Blue Jays sign Mat Latos

[JaysFan4Ever]

My pop in once in a while for a bit of rambling strikes again.

I need to be a bit more concise.

[Grant77]

Ben Nicholson Smith says it's a major league deal for around 1.5 million, but it's not completed yet.

[JaysFan4Ever]

Ben Nicholson Smith says it's a major league deal for around 1.5 million, but it's not completed yet.

 

Well, that's not a horrible contract, money wise anyway. If he doesn't preform, cutting him won't be that much of a hit to the team, or maybe swap him for another guy having a bad start a la Grilli and Joaquín Benoit (mostly the deal with Benoit) and get another guy back who might help out more.

 

If it's a major league deal, that gets me a bit nervous unless he's a swingman, or long reliever.

[Bobthe4th]

Ben Nicholson Smith says it's a major league deal for around 1.5 million, but it's not completed yet.

 

If it's a major league deal I wonder if they are aiming to trade Happ. Estrada or even Stroman to improve LF.

 

What's worse - Latos as the 5th starter, or Carerra and Upton each playing 100 games?

[Grant77]

If it's a major league deal I wonder if they are aiming to trade Happ. Estrada or even Stroman to improve LF.

 

What's worse - Latos as the 5th starter, or Carerra and Upton each playing 100 games?

 

The left field situation is far, far easier to address. We have Pompey in the minor leagues and Pagan still as a free agent. There will also be better options available during the season.

 

Besides, it seems clear that the LF situation is more of a choice than a necessity. They have passed on numerous opportunities to upgrade the position at a reasonable cost.

[Bobthe4th]

The left field situation is far, far easier to address. We have Pompey in the minor leagues and Pagan still as a free agent. There will also be better options available during the season.

 

Besides, it seems clear that the LF situation is more of a choice than a necessity. They have passed on numerous opportunities to upgrade the position at a reasonable cost.

 

I agree with your second point, but not your first. Pompey is close to being a bust with the Jays and Pagan is overrated by this board IMO.

 

FWIW I'd be very reluctant to give up a starter, especially Stroman, and think we shouldn't make any major changes at this point.

[glory]

If it's a major league deal I wonder if they are aiming to trade Happ. Estrada or even Stroman to improve LF.

 

The team has no SP depth even with their existing five starters. Subtracting one of those five for Latos does nothing to improve the depth and makes the rotation worse. No way that's the reason for their interest here. More likely they want a swing man to fill whatever role Chavez had last season. Maybe this means they don't have faith in Bolsinger and plan to see if he can clear waivers before the start of the season (assuming it's a MLB deal).

 

My guess is it's a minor league deal if it does happen.

[glory]

They seem to be discussing a minor league deal. Ben Nicholson Smith was just stating what his salary would be if he made the big league roster. That makes more sense.

[Bobthe4th]

The team has no SP depth even with their existing five starters. Subtracting one of those five for Latos does nothing to improve the depth and makes the rotation worse. No way that's the reason for their interest here. More likely they want a swing man to fill whatever role Chavez had last season. Maybe this means they don't have faith in Bolsinger and plan to see if he can clear waivers before the start of the season (assuming it's a MLB deal).

 

My guess is it's a minor league deal if it does happen.

 

Yeah I'm not advocating for it, I just think none of us knows. We've got starting depth, it just isn't very reliable. Same as we have 2 LF who are not very good either. If we were to make a trade, our biggest strength is the starting 5. Whether it's better to keep that as the strength rather than using it to improve weaknesses elsewhere is debatable.

 

If it is a major league deal (as has been reported), then if they carry both Latos and Bolsinger as relievers, there is no room in the bullpen for a second lefty or anyone who potentially impresses in spring training like Barnes, Sparkman or Floyd. Otherwise it means either exposing Bolsinger to waivers, or trading a starter (unless one of the other relievers gets injured / traded).

 

Fingers crossed it's a minor league deal then a decision doesn't have to be made for a while. Which then gives time for the inevitable injury or loss of form of one or more of the pitching staff to occur, and Latos can then step up to replace whoever that happens to.

[Bobthe4th]

Yeah I'm not advocating for it, I just think none of us knows. We've got starting depth, it just isn't very reliable. Same as we have 2 LF who are not very good either. If we were to make a trade, our biggest strength is the starting 5. Whether it's better to keep that as the strength rather than using it to improve weaknesses elsewhere is debatable.

 

If it is a major league deal (as has been reported), then if they carry both Latos and Bolsinger as relievers, there is no room in the bullpen for a second lefty or anyone who potentially impresses in spring training like Barnes, Sparkman or Floyd. Otherwise it means either exposing Bolsinger to waivers, or trading a starter (unless one of the other relievers gets injured / traded).

 

Fingers crossed it's a minor league deal then a decision doesn't have to be made for a while. Which then gives time for the inevitable injury or loss of form of one or more of the pitching staff to occur, and Latos can then step up to replace whoever that happens to.

 

Throw in another option - Biagini to AAA to transition to a starter. Again not a slam dunk as you'd lose him from the bullpen and most of the remaining bullpen won't have options left.

 

Lots of different ways it could go though, spring training should have some really interesting battles for roster spots!

[Brownie19]

How on earth is Mat Latos only 29.....

[Bobthe4th]

How on earth is Mat Latos only 29.....

 

I thought exactly the same thing when the Orioles signed Juan Francisco on Tuesday!

[G-Snarls]

[Krylian]

Latos is trolling baseball. Wants to see how long he'll continue to get employment even after he stops giving a f***.

[G-Snarls]

The left field situation is far, far easier to address. We have Pompey in the minor leagues and Pagan still as a free agent. There will also be better options available during the season.

 

Besides, it seems clear that the LF situation is more of a choice than a necessity. They have passed on numerous opportunities to upgrade the position at a reasonable cost.

 

For all we know they've called Pagan and he isn't interested and the Pirates probably want Stroman ++ for Cutch

 

Still, yes, I'm sure they COULD have found some way to improve LF. I like the starting rotation as is. A LOT

Edited February 16, 2017 by G-Snarls

[G-Snarls]

Done deal

[G-Snarls]

[BTS]

Presumably this is a MiLB deal?

[TholesWeirdEye]

Latos STILL isn't 30 years old. Dude came into the league sitting 94 and touching 98mph. Aaron Sanchez level velocity.

 

Now he sits like, 90mph. So much velocity loss, so fat.

 

Fixed.

[G-Snarls]

Presumably this is a MiLB deal?

 

No, supposedly MLB deal for 1.5M

 

Edit: I guess that's still rumour at this point

[G-Snarls]

MLBTR summary of his up and down 2016:

 

The 29-year-old Latos opened the 2016 season with the White Sox and got off to a strong start, logging a stellar 0.74 ERA through his first 24 1/3 innings with the South Siders. That excellent mark was buoyed by a .167 BABIP, though, and the 13-to-7 K/BB ratio that Latos logged in those four starts also served as a bad omen. Over the next six weeks or so, Latos posted a 7.25 ERA with 18 walks against 19 strikeouts before being released in mid-June. He’d later hook on with the Nationals and toss 9 2/3 innings, during which he yielded seven runs on 11 hits and five walks with 10 strikeouts.

[Key22]

Should the Jays not sign at least three more capable starters? I ask because let's say the Jays are 15 games out by trade deadline. There is no qualifying offer system anymore. So it would stand to reason that you would want to get something in trade for any player in the last year or two of their contract. That means Liriano, Estrada and possibly Happ would or should all be traded at the deadline. You then need someone to competently start games for the rest of the year. This would also mean trading Grilli, Howell, Smith from the pen, Jose and JD

[BTS]

No, supposedly MLB deal for 1.5M

 

Edit: I guess that's still rumour at this point

 

Weird. We don't really have room for him.

[G-Snarls]

Weird. We don't really have room for him.

 

Hence my "trade is in the works" theory in the roster thread

[BTS]

Hence my "trade is in the works" theory in the roster thread

 

I think they could get away with an SP for OF trade now. Latos, Bolsinger, Biagini, Sparkman, Oberholtzer, Floyd, House, Harrell is a lot of options for the 5th starter spot.

[GeorgiaPeach]

Great bargin bin FO! Bringing their Cleveland roots with them!

 

You can't spend large on everyone.

[RealAccountant]

WTF Unless there is something about Estrada we dont know.

[jays4life19]

Over/under 3 months: Josh Donaldson/ Matt Latos locker room brawl.

[G-Snarls]

Unlike some seasons, we need 5 starters for the entire month of April and at least the first half of May

 

Not as many early or well timed off days as usual

[Bobthe4th]

Should the Jays not sign at least three more capable starters? I ask because let's say the Jays are 15 games out by trade deadline. There is no qualifying offer system anymore. So it would stand to reason that you would want to get something in trade for any player in the last year or two of their contract. That means Liriano, Estrada and possibly Happ would or should all be traded at the deadline. You then need someone to competently start games for the rest of the year. This would also mean trading Grilli, Howell, Smith from the pen, Jose and JD

 

Even if there were 3 capable starters willing to join to sit in AAA for a few months, if we were 15 games out by the trade deadline then the season would have gone disastrously wrong. That likely means that most of the players you've mentioned have been injured, or so out of form that they have little trade value.