General 2018 Blue Jays Discussion Thread

Grant77 · August 26, 2018

Thoughts on Diaz? Is he a long term option as our starting SS or is Gurriel and/or Bo just going to lap him.

Either way - very nice pickup by Shatkins

I'm not going to be upset it he's our shortstop until Bichette gets here. His defense has been steady and the bat looks to be average at worst. He's been a bright spot this season.

John_Havok · August 26, 2018

Can you go look up his FG page and then post this again?

Dayton Moore is still a GM in the league

glory · August 26, 2018

Thoughts on Diaz? Is he a long term option as our starting SS or is Gurriel and/or Bo just going to lap him.

Either way - very nice pickup by Shatkins

He looks like a 2 war SS, which is pretty good since he has four years of control left. He could be a good piece to have around even in the Vlad years. Don’t think he’s a long term SS but his D has been better than advterised so as long as he’s an average hitter he could used there until Bo is ready.

He’s better than Tulo either way.

Spanky99 · August 26, 2018

Can you go look up his FG page and then post this again?

lol... I needed that.

Spanky99 · August 26, 2018

Injured Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson will be eligible to go on August trade waivers if he embarks on a rehab assignment, but “it appears unlikely” that’s going to happen, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet tweets. Donaldson has been out since the end of May with a calf strain, which has stopped the out-of-contention Blue Jays from dealing him as he closes in on free agency. If Toronto’s unable to trade Donaldson this month, it’ll have to keep him through season’s end and then decide before the market opens whether to issue the soon-to-be 33-year-old a qualifying offer (worth $17.4MM last winter). Donaldson was among the majors’ best players as recently as last year, which suggests the Blue Jays will tender him a QO, though multiple DL stints this season have limited him to 36 games and an unspectacular .234/.333/.423 line in 159 plate appearances.

burlingtonbandit · August 26, 2018

May as well keep him and offer him the QO. You probably aren't getting anything in return better than the QO at the point anyway.

Boxcar · August 26, 2018

Diaz is a sufficient backup IF. Gurribabip is trash, maybe Bo will be SS depending on what happens to Tulo.

Dunno. Despite the fact that he's been atrocious at the plate most of the season, he's cranked it up recently and is now league average at the dish. That plus his solid defense and he's got 1.2 WAR in 99 games. That's perfectly acceptable for a starting SS.

SaskJaysFan_2 · August 26, 2018

Dunno. Despite the fact that he's been atrocious at the plate most of the season, he's cranked it up recently and is now league average at the dish. That plus his solid defense and he's got 1.2 WAR in 99 games. That's perfectly acceptable for a starting SS.

Why not make him the super sub? 3B, SS, 2B, and OF? But I would want him getting ~ 600 ABs somehow.

Martin has sort of done that this year, but next year he could be the *emergency* sub, and backup catcher to Jansen.

I know with JD's locker cleaned out, this ain't happening, but if I am Rogers I definitely offer JD a QO. Say it's $19M. If he's healthy, and regresses to the mean, he's a 3-4 WAR player minimum. Then we can trade him for a few okay prospects. Not awesome, but not a total loss. If JD walks, I would start Diaz at 3B, and then call up Vlad in 2019 whenever it works.

I think Tulo will be ready to play next season, and I think he can put up positive WAR. Then he can be traded (where we eat most of salary) or DFAed I guess.

JD and Tulo playing would also block Vlad and Bichette, making the org not look like total dicks, in that they have a reason not to promote them right away next year, extending their service time obviously.

I think Travis can play in 2019 and be the bridge for Cavan Biggio in 2020.

Solarte? Who cares.

Diaz? I like him, and he would be a nice place holder, too, once either Travis or Tulo go down with injury.

Infield (2019)

3B JD or Diaz

SS Tulo

2B Travis

1B Smoak

C Jansen

Infield Sub: Gurriel

Infield (2020 - by late April)

3B Vlad

SS Bichette

2B Biggio

1B Tellez

C Jansen

infield: Gurriel

Pretty exciting infield.

saskjayfan · August 26, 2018

Why not make him the super sub? 3B, SS, 2B, and OF? But I would want him getting ~ 600 ABs somehow.

Martin has sort of done that this year, but next year he could be the *emergency* sub, and backup catcher to Jansen.

I know with JD's locker cleaned out, this ain't happening, but if I am Rogers I definitely offer JD a QO. Say it's $19M. If he's healthy, and regresses to the mean, he's a 3-4 WAR player minimum. Then we can trade him for a few okay prospects. Not awesome, but not a total loss. If JD walks, I would start Diaz at 3B, and then call up Vlad in 2019 whenever it works.

I think Tulo will be ready to play next season, and I think he can put up positive WAR. Then he can be traded (where we eat most of salary) or DFAed I guess.

JD and Tulo playing would also block Vlad and Bichette, making the org not look like total dicks, in that they have a reason not to promote them right away next year, extending their service time obviously.

I think Travis can play in 2019 and be the bridge for Cavan Biggio in 2020.

Solarte? Who cares.

Diaz? I like him, and he would be a nice place holder, too, once either Travis or Tulo go down with injury.

Infield (2019)
3B JD or Diaz
SS Tulo
2B Travis
1B Smoak
C Jansen
Infield Sub: Gurriel

Infield (2020 - by late April)
3B Vlad
SS Bichette
2B Biggio
1B Tellez
C Jansen
infield: Gurriel
Pretty exciting infield.

so you're going to keep Vlad in the minors for another year? Vlad isn't a 3rd baseman. If you give Donaldson the qualifying offer and Donaldson accepts move vlad to left. Vlad is likely going to be a first baseman, but might be survive in left for a year or two.

John_Havok · August 26, 2018

SaskJaysFan_2 · August 26, 2018

so you're going to keep Vlad in the minors for another year? Vlad isn't a 3rd baseman. If you give Donaldson the qualifying offer and Donaldson accepts move vlad to left. Vlad is likely going to be a first baseman, but might be survive in left for a year or two.

No, in the scenario I paint, he is called up early 2019. If JD accepts the QO, it complicates things in that I don't think he can then be traded for 45 days or something, but then he can be. Bang, 3B open. Vlad slips in, but gets called up before which would allow JD to DH, maybe alternate with Vlad a 3B until the trade is made. If JD walks, then Diaz is the place setter at 3B, and not very long, until Vlad is called up, and then some tough decisions will need to be made. Trade Travis, DFA Tulo? Dunno. I like Travis, but I think Diaz is more versatile and less injury prone. I have not looked at control years remaining for both. Travis may have the edge there.

The Jays FO clearly sees Vlad playing 3B, otherwise he would not be playing there throughout the minors.

Vlad as 1B plays, too. Unless Rowdy Tellez continues hitting like he has been since June. Then he would be preferential there to replace Smoak.

And of course all these moves/decisions are made in a vacuum. So many things can happen that change things in a hurry. Injuries, trades, FA signings.

DaKiNdLa · August 26, 2018

Just read this. So does this mean if we got somebody better he'll retire (please please please)? Or sit on his couch and collect his paychecks?

Jonn · August 26, 2018

He said if he losses his starting SS job he will pack his bags and go home. Not really sure what that means. But if he leaves on his own will we could suspend him and not have to pay him so Tulo should never play SS again lol.

Boxcar · August 26, 2018

Yeah I don't think we will ever see Tulo play again. Diaz is clearly better than him at this point so I'd rather he just sits on his couch or something.

tercet · August 26, 2018

Diaz is too streaky to me to be a starter for me Boxcar, I haven't looked into to what changes he has made over the last month or two when he has gone on quite a tear.

tercet · August 26, 2018

Casual Blue Jays fans are awesome..

The ones who were bashing Kendrys and praising Teoscar in April, are now bashing Teoscar, praising McKinney and Kendrys, lol

Boxcar · August 26, 2018

Casual Blue Jays fans are awesome..

The ones who were bashing Kendrys and praising Teoscar in April, are now bashing Teoscar, praising McKinney and Kendrys, lol

Yeah, weird. Almost like people appreciate players when they are performing well. Quite the phenomenon you've uncovered

Captain Adama · August 26, 2018

Casual Blue Jays fans are awesome..

The ones who were bashing Kendrys and praising Teoscar in April, are now bashing Teoscar, praising McKinney and Kendrys, lol

I don't get it, are you saying McKinney's good now?

gruber92 · August 26, 2018

Yeah, weird. Almost like people appreciate players when they are performing well. Quite the phenomenon you've uncovered

Lol, and he thanked you to boot.

saskjayfan · August 26, 2018

Yeah I don't think we will ever see Tulo play again. Diaz is clearly better than him at this point so I'd rather he just sits on his couch or something.

he put up 2.9 wins in 2016 which was his only full season for the jays. It was actually 131 games, but that's pretty much a full season for Tulo. Last year he only played 66 games. How did Morales' season look after 66 games this year? By all accounts, Tulo hasn't played healthy during his entire time here. He got the surgery and has taken the entire year for those heels to get better. He may never get there health wise, but if he comes to the team next year and he's healthier than any of the previous 3 seasons with the Jays, I want to see him get a chance to produce. He's making too much money not to give him a shot next year, but it's nice to have Diaz who is more than capable behind him.

John_Havok · August 26, 2018

he put up 2.9 wins in 2016 which was his only full season for the jays. It was actually 131 games, but that's pretty much a full season for Tulo. Last year he only played 66 games. How did Morales' season look after 66 games this year? By all accounts, Tulo hasn't played healthy during his entire time here. He got the surgery and has taken the entire year for those heels to get better. He may never get there health wise, but if he comes to the team next year and he's healthier than any of the previous 3 seasons with the Jays, I want to see him get a chance to produce. He's making too much money not to give him a shot next year, but it's nice to have Diaz who is more than capable behind him.

This is all true, but what do you do with Gurriel in the meantime? Or Travis? Gurriel has shown enough that he should also be a starting IF, so with him, Travis, Tulo and Diaz....2 of whom are made of glass, do you cut bait with Travis altogether and have Gurriel play 2nd with Urena and Diaz both rostered as insurance for Tulo's inevitable injury?

And what of Drury?

There's a clusterf*** in the Jays MIF right now, and the Tulo/Travis injury parade makes it worse.

Abomination · August 26, 2018

This is all true, but what do you do with Gurriel in the meantime? Or Travis? Gurriel has shown enough that he should also be a starting IF, so with him, Travis, Tulo and Diaz....2 of whom are made of glass, do you cut bait with Travis altogether and have Gurriel play 2nd with Urena and Diaz both rostered as insurance for Tulo's inevitable injury?

And what of Drury?

You could possibly have Travis play some LF. It might keep him healthier if he's not always landing on his knee too.

Orgfiller · August 26, 2018

You could possibly have Travis play some LF. It might keep him healthier if he's not always landing on his knee too.

He's decidedly NOT hitting like a LF though, so then you're just taking playing time away from McKinney, Hernandez, Alford etc. I feel bad for the guy but at this point he has to be cut or moved, he just doesn't have a place on the team.

saskjayfan · August 27, 2018

He's decidedly NOT hitting like a LF though, so then you're just taking playing time away from McKinney, Hernandez, Alford etc. I feel bad for the guy but at this point he has to be cut or moved, he just doesn't have a place on the team.

we have way too many redundant pieces. Travis, Solarte, Diaz, Pillar, Grichuk, drury....some of these pieces need to be traded. I'd just let Solarte go in the off season.

John_Havok · August 27, 2018

we have way too many redundant pieces. Travis, Solarte, Diaz, Pillar, Grichuk, drury....some of these pieces need to be traded. I'd just let Solarte go in the off season.

The 750 K buyout on Solarte seems like a no-brainer at this point and Travis seems like a non-tender candidate.

Disagree on Grichuk and Pillar. Both will be starting OF next year barring trades

Slade · August 27, 2018

I can see them buying out Solarte but I really dont think he's a bad player. Think he was just used way too much in a really bad lineup and he got exposed.

Daniel Labude · August 27, 2018

we have way too many redundant pieces. Travis, Solarte, Diaz, Pillar, Grichuk, drury....some of these pieces need to be traded. I'd just let Solarte go in the off season.

Smoak and Morales as well imo. 1 will probably need to go

Dick_Pole · August 27, 2018

Since the debut of Ryan Goins, this team gave something like 3,000-4,000 plate appearances to replacement level players at SS/2B/3B. I'm surprised that people are viewing this depth issue as a "clusterf***" given the recent hardships this team has had filling those spots.

The depth issue at MIF is a good thing, and I trust that the FO will be able to maximize value for redundant pieces through trades. The only thing that concerns me is the direction they seem to be headed with on Donaldson since as an outsider, QO seems like the very obvious right choice to me. Not a trade. But I have to trust that they are working with a lot more information than I am on that front.

Spanky99 · August 27, 2018

Since the debut of Ryan Goins, this team gave something like 3,000-4,000 plate appearances to replacement level players at SS/2B/3B. I'm surprised that people are viewing this depth issue as a "clusterf***" given the recent hardships this team has had filling those spots.

The depth issue at MIF is a good thing, and I trust that the FO will be able to maximize value for redundant pieces through trades. The only thing that concerns me is the direction they seem to be headed with on Donaldson since as an outsider, QO seems like the very obvious right choice to me. Not a trade. But I have to trust that they are working with a lot more information than I am on that front.

Not to mention flexibility with options.

Spanky99 · August 27, 2018

Sun, Aug 26

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that Josh Donaldson (calf) is slated to begin a rehab assignment with High-A Dunedin in the next 48 hours.

Advice: The hope is that Donaldson can get in a quick rehab assignment and then show he's healthy with the Blue Jays so that they can trade him to a contender prior before the end of the month. It's an awfully tight window considering Donaldson has missed three months with a nagging left calf injury, but he could be a difference-making bat if he's indeed able to show he's healthy. It will be interesting to track his progress this week.

More: Bob Nightengale on Twitter

Phillips on Tulo and JD... he sure makes a lot of assumptions, especially concerning JD.

https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/video/futures-for-tulowitzki-donaldson-uncertain~1471611

Tulo interview that Shulman tweeted about...

https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/video/tulo-says-if-he-can-t-perform-at-ss-he-ll-pack-his-bags-and-go-home~1471567