General 2018 Blue Jays Discussion Thread

[xposbrad]

I really hope the team is respectable this year, because I don't want ownership either firing him or forcing him to expedite timelines. There's no doubt in my mind that Shapiro will build a powerhouse if allowed to do so.

 

Respectable like you mean closer to .500? Why would ownership fire him when they are setting budgets and probably allowing a rebuild that they know will take several years? I don't necessarily think Shapiro will build a powerhouse, but the Blue Jays should start doing a bit better when they start going after real FAs and some of the younger guys develop (or if they develop). A powerhouse with the Yanks on the rise and Red Sox in the middle of their prime is probably not realistic, or maybe in 5+ years. The Yankees can go and just sign their own Vlad if they wanted, this team will need another 2-3 Vlads minimum.

[saskjayfan]

Shapiro's biggest project now is making the Rogers Centre something other than a hunk of concrete. Rogers isn't sending him anywhere right now

 

Getting some pitching has to be priority number 2. The cupboard is bare

[Boxcar]

Getting some pitching has to be priority number 2. The cupboard is bare

 

That's Ross Atkins' job.

[TheHurl]

That's Ross Atkins' job.

 

I forgot to mention that one about the podcast. I agree with you that we have to stop giving Shapiro credit for baseball moves. Ban the Shatkins!

[Spanky99]

Yeah, I know for a fact that they were soliciting engineering firms in regards to the roof awhile ago. Haven't heard anything about it since, though.

 

Didn't you listen to the interview, he talks about it, they're putting a new TPO membrane on right now?

[Superdood]

[jays4life19]

 

Sweeeeeet. They have such a nicey farm system.

 

 

Man oh man if the Jays got Gore.

[Superdood]

Sweeeeeet. They have such a nicey farm system.

 

 

Man oh man if the Jays got Gore.

 

I doubt we get any of their top 5 prospects but it's nice to dream isn't it?

[BTS]

 

Ugh, that twitter thread is terrible.

[gruber92]

Padres 7th and 8th ranked prospects Michel Baez and Logan Allen, could be headed back to Toronto, both pitchers.

[P2F]

Ugh, that twitter thread is terrible.

 

I honestly can't fathom how and why so many people view this front office in such a negative light. How can so many outspoken people be this clueless and uneducated?

[jays4life19]

Padres 7th and 8th ranked prospects Michel Baez and Logan Allen, could be headed back to Toronto, both pitchers.

 

8. Logan Allen, LHP

DOB: 5/23/1997

Height/Weight: 6’3” / 200 lbs.

Bats/Throws: R/L

Drafted/Acquired: Drafted in the 8th round by the Red Sox in the 2015 MLB Draft, IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL); signed for $725,000. Acquired from the Red Sox for Craig Kimbrel.

Previous Ranking(s): #9 (Org)

2018 Stats: 1.63 ERA, 6.12 DRA, 27 2/3 IP, 21 H, 13 BB, 24 K in 5 games at Triple-A El Paso; 2.75 ERA, 3.35 DRA, 121 IP, 89 H, 38 BB, 125 K in 20 games at Double-A San Antonio

 

The Report: Allen dominated in difficult pitching environments in the upper minors in 2018. He won’t blow you away with his stuff like some of the other Padres prospects, and he has the least gaudy radar gun readings among the arms in this Top 10. Allen’s fastball sits a couple ticks either side of 90, but there’s enough cut to keep it off barrels and the deception in his delivery makes it sneaky fast at times. The delivery has a bit of lefty funk which has impacted his ability to throw strikes at times, but he’ll also show you outings where he’s pumping the bottom of the zone to both sides.

 

The major difference maker for him in 2018 has been the development of his slider, which he manipulates between cutter action with deceptive late depth and a more traditional two-plane breaker. It tunnels off the fastball well and could be the bat-misser that he previously lacked. Allen also has a high-70s curve that he struggles to wrangle into a consistent shape and a change he uses sparingly.

 

____

 

 

9. Michel Baez, RHP

DOB: 1/21/1996

Height/Weight: 6’8” / 220 lbs.

Bats/Throws: R/R

Drafted/Acquired: Signed December 2016 by the Padres out of Cuba for $3 million.

Previous Ranking(s): #5 (Org), #52 (Top 101)

2018 Stats: 7.36 ERA, 3.22 DRA, 18 1/3 IP, 22 H, 12 BB, 21 K in 4 games at Double-A San Antonio; 2.91 ERA, 4.01 DRA, 86 2/3 IP, 73 H, 33 BB, 92 K in 17 games at High-A Lake Elsinore

 

The Report: Baez looks like a cardboard cutout of Dellin Betances; he stands a comparable 6-foot-8 with broad shoulders, but without the same supporting width through his hips and lower half. He leverages that height to generate outstanding plane from an unusual angle, and the combination of a fastball that’ll tickle 96 and a tumbling change from on high can give hitters fits when he’s consistent through his progressions to slot. He’ll work two variants of spin into the mix as well, with a tight slider in the low-80s that’ll flash two-plane action and decent bite, along with a mid-70s curve that teases with solid finish and dropping action. The former shows more promise to develop into a solid-average chaser, although there are at present just as many gutters as strikes with both offerings.

 

The Role:

 

OFP 60—No. 3 starter or high-leverage bullpen arm

 

Realistic 50—No. 4 starter or setup

 

The Risks: The above “when he’s consistent” disclaimer is a big “if,” however. While he indeed flashed better-than-most ability to repeat, the sheer length of his delivery combined with a top-heavy frame lead to periodic struggles maintaining balance and timing through his delivery. There’s reliever risk here if his command never comes together, though his stuff and mound presence would make him an excellent option to emerge from a swinging bullpen gate if it comes to that. —Wilson Karaman

[Ehjays]

Ye MLB traderumours has it now too

 

 

The Padres and Blue Jays are reportedly discussing a deal that would send Marcus Stroman to the friendly confines of San Diego, per sources close to MLB.com’s Jon Morosi.

The ongoing trade discussion would not include anyone from the uppermost echelon of Padres’ prospects, though Morosi names pitchers Logan Allen and Michael Baez as two prospects would could be sent to Toronto. Baez and Allen rank #7 and #8, respectively on MLB.com’s rankings of the Padres farm system, widely considered to be the best in baseball.

For the Padres, it’s a good time to “buy-low” on Stroman, who is coming off easily his worst season in Toronto, finishing 4-9 with a 5.54 ERA in only 102 1/3 innings. The Friars already added veteran Ian Kinsley to the clubhouse, and they’ve been linked to Dallas Keuchel as well. Another starter to help anchor their otherwise youthful rotation has been a priority for GM A.J. Preller. At 28 years old and with two years of team control remaining, Stroman certainly fits the mold.

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, appear ready to move on from their erstwhile ace. The Reds were previously thought to be a logical trade partner, but the Padres young arms might be an ever better fit for the Blue Jays, who are a couple years from contending in a ruthless AL East. Already armed with some of the best position player prospects in the game, namely Vlad Guerrero Jr. and, to a lesser degree, Bo Bichette, Toronto may view the arms in San Diego’s system as a better match, timetable-wise, than Stroman.

It’s not a done deal by any means, but on the surface this appears like a solid match.

[jays4life19]

And most importantly...

 

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: For me, Baez is the clear outlier among the pitchers on this list in that he might not be a top-200 dynasty prospect at this point. It’s not really a knock against the stuff, which as you read is more than enough. It’s that the odds of him being a starting pitcher are notably lower. If he makes it, he could be a 2008 xFIP superstar, but no one actually projects those pitchers to catch lightning anymore.

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: Yay, more pitchers. This is nothing against Allen, who’s a borderline Top 101 candidate (an impressive feat for a mound dweller), but there are at least 3-4 hitters that I won’t get to write fantasy blurbs about who I’d rather own in just about any format. Again, it’s a realistic SP4 future without the kind of strikeout numbers to bring him higher. Did you love the 2018 version of Marco Gonzales? Of course you did. What kind of question is that?

[Ehjays]

Question is …..Is Jon Morosi legit or does he just pull s*** out of his ass for click bait

[jays4life19]

I would prefer Luis Patino over Baez.

 

Something like Patino, Allen and Gabriel Arias would be a very nice return for Stroman.

[Laika]

Question is …..Is Jon Morosi legit or does he just pull s*** out of his ass for click bait

 

He’s a legit clickbait assclown, so yes and yes!

[xposbrad]

Crazy that our ace can't even fetch a team's top 5 prospect, hopefully the rumor is off. Atkins better just hold onto Stroman and hopefully a good start nets more than Allen/Baez. Rather quality over quantity.

[Daniel Labude]

Crazy that our ace can't even fetch a team's top 5 prospect, hopefully the rumor is off. Atkins better just hold onto Stroman and hopefully a good start nets more than Allen/Baez. Rather quality over quantity.

 

We dont know that yet...also Baez would be a top 5 prospect in about 20 farm systems

[Laika]

Crazy that our ace can't even fetch a team's top 5 prospect, hopefully the rumor is off. Atkins better just hold onto Stroman and hopefully a good start nets more than Allen/Baez. Rather quality over quantity.

 

The Padres have the best farm in baseball. Their eight best prospect is top 5 in most systems and top 3 in a good number.

[Daniel Labude]

That would be MLBs #57 and #76 prospects for Stroman....that would be a great return (though I'd like to set my sights higher lol)

[Laika]

The Padres arguably have like 11 top 100 prospects.

[xposbrad]

That would be MLBs #57 and #76 prospects for Stroman....that would be a great return (though I'd like to set my sights higher lol)

 

It's Gore or nothing! Wait it out.

[Laika]

It's Gore or nothing! Wait it out.

 

So nothing then

[glory]

Question is …..Is Jon Morosi legit or does he just pull s*** out of his ass for click bait

 

I call him Trollosi for a reason.

 

He's a hack. When Rosenthal says something, then we're getting somewhere.

[jays4life19]

It's Gore or nothing! Wait it out.

 

^ Smart man up in here

[Jimcanuck]

It's Gore or nothing! Wait it out.

 

Gore is unlikely or never-gonna-happen, but in any event with a farm as deep as the Padres, quantity works. Along with the aforementioned Allen and Baez, getting one of the deeper guys like Rosario, Ornelas, Edwards would be an excellent haul

[glory]

Crazy that our ace can't even fetch a team's top 5 prospect, hopefully the rumor is off. Atkins better just hold onto Stroman and hopefully a good start nets more than Allen/Baez. Rather quality over quantity.

 

If you think we are going to get a better package than Allen/Baez in today's marketplace for a year and two months of Stroman, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

[Carlos Danger]

If you think we are going to get a better package than Allen/Baez in today's marketplace for a year and two months of Stroman, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

 

Agree trade him!! Ricky Romero!!!

[Daniel Labude]

If you think we are going to get a better package than Allen/Baez in today's marketplace for a year and two months of Stroman, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

 

Its two years of Stroman right?