Jays Sign Curtis Granderson

[Jonn]

I thought he chased way more in 2017. And the numbers do bare that. He still walked quite a bit but some of the pitches he use to lay off he was flailing at badly. I might buy into his swing adjustments to be honest. A team might score big time signing him cheap.

[Spanky99]

Anyone think Cobb is a target? Could pay him basically all of our remaining $15M. Would vastly improve the rotation and would be a tasty trade piece if he stays healthy enough to shake the 'injury' prone label at any time during his contract. I figured he'd be too expensive, but there is a lot of 14M per year type estimates out there, and 4 years wouldn't be too bad a term.

 

Yes, please!

[Jonn]

Cobb would be great but with compensation attached to him I don't see it happening. Would prefer him over Lynn tho.

[Nafro]

Just looked up some numbers for Bautista:

 

K rate

2015 - 15.9%

2016 - 19.9%

2017 - 24.8%

 

Walk rate

2015 - 16.5%

2016 - 16.8%

2017 - 12.2%

 

Contact %

2015 - 80.9%

2016 - 80.2%

2017 - 73.3%

 

Swinging strike %

2015 - 7.5%

2016 - 7.2%

2017 - 10.9%

 

Something definitely happened in 2017, either eye problems or he just lost enough bat speed that he can no longer catch up to fastballs.

 

Father Time came a knocking.

[Terminator]

Cobb would be great but with compensation attached to him I don't see it happening. Would prefer him over Lynn tho.

 

What's the compensation now?

[glory]

What's the compensation now?

 

I believe it's a 2nd round pick and $500k international draft money.

 

Not worth it for Cobb.

[Abomination]

According to fangraphs dot com and some other articles I've read, Bautista's batspeed is still good but it's no longer elite. His main problem is that his excellent contact skills (which were at or above league average which is great for a power hitter) have fallen off a cliff. His swing is also designed for a ton of loft and with the decreased exit velocity he hits a bunch of pop flies.

 

Unless he was playing hurt and we see a bounce back from being healthy or some other adjustment he makes he's cooked.

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/is-this-the-end-for-jose-bautista/

 

From watching the games, it looked like he was trying to go opposite field and up the middle a lot more last year, and as a result wasn't looking to turn on the ball like he used to. I don't know if that was due by injury or age though, or if he was trying to make an adjustment that flat out didn't work.

[Ultimate]

I don't believe we have 15 million left to spend despite what the Rogers guys keep saying.

 

The 20 million (which became 15 million) was based on the MLBTR arbitration estimates which turned out to be off by more than 2 million.

 

Also if past signings are any indication I think that Grandersons incentives reduce our available payroll as well. Rogers will probably require that any possible incentives be deducted from payroll.

 

Available cash = 20 million - 2ish million for ARB adjustment - 5 million for CG = 13 million less incentives for CG. Im guessing we have 10-12 to spend. I think we're looking at 4 depth guys at 2-3 million each. Maybe a Lefty reliever, 1-2 RHP who could compete with Biagini and be relief options as well and then maybe a depth outfielder or backup catcher.

[Hipfan]

I don't believe we have 15 million left to spend despite what the Rogers guys keep saying.

 

The 20 million (which became 15 million) was based on the MLBTR arbitration estimates which turned out to be off by more than 2 million.

 

Also if past signings are any indication I think that Grandersons incentives reduce our available payroll as well. Rogers will probably require that any possible incentives be deducted from payroll.

 

Available cash = 20 million - 2ish million for ARB adjustment - 5 million for CG = 13 million less incentives for CG. Im guessing we have 10-12 to spend. I think we're looking at 4 depth guys at 2-3 million each. Maybe a Lefty reliever, 1-2 RHP who could compete with Biagini and be relief options as well and then maybe a depth outfielder or backup catcher.

 

Even if your calculations are true, they could backload the contract; for example, if Cain were to sign a 4 year $65M deal, they could do $10M year one, then $15M, $20M and $20M. By the last year of the contract both Martin and Tulo will be off the books, if I'm not mistaken, so there would be more room for a deal like that.

[Abomination]

Even if your calculations are true, they could backload the contract; for example, if Cain were to sign a 4 year $65M deal, they could do $10M year one, then $15M, $20M and $20M. By the last year of the contract both Martin and Tulo will be off the books, if I'm not mistaken, so there would be more room for a deal like that.

 

We could also trade someone like Pearce to free some up, who with another signing probably wouldn't be worth the $7M to us (but should to someone who could offer him more than the butt side of a platoon).

[glory]

Regardless of what the Jays have left to spend, I think it's more likely they spread it around than spend all of it on one guy. They also seem to like having some money left mid season to make additions (either improvements or using money to buy prospects). My guess is that they will get another OF, SP, and RP and then call it an off season (aside from minor league signings and waiver claims). Not sure how they can fit all three within $15m, if that's what they have left, but there will be players who sign cheaper than expected, I'm sure. They had time to work with Brett Anderson last year and he was actually quite decent in his time here so that's probably a cheap fall back. For the outfield they will need someone pretty cheap and could parade around as a starting LF at least for a couple of months. Austin Jackson might be a decent/cheap stop gap. Maybin will probably come cheap as well but there's a reason for that.

 

Eh, I'm not really seeing a significant move being made here unless there is a trade. I'd love to see the Jays add McHugh in a trade and at least have a body for the 2019 rotation as opposed to just Stroman and pray for Sanchez to still be blister-free and actually good. Should have traded for Fiers before he was non tendered.

[Spanky99]

Should have traded for Fiers before he was non tendered.

 

I really wanted this to be done, as well.

[Terminator]

I believe it's a 2nd round pick and $500k international draft money.

 

Not worth it for Cobb.

 

Well that compensation plays into the contract we would have to give him.

[justafan]

Since we have been talking about various positions - Is it just me thinking there is a crapshoot at catcher? I would expect that position to hit 230 or so and I don't see that happening.

 

IMHO

[Pendleton]

Since we have been talking about various positions - Is it just me thinking there is a crapshoot at catcher? I would expect that position to hit 230 or so and I don't see that happening.

 

IMHO

 

Least of our worries. Martin is a top 10 catcher, if we're worried about our C position so are at least 20 other teams. Also have Jansen on the way who is a top offensive catcher in the minors.

[Brownie19]

Since we have been talking about various positions - Is it just me thinking there is a crapshoot at catcher? I would expect that position to hit 230 or so and I don't see that happening.

 

IMHO

 

You gotta look past average on these parts sir. We do need a backup catcher though and history suggests the good backups don't want to play here because Martin takes up so much playing time.

[justafan]

Thanks. I'm just sayin. Catching is a very demanding position on the body and I think Martin will be playing a lot less. Appreciate your views.

[Pendleton]

Thanks. I'm just sayin. Catching is a very demanding position on the body and I think Martin will be playing a lot less. Appreciate your views.

 

Yeah I agree we could use a good backup to prevent Martin from breaking down (or step in if he does). Hopefully one of the young guys looks ready in ST but maybe a veteran will be added before then.

[Brownie19]

Yeah I agree we could use a good backup to prevent Martin from breaking down (or step in if he does). Hopefully one of the young guys looks ready in ST but maybe a veteran will be added before then.

 

How great would it be to see use end up with a Grandel/Barnes situation this year? Martin/Jansen or Martin/McGuire for 2018 + 2019.......Jansen/McGuire in 2020+

[Pendleton]

How great would it be to see use end up with a Grandel/Barnes situation this year? Martin/Jansen or Martin/McGuire for 2018 + 2019.......Jansen/McGuire in 2020+

 

Yeah that would be ideal if one of the young catchers were ready for that, Martin would be a great mentor in that role too. It looks like St Louis will also have a similar setup with Carson Kelly expected to slowly take the reigns from Molina over the next couple years.

[DigitalRock]

Not a bad pickup, it does not stop the jays from making other moves. It's depth for fairly cheap.

[Orgfiller]

How great would it be to see use end up with a Grandel/Barnes situation this year? Martin/Jansen or Martin/McGuire for 2018 + 2019.......Jansen/McGuire in 2020+

 

In this scenario Martin is Barnes right? Elite framer who can play second and third base in a pinch!

[BTS]

I don't believe we have 15 million left to spend despite what the Rogers guys keep saying.

 

The 20 million (which became 15 million) was based on the MLBTR arbitration estimates which turned out to be off by more than 2 million.

 

Also if past signings are any indication I think that Grandersons incentives reduce our available payroll as well. Rogers will probably require that any possible incentives be deducted from payroll.

 

Available cash = 20 million - 2ish million for ARB adjustment - 5 million for CG = 13 million less incentives for CG. Im guessing we have 10-12 to spend. I think we're looking at 4 depth guys at 2-3 million each. Maybe a Lefty reliever, 1-2 RHP who could compete with Biagini and be relief options as well and then maybe a depth outfielder or backup catcher.

 

There's some salary that can be moved out too. Carrera is probably movable, and if not is only owed 1/6th of his 1.9M salary. Steve Pearce has become superfluous and the team could probably find a way to shed most of his 6.5M salary. Even Loup at 1.81 is movable and mostly replaceable by a league min guy. I see enough flexibility to allow them to make room for Cain/Cobb/Lynn if they think they can make a deal with one of them.

[Bobthe4th]

There's some salary that can be moved out too. Carrera is probably movable, and if not is only owed 1/6th of his 1.9M salary. Steve Pearce has become superfluous and the team could probably find a way to shed most of his 6.5M salary. Even Loup at 1.81 is movable and mostly replaceable by a league min guy. I see enough flexibility to allow them to make room for Cain/Cobb/Lynn if they think they can make a deal with one of them.

 

Pearce might be easier to move at the deadline, but I'd hope we're exploring trades for him now. IMO moving Loup or Carrera for minimal savings isn't worth it, unless their replacements are significantly better (e.g. if we signed a starting caliber OF).