It doesn't make sense when you consider how much of a wildcard Morrow is. There's a reasonable chance that 3 spots will need to be filled with kids + Happ, which is the problem.
If Jimenez really is off the board now, then we roll with what we have (or sign Drew) imo. If we're confident in the young starters, perhaps we lock up Rasmus.
I'd assume he was probably throwing during the suspension too, just not in actual games. Not sure exactly how the rules work for that, but you can probably tack on the equivalent of another 30 innings to the total.
Escobar did have a decent career, but it just didn't match his stuff. That guy had ace potential, but just couldn't stay focused throughout the entire game (hence the reason he kept bouncing to the pen). If I remember right, 95 to 97mph and a devastating splitter.
Shields, Masterson, Morrow, Syndergaard, Stroman with Sanchez ready to step in next year, and take over for Morrow the following year. It sure would be fun.
Considering the low salaries in that rotation, why not be greedy and have both Shields and Masterson in it? Shields, Masterson, Syndergaard, Stroman, Sanchez would be an unbelievably filthy rotation, with Alvarez traded to Seattle for Franklin
Some of those players didn't really blossom when they left, they just kept doing what they did here. In fact, some of them had their best seasons here. Kent I suppose, but was traded as a rookie so is probably a better discussion elsewhere.
I would say Carpenter, Fielder, and Werth were the big ones that I can think of right now.
Yeah, I'd want it a bit front loaded considering he'll be 33 when he signs it. Still, his velocity has actually increased a little the last few years, and we know he can be successful in our division.
This was pretty good (especially the part about Kawasaki and the USA/RUS game)
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/jays-to-open-spring-training-in-chilly-dunedin/
He put up a 3.18 ERA in the second half of the season last year, with a K/BB of 3. The wins aren't a stretch if our offense if healthy (and no black hole at C or LF).