leaffie

I would consider him above average. As mentioned above, he took over a club that had a decimated farm system, and rebuilt it. He made some terrific trades, Morrow, Lawrie etc. He had some boots, Napoli, but all GM's have those. He has more to deal with than most GM's, in that it is difficult to get FA's to sign here. Each year, he has given the fans more to get excited about. His job is to move this club forward, and even though some might not like how he moved it, there can be no doubt that last off season, was probably the most exciting and hopeful that this club has seen in 20 years. I didn't like the Dickey trade, but he needed a #1 pitcher, and he went and got one, and got him on a good contract. Compared to the prices that average pitchers are getting this off season, the Dickey contract is a deal. The question should be if there had been no devastating injuries last year, would there have finally been playoffs in TO after 20 years. Most experts had them as WS favourites before the season started. If they had done nothing and continued on the rebuilding path, where would the team have been today. They would still have all their prospects, 70% of them never making the majors. According to some studies 3 of 4 pitching prospects fail. So far, none of the traded prospects are looking like a big mistake. Syndergaard, probably will make the majors, D'Arnaud is a question mark with regards to his health, but if the team had made the playoffs, would giving them up be worth it? That is what AA had to weigh. He said all along, that prospects were collateral, and he would use them. Would the team without Reyes, Dickey, Buerhle, Cabrera have any hope at the playoffs this year? As far as Beeston is concerned, there is not a single person on this board that has any idea how much influence on AA, he has been. My personal opinion is not as much as most believe. But I could be just as wrong as anyone on that. And for our position right now, I think this club is going to be much better than most think. If not, AA will be dumping contracts at the deadline, for a lot of good young prospects. According to more than one expert our lower levels are swimming with talent, and when he adds to the farm with the trades, we will be in the same position we were in before , just a year and a half later. He gave the team a chance, and that is all that most fans ask for.

I think they should do everything they can to get an extension. Our OF in the minors is poor, and the FA market isn't looking any better.

There is an excellent article on espn right now about the success of prospects. You don't have to be an inside. It is under Sweet spot. I can't seem to post it.

I never mind posting the entire article, but not sure how much anyone wants. Just let me know.

Chase Headley The tough competition in the NL West should force the Padres to trade Chase Headley. Next year’s free-agent class is top-heavy, and features three of baseball’s best starting pitchers in Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Jon Lester. While seen some big-name players traded a year before free agency, that won't happen with any of these guys because their teams have a shot at the World Series and they all play for big-market clubs that can afford to re-sign them. In fact, don't be surprised if these guys get contract extensions before hitting the market next winter, with Kershaw being the most likely of the three to get a new deal. However, there are five players who will be eligible for free agency next fall who probably should have already been traded since they haven’t been locked up to multiyear deals. Some of these players are on contending teams, but none of which are large markets and really can’t afford to let them walk as a free agent and receive only a draft pick as compensation. Here is the breakdown of the five players I think should be traded by Opening Day if they are not given a contract extension. 1. Chase Headley, 3B | San Diego Padres Headley, 29, had 31 doubles and 31 homers in 2012 and finished in the top five in NL MVP voting. His power numbers were down this year (.400 slugging), but he still plays a position where there is a lot more demand than supply and could fetch a lot in a trade. The Angels, Dodgers, Marlins and Yankees all started the offseason with needs at third base and could have matched up well in a deal for the Padres, though the Angels and Dodgers have patched that hole for at least the next couple of years with David Freese and Juan Uribe, respectively. The Padres think they can be a surprise team in 2014 if some of their young pitching develops, and would rather hold on to Headley with a better chance to win. The problem is the competition in the NL West is fierce and his trade value will be at an all-time low when he becomes a two-month rental in July. 2. Justin Masterson, RHP | Cleveland Indians The Indians are already trying to deal with the loss of Scott Kazmir via free agency to the Athletics and are bracing themselves for the possible departure of Ubaldo Jimenez as well. So you're probably thinking: How can they trade Masterson as well? They probably wouldn’t, but as the A's and Rays and have shown, teams in small markets have to constantly be reloading for the future, and the Indians aren't a legitimate World Series contender anyway. Trading Masterson to the Braves, Blue Jays or Dodgers would allow them to get significant pitching prospects back and being a perennial contender should be more important than taking the risk your ace leaves for just a draft pick. 3. Colby Rasmus, CF | Toronto Blue Jays Rasmus finished with 4.8 WAR in 2013, ahead of such center fielders such as Adam Jones, Austin Jackson and Brett Gardner. Despite missing more than 40 games, he still hit 22 homers and posted a .840 OPS. There are a few teams that could use a player like him, such as the Reds, Cubs and Giants, and the Jays have Anthony Gose ready to play center field in his absence. That would be a downgrade on offense, but Toronto wants to upgrade its rotation and Rasmus is probably the club's best trade piece when you consider their in-house replacement. Toronto can be a contender if it can get an elite pitcher, and Rasmus' value will never be higher than it is right now. 4. Homer Bailey, RHP | Cincinnati Reds This one is a bit tricky, because like Kershaw, Scherzer and Lester, he could be the key for his club making the playoffs. Bailey, 27, is coming off his second straight season with more than 200 innings and an ERA below 3.70. Of course, if he has another season like that the Reds have no shot at re-signing him, and with Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Tony Cingrani, they have good starting pitching depth. There are teams who would pay a big price for a pitcher like Bailey, and the Reds could re-sign Bronson Arroyo on a two-year deal and shop Bailey to get a right-handed bat or significant prospect package. 5. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS | Cleveland Indians Unlike Masterson, the Indians will not even consider re-signing Cabrera, as they have top prospect Francisco Lindor ready to take over at shortstop at some point in the next year or so. Although Cabrera had a poor year in 2013, he is still just 28 years old and posted a .778 OPS across 2011-12. The Cardinals came calling before they signed free-agent shortstop Jhonny Peralta, but there are several teams that could use Cabrera. The Athletics could move Jed Lowrie to second for him, and he would also represent an upgrade for teams like the Mets and Pirates. Like Masterson, his trade value is higher now than it will be in July, and if the Indians wait to deal either of them and end up in the race, then they won't be able to get anything more for them than draft-pick compensation.

This is from Jim Bowden, who probably read it here, but FWIW 3. Colby Rasmus, CF | Toronto Blue Jays Rasmus finished with 4.8 WAR in 2013, ahead of such center fielders such as Adam Jones, Austin Jackson and Brett Gardner. Despite missing more than 40 games, he still hit 22 homers and posted a .840 OPS. There are a few teams that could use a player like him, such as the Reds, Cubs and Giants, and the Jays have Anthony Gose ready to play center field in his absence. That would be a downgrade on offense, but Toronto wants to upgrade its rotation and Rasmus is probably the club's best trade piece when you consider their in-house replacement. Toronto can be a contender if it can get an elite pitcher, and Rasmus' value will never be higher than it is right now.

No actually, I didn't predict anything. I have always thought that AA would stick with Goins, and spend the money on pitching. But every team out there is looking for pitching and the price is too high. I predict that he will still sign a pitcher, but it won't be a top tier. So there you go, a prediction from me.

Really, is anyone seriously surprised. No one, and I mean no one is willing to trade prospects. As far as pitching goes, there is Tanaka, which the Jays aren't getting, Price, that would mean giving up the farm plus for, and a bunch of injury risks , like Garza etc. That there are no more guarantees with them, than what the Jays already have.

from espn insider: Apologies if this is already posted. Perhaps the Chicago Cubs are not really all that serious about getting rid of Jeff Samardzija, who could well be their Opening Day pitcher if no other team comes up with a trade package that will convince the Cubs to let their ace go. According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, when the Atlanta Braves inquired as to the cost of obtaining Samardzija, "the Cubs indicated they would be looking for a return package that included either Jason Heyward or Justin Upton." That was more than the Braves were willing to give up, and probably sets the bar for an asking price that few teams will choose to rise to meet.

MaybeAA thought we already had two recovering from TJ, we didn't need another.

So according to reports, Stroman is close to the majors, and might start the season with the Jays, why is there such a panic to sign a pitcher. Without giving up anyone, couldn't the Jays improve the team at 2nd, a better bench and a bat to hit along with Lind?

Probably prospects. But someone else with better knowledge of all their prospects, could probably answer that. GeorgiaPeach?

The Toronto Blue Jays are believed to be in talks with at least two teams, if not more, to make some changes to their roster for the 2014 season. It all comes down to when and if general manager Alex Anthopoulos will feel comfortable enough with the proposed deals to pull the trigger. According to a report in Toronto Sun, the Blue Jays have been talking to the Chicago Cubs about starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija. The Cubs are said to want Toronto prospects Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Stroman and a third player in return. "The acquisition price doesn't work for us right now," Anthopoulos said. "We continue to have dialogue, so if you want to look at that as encouraging, I don't know. It's not so far out of the realm that we won’t continue to have talks." Another conversation that might ultimately bear fruit is with the Kansas City Royals. Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail says the two teams have talked about a deal that would include an exchange of prospects that would ultimately bring Billy Butler to Toronto. That potential Butler deal might gain some traction if Adam Lind ends up getting dealt to the Pirates, a trade that has been rumored to be an option for Pittsburgh, depending on how their pursuit of James Loney ends up.

I have a serious question. IF none of the trades you all hate, had taken place, where would this club be today? Be truthful now. Remember that the payroll would probably still be in the low 70's. Our pitching staff would consist of Happ, Morrow and ? Actually, we wouldn't have Happ, since we traded prospects for him. We would have Hech. Now how is that team going to get to the playoffs?

Kennedy on XM, says the Reds are desperate to get rid of Phillips because of clubhouse issues. FWIW

Well if JP had agreed to a deal with the Rangers before the non tender deadline, the Jays would have at least got some type of prospect.

From anything I hear on the Seattle sportstalk, they are in on everybody, and the first one that signs will be the direction they go in. Supposedly Armstrong is leaving because he doesn't like the new direction. (not sure if this is just supposition). But the Mariners are going to do something or anything to improve their team this year, and $ is not important.

I think you are right on. We go to Seattle at least three or four times per year, and each time we go, there are less and less fans in the stands and less interest. At least, less interest as Mariners fans. There are lots of Yankee, Red Sox or Jays fans, when they come to town. But I think actual interest in the Mariners has been on a steady decline.

Well not a single poster guessed that one. Lol

someone is going to figure this guy out, why not the Jays.

perfect candidate for buy low.

signs Bard to a minor league contract.

No kidding.

This was not the only negatives I have read on Sanchez, but everyone is an "expert", so since I am no expert on which prospect will make it to the majors, I usually keep quiet about it. But I do know that I listen to MLB all the time and there are a few guys on there that were previous GM's and everyone of them says, they will take an established player every single time over a prospect. Especially one that is far down the system. I do know that so far AA has been pretty good at trading off prospects that have stalled.