How terrible is Randall Grichuk at this point?

[Dick_Pole]

This off day discussion thread is not as good as previous ones. Though Laika did recover it a bit with reasoned, contrary analysis. If this and the Morales and Roark contracts end up being the three worst doled out by this regime, Jays fans have NOTHING to complain about.

[Dick_Pole]

Let's put this into perspective. Masai Ujiri is pretty much gifted the title of Toronto pro sport's smartest exec by those too young to remember Pat Gillick (Ujiri is a strong #2 behind him imo). And Ujiri has had some doozies when it comes to doling out bad contracts to free agents. Even the Siakam extension makes me wince a bit. So nobody is perfect. If you exclude Semien, this regime has a winning record when it comes to FA signings or extensions and if you include Semien it's not even close.

[Jimcanuck]

Every year there are complaints about the players at the tail end of the roster, whether it be the 5th starter (Matz), 4th OF (Grichuk), or whoever. These guys are at the tail end for a reason, they just aren't much better than average MLB'ers (or worse).

[Eat My Shatkins]

Hopefully Gurriel bounces back next season, Springer and Teo continue to tear it up, and Grich is regulated to 4th OF duties.

 

Also, hopefully Moreno gets to the show next season and splits catching/DH with Kirk so Grichuk is strictly a bench player.

[BigCecil]

Every year there are complaints about the players at the tail end of the roster, whether it be the 5th starter (Matz), 4th OF (Grichuk), or whoever. These guys are at the tail end for a reason, they just aren't much better than average MLB'ers (or worse).

 

Its a discussion board hombre. Of course we complain and debate. Overall this FO has been highly effective most would agree with. But I personally like criticizing them for amusement,venting and interest in debate sometimes. We aren't all fanboys looking to blow sunshine up their asses. Roark, Yates and yes even Randal fair game. There are some good arguments made that they arent that big of a deal in the overall picture and I think thats fair.

 

Ujiri won an NBA title at the helm. Of course he gets a pass on his s*** deals. Most excuse a winner (Cito may be the exception). Gibby had a lot of warts too but compared to Buntoyo he is a baseball savante. Remember his use of Ezequiel Carerra (his own Panik) the bunts with Goins and some of his pen use decisions etc etc? But he was a character and we had some awesome moments in 15 and 16.

 

We love revisionist history, fanboying and complaining. Its all good.

[Ray]

A guy like Grichuk as a 4th OF is the type of depth a great team should have. Sure, it's not great that he's making $10M/season, but it's clear they thought he had more in the tank when they signed him to that extension coming into his age 27 season.

 

Sometimes these gambles pay off (like Justin Smoak), and other times they don't like Grichuk. You could still probably move him to a position player starved team like the Marlins after eating half his salary.

[AMS528]

Let's put this into perspective. Masai Ujiri is pretty much gifted the title of Toronto pro sport's smartest exec by those too young to remember Pat Gillick (Ujiri is a strong #2 behind him imo). And Ujiri has had some doozies when it comes to doling out bad contracts to free agents. Even the Siakam extension makes me wince a bit. So nobody is perfect. If you exclude Semien, this regime has a winning record when it comes to FA signings or extensions and if you include Semien it's not even close.

 

Just an aside, but with that comparison I think you have to compare the degree of difficulty in winning a championship between the two leagues. Last 40 years only 13 NBA teams have won a championship. 23 MLB teams have won in the last 40 years. In MLB it is significantly more likely that your team will eventually win. In the NBA you can luck into a superstar like Jordan or Duncan and with how much those guys can dominate a game really have a leg up on everyone else.

 

Ujiri did not lottery luck into any superstar player like that, and built a team to win a championship that had no lottery picks at all. For me that at least puts him on par with Gillick. And depending on his next rebuild I think he'll be the best Toronto sports exec all time.

[BCZ]

Now that he's batting 8th, he's exactly where he belongs. It's that damn contract that makes you hate him. Like others have said though, he's probably only overpaid by a couple of million or so. It's not the end of the world. He was one of our best hitters to begin the season when majority of our players were struggling.

 

What makes me hate him is when he absolutely slumps for multiple months... the contract doesn't help though.

[glory]

He’s a 4th OF. In today’s market, players like him sign one year deals at less than what he’s getting per year, probably half. He’s overpaid for what he is. However, the reason he’s hurting the team is because he is not being used as a 4th OF. Even with Dickerson on board, Montoyo is juggling the lineup constantly to fit Grichuk in there (mostly at Gurriel’s expense from the looks of it). He needs to be moved in the off season. Eat up 50-75% of his contract and replace him with a 4th outfielder that Buntoyo won’t give 600 plate appearances to even when everyone is healthy.

[Grant77]

Just an aside, but with that comparison I think you have to compare the degree of difficulty in winning a championship between the two leagues. Last 40 years only 13 NBA teams have won a championship. 23 MLB teams have won in the last 40 years. In MLB it is significantly more likely that your team will eventually win. In the NBA you can luck into a superstar like Jordan or Duncan and with how much those guys can dominate a game really have a leg up on everyone else.

 

Ujiri did not lottery luck into any superstar player like that, and built a team to win a championship that had no lottery picks at all. For me that at least puts him on par with Gillick. And depending on his next rebuild I think he'll be the best Toronto sports exec all time.

 

On par with Gillick? You can't possibly be serious. He's one of the best executives in the history of the sport. Ujiri isn't even the best executive in the NBA today. At best he's a very distant third behind Pat Riley and RC Buford. I say that with great respect for the job he has done, but the others are far more accomplished and successful.

[Spanky99]

He’s a 4th OF. In today’s market, players like him sign one year deals at less than what he’s getting per year, probably half. He’s overpaid for what he is. However, the reason he’s hurting the team is because he is not being used as a 4th OF. Even with Dickerson on board, Montoyo is juggling the lineup constantly to fit Grichuk in there (mostly at Gurriel’s expense from the looks of it). He needs to be moved in the off season. Eat up 50-75% of his contract and replace him with a 4th outfielder that Buntoyo won’t give 600 plate appearances to even when everyone is healthy.

 

A 4th OF gets around 400 PA's a year, he's fine for his contract, how do you see getting another for half the price whilst booting Grich out the door? It's not feasible play him as a 4th OF'er and deal with it, he's fine. You're robbing Peter to pay Paul. Just pay him and let it run out.

[DevoW]

When hes in, bat him 8th.