Jays in on Cain

[jays4life19]

The club has interest in free agent center fielder Lorenzo Cain, per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). In theory, Cain could coexist with current center fielder Kevin Pillar, though Cain is also most valuable up the middle. The Jays are interested in committing up to four years, says Heyman, but it seems there are indications Cain will have an opportunity to secure a better deal elsewhere. MLBTR predicted that Cain would land four years in free agency; to this point, we haven’t heard much public discussion of his market, but he’s rather clearly the top available center fielder.

 

 

Discuss.

[Abomination]

The club has interest in free agent center fielder Lorenzo Cain, per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). In theory, Cain could coexist with current center fielder Kevin Pillar, though Cain is also most valuable up the middle. The Jays are interested in committing up to four years, says Heyman, but it seems there are indications Cain will have an opportunity to secure a better deal elsewhere. MLBTR predicted that Cain would land four years in free agency; to this point, we haven’t heard much public discussion of his market, but he’s rather clearly the top available center fielder.

 

 

Discuss.

 

I wonder what Pillar would net us in a trade? I don't want to particularly hold onto him once his wheels start going.

[Boxcar]

Cain is a pretty good player and I think I'd be ok with 4 years, but it really depends on the type of AAV he'll be able to secure. Having him and Pillar in the OF can pave the way for a less defensively gifted OF like Pearce or maybe Carlos Gonzalez.

[z3r0s]

You gotta love Cain. Well rounded player that produces value in all areas. You have to wonder how all those skills will age tho as he will be 35-36 at the end of a 3-4 year deal (and it sounds like he may get more).

 

Defense and baserunning don't often age gracefully and his bat is good, not great.

[Boxcar]

You gotta love Cain. Well rounded player that produces value in all areas. You have to wonder how all those skills will age tho as he will be 35-36 at the end of a 3-4 year deal (and it sounds like he may get more).

 

Defense and baserunning don't often age gracefully and his bat is good, not great.

 

Yeah but if he nets like 15 million AAV, you more than likely come out ahead. Cain might be overrated because of all the Royals dickriding, not sure, but I'd be pretty ok with 4/60.

[z3r0s]

I see the AAV as WAY higher. I'd be jumping if he was $15M

[jays4life19]

I see the AAV as WAY higher. I'd be jumping if he was $15M

 

Yeah. He's going to get paid. I think the team who eventually gives him the 5th year get's him. I think the contract will be around what Fowler got (5/82.5)

[Boxcar]

I see the AAV as WAY higher. I'd be jumping if he was $15M

 

I forget how much players make these days, my bad. 4/80 I'd do pretty easily, I think. When he starts to go, just trade him to the Angels.

[Angrioter]

Jays 4 years and Corner OF for Cain = We are out

[Boxcar]

Yeah. He's going to get paid. I think the team who eventually gives him the 5th year get's him. I think the contract will be around what Fowler got (5/82.5)

 

I'd do that pretty easily for Cain.

[Terminator]

I posted this in the other thread:

 

Cain is a really good player. Might be the top position player on the market but for whatever reason his skillset commands a lot less than the other top free agents. If he'd take something like 4 for 70 I think we could get surplus value out of that. Not sure what we would do with Pillar in that scenario. We could keep him and have fantastic OF defense or we could move him.

[Boxcar]

I posted this in the other thread:

 

Cain is a really good player. Might be the top position player on the market but for whatever reason his skillset commands a lot less than the other top free agents. If he'd take something like 4 for 70 I think we could get surplus value out of that. Not sure what we would do with Pillar in that scenario. We could keep him and have fantastic OF defense or we could move him.

 

Yeah, I agree that having Pillar doesn't really block anything. Cain is undervalued because he's a good defender and the Jays signing him doesn't necessitate any type of corresponding move where we trade Pillar unless Kevin causes a stink. I'd assume we'd need to promise Cain that he'd be the CF.

[Terminator]

Yeah, I agree that having Pillar doesn't really block anything. Cain is undervalued because he's a good defender and the Jays signing him doesn't necessitate any type of corresponding move where we trade Pillar unless Kevin causes a stink. I'd assume we'd need to promise Cain that he'd be the CF.

 

If we kept Pillar I was assuming Cain would play RF but you might be right in that he could sign only on the condition that he plays CF.

[Brownie19]

Yeah. He's going to get paid. I think the team who eventually gives him the 5th year get's him. I think the contract will be around what Fowler got (5/82.5)

 

I have to think this is the Fowler situation all over. A good fit for the team, but someone who will get 1 more year and a higher AAV than we think is fair. He's going to get about what Fowler did.

 

 

I'd trade Pillar immediately if we could get some value (regardless of whether we sign Cain).

[Dr. Dinger]

but I'd be pretty ok with 4/60.

 

I think we'd all be very OK with that, that would be a steal. Cain should comfortably project to put up 8-9 WAR over a 4 year contract, which would put a $60M contract at 50% surplus value. I suspect it will take closer to $20M AAV.

[Dr. Dinger]

I have to think this is the Fowler situation all over. A good fit for the team, but someone who will get 1 more year and a higher AAV than we think is fair. He's going to get about what Fowler did.

 

 

I'd trade Pillar immediately if we could get some value (regardless of whether we sign Cain).

 

Fowler is very comparable, although he was a year younger. Fowler got $16.5M AAV over 5 years. I'd be comfortable with $17M AAV over 4 years for Cain ($68M), but as you say, someone will probably give him a 5th year.

[BTS]

Toronto seems like somewhere a guy like Cain would be hesitant to sign out of concern for his legs, valid or not.

[Ray]

Who else is in the market for an OF? Rangers and Giants? I think the Giants are adamant about not giving up a draft pick and want to be below the luxury tax. Rangers makes sense.

[glory]

Sign Cain for 4/80 and then trade Pillar for Profar. Gives Cain the CF spot he probably wants from any team he signs with, gives the Jays another infielder which they are looking for, and they'll still have enough to overpay someone like Sabathia to fill the rotation.

 

I don't expect any of the above to happen, but just throwing some s*** out there.

[Terminator]

Sign Cain for 4/80 and then trade Pillar for Profar.

 

That would be one of the worst trades I've ever seen.

[glory]

Pillar would get way more than Profar.

 

Agreed, but I didn't want to look at the Rangers minor league system to think of any attachments. Add some bits and pieces to the deal from their end.

[Dr. Dinger]

Pillar has little trade value, I don't know why anyone would be insistent on shipping him out. He's a minor defensive slippage away from being a DFA candidate. No team is going to give us anything substantial for a 29 year old glove-only OF with a career 85 wRC+.

 

That said, Profar is garbage and I wouldn't even trade Pillar for him.

[glory]

I swear, when Profar goes Jean Segura on the league next season, while Pillar is frustrating the hell out of all of us, I'm bumping this thread.

 

(or if Profar still sucks, I'll claim I was hacked).

[Dr. Dinger]

We've seen the best of Kevin Pillar. He provided elite defence on a league minimum salary for 3 seasons. Now he's approaching 30, he's going to lose a step, he still can't hit, and he's entering arb. It's all downside from here.

[Brownie19]

We've seen the best of Kevin Pillar. He provided elite defence on a league minimum salary for 3 seasons. Now he's approaching 30, he's going to lose a step, he still can't hit, and he's entering arb. It's all downside from here.

 

But he's got a new approach now - he's patient - he's laying off bad pitches - he's a lead off hitter!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 1, 2017 - never mind people - nothing to see here. He's still Kevin Pillar.

[glory]

We've seen the best of Kevin Pillar. He provided elite defence on a league minimum salary for 3 seasons. Now he's approaching 30, he's going to lose a step, he still can't hit, and he's entering arb. It's all downside from here.

 

Yep. Pillar is the type you cut bait on when he gets paid real money. Can’t hit, and fielding will only get worse. Teams usually don’t pay a high premium for outfield defence in trades either, especially if that’s the only skill a player has. The Jays won't get much for Pillar, and certainly a lot less if they wait for him to get more expensive.

Edited December 14, 2017 by glory

[burlingtonbandit]

We've seen the best of Kevin Pillar. He provided elite defence on a league minimum salary for 3 seasons. Now he's approaching 30, he's going to lose a step, he still can't hit, and he's entering arb. It's all downside from here.

 

Those are also the reasons why the Jays should be hesitant on signing Cain long term. He's projected to be a 107wRC+ hitter and he will be 32. Not to mention he's had leg injuries in the past.

[Jonn]

No way I would give him Fowler type money. Especially with his leg injuries and being pushed out of CF. If we could get him at 4/65 or something like that. Sign me up.

[jaysblue]

Yeah but if he nets like 15 million AAV, you more than likely come out ahead. Cain might be overrated because of all the Royals dickriding, not sure, but I'd be pretty ok with 4/60.

 

No way he settles for 4/60. The Dexter Fowler contract last offseason is a benchmark for him. Doesn't get anything less than that IMO.

[Terminator]

After discussing this some I might pass on Cain. For the same amount of money we could probably get Nunez or Kendrick AND Dyson and have some money left over for a starting pitcher.