General 2018 Blue Jays Discussion Thread

[Jonn]

I am all for Lance Lynn. I like Cobb but with his injury history and lack of durability overall I would be terrified to give him 3 or 4 year deal at around 15M.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Yeah, I suspect we'll probably end up clearing Pearce's salary before the season starts, which would help a tiny bit at least.

 

I hope so. And Morales while we're there. #wishfulthinking

[P2F]

Yeah, I suspect we'll probably end up clearing Pearce's salary before the season starts, which would help a tiny bit at least.

 

I'd prefer to hang on to Pearce - he and Grandy could form a really nice platoon in LF.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

I am hoping with the slow off season we get him for a relative steal. And he's still young at 30. If he passes his physically and the AAV < $15M than I make that signing. And I keep thinking it's addition by addition, if that's a thing. Ensuring Biagini solidifies the relief pitching situation. We wouldn't necessarily have to sign anyone else.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Pearce mashes righties, and Granderson also hits righties better than lefties. That seems like a less than optimal platoon. Am I missing something?

[Spanky__99]

I am all for Lance Lynn. I like Cobb but with his injury history and lack of durability overall I would be terrified to give him 3 or 4 year deal at around 15M.

 

Are you forgetting about Lynn's injury?

[P2F]

Pearce mashes righties, and Granderson also hits righties better than lefties. That seems like a less than optimal platoon. Am I missing something?

 

Scroll down to advanced splits:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statsplits.aspx?playerid=9957&position=1B/OF&season=0

[Abomination]

I'd prefer to hang on to Pearce - he and Grandy could form a really nice platoon in LF.

 

I don't really want to pay $6M for the wrong side of a platoon (which seems his likely use), for a guy who seemed to really regress defensively the last year (plus a bit in 2016) there. Might as well use Carrera for that, and put his salary to use elsewhere.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Pearce seems to mash both pitching equally. Okay that platoon makes more sense now.

[P2F]

I don't really want to pay $6M for the wrong side of a platoon (which seems his likely use), for a guy who seemed to really regress defensively the last year (plus a bit in 2016) there. Might as well use Carrera for that, and put his salary to user elsewhere.

 

Steve hits righties at about league average, so he doesn't necessarily have to be limited to just LHP.

 

I'm sure the money is more useful being put towards a pitcher, but I like Pearce. If we could get rid of Kendrys, that would be much more preferable, but I doubt even the Royals are willing to take on his contract right now.

[P2F]

Pearce seems to mash both pitching equally. Okay that platoon makes more sense now.

 

[Jonn]

Are you forgetting about Lynn's injury?

 

No I didn't. I understand he missed all of 2016 but outside of that he has been the picture of health and eats a lot of innings. I mean he came back last year and still pitched more innings than Cobb has his entire career. My point is if we are giving a big commitment to a pitcher I would hope they would target Lynn.

[Abomination]

Steve hits righties at about league average, so he doesn't necessarily have to be limited to just LHP.

 

I'm sure the money is more useful being put towards a pitcher, but I like Pearce. If we could get rid of Kendrys, that would be much more preferable, but I doubt even the Royals are willing to take on his contract right now.

 

I agree, but Granderson probably is more valuable getting most of the at-bats there (with his defense, possibly even versus lefties), and we've never used Pearce as we expected. I mean, he never even got a single inning at 2nd last year with all the crap we were running out there, and it appears he certainly won't be next year with the improvement in depth. I just think his salary is more valuable to us given how it appears we'll use him.

[P2F]

I agree, but Granderson probably is more valuable getting most of the at-bats there (with his defense, possibly even versus lefties), and we've never used Pearce as we expected. I mean, he never even got a single inning at 2nd last year with all the crap we were running out there, and it appears he certainly won't be next year with the improvement in depth. I just think his salary is more valuable to us.

 

Well said.

[Spanky__99]

No I didn't. I understand he missed all of 2016 but outside of that he has been the picture of health and eats a lot of innings. I mean he came back last year and still pitched more innings than Cobb has his entire career. My point is if we are giving a big commitment to a pitcher I would hope they would target Lynn.

 

Fair enough, I want Cobb's ceiling if it's applicable.

[G-Snarls]

The $133.7M doesn't include Stroman's arb, and we can now add Osuna's $5.2M to that total.

 

Oops

 

Maybe I read it wrong

 

152.2M with Stroman and Osuna estimated arbitration totals?

[saskjayfan]

I would just roll the dice with Lackey...1 year 3.5 mil to 5 mil.

[Ray]

Probably. I am not high on him so I am always looking to unload him for good, MLB-ready talent that is under control for years. I'd rather part with Bichette than Pearson or Alford.

 

Everything else aside, I'm more curious as to why you're not high on one of the consensus Top 20 prospects in all of baseball and the first teenager to win the Minor League Batting title since 1963. Cautious optimism is one thing, but based on the fact that you proposed that Bo Bichette be traded for Domingo Santana means you're terribly overlooking him.

[Bobthe4th]

Osuna lost his arbitration - he’s at $5.3m for the season (asked for $5.8m).

[bones10]

I would just roll the dice with Lackey...1 year 3.5 mil to 5 mil.

 

f*** that

[John_Havok]

Fair enough, I want Cobb's ceiling if it's applicable.

 

Yeah, of all remaining guys I think Cobb has the best shot at being more than just an innings eater.

 

Ricky Nolasco would be interesting just because he's always been such a tease. Pretty good stuff but when he gets hit, he gets hit hard.

[Brownie19]

I think you're serious if your all caps are any indication. So, are you saying you wouldn't trade for him? Are you saying you don't think he makes our outfield better? Are you saying your keyboard is broken?

 

Bichette would not have gotten either Yelich or Ozuna, btw.

 

I'm a dick.

[P2F]

Oops

 

Maybe I read it wrong

 

152.2M with Stroman and Osuna estimated arbitration totals?

 

Yep, and including all of the pre-arb guys, etc.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

I'm a dick.

 

Noted.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Everything else aside, I'm more curious as to why you're not high on one of the consensus Top 20 prospects in all of baseball and the first teenager to win the Minor League Batting title since 1963. Cautious optimism is one thing, but based on the fact that you proposed that Bo Bichette be traded for Domingo Santana means you're terribly overlooking him.

 

It's not that I don't think he's good. I'm an arm chair GM and know less than the baseball people who make the lists, but I think Pearson and Alford and better bets to have a better career. I also think we have some great middle infielders in our system to make Bichette more expendable than others do. I also think Bichette's swing is a little messy. When I say trade him for a guy like Santana, I am not saying trade him for a warm body. Santana would be our best outfielder (if he is kept in LF) if he was traded for, is controllable for a long time, and is a 30/100 guy.

 

But hey, that trade won't happen, and we'll have to see what happens to both players through their careers.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

I would just roll the dice with Lackey...1 year 3.5 mil to 5 mil.

 

I would rather give one of our AAA starters a shot than Lackey. Why place hold when you can either get a young guy going, or sign a decent 30-year old vet (Lynn) to a longer term deal to help brace for the impact of losing Happ, Estrada or both.

 

But having said that, Lackey > Colon.

[Jimcanuck]

Lackey would be a sure sign the FO is punting 2018, which they are, but they are being coy about it.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

That's a little extreme. If he is signed to a MiLB contract it would be solid depth.

[saskjayfan]

I would rather give one of our AAA starters a shot than Lackey. Why place hold when you can either get a young guy going, or sign a decent 30-year old vet (Lynn) to a longer term deal to help brace for the impact of losing Happ, Estrada or both.

 

But having said that, Lackey > Colon.

 

Lackey gives you innings and an ERA around 4. The starters are AAA will get their opportunities. Lackey can transition to a bullpen roll. You're not going to get a cheaper depth piece that provides as much value as Lackey. I think you actually get a discount for his age and for how unlikable the guy is.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Lackey gives you innings and an ERA around 4. The starters are AAA will get their opportunities. Lackey can transition to a bullpen roll. You're not going to get a cheaper depth piece that provides as much value as Lackey. I think you actually get a discount for his age and for how unlikable the guy is.

 

I think Lackey is a bit of curmudgeon and won't sign with the Blue Jays regardless.

 

I don't think his ERA will be around 4. In the AL, around 5 maybe.

 

I would rather sign Dickey than Lackey. Dickey gives you all of what Lackey gives, plus he's not a dick.