Angrioter

Atkins: Smoak extension doesn't impact ability to sign Encarnacion Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins attempted to make it abundantly clear that the signing of first baseman Justin Smoak to an extension in no way handcuffs the team moving forward. "It has no impact on our ability to sign Edwin Encarnacion, or anyone else for that matter," Atkins told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Smoak agreed to a two-year, $8.25-million extension on Saturday, keeping the hulking switch-hitter in Toronto through the 2018 season. The 29-year-old has appeared exclusively at first base this season following an 80-game suspension to platoon partner Chris Colabello for performance-enhancing drugs. He's hitting .234/.333/.402 with nine home runs and 78 strikeouts. The Blue Jays are on the verge of a highly important offseason with Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, Michael Saunders, and R.A. Dickey among Toronto's most notable impending free agents. With Smoak locked up, the Blue Jays now have roughly $88 million guaranteed to six players for next season. Encarnacion has already let the front office know that he will not be negotiating a new contract during the season and will move forward with his next contract during the winter. The 33-year-old, who leads the majors with 80 RBIs, is expected to be heavily coveted and has already been pitched by retiring designated hitter David Ortiz to be his possible successor in Boston.

1 WIN = 600 PA Smoak doesn't deserve 300 PA

Smoak isnt a baseball name. http://s.quickmeme.com/img/79/7975884a44e6b818226f7c2d1bf24b7b888095cfa11d276ee4c56f7ed8485326.jpg

Q: It wouldn’t change the amount of money spent? Shapiro: It would change the amount of spent to 15 million dollars a year. What does that buy you in free agency? Very little. One and a half wins. Q: How is that figure determined? Shapiro: Our analysts can put a value on what it costs in free agency to sign a player and what that means in Wins Above Replacement and what those players end up costing in free agency and that changes every year. They measure all the players signed in free agency and what their history has been and what they offer going forward and they place a value. The challenge in free agency is you’re often paying for that in the first year of a contract, and in the out years of a contract the players WAR usually goes down because he’s usually past his prime. So it becomes a less efficient contract over time. That’s why free agency is never the best way to build. It’s a good way to supplement but not build. Q: So $8 million for one win? Shapiro: It’s $9 (million) now. It was $8 (million) two yeas ago. I think at the end of this year they figured out it was nine. And when those wins come in the win curve are important. What does that win mean if it’s the difference between 80 and 81? Very little. But if that win’s the difference between 89 and 90, that could be a meaningful win. Q: Aren’t there certain players though that could be worth more than that? The right guy and the right fit could mean more than that? Shapiro: I think there are certain players at certain positions that might be able to leverage impact on other players. Like a catcher for sure. Maybe a leadership component. More than stats alone. We factor those things in. There are certain subjective roles to what certain guys bring to the table beyond just the objective analysis of ‘this is what their added value is.’ But you have to find some way to place a value on what guys bring to the table. We don’t use those conventional stats. We use our own methodology. It does factor subjective and scouting information and makeup and personality and character and all those things in. In the end you’re adding up and trying to determine how many wins that player impacts when you bring him on board. That’s what you’re trying to figure out.

Shapiro is good 2002: Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew FOR Lee Stevens, Brandon Phillips, Cliff Lee, and Grady Sizemore 2002: Einar Diaz and Ryan Drese FOR Travis Hafner and Aaron Myette 2006: Eduardo Perez FOR Asdrubal Cabrera 2006: Ben Broussard and cash FOR Shin-Soo Choo and PTBNL Shawn Nottingham 2008: CC Sabathia FOR Matt LaPorta, Zach Jackson, Rob Bryson, and PTBNL Michael Brantley 2008: Casey Blake and cash FOR Carlos Santana and Jonathan Meloan 2009: Cliff Lee FOR Jason Knapp, Lou Marson, Jason Donald, and Carlos Carrasco 2011: Alex White and Drew Pomeranz FOR Ubaldo Jimenez

Smart comment. We're extending the contract of a redundant player who play the base with less defensive value. Smoak is a bench player in an elite team.

1B with average bat is the new market inefficiency. Goodbye Edwin, and welcome draft pick.

#FreeHutch

WTF Stroman?

Gourriel is really good

CarGo out of the Coors http://wpmedia.montrealgazette.com/2016/06/dea16-0526-fish-1449a.png?w=840&h=630&crop=1

Rajai' baserunning that night was hilarious

Red Sox traded for a guy that the Jays will destroy easily

Pomeranz is good. Prospects are prospects

Daniel Mengden is good too

A la mierda big papi

David Ortiz's public comments on his preferred replacement may have gotten him in a bit of trouble with Major League Baseball. The league is reportedly expected to look into the Boston Red Sox slugger's post-All-Star Game comments where he openly lobbied for Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion to join the Red Sox next season for possible tampering, according to Sportsnet 590 The Fan's Jeff Blair. "The Red Sox know also they need to bring a force in the middle of the lineup (after I retire),'' the 40-year-old told reporters on Tuesday. "And sorry, Blue Jays, but who better than Encarnacion to do that?'' Players are subject to discipline if they violate baseball's tampering rules just like team executives, Blair noted. Ortiz also suggested the Red Sox acquire Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez.

2016 bro. King Felix lost his mojo/velo

Juan Kelly could be something... Bench guy

He's a Red Sox. Shapiro should trade him now for Beny and Espinosa

Jake Lamb is the best steal of the midseason. Literally, Boxy!

DFA Sanchez

Jon Harris 6 scoreless, walk, 3 K's, GB 11-0 FO

Dave Stewart type of move