Blue Jays trade for... Steven Matz?

[Jayzfan79]

This year should be a more traditional spring training with a longer season that isn't crammed together with no off-days and back to back double headers. I suspect the pitching usage will be more like years past and not like last year's abberation. Also remember with 60 games and not much room for error you go with your better odds of winning and that was 2 times through the order.

[glory]

I think the Jays will probably start the season with a “traditional” rotation but gradually morph into what we saw last year as the season progresses. Hard to know how pitchers are going to react coming off throwing 40-60 innings rather than 150+. Stockpiling more depth is probably a good idea.

[Slade]

They have to pick up at least one more "traditional" starter. Our rotation really sucks, It's just Ryu and a bunch of guys that can maybe give 2-3 innings.

[WryNGinger]

I think this trade shows two things;

 

-The front office is starting to use the prospect capital they have accumulated to improve the on-field team

-The front office is willing to spend more like they said they would once the team started to enter it's competitive window.

 

In the end this is most likely a nothing transaction but I like that they are following up on their commitments to invest in some potential rather than just hoping that the prospects would come through. The analytics team must see something in Matz enough to get them to make the deal?

[Grant77]

I think this trade shows two things;

 

-The front office is starting to use the prospect capital they have accumulated to improve the on-field team

-The front office is willing to spend more like they said they would once the team started to enter it's competitive window.

 

In the end this is most likely a nothing transaction but I like that they are following up on their commitments to invest in some potential rather than just hoping that the prospects would come through. The analytics team must see something in Matz enough to get them to make the deal?

 

They may be willing to trade prospects, but I don't think that this trade is an indication that they are. We saw more valuable prospects move at the trade deadline last year.

 

I think that SRF and Diaz had lost their place on the 40 man roster and Atkins put them out there to see what he could get. They found Matz interesting and struck a deal.

[Terminator]

In theory they maybe could have done better but this isn’t MLB The Show, sometimes you are a little bit limited in who you can sign in FA.

 

For example, we could sign a better SP later this offseason which could push Matz to a long relief role. A lot of one year FA SPs are going to want clear cut rotation spots. Since we traded for Matz, he doesn’t really have a choice in the matter. So getting a starting pitcher of his caliber to sign with us for that amount of money when he might just be used as a reliever might not be as easy it would seem.

[Boxcar]

I think anyone who says we are out on Bauer is completely wrong. The team that offers him the most money won't get him unless they address his desires. How many teams are going to entertain him going every 4th day? He doesn't care where he plays, he cares that he likes and feels comfortable with the team he signs with. The Jays have a huge advantage here, and him going every 4th day would allow intermittent start skipping to keep Pearson's innings down. You don't sign George Springer and then enter the season where your big rotation splash is Steven Matz or Taijuan Walker.

[The Iceman]

This roster to me comes down to if Pearson is a #2 starter.

 

Not sure he is ready to take the load of a #2 starter yet. Otherwise this rotation is relying completely on bounce backs and that is not a great way for predictable success.

I still believe the team will sign one of the remaining SPs not named Bauer.

 

The best thing about this trade for me is I won't think Sean Reid Foley whenever someone references Jays SP prospect SWR. Not sure why I did that anyways

[TheHurl]

So starters finally got to equal statistical footing with relievers for the first time in years and people think that teams are going to move away from it chalking it up to a 60 game anomoly?

[xposbrad]

How would you rate our rotation now vs the top 5 teams in MLB? Are the jays thinking they still need 1 more year to tinker the lineup and not in win now mode this year? It just seems all the moves where we added #4-#5 pitchers have added payroll that could have otherwise went to a real #1/#2 starter.

[Laika]

How would you rate our rotation now vs the top 5 teams in MLB? Are the jays thinking they still need 1 more year to tinker the lineup and not in win now mode this year? It just seems all the moves where we added #4-#5 pitchers have added payroll that could have otherwise went to a real #1/#2 starter.

 

You'll need to wait until the offseason is over. They could still add a solid SP.

 

Even if they don't, they could at the trade deadline.

 

Right now Toronto is in a 4 way tie for 8th in projected SP fWAR. Their strength is depth, which should benefit them over a long season, but they obviously lack the playoff punch of a true #1 and #2 starter tandem.

[Jimcanuck]

You'll need to wait until the offseason is over. They could still add a solid SP.

 

Even if they don't, they could at the trade deadline.

 

Right now Toronto is in a 4 way tie for 8th in projected SP fWAR. Their strength is depth, which should benefit them over a long season, but they obviously lack the playoff punch of a true #1 and #2 starter tandem.

 

Certainly at this point. But there is quite a good chance that among the various arms behind Ryu, one is going to emerge to be at least a solid mid rotation starter that will work as a playoff #2, with the offense doing the rest of the work.

 

I expect at least one more offseason SP move.

[G-Snarls]

Very doubtful Pearson, even if he’s good, is starting come playoff time (if they make it at least)

 

Depends how they manage his innings the first half of the season

[Jimcanuck]

Depends how they manage his innings the first half of the season

 

Jays will have some innings limit for the year or target pitches / game limit for Pearson and will monitor Pearson carefully. Come postseason, as all teams do, Jays will take more risk and those limits will be relaxed. Trust in the Jays high performance team.

[Brownie19]

How would you rate our rotation now vs the top 5 teams in MLB? Are the jays thinking they still need 1 more year to tinker the lineup and not in win now mode this year? It just seems all the moves where we added #4-#5 pitchers have added payroll that could have otherwise went to a real #1/#2 starter.

 

Which #1/#2 starter are you referring to? Ever consider that person doesn't want to sign in Toronto and thus the FO had to shift gears?

[Laika]

Certainly at this point. But there is quite a good chance that among the various arms behind Ryu, one is going to emerge to be at least a solid mid rotation starter that will work as a playoff #2, with the offense doing the rest of the work.

 

I expect at least one more offseason SP move.

 

Yeah the fanbase may be sleeping on some of the young depth. Now many of the depth names suck or have low upside but there are a handful that could be good. Kay, Borucki, Hatch, Merryweather, Thornton, SWR, Murray... and how far away is Manoah?

[Jimcanuck]

Yeah the fanbase may be sleeping on some of the young depth. Now many of the depth names suck or have low upside but there are a handful that could be good. Kay, Borucki, Hatch, Merryweather, Thornton, SWR, Murray... and how far away is Manoah?

 

Agreed, and I will throw Murphy into that depth list. Finally having extended period of good health and pitching well.

[Jaysareus]

Reid Foley has huge upside. Bad trade for the jays

[Orgfiller]

Reid Foley has huge upside. Bad trade for the jays

 

What is this, 2015? SRF is who he is, a reliever with decent stuff who doesn't know where the ball is going. One year he may be able to be more consistent with his location and put up a very good season out of the bullpen, the others he'll probably struggle maintaining a K/BB ratio near or above 2.

[Laika]

Reid Foley has huge upside. Bad trade for the jays

 

So does Kyle Drabek. He's only 33, I wonder what he's up to?

[glory]

I can understand people being upset at getting Matz (he hasn't been good since 2016 and $5m isn't cheap for what he is) but I don't think we have to sweat any of the prospects sent to the Mets. Maybe one turns into a good RP or something, but it's a very minor package.

[Dr. Dinger]

Jays probably put Matz in the pen and he’s Andrew Miller.

[JuniorFelix54]

Jays love to trade for garbage pitchers boy, especially with the Mets.

[connorp]

This roster to me comes down to if Pearson is a #2 starter.

 

Not sure he is ready to take the load of a #2 starter yet. Otherwise this rotation is relying completely on bounce backs and that is not a great way for predictable success.

I still believe the team will sign one of the remaining SPs not named Bauer.

 

The best thing about this trade for me is I won't think Sean Reid Foley whenever someone references Jays SP prospect SWR. Not sure why I did that anyways

 

Have they talked about his IP at all? You’d imagine it’d be something 120IP at most? Even watching his outings if he’s a SP he’ll likely hit that. I guess some IL trips could limit the IP (which would make you even more cautious) but he’s likely RP come playoffs if he’s not shut down. So the # 2 SP is Ray?

[BTS]

Jays love to trade for garbage pitchers boy, especially with the Mets.

 

FYI: this kind of post adds absolutely nothing to the conversation, and will probably end up getting you banned eventually. There are reasons for being unhappy with this trade (I guess?), and you're free to articulate them.

[Brownie19]

Matz reminds me of Matt Moore. Big time left handed arm talent, but hasn't really put it all together. Fingers crossed.

[keggy]

All the players involved are flawed.

 

The most likely scenario where this trade hurts us is if it turns into a Liam Hendriks/Jesse Chavez situation, where Foley suddenly turns good for a few cost-controlled years. This is possible but unlikely though.

[Ehjays]

Reid Foley has huge upside. Bad trade for the jays

 

This post is proof that this forum needs to add another button along side of thanks "the LOL button"

[Ryu In My House]

Yeah the fanbase may be sleeping on some of the young depth. Now many of the depth names suck or have low upside but there are a handful that could be good. Kay, Borucki, Hatch, Merryweather, Thornton, SWR, Murray... and how far away is Manoah?

 

I really like all of those arms, and think all could be viable SPs this year, even SWR. Even if the Jays sign no one else before ST, like you said they could see what they have in ST (maybe 1-2 of them look awesome) and if things don't pan out, make a trade. I'd hate to lose a win-now year by risking a spot in the rotation on one of the kids, but they could be really something.

[jaysguy44]

Reid Foley has huge upside. Bad trade for the jays

Lol, SRF is a bum