Blue Jays aquire Taijuan Walker for Alberto Rodriguez

[Spanky99]

Trading a good long term asset for a .500 team to gain 6 starts is absolute insanity. If Bauer had control beyond this year I could see building a package including Kloff for sure, but I just can't see the Jays are close enough to actually competing in the playoffs for that to be a wise move.

 

How so, if they acquired Bauer?

 

(not that I'd think that's going to happen)

[Spanky99]

Ah for the Mets. My bad. Skimmed it. I thought he was almost HOF type so the .780 OPS in the article Surprised me

 

lol... classic.

[Jimcanuck]

As I've said many times before, save the "bullets" for when you really need them. (sorry for the term at this time)

 

Keep Kloff, he might be an insanely valuable trade chip at the 2022 deadline.

[BTS]

I just don't really get the feeling that this team is quite ready to actually compete in the playoffs, a huge chunk of their best players are still basically rookies, and prone to rookie style mistakes a good chunk of the time. If they manage to squeak into the playoffs due to the expanded format that will be awesome, but I just find it really short sighted to send out high potential prospects for rentals in this point of their rebuild.

 

I see the playoffs as being mostly a crapshoot. The biggest reason why you wouldn’t want to move prospects for immediate help before you’re ready is that a 162-game season does a pretty good job keeping bad or mediocre teams out of the playoffs entirely. That barrier is gone this year, and MLB is the NHL (hopefully only temporarily). If I’m Atkins and have basically been gifted a playoff spot, and have a chance to land a CY contender for Kloffenstein, I pull the trigger every time. Opportunities to roll the dice in the playoffs with two of the 10-15 best starters in the game and a talented, high-variance lineup don’t grow on trees.

[BTS]

With Bauer wanting to go every 4th day and the team not giving a f*** about his arm, you probably get 3 Bauer starts and 2 Ryu starts in a 7-game series if you get there. That makes Toronto a dangerous opponent for anyone.

[Brownie19]

Trading a good long term asset for a .500 team to gain 6 starts is absolute insanity. If Bauer had control beyond this year I could see building a package including Kloff for sure, but I just can't see the Jays are close enough to actually competing in the playoffs for that to be a wise move.

 

I'd agree with this. I'd be a lot more interested in moving Kloff in a package for someone with control beyond this year.

[Terminator]

Trading a good long term asset for a .500 team to gain 6 starts is absolute insanity. If Bauer had control beyond this year I could see building a package including Kloff for sure, but I just can't see the Jays are close enough to actually competing in the playoffs for that to be a wise move.

 

.500 team is true but it’s kind of misleading because it’s a playoff team. If you’re a playoff team would add a frontline starter for Kloff? That changes the equation quite a bit.

[Abomination]

.500 team is true but it’s kind of misleading because it’s a playoff team. If you’re a playoff team would add a frontline starter for Kloff? That changes the equation quite a bit.

 

There's another interesting discussion in this, and that is whether Bauer is actually a frontline starter. He's a good starter, but outside of 2018 and 5 starts this year, the results haven't matched what you'd expect his stuff to produce. Maybe he should stop telling batters what he's throwing.

[Spanky99]

There's another interesting discussion in this, and that is whether Bauer is actually a frontline starter. He's a good starter, but outside of 2018 and 5 starts this year, the results haven't matched what you'd expect his stuff to produce. Maybe he should stop telling batters what he's throwing.

 

Heh...

[Dr. Dinger]

I don’t even love Trevor Bauer but Kloff isn’t nearly enough for him.

[Dr. Dinger]

Clevinger seems like a much more likely target IMO. Time to cash in our Josh Donaldson IOU.

[43211234]

inb4 it's Kloff for Taijuan Walker!

[Spanky99]

Clevinger seems like a much more likely target IMO. Time to cash in our Josh Donaldson IOU.

 

No thanks, check Statcast man... stay away.

[Spanky99]

Walker reminds me of some promising guys, he's back from TJS, but this guy's hit or miss, pull him early if sigs are there, or he's pure filth.

[BlueRocky]

The Jays outbid the Yankees for Walker

[BlueRocky]

[BlueRocky]

[P2F]

 

Sounds like Walker will be motivated to pitch well for a big payday.

[TheDragon]

Sounds like Walker will be motivated to pitch well for a big payday.

 

s***** way to look at it

[Key22]

I see the playoffs as being mostly a crapshoot. The biggest reason why you wouldn’t want to move prospects for immediate help before you’re ready is that a 162-game season does a pretty good job keeping bad or mediocre teams out of the playoffs entirely. That barrier is gone this year, and MLB is the NHL (hopefully only temporarily). If I’m Atkins and have basically been gifted a playoff spot, and have a chance to land a CY contender for Kloffenstein, I pull the trigger every time. Opportunities to roll the dice in the playoffs with two of the 10-15 best starters in the game and a talented, high-variance lineup don’t grow on trees.

 

I tend to agree - normally I would not try to go for it in this sort of year but with Ryu and Walker and Pearson and Shoemaker likely to make it back along with Giles and Bichette and the fact that the pen has pitched well - they do have a chance at this thing.

 

In a short series anything can happen if you can trot out three starters and a solid pen. The offense scores runs. So if the Jays can add a premium starter and maybe veteran catcher or one big bat you never know.

 

You know that "window of opportunity" thing - this is the window - it may not come again for another 2-3 years. It seems like most of these trades - the prospects usually don't turn out to be all that great. The Jays can't keep everyone.

[The Iceman]

Nice depth add to our pitching staff, now are there any experienced rental catchers?

 

Danny J when hitting like he is should be #2 on our depth chart. He is the 2nd best receiver/thrower on the roster.

Edited August 30, 2020 by The Iceman

[Grant77]

Nice depth add to our pitching staff, now are there any experienced rental catchers?

 

Danny J when hitting like he is should be #2 on our depth chart. He is the 2nd best receiver/thrower on the roster.

 

Pretty much none. I could see Max Stassi (Angels), Pedro Severino (Orioles), or Austin Hedges (Padres) being available if you consider any of them improvements.

[jerb]

 

Ben Nicholson-Smith

@bnicholsonsmith

 

Outfielder Alberto Rodriguez is the PTBNL going to the Mariners in the Taijuan Walker trade per #BlueJays

 

Ben Nicholson-Smith

@bnicholsonsmith

 

Rodriguez, 19, spent last year with the Blue Jays' Gulf Coast League (rookie level) affiliate. He hit .301/.364/.422 with two homers and 13 steals in 47 games.

[Laika]

I don't think Alberto Rodriguez is a top 30 prospect by any measure. Might as well just be cash considerations.

[43211234]

#17 on the Fangraphs list

Not on the MLB.com list

(#43 on Radio Scouts)

 

Sounds like a low minors guy with little info outside of some big league exit velocity.

 

 

I'm fine with this.

[BlueRocky]

Alberto was a guy we kept our eye on as a sleeper prospect. His rookie-ball numbers were solid and gained some traction in the top 30 lists. He was basically found money, like Kirk and Moreno. Potential 5-tool outfielder with decent offensive upside.

 

Seattle will be a good landing spot for him. I’m okay with giving up Alberto.

 

I hope the Jays will successfully re-sign Taijuan.

[wilko]

I don't think Alberto Rodriguez is a top 30 prospect by any measure. Might as well just be cash considerations.

 

[Laika]

I hope the Jays will successfully re-sign Taijuan.

 

I don't think they will. They have a lot of 2021 SP depth in the system.

[Slade]

This is kind of what I was expecting. Rodriguez was a pretty big J2 signing in 2017 , not a ton of pop but gets on base and has a pretty good left handed swing.

 

We'll see how the year plays out but I wouldn't mind re-signing Walker. Even with the depth I think we should have a clear cut 5 man rotation and start telling guys they are in the pen for good now.

 

I think maybe only Kay and Hatch have futures in the rotation.