Report: Blue Jays have looked into Moss

[Angrioter]

Report: Blue Jays have looked into Moss

 

There may be a new name in the Toronto Blue Jays' search for outfield help.

 

With a preference toward acquiring a left-handed hitter, the Blue Jays have reportedly looked into signing free agent Brandon Moss, according to FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman.

 

Moss has played the past two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, after arriving in a 2015 midseason trade from the Cleveland Indians. He struggled at the plate in 2016, slashing .225/.300/.484 across 128 games with St. Louis, and finished the regular season in a 9-for-91 slump.

 

Moss could, however, provide the Blue Jays with positional flexibility, as the 33-year-old can slot in at both first base and the corner outfield. He also wouldn't cost Toronto a prized first-round draft pick, as he wasn't extended a qualifying offer by the Cardinals this offseason.

 

Along with Moss, Heyman adds the Blue Jays have also stayed in touch with their own free agent in Michael Saunders, who started in left field with the club for a majority of the 2016 season.

[RealAccountant]

I want to cry.

[BTS]

He's a good fit here.

[jaysguy44]

Right on

[RealAccountant]

He's a good fit here.

 

Based on the fact that he cant play any defence. So much for your stand on how important the corner outfield defence is, Moss is projected to be a worse defender than both Saunders and Bautista

[Dr. Dinger]

I can dig it. Cheap, above average hitter. I'll take Chris Carter too and ditch Smoak.

[jaysguy44]

I can dig it. Cheap, above average hitter. I'll take Chris Carter too and ditch Smoak.

 

This

[BTS]

I can dig it. Cheap, above average hitter. I'll take Chris Carter too and ditch Smoak.

 

- left-handed bat

- average offense

- average defense in a corner

- can play 1B, LF, RF

 

He's as good a fit as is left on the market

[intentional wok]

He's a good fit but I worry that decline may have sunk its teeth too far into him. He's a fair bit worse than his good old days with Oakland from 2012-14.

[Dr. Dinger]

- left-handed bat

- average offense

- average defense in a corner

- can play 1B, LF, RF

 

He's as good a fit as is left on the market

 

I don't really love the idea of Moss and Pearce in our corners, but really, they probably aren't any worse defensively than Bautista + Saunders.

[Dr. Dinger]

He's a good fit but I worry that decline may have sunk its teeth too far into him. He's a fair bit worse than his good old days with Oakland from 2012-14.

 

We'll probably looking to pay him something like 2 years, $14M. He's a pretty good bet for 25 HR and 1-2 WAR.

[BTS]

I don't really love the idea of Moss and Pearce in our corners, but really, they probably aren't any worse defensively than Bautista + Saunders.

 

I think they're clearly better than Saunders/Bautista. Moss looks like a statue to the eye, but metrics consistently like him.

[Dr. Dinger]

I think they're clearly better than Saunders/Bautista. Moss looks like a statue to the eye, but metrics consistently like him.

 

Oh wow... I am actually pretty surprised to see he is a career positive in RF and LF UZR. You could pick up Moss and Carter for probably 60% of EE's total AAV.

 

2B Travis

3B Donaldson

DH Morales

LF Pearce

SS Tulo

RF Moss

1B Carter

C Martin

CF Pillar

 

That would be a very competitive lineup with a lot of power.

[glory]

Yeah, Moss grades out average in the outfield corners but he's a butcher at first, for some reason. I'd be fine with him. Hits loads of flyballs and good hard contact rate. Might bump his HR totals playing at RC.

 

Hell they could probably sign Moss and Valbuena for the same cost as the QO.

[intentional wok]

Oh wow... I am actually pretty surprised to see he is a career positive in RF and LF UZR. You could pick up Moss and Carter for probably 60% of EE's total AAV.

 

2B Travis

3B Donaldson

DH Morales

LF Pearce

SS Tulo

RF Moss

1B Carter

C Martin

CF Pillar

 

That would be a very competitive lineup with a lot of power.

 

I can dig this. An alternative, just because I was babbling about him in another thread, could be Moss + Valbuena:

 

vs RHP

Devon Travis – 2B

Josh Donaldson – 3B

Kendrys Morales – DH

Troy Tulowitzki – SS

Brandon Moss – RF

Steve Pearce – LF

Luis Valbuena – 1B

Russell Martin – C

Kevin Pillar – CF

 

vs LHP

Devon Travis – 2B

Josh Donaldson – 3B

Steve Pearce – 1B

Troy Tulowitzki – SS

Kendrys Morales – DH

Melvin Upton Jr. – LF

Russell Martin – C

Brandon Moss – RF

Kevin Pillar – CF

 

Shuffle up the lineup as you see fit, but that's probably what Gibby would throw together. Valbuena adds another LHH and can cover JD at 3B from time to time. Probably an easy 200+ HRs and decent fielding paired up with a solid rotation.

[Dr. Dinger]

I can dig this. An alternative, just because I was babbling about him in another thread, could be Moss + Valbuena:

 

vs RHP

Devon Travis – 2B

Josh Donaldson – 3B

Kendrys Morales – DH

Troy Tulowitzki – SS

Brandon Moss – RF

Steve Pearce – LF

Luis Valbuena – 1B

Russell Martin – C

Kevin Pillar – CF

 

vs LHP

Devon Travis – 2B

Josh Donaldson – 3B

Steve Pearce – 1B

Troy Tulowitzki – SS

Kendrys Morales – DH

Melvin Upton Jr. – LF

Russell Martin – C

Brandon Moss – RF

Kevin Pillar – CF

 

Shuffle up the lineup as you see fit, but that's probably what Gibby would throw together. Valbuena adds another LHH and can cover JD at 3B from time to time. Probably an easy 200+ HRs and decent fielding paired up with a solid rotation.

 

Yeah really I'd be good with any combination of 2 of Moss, Bautista, Valbuena, and Carter. I don't see any scenario where Smoak is a starter so I'm not even giving him any consideration.

[Jonn]

No thanks

[Frenchsoup]

Is Napoli off the market?

[Jonn]

If we wanted a guy to play a corner who strikes out a ton and disappears for long stretches probably should just resign Saunders.

[intentional wok]

If we wanted a guy to play a corner who strikes out a ton and disappears for long stretches probably should just resign Saunders.

 

Moss could be cheaper than Saunders. I also think I read that Saunders may have failed a physical with the Orioles. I can't remember where though. Something could be genuinely wrong with him. He looked like absolute s*** from July on this past season.

[baubau]

If we wanted a guy to play a corner who strikes out a ton and disappears for long stretches probably should just resign Saunders.

 

Yeah, but Moss actually has a knee and has averaged 130+ games the past 4 years. Saunders just played in his 3rd 130+ game season. Bit of a difference between the two.

[burlingtonbandit]

Would love Moss in Toronto. 2 year deal at $20 Million, lets get it done.

[burlingtonbandit]

Heyman also said an agent thinks Tampa would go to $30 Million/3 Years for Jose. If he's willing to sign for that Jays should sign him in a heartbeat.

[Ray]

If they really don't want to re-sign Bautista, give me Moss and Valbuena and I'll be a happy man. Along with Tulo, Donaldson, Travis, Pearce, Morales and Pillar, I think that's a solid offense.

[Bobthe4th]

Heyman also said an agent thinks Tampa would go to $30 Million/3 Years for Jose. If he's willing to sign for that Jays should sign him in a heartbeat.

 

My first reaction is no thanks, but I guess we could trade Morales at the end of the season.

 

Though he'd probably insist on an opt out if he signed such a low $ three year deal.

[Grant77]

I like Moss as a left field option, but he can't be the only move that we make. Upton would platoon with Moss in addition to pinch running and defensive replacements, so we would need a good, everyday RF. Someone like Bautista or Granderson.

[wamco]

2 year 36m. Who says no? Jays or Bautista

[RealAccountant]

I like Moss as a left field option, but he can't be the only move that we make. Upton would platoon with Moss in addition to pinch running and defensive replacements, so we would need a good, everyday RF. Someone like Bautista or Granderson.

 

I wouldn't count on it. On the year wrapup At the Letters Davidi mentioned that he thinks the likeliest scenerio will be that the team will sign 2 part time Outfielders.

[Grant77]

I wouldn't count on it. On the year wrapup At the Letters Davidi mentioned that he thinks the likeliest scenerio will be that the team will sign 2 part time Outfielders.

 

If that's the case, we can safely assume that the front office was working under severe payroll constraints and did not reveal that fact.

[Bobthe4th]

I wouldn't count on it. On the year wrapup At the Letters Davidi mentioned that he thinks the likeliest scenerio will be that the team will sign 2 part time Outfielders.

 

Does that include Pearce?