General 2020 Blue Jays Discussion Thread

[LGBJ29]

Announcement is scheduled for Saturday morning, hopefully it's a surprise and Marcell Ozuna walks out with a powder blue jers on

[Sorrow]

Personally I loathe the pure baby blue. If they did just a baby blue top I don't think that would be too bad but the baby blue throwbacks we had in 08-10 were f***ing awful.

[KennerKid]

Surely this is just an alternate powder blue added to the already nice primary uniform sets they just F’n changed to? Right?

[Todd]

Jays had one busy week then left the planet.

[Bobthe4th]

 

This is kind of surprising to me. Apart from anything else, we have lots of fringe starters (most ahead of SRF) and the ones that don't make it can refresh the bullpen.

[Orgfiller]

 

This is kind of surprising to me. Apart from anything else, we have lots of fringe starters (most ahead of SRF) and the ones that don't make it can refresh the bullpen.

 

What Atkins said is good. SRF is only 24, he was good the season prior, and terrible in this one. Stretch him out, hope he rediscovers (or ideally improves) his 2018 control and is good depth in AAA. You can sign any random reliever that will provide as much value as SRF would give us next season, and if he's hopeless then like Atkins says you can easily make the transition to full-time reliever.

[max silver]

What Atkins said is good. SRF is only 24, he was good the season prior, and terrible in this one. Stretch him out, hope he rediscovers (or ideally improves) his 2018 control and is good depth in AAA. You can sign any random reliever that will provide as much value as SRF would give us next season, and if he's hopeless then like Atkins says you can easily make the transition to full-time reliever.

 

It seems both his stuff and his command have taken steps backward, you would have to think his time as a starter is running out. The upper minors are going to be full of starters that will likely deserve innings from the starting rotation more than SRF very soon, his time to make a good impression is very close to up.

[Jimcanuck]

 

This is kind of surprising to me. Apart from anything else, we have lots of fringe starters (most ahead of SRF) and the ones that don't make it can refresh the bullpen.

 

Non-contending year it makes sense to try and maximize the value of what you have, with no real concern of wins and losses (not for public consumption). SRF's last kick at the SP can.

[Barkerfan23]

Looks like Trent thorton could also start the year in AAA

[Maico450]

Looks like Trent thorton could also start the year in AAA

 

Jays would have to get 5 better guys thru ST, healthy??

[glory]

 

This is kind of surprising to me. Apart from anything else, we have lots of fringe starters (most ahead of SRF) and the ones that don't make it can refresh the bullpen.

 

Yeah, I don't know where the Jays are going to keep all of these arms. Not counting the vetrins in the MLB rotation (Ryu/Roark/Anderson/Shoemaker/Yamaguchi), we have:

 

Pearson

Kay

Zeuch

Thornton

SRF

Waguespack

Borucki

Merryweather

Hatch

 

All needing spots either in the AAA rotation or MLB/AAA bullpen. All of those guys except Pearson are on the 40 man, and Pearson should be added some time during the season. Then there's also Murphy, Diaz, and Perez on the 40 man roster. They'd all have to start in AA due to room.

 

I would expect Thornton to win the #5 spot and Yamaguchi to be a multi inning RP, but even then there will be decisions to make on who pitches in what role in the minors. Some of those arms mentioned are likely better off in relief anyway, but Shatkins does not value minor league RPs so I think they'll want to stretch everyone out if possible.

[Terminator]

Yeah, I don't know where the Jays are going to keep all of these arms. Not counting the vetrins in the MLB rotation (Ryu/Roark/Anderson/Shoemaker/Yamaguchi), we have:

 

Pearson

Kay

Zeuch

Thornton

SRF

Waguespack

Borucki

Merryweather

Hatch

 

All needing spots either in the AAA rotation or MLB/AAA bullpen. All of those guys except Pearson are on the 40 man, and Pearson should be added some time during the season. Then there's also Murphy, Diaz, and Perez on the 40 man roster. They'd all have to start in AA due to room.

 

I would expect Thornton to win the #5 spot and Yamaguchi to be a multi inning RP, but even then there will be decisions to make on who pitches in what role in the minors. Some of those arms mentioned are likely better off in relief anyway, but Shatkins does not value minor league RPs so I think they'll want to stretch everyone out if possible.

 

Shouldn't be too hard to sort it out because over half the names on that list are likely to suck ass and will quickly eliminate themselves through injury or performance. I think the average MLB team goes through 10 or 11 starting pitchers a year. They could also stagger the starts of the AAA guys and let a couple of them throw 4 innings followed by the other guy going as long as he can.

[Laika]

Yeah, I don't know where the Jays are going to keep all of these arms. Not counting the vetrins in the MLB rotation (Ryu/Roark/Anderson/Shoemaker/Yamaguchi), we have:

 

Pearson

Kay

Zeuch

Thornton

SRF

Waguespack

Borucki

Merryweather

Hatch

 

All needing spots either in the AAA rotation or MLB/AAA bullpen. All of those guys except Pearson are on the 40 man, and Pearson should be added some time during the season. Then there's also Murphy, Diaz, and Perez on the 40 man roster. They'd all have to start in AA due to room.

 

I would expect Thornton to win the #5 spot and Yamaguchi to be a multi inning RP, but even then there will be decisions to make on who pitches in what role in the minors. Some of those arms mentioned are likely better off in relief anyway, but Shatkins does not value minor league RPs so I think they'll want to stretch everyone out if possible.

 

It might seem crowded now but a handful of guys will be on the DL at any given time and that really clears out the logjam. Even if there are no injuries you really don't run out of room until you look at AAA and think, wow, there are like 9 guys who should be in the AAA rotation what ever will we do with all of them?! The answer is that 20% or more of your pitching depth is probably projected to be on the DL at any given moment.

 

Just go through the depth chart and plot where some of them were in 2019.

 

Shoemaker - barely pitched

Borucki - barely pitched

Anderson - hit the DL twice I think

Ryu - threw over 126 innings for the first time since 2014!

Thornton - DL with elbow inflammation

Merryweather - DNP

Murphy - got hurt

 

those are just the ones that jump to mind for me. I'm sure many of the other named missed time.

[Bobthe4th]

Yeah, I don't know where the Jays are going to keep all of these arms. Not counting the vetrins in the MLB rotation (Ryu/Roark/Anderson/Shoemaker/Yamaguchi), we have:

 

Pearson

Kay

Zeuch

Thornton

SRF

Waguespack

Borucki

Merryweather

Hatch

 

All needing spots either in the AAA rotation or MLB/AAA bullpen. All of those guys except Pearson are on the 40 man, and Pearson should be added some time during the season. Then there's also Murphy, Diaz, and Perez on the 40 man roster. They'd all have to start in AA due to room.

 

I would expect Thornton to win the #5 spot and Yamaguchi to be a multi inning RP, but even then there will be decisions to make on who pitches in what role in the minors. Some of those arms mentioned are likely better off in relief anyway, but Shatkins does not value minor league RPs so I think they'll want to stretch everyone out if possible.

 

It's always better to have more depth than not enough, but yeah at least to start the season there isn't enough space for them all to be starters.

[glory]

Of course some will get hurt, some will suck, or some will look like relievers, but at this rate the Jays have a lot of arms on the 40 man roster who are not yet ready for the bigs but are potential SPs. They won’t be able to stretch all of them out. Putting a guy like SRF in the big league pen wouldn’t be a bad idea.

[Jimcanuck]

Of course some will get hurt, some will suck, or some will look like relievers, but at this rate the Jays have a lot of arms on the 40 man roster who are not yet ready for the bigs but are potential SPs. They won’t be able to stretch all of them out. Putting a guy like SRF in the big league pen wouldn’t be a bad idea.

 

Stretch him out in ST, put him in the bullpen as SP/RP. Use him as needed. Emergency starts, long relief, opener, whatever.

[DigitalRock]

Jays had one busy week then left the planet.

 

Maybe they went to your planet, #toddisanidiot.

[43211234]

[Beans]

 

Every time they cut to Montoyo playing in his living room it cracked me up!

[Laika]

The Jays signed Ruben Tejada to a minor league deal.

 

Just turned 30. Average MLB SS defensively. Career 81 wRC+ and 4.5 fWAR in 663 games but has not really been given a chance to have a relevant MLB sample since 2015. Had a 130 wRC+ in AAA last year.

 

This is a strict upgrade on Richard Urena. Our new Eric Sogard.

[baconpancakes]

The Jays signed Ruben Tejada to a minor league deal.

 

Just turned 30. Average MLB SS defensively. Career 81 wRC+ and 4.5 fWAR in 663 games but has not really been given a chance to have a relevant MLB sample since 2015. Had a 130 wRC+ in AAA last year.

 

This is a strict upgrade on Richard Urena. Our new Eric Sogard.

 

 

It seems like Ruben has been around the league forever, but i agree with anything that has me seeing less Urena on a day to day basis.

We always seem to need utility guys with our glass infielders.

[Laika]

It seems like Ruben has been around the league forever, but i agree with anything that has me seeing less Urena on a day to day basis.

We always seem to need utility guys with our glass infielders.

 

Playing the infield is pretty physically demanding.

It's why some teams like the Nationals purposely build depth in front of even star prospects with AAA+MLB experience like Carter Kieboom. Kind of like how everyone says you need 10+ SP, most teams need 5 or 6 players capable of handling 3B-SS-2B.

[BTS]

I guess Tejada will be in competition with Valera for the bench MIF spot? Neither player is optionable, so the best ST probably makes the team.

[Deadpool]

I guess Tejada will be in competition with Valera for the bench MIF spot? Neither player is optionable, so the best ST probably makes the team.

 

If Tejada came in on a MILB deal, does that not make him "optionable" (at least once) since he's not on the 40 man?

[BTS]

If Tejada came in on a MILB deal, does that not make him "optionable" (at least once) since he's not on the 40 man?

 

Yeah, he can be assigned to AAA but can’t be optioned back down again without a DFA.

[Ryu In My House]

Would anyone be happy if we signed Brock Holt? It would mean we could option Drury at the very least.

 

I don't have the numbers, but Holt seems to be a persistent Jays killer. And plays every position pretty well. Add to that better than league average offence...

 

He's 31-years old though.

[Terminator]

I think Valera could be a guy.

 

I have no clue if he's good at defense which plays a big factor for a guy like him. If he can't handle SS he's probably useless but Fangraphs said this about him a year ago: "Breyvic Valera was acquired from St. Louis as shortstop depth after the Corey Seager injury in exchange for OF Johan Mieses. He’s a 50 defender at short and can make contact but produces so little power that he’s limited to a bench role."

 

I also read somewhere (can't remember where) that last year the Yankees changed his swing and he hit 13 homers in 305 ABs in AAA. That's after he previously hit 23 homers in about 3300 minor league ABs. He's also a switch hitter and after eyeballing his minor league splits he doesn't seem to have a discernible platoon split. He can take a walk and doesn't strike out much either.

 

The Steamer projections have him slashing .260/.322/.384. If he can play an average SS that makes for a useful player. If he can play average SS and the swing change leads to a skill change in the power department he could be borderline starter material. I'm skeptical about the defense though. Does anyone have a scouting report on him?

[Terminator]

Would anyone be happy if we signed Brock Holt? It would mean we could option Drury at the very least.

 

I don't have the numbers, but Holt seems to be a persistent Jays killer. And plays every position pretty well. Add to that better than league average offence...

 

He's 31-years old though.

 

Wouldn't hate it for dirt cheap but what we really need is a backup SS and I'm not sure he fits the bill there.

[Ryu In My House]

Wouldn't hate it for dirt cheap but what we really need is a backup SS and I'm not sure he fits the bill there.

 

If he is needed at SS, that's bad. I think Espinal is next on the depth charts. Him I like. I do not know how to look up Holt's defense at SS specifically.

[Terminator]

I think Valera could be a guy.

 

I have no clue if he's good at defense which plays a big factor for a guy like him. If he can't handle SS he's probably useless but Fangraphs said this about him a year ago: "Breyvic Valera was acquired from St. Louis as shortstop depth after the Corey Seager injury in exchange for OF Johan Mieses. He’s a 50 defender at short and can make contact but produces so little power that he’s limited to a bench role."

 

I also read somewhere (can't remember where) that last year the Yankees changed his swing and he hit 13 homers in 305 ABs in AAA. That's after he previously hit 23 homers in about 3300 minor league ABs. He's also a switch hitter and after eyeballing his minor league splits he doesn't seem to have a discernible platoon split. He can take a walk and doesn't strike out much either.

 

The Steamer projections have him slashing .260/.322/.384. If he can play an average SS that makes for a useful player. If he can play average SS and the swing change leads to a skill change in the power department he could be borderline starter material. I'm skeptical about the defense though. Does anyone have a scouting report on him?

 

Thank you for liking this post Spanky. I put some thought and effort into this one and at least someone around here recognizes it. It wouldn't kill the rest of you to show a little appreciation once in a while ya know.