velocity is right where it should be, although fastball movement was down a little. I don't really see a likely issue pointing to decline, just fastball command issues for whatever reason (probably his knee issues last year). That said, I wouldn't want to give up much given his salary. Maybe we could send Smoak (to make the salary more digestible) plus a mid-range prospect or something.

[wk680]

The save% is too small a sample size to mean anything. The difference in xFIP is concerning, however it appears to be related directly to a loss of command of his fastball. Velocity is right where it should be, although fastball movement was down a little. I don't really see a likely issue pointing to decline, just fastball command issues for whatever reason (probably his knee issues last year). That said, I wouldn't want to give up much given his salary. Maybe we could send Smoak (to make the salary more digestible) plus a mid-range prospect or something.

 

Yeah and the other issues with saves is they are not all created equal, depending on how big a lead you have to work with. That idea of Smoak for Robertson kind of makes sense. If you look at the current White Sox, there is no obvious DH and Smoak would also provide backup for Abreu at 1B.

[THANOS]

The save% is too small a sample size to mean anything. The difference in xFIP is concerning, however it appears to be related directly to a loss of command of his fastball. Velocity is right where it should be, although fastball movement was down a little. I don't really see a likely issue pointing to decline, just fastball command issues for whatever reason (probably his knee issues last year). That said, I wouldn't want to give up much given his salary. Maybe we could send Smoak (to make the salary more digestible) plus a mid-range prospect or something.

 

There's also a decent chance Danny Barnes outperforms Robertson, so why bother.