General 2020 Blue Jays Discussion Thread

[Bobthe4th]

Is this the year that Vlad becomes a superstar?

 

[Grant77]

Starting these threads will be the highlight of Bob's year.

[Bobthe4th]

Starting these threads will be the highlight of Bob's year.

 

You're not anticipating an epic Euro 2020 thread then, haha?

[Daniel Labude]

Is this the year that Vlad becomes a superstar?

 

 

[TheHurl]

You're not anticipating an epic Euro 2020 thread then, haha?

 

I interviewed with Euro 2020 (Glasgow) 2 weeks ago. I don't think I did well and I can't get a VISA but would be a cool event to work.

[Abomination]

I interviewed with Euro 2020 (Glasgow) 2 weeks ago. I don't think I did well and I can't get a VISA but would be a cool event to work.

 

Why can't you get a VISA for it? I'm just curious, because I don't really know how the process works.

[Jimcanuck]

Why can't you get a VISA for it? I'm just curious, because I don't really know how the process works.

 

Hurl is obviously an ex-con.

[TheHurl]

Why can't you get a VISA for it? I'm just curious, because I don't really know how the process works.

 

Too old (over 30 usually can't get work and travel visas), Too Canadian (My parents, grandparents, their grandparents are all born in Canada despite my UK heritage I'm not eligible). So I'd need to be sponsored for a work permit which would cost them £1000 (And I have to pay £244) . Which for a short contract is probably not worth the headache as my skills for this role are good but not something that is way beyond what other Euros would have.

 

Essentially the UK can't keep Euros out so they are making it tough and expensive for non Euros.

[bendera3]

Do you guys think we do a time share in center with RG, Alford, and Fisher this year? With the extra roster spot I could see the front office willing to commit to Alford to see if he'll fit into the future.

[Jimcanuck]

Do you guys think we do a time share in center with RG, Alford, and Fisher this year? With the extra roster spot I could see the front office willing to commit to Alford to see if he'll fit into the future.

 

Barring injury or a disastrous ST, I'm expecting the 26th roster spot to go to Alford, and he will be eased into MLB against weaker pitching and as a late inning replacement. See if his excellent AAA 2nd half can continue.

[glory]

Do you guys think we do a time share in center with RG, Alford, and Fisher this year? With the extra roster spot I could see the front office willing to commit to Alford to see if he'll fit into the future.

 

Depending on whether they sign another OF, I'd expect to see Gurriel/Teoscar/Grichuk starting with Fisher as the 4th OF and Alford as the extra roster spot (defensive replacement, pinch runner, etc). If there is one constant with this front office it is that they don't usually dump someone with even modest potential until they have exhausted all avenues (see Pompey).

 

Of course if they sign another OF, then that might change things, but even then that other OF could be the DH (or Hernandez can DH), and the same roster configuration as above works.

[max silver]

Interesting news coming out today that Travis Shaw made some swing changes after the 2018 season that ended up backfiring completely. Remarkably similar story to Kevin Smith and his ill-fated swing changes as well, both guys had disastrous 2019 seasons. This makes me very hopeful that Shaw can turn things around and be a massive infield upgrade for the Jays. Edited January 3, 2020 by max silver

[bzapple]

Seeing as it's the new year we're getting close to scrap heap reliever signing season! I'm sure in the mood for some cheap one year signings, hope you are too.

 

Some guys I wouldn't mind taking a look at:

 

Dominic Leone, RHP - The former Blue Jay has ranged from mediocre to terrible in the past two seasons with the Cardinals. His walks and home runs spiked last season which led to him getting released in November, but his K/9, SwStr%, and fastball velocity have remained consistent. I bet he could he easily had on a minor league deal.

 

David Phelps, RHP - Another former Jay I wouldn't mind bringing back. Had some shaky peripherals last year but also a fairly small sample of innings. Has a pretty consistent track record overall for his career. I can't see him topping the $2.5M guarantee he got last offseason, and I think he could still return some value at that price.

 

Dan Otero, RHP - He's been roughed up by a sky high HR/FB% the last couple years after being very good in the two seasons before that with the Indians. At 35, maybe he's cooked, but his K/BB numbers have remained excellent and he shouldn't command anything more than a minor league deal with performance incentives.

 

Luis Avilan, LHP - 5.06 ERA in 32.0 IP with the Mets, but has a pretty solid track record as a LOOGY since 2012. Another guy who is likely looking at a small guarantee w/ incentives.

 

Robbie Erlin, LHP - Was outrighted by the Padres and elected free agency. Has posted strong K/BB numbers in his career, including 2019, but got hit with a .373 BABIP which inflated his ERA to 5.37. Was almost exclusively a reliever last year but has started in the past.

 

These are just a few guys I thought of who might be interesting on one year deals. I also wouldn't mind pursuing Collin McHugh and/or Craig Stammen, who I think will get two year guarantees.

 

Edit: Pretty much as I posted this Stammen went off the board. Re-signed with the Padres for 3/12.

Edited January 4, 2020 by bzapple

[Barkerfan23]

It will be interesting to see which of our half dozen failed starting prospect will emerge as late inning relievers. I have my money in SRF and Trent Thoron as possibilities

[Angrioter]

Keith Law was right

 

 

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[max silver]

It will be interesting to see which of our half dozen failed starting prospect will emerge as late inning relievers. I have my money in SRF and Trent Thoron as possibilities

 

I'm not so sure you can say Trent Thornton has exactly failed as a starting prospect though. Sure he won't be fronting a rotation any time soon, but as a back of the rotation guy he's perfectly serviceable. Although I'm not certain we are speaking about the same guy, who exactly is this Trent Thoron you speak of?

[Ryu In My House]

I'm not so sure you can say Trent Thornton has exactly failed as a starting prospect though. Sure he won't be fronting a rotation any time soon, but as a back of the rotation guy he's perfectly serviceable. Although I'm not certain we are speaking about the same guy, who exactly is this Trent Thoron you speak of?

 

My hot take is that Thorton had some bad tells, and was getting shelled because of it. He's got decent stuff, and I think Walker and others addressed some of his habits that were allowing batters to sit on pitches. I think he will be a decent mid-rotation starter at the end of the day.

[max silver]

My hot take is that Thorton had some bad tells, and was getting shelled because of it. He's got decent stuff, and I think Walker and others addressed some of his habits that were allowing batters to sit on pitches. I think he will be a decent mid-rotation starter at the end of the day.

 

I think he has room to improve as well. Take away a few starts where he likely got pounded because he was tipping pitches and suddenly the results look a lot better. I recall he tweaked his slider or cutter grip later on in the season and was able to go on a nice run in September. Quite a few of those appearances were as a bulk pitcher behind an opener though, so it's not truly indicative of improvement as a starter going forward.

[Grant77]

Jays sign James Dykstra from Indy ball.

[EMK19]

Jays sign James Dykstra from Indy ball.

 

Seen his twitter videos that seems to have generated some buzz, and there certainly seems to be some quality to his stuff... apparently he only recently added the 4-5 mph that he previously lacked during his time in the white sox system where he seems to have shown some promise already (pitching with control and inducing groundballs), so will definitely be keeping and eye on him.

[Orgfiller]

Jays sign James Dykstra from Indy ball.

 

This was a while ago was it not? He was discovered through Pitching Ninja's Flatgroundapp account on twitter I'm pretty sure. Was the signing made official today?

 

Here's the tweet where he confirmed he was signing with us and also a look into his stuff embedded within.

 

[Grant77]

This was a while ago was it not? He was discovered through Pitching Ninja's Flatgroundapp account on twitter I'm pretty sure. Was the signing made official today?

 

Here's the tweet where he confirmed he was signing with us and also a look into his stuff embedded within.

 

 

It was the most recent mlb headline on rotoworld so I just posted it here. Maybe it was official today like you said.

 

Also of note after I looked again, Mitch Nay signed with the Mariners.

[Jimcanuck]

Seen his twitter videos that seems to have generated some buzz, and there certainly seems to be some quality to his stuff... apparently he only recently added the 4-5 mph that he previously lacked during his time in the white sox system where he seems to have shown some promise already (pitching with control and inducing groundballs), so will definitely be keeping and eye on him.

 

Check your PMs, I sent ya something

[Spanky99]

Check your PMs, I sent ya something

 

Wrong person...

[Jimcanuck]

Wrong person...

 

no.

[Spanky99]

no.

 

lol... read like a fantasy post.

[Spanky99]

Shaw looking to rebound in first season with Blue Jays

The Associated Press The Associated PressJan 3, 2020, 10:15 PM

 

TORONTO (AP) -- The biggest lesson Travis Shaw took away from a disappointing season is that this year can't get much worse.

 

Shaw, who signed a one-year deal worth $4 million with the Toronto Blue Jays late last month, is hoping a change of scenery - and an opportunity to play every day - will help him regain his form.

 

The 29-year-old infielder hit just .157 with a .281 on-base percentage and .270 slugging over 86 games for the Milwaukee Brewers last season, his worst in four years in the majors.

 

''Last year was about as bad as you could possibly go,'' Shaw said Friday in a conference call with Toronto media. ''Physically I was in a good spot, but mentally coming to the field every day (I was) just beating myself up. They say don't look at the scoreboard, just start over each day. And I tried to do that, but I mean that scoreboard stares you in the face every single day.

 

''I grew a lot mentally over the year and I did make a step forward in that department. I'd never really experienced failure to that level and going through that, I think it's going to help me big time going into this year.''

 

In 2018, Shaw had a career-high 32 home runs and hit .241. In 2017, he hit .273 with 31 homers and 101 RBIs.

 

Shaw attributed his steep dip in production to a minor adjustment he made to his swing heading into the season. And while he said he was starting to feel back to his usual self by the end of the year, he didn't get a chance to prove that sitting on the bench as the Brewers made their playoff push.

 

''It didn't work out, obviously, it kind of backfired on me,'' Shaw said. ''I fought my body and I fought myself all year trying to get back to where I was the two years prior to that.''

[Jimcanuck]

lol... read like a fantasy post.

 

I'm a commish. Connect the dots.

[Spanky99]

I'm a commish. Connect the dots.

 

[bones10]

Is the longest tenured blue jay Teoscar Hernandez lol?