Offseason Roster Thread (2020-2021)

[BTS]

I'm not convinced that Walker does anything to help the team in 2021. Would much rather pay Brad Hand $10M and roll the dice that his arm isn't mush.

[Grant77]

We know by now that Walker is a reasonably valuable starter when healthy. His ratios and velocity have remained pretty consistent throughout his career. You're going to get an ERA/FIP around 4 when he is on the mound.

 

By signing him, a front office is taking a gamble that he will be healthy for 2 or 3 years. I'm not sure that I would take that gamble but it depends on the term and price.

[The Cats Ass]

Zero interest in Walker. Some people will see this is an unreasonable opinion but I don't even expect him to be better than Roark or Kay.

 

Walker was better than both of them last year and comes with a better pedigree. Could see Kay maybe taking a step forward though and passing Walker. Roark lost some velocity last year, I feel that would have to return for him to being a #4/5 pitcher, but he's 34 so it could be age related decline. I'd probably prefer Stripling over Roark/Kay and feel he should be above them on the depth chart. I'd also throw Borucki into that mix.

[Laika]

If Toronto wants to add another below average talent who will just huck mediocre pitches into the zone without getting whiffs, just give Jake Arrieta or Waino or someone like that a one year deal. Less $$$. Arguably more durable/reliable.

[Laika]

Walker was better than both of them last year and comes with a better pedigree. Could see Kay maybe taking a step forward though and passing Walker. Roark lost some velocity last year, I feel that would have to return for him to being a #4/5 pitcher, but he's 34 so it could be age related decline. I'd probably prefer Stripling over Roark/Kay and feel he should be above them on the depth chart. I'd also throw Borucki into that mix.

 

Walker's SwStr% was atrocious. I think he's basically batting practice once he settles in as a full time starter and hitters are allowed to use video and all that stuff again.

[The Cats Ass]

Walker's SwStr% was atrocious. I think he's basically batting practice once he settles in as a full time starter and hitters are allowed to use video and all that stuff again.

 

He put up a decent 2.5 WAR season in 2017 with pretty much the same stuff.

[Brownie19]

Walker's SwStr% was atrocious. I think he's basically batting practice once he settles in as a full time starter and hitters are allowed to use video and all that stuff again.

 

I don't understand the interest in Walker at all. Why are we interesting in someone who's:

 

a) extremely injury prone - throwing 67 innings in 3 year; and

doesn't have quality metrics (or electric stuff) when healthy.

 

If we settle for him, there's no way we should commit beyond a 1 year deal. Guys who throw 67 innings over 3 years don't command multi year deals unless they have been lights out (which Walker hasn't been).

Edited January 13, 2021 by Brownie19

[max silver]

If the club is after a mediocre inexpensive innings eater I'd far prefer they opt for J.A. Happ. There is obvious familiarity between Happ and the coaching staff and he had a nice bounceback in the shortened 2020 season. He'll likely sign for a 1 year contract given his advanced age whereas Walker will likely require several years.

[The Cats Ass]

If Toronto wants to add another below average talent who will just huck mediocre pitches into the zone without getting whiffs, just give Jake Arrieta or Waino or someone like that a one year deal. Less $$$. Arguably more durable/reliable.

 

Arrieta is bad and you should feel bad for even mentioning him. I'd take Wainwright though, but I'm not sure he'd take us; he probably has a short list of places he'd go if he were to leave the Cards and continue to play.

[Laika]

He put up a decent 2.5 WAR season in 2017 with pretty much the same stuff.

 

If that logic was sound the projection systems would agree with you

[Laika]

I don't understand the interest in Walker at all. Why are we interesting in someone who's:

 

a) extremely injury prone - throwing 67 innings in 3 year; and

doesn't have quality metrics (or electric stuff) when healthy.

 

If we settle for him, there's no way we should commit beyond a 1 year deal. Guys who throw 67 innings over 3 years don't command multi year deals unless they have been lights out (which Walker hasn't been).

 

He's a recognizable name as a former top prospect, only 28 so people see upside, and he helped the Jays in 2020 which gives some people the feels.

[L54]

I would’ve rather signed Hendriks for 3/52 than give Walker 10M Edited January 13, 2021 by L54

[Jimcanuck]

10M seems high for Walker but a bit of a roll of the dice. Often, a pitcher is better the 2nd year after returning from injury. Walker is 28 yrs old

[Laika]

10M seems high for Walker but a bit of a roll of the dice. Often, a pitcher is better the 2nd year after returning from injury. Walker is 28 yrs old

 

He got the most recent surgery in April 2018. 2020 essentially was his second year post-surgery.

[G-Snarls]

[Krylian]

Zero interest in Walker. Some people will see this is an unreasonable opinion but I don't even expect him to be better than Roark or Kay.

 

I disagree (although I'm not saying Walker is a world beater). But I do look forward to watching them all this season to see how it actually plays out. I like Kay. I think Roark is terrible. I think Walker can be a solid 4 is a good rotation.

[BTS]

Walker is an unsexy inning eater back end starter who doesn't eat innings. If we're targeting that caliber of arm I'd rather have Quintana, Happ, or Waino on 1-year deals. Hell, Brett Anderson probably gets like 4M on a 1-year deal and he's basically Walker when it comes to results and reliability.

[Jimcanuck]

He got the most recent surgery in April 2018. 2020 essentially was his second year post-surgery.

 

1 inning pitching in 2019. I hope you aren't counting that.

 

The 53 innings in 2020 are for his first year back from surgery. Based on history, he *should* be better in 2021.

[Brownie19]

I disagree (although I'm not saying Walker is a world beater). But I do look forward to watching them all this season to see how it actually plays out. I like Kay. I think Roark is terrible. I think Walker can be a solid 4 is a good rotation.

 

I think there's a strong possibility that Roark is significantly better than Walker this year.

[max silver]

1 inning pitching in 2019. I hope you aren't counting that.

 

The 53 innings in 2020 are for his first year back from surgery. Based on history, he *should* be better in 2021.

 

I wonder if Walker may be able to find another gear in his performance levels. I recall him mentioning he would like to dive into analytically inclined training methods in the future, as he was impressed with the amount of data that the Jays were available to offer him upon joining the club initially.

[L54]

I think there's a strong possibility that Roark is significantly better than Walker this year.

 

I doubt that. I'd rather have Walker than Roark, but I'd also rather have only Roark than have both of them. There are much better ways to spend 10/8/6M this offseason unless the strike out on every other player.

[Jimcanuck]

I wonder if Walker may be able to find another gear in his performance levels. I recall him mentioning he would like to dive into analytically inclined training methods in the future, as he was impressed with the amount of data that the Jays were available to offer him upon joining the club initially.

 

Yes, and I think the Jays FO knows what it is doing. It's still a roll of the dice on Walker, but the odds are not bad at all.

[Laika]

1 inning pitching in 2019. I hope you aren't counting that.

 

The 53 innings in 2020 are for his first year back from surgery. Based on history, he *should* be better in 2021.

 

I'm not counting innings at all - I'm looking at time. He's been throwing since his recovery was completed.

[Laika]

I think there's a strong possibility that Roark is significantly better than Walker this year.

 

I don't, I just think they are not super far apart in terms of expected contribution and talent.

 

Decent chance Walker gets hurt and barely pitches.

Also a better chance than people realize that Walker just sucks because his stuff f***ing sucks.

[Jimcanuck]

I don't, I just think they are not super far apart in terms of expected contribution and talent.

 

Decent chance Walker gets hurt and barely pitches.

Also a better chance than people realize that Walker just sucks because his stuff f***ing sucks.

 

This seems to be a carbon copy of your posts on Tellez this time last year.

[Jays24]

I wish Walker would be signed as the 4/5 guy in the rotation but sadly I think he'll be the 2/3 guy. That's the only downside with signing him as we'd have less dollars to still get that high end rotation guy to go with Ryu.

[G-Snarls]

So far there hasn't been a free agent contract signed that I'm upset the Jays didn't sign instead. Hendricks, McCann, May, Minor, Santana not upset with. I won't add Morton and Treinen because I think the Jays (and most teams) had zero chance of getting either due to player preference.

 

There are trades I'd wish we could have pulled off, especially Darvish and Lindor/Carrasco, but probably not Snell in terms of trade cost.

[Laika]

This seems to be a carbon copy of your posts on Tellez this time last year.

 

I never said I was smart

 

Other people say that but not me

 

I'm just here to bloviate

[Grant77]

So far there hasn't been a free agent contract signed that I'm upset the Jays didn't sign instead. Hendricks, McCann, May, Minor, Santana not upset with. I won't add Morton and Treinen because I think the Jays (and most teams) had zero chance of getting either due to player preference.

 

There are trades I'd wish we could have pulled off, especially Darvish and Lindor/Carrasco, but probably not Snell in terms of trade cost.

 

I couldn't agree more.

[Krylian]

I think there's a strong possibility that Roark is significantly better than Walker this year.

 

Well....I'll take a big improvement from Roark, that's for sure. I just don't see it...but I hope I'm just missing something.