Offseason Roster Thread 2019-2020

[Laika]

AJ Burnett was such a gem. Aged like fine wine too and was excellent until his retirement.

[glory]

Didn't the team also snag a comp pick when Burnett left, tying a nice little bow on an already successful FA signing?

 

James Paxton who they didn't sign and Jake Marisnick.

[Maico450]

AJ Burnett was such a gem. Aged like fine wine too and was excellent until his retirement.

 

Heh Heh, I know that I'm old school, you guys who are looking back at the stat sheets and are telling yourselves what a great pitcher AJ Burnett was. When JP Ricciardi took over we thought that the Jays had finally gotten a real GM, best ever since the days of Gillick. The Jays had Doc producing at a great rate, but no closer. BJ Ryan was the best closer available, and JP signed him to great enthusiasm. Then all the talk came about AJ Burnett and his previous no hitter. JP signed him. Paid him more $$ than any pitcher in the previous 4 years.

Unbelievable, Doc, BJ Ryan, and No Hit AJ Burnett. Jays fans were ecstatic, kind of like when Price came aboard. Only one problem. AJ was incredibly inconsistent those first 2 years. He would throw a shutout one start, get lit up for 5 runs the next. Then he would get hurt. Over and over, like Sanchez. Frustrating beyond belief. Burnett became the player to blame for the teams poor showing. He was paid the most $$. He had arrived with the most fanfare. He was expected to produce like Doc did. Jays won what 85 games.

After 2 erratic seasons, he has a good one, and bolts to the Yanks. Thems the facts, like it or not??

[Laika]

Heh Heh, I know that I'm old school, you guys who are looking back at the stat sheets and are telling yourselves what a great pitcher AJ Burnett was. When JP Ricciardi took over we thought that the Jays had finally gotten a real GM, best ever since the days of Gillick. The Jays had Doc producing at a great rate, but no closer. BJ Ryan was the best closer available, and JP signed him to great enthusiasm. Then all the talk came about AJ Burnett and his previous no hitter. JP signed him. Paid him more $$ than any pitcher in the previous 4 years.

Unbelievable, Doc, BJ Ryan, and No Hit AJ Burnett. Jays fans were ecstatic, kind of like when Price came aboard. Only one problem. AJ was incredibly inconsistent those first 2 years. He would throw a shutout one start, get lit up for 5 runs the next. Then he would get hurt. Over and over, like Sanchez. Frustrating beyond belief. Burnett became the player to blame for the teams poor showing. He was paid the most $$. He had arrived with the most fanfare. He was expected to produce like Doc did. Jays won what 85 games.

After 2 erratic seasons, he has a good one, and bolts to the Yanks. Thems the facts, like it or not??

 

It's still not clear if you think he sucked or if you wanted him to stay. Heh heh!

[Maico450]

It's still not clear if you think he sucked or if you wanted him to stay. Heh heh!

 

Like I said, we had paid him the big money, we got 2 years of crap, then he finally gets his s*** together and bolts to the Yanks. So after all that, I was disappointed in his performance, and his loyalty. After 3 years we finally were getting what we had paid for. But JP had given him the optout, and from AJs point of view he was probably happy to get out of Toronto. As a Jays fan, at that time I wanted him to stay because we had finally experienced the potential. Frustrated with the inconsistency, but hopeful for the future.

A bad overall experience.

[Jimcanuck]

Like I said, we had paid him the big money, we got 2 years of crap, then he finally gets his s*** together and bolts to the Yanks. So after all that, I was disappointed in his performance, and his loyalty. After 3 years we finally were getting what we had paid for. But JP had given him the optout, and from AJs point of view he was probably happy to get out of Toronto. As a Jays fan, at that time I wanted him to stay because we had finally experienced the potential. Frustrated with the inconsistency, but hopeful for the future.

A bad overall experience.

 

His numbers look pretty damn good to me. Maybe you were expecting him to pitch like Doc????

[Barkerfan23]

When JP signed AJ and BJ I remember thinking we were going to win a hundred games lmao

[Laika]

Like I said, we had paid him the big money, we got 2 years of crap, then he finally gets his s*** together and bolts to the Yanks. So after all that, I was disappointed in his performance, and his loyalty. After 3 years we finally were getting what we had paid for. But JP had given him the optout, and from AJs point of view he was probably happy to get out of Toronto. As a Jays fan, at that time I wanted him to stay because we had finally experienced the potential. Frustrated with the inconsistency, but hopeful for the future.

A bad overall experience.

 

Worst contract in team history but you wanted more of the experience. Got it.

 

Someone likes a good paddlin’

[Grant77]

Like I said, we had paid him the big money, we got 2 years of crap, then he finally gets his s*** together and bolts to the Yanks. So after all that, I was disappointed in his performance, and his loyalty. After 3 years we finally were getting what we had paid for. But JP had given him the optout, and from AJs point of view he was probably happy to get out of Toronto. As a Jays fan, at that time I wanted him to stay because we had finally experienced the potential. Frustrated with the inconsistency, but hopeful for the future.

A bad overall experience.

 

If 165 innings of 3.75 ERA ball is crap then sign me up for 2 or 3 plates of crap to put in our rotation next season.

[glory]

AJ, BJ, Glaus, Overbay, and Molina. I was really excited for that season.

[Ray]

Jays interested in Josh Lindblom as well.

[Brownie19]

AJ, BJ, Glaus, Overbay, and Molina. I was really excited for that season.

 

I was at Opening Day that season. Everyone screaming "we want BJ's" with the Jays leading into the 9th inning.

[Orgfiller]

If 165 innings of 3.75 ERA ball is crap then sign me up for 2 or 3 plates of crap to put in our rotation next season.

 

AJ Burnett from 2006-2007 pitched 301 innings with a 3.85 ERA (85 ERA-), 4.09 FIP (91 FIP-), 5.2 fWAR, 6.3 RA9-WAR. If literally anyone in our rotation had done that for a single season, or was projected to do that next season they would be by far our best starter.

[Maahfaace]

AJ Burnett from 2006-2007 pitched 301 innings with a 3.85 ERA (85 ERA-), 4.09 FIP (91 FIP-), 5.2 fWAR, 6.3 RA9-WAR. If literally anyone in our rotation had done that for a single season, or was projected to do that next season they would be by far our best starter.

 

AJ might still be able to crack this rotation at 42, someone tell Atkins to give him a ring.

[Captain Adama]

Heh Heh, I know that I'm old school, you guys who are looking back at the stat sheets and are telling yourselves what a great pitcher AJ Burnett was. When JP Ricciardi took over we thought that the Jays had finally gotten a real GM, best ever since the days of Gillick. The Jays had Doc producing at a great rate, but no closer. BJ Ryan was the best closer available, and JP signed him to great enthusiasm. Then all the talk came about AJ Burnett and his previous no hitter. JP signed him. Paid him more $$ than any pitcher in the previous 4 years.

Unbelievable, Doc, BJ Ryan, and No Hit AJ Burnett. Jays fans were ecstatic, kind of like when Price came aboard. Only one problem. AJ was incredibly inconsistent those first 2 years. He would throw a shutout one start, get lit up for 5 runs the next. Then he would get hurt. Over and over, like Sanchez. Frustrating beyond belief. Burnett became the player to blame for the teams poor showing. He was paid the most $$. He had arrived with the most fanfare. He was expected to produce like Doc did. Jays won what 85 games.

After 2 erratic seasons, he has a good one, and bolts to the Yanks. Thems the facts, like it or not??

 

There's your problem. The Burnett signing was great, you're just pissed how the overall season turned out.

[Laika]

Sounds like Toronto is out on Wheeler anyway.

 

Ken Rosenthal

@Ken_Rosenthal

·

1m

Still alive for Wheeler, per sources: #Phillies, #Reds, #WhiteSox. Possible other teams remain in mix; #Angels also have shown real interest. Phillies’ push first reported by

@Buster_ESPN

.

[wamco]

cron/Thames platoon

[jaysguy44]

The #BlueJays have been as aggressive as any team in @MLB in courting free-agent starting pitchers, as one source said to me yesterday. @MLBNetwork

 

-Morosi

[BTS]

The #BlueJays have been as aggressive as any team in @MLB in courting free-agent starting pitchers, as one source said to me yesterday. @MLBNetwork

 

-Morosi

 

Pretty encouraged about this and the rumours that they're interested in Wheeler, Ryu, Keuchel, and Lindblom.

[saskjayfan]

The #BlueJays have been as aggressive as any team in @MLB in courting free-agent starting pitchers, as one source said to me yesterday. @MLBNetwork

 

-Morosi

 

man don't get my hopes up!

[Laika]

The goods on Lindblom:

 

 

fastball seems to be mostly 90-92.5 but I saw one clocking at 152 km/h

 

offspeed stuff looks sick

 

sign him up

Edited December 4, 2019 by Laika

[saskjayfan]

The goods on Lindblom:

 

 

fastball seems to be mostly 90-92.5 but I saw one clocking at 151 km/h

 

offspeed stuff looks sick

 

sign him up

 

I'm not against signing him, but he better not be the only starting pitcher we sign.

[Laika]

Merrill Kelly in the KBO

 

3.86 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 0.8 HR/9, 1.309 WHIP.

 

Lindblom in the KBO

 

3.55 ERA, 8.2 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 1.0 HR/9, 1.19 WHIP

* this includes five years - he was much, much better the last three years

 

Merrill Kelly was a boring 2 win pitcher in 2019

 

Lindblom > Merrill

 

Lindblom > Kyle Gibson? We will see!

 

Please sign him

[glory]

Never get your hopes up with anything Trollosi posts. He's the embodiment of click bait.

 

Rosenthal mentioned Lindblom, so the interest there is likely legit. Seems more of a realistic target than some of the bigger names.

[saskjayfan]

Merrill Kelly in the KBO

 

3.86 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 0.8 HR/9, 1.309 WHIP.

 

Lindblom in the KBO

 

3.55 ERA, 8.2 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 1.0 HR/9, 1.19 WHIP

* this includes five years - he was much, much better the last three years

 

Merrill Kelly was a boring 2 win pitcher in 2019

 

Lindblom > Merrill

 

Lindblom > Kyle Gibson? We will see!

 

Please sign him

 

The stats aren't that much better. Merrill is a number 5. If we sign Lindblom, we get another 5 hoping for he pitches like a number 3 or 4, but not something you can count on. We have a surplus of number 5 pitchers and the young guys have a better chance of upside surprise. We need to go get a number 2. We can sign Lindblom after we sign Ryu, bumgarner or Wheeler..or at the very least keuchel.

[Brownie19]

The stats aren't that much better. Merrill is a number 5. If we sign Lindblom, we get another 5 hoping for he pitches like a number 3 or 4, but not something you can count on. We have a surplus of number 5 pitchers and the young guys have a better chance of upside surprise. We need to go get a number 2. We can sign Lindblom after we sign Ryu, bumgarner or Wheeler..or at the very least keuchel.

 

So we can sign Lindblom after we sign Wheeler, but we can't sign him before we sign Wheeler. Makes sense.

[Laika]

The stats aren't that much better. Merrill is a number 5.

 

The stats the last three years are substantially better.

 

Merrill was at 2.0 fWAR in 2019, good for 48th among qualified SP and 67th among arms with 100+ IP. That is definitely closer to #3/4 SP performance. He did not pitch like a number 5. He's about as good as these free agent SP: Gausman, Miley, Martin Perez, Porcello, Hamels, Roark, Bailey, Wood, Gio Gonzalez. Perhaps that's a #5 SP on a 95 win team.

 

Signing a guy like Lindblom to a deal like 2/$8 or 3/$9 or whatever is precisely how you leverage knowledge (scouting and data) to get the rare surplus value deal on the FA market. Toronto should sign him if they think he's any good (they might not).

 

I agree with you though that Lindblom should be signed along with a better SP. There aren't many options in that gap though. If we assume Cole, Strasburg, and Wheeler (at this point) are not realistic options and you are left with Ryu (probably doesn't want to come to Toronto) and Keuchel. Bumgarner might get an albatross contract and is not trending in the right direction. So it's basically Keuchel or bust!

[glory]

[BTS]

I want an ace as much as everyone, but this team's problem is not that it has too many league average starters. They don't have a single starter that projects to have a 2-win season, and it's really only Anderson and Thornton that can be relied on for a full season of useful starts, to whatever extentyou can rely on a pitcher.

 

If you project Lindblom at 2 wins, there isn't a team in baseball that can thumb their nose at that. The idea that a team with like 2.5 actual starters is too good for a league average SP on a reasonable deal is very misguided.

[BTS]

Honestly, this team could add three more established starters and not have to worry about a roster crunch. Anderson is the 4th starter, and you go with whoever of Thornton/Borucki/Shoemaker is healthy and throwing well as the 5th guy.