leaffie

No kidding.

If the Blue Jays shop Jose Reyes... October, 14, 2013 Oct 14 11:19 AM ET By Doug Mittler | ESPN.com Recommend48 Tweet10 Comments16 Email Print The Toronto Blue Jays pushed all their chips to the center of the table last offseason and came away empty-handed. The Blue Jays were never a serious contender and finished last in the AL East for the first time since 2004. So do the Blue Jays need only minor tinkering or another roster overhaul? One rival executive told Bill Madden of the New York Daily News that the Blue Jays “as presently constituted, can't possibly contend next year” and that this winter represents their last opportunity to get a reasonable return for shortstop Jose Reyes. Reyes has four years and $82 remaining left on a $106 million deal he signed with the Marlins. The 2011 National League batting champion is just 30 years old, but there are concerns about his ability to stay healthy. Limited to 93 games last season, Reyes put up a good slash line - .296/.353/.427 – but attempted just 21 steals, raising the question of whether he also could be losing a step. Recent history says GM Alex Anthopoulos tends to do most of his work through trades rather than the free agent market, so trading Reyes should not be out of the question. Here are some teams that might be interested: •New York Mets: Reyes made his mark in Queens and still has plenty of ties to the New York area. Ruben Tejada has failed as the successor to Reyes, and Omar Quintanilla is not viewed as a long-term solution at shortstop. Even with the fences moved in, Citi Field's big dimensions are a perfect fit for Reyes' game. •New York Yankees: This may be a reach, but the Yankees do need to find a successor for the aging Derek Jeter at some point. •Boston Red Sox: Stephen Drew is a free agent after the season, and the Red Sox might be unwilling to overpay for the Scott Boras client. But they might be willing to offer a premium for Reyes. Drew’s market value, however, could be reduced if the Red Sox make him a qualifying offer. •Seattle Mariners: Brad Miller may be the shortstop of the future in the Pacific Northwest, but this could be a position where the Mariners look to make a big splash.

I think it was just a year, but I do remember that he came there as the salvation for the mariners hitting woes, and they didn't get any better. And as usual, all the experts on the talk shows were calling for his head. So I wasn't surprised that he was let it. It might have been two years that he was there. Too lazy to look it up.

Wasn't it Bob Melvin?

Wasn't Molitor fired when he was hitting coach for the M's?

ESPN insider seems to think so.

While I agree those are the priorities, sometimes you have to improve the team where you can.

thank you. Didn't quite know how that would work.

Beltran will be a free agent this off season, and is looking to come to the AL as a DH to lengthen his career. No doubt he will be offered a QO, so here is the question. The Jays have a protected pick, so if they signed him, where does the compensation pick come from for the Cardinals? He would certainly look good as the DH.

Wow, thx for that. I had forgotten about Hisle. I don't think anyone ever heard why either.

And that is exactly why I have always detested the red sox.

Maybe the same guy that was dumb enough to take on the Wells contract.

I was surprised that Buerhle wasn't gone at the break this year. I wouldn't be surprised if he is gone this off season.

The Rays owe every bit of success they have had to one man, Friedman.

The Friedman regime has had 2 #1 pick. David Price, Beckham not 10. And while you are busy insulting, you should take the time to read exactly what I said. No where did I say that they had ten #1 picks.

The Rays had ten years of top picks, and Friedman used them, played them, and traded them. But they are not drafting anywhere near the top now, and they don't have the payroll to pick someone else up. I don't care whether you take me seriously or not, so get over yourself. And since you are such an expert on everything, I am sure that you can go in and tell the Jays FO, exactly how many less butts will be in the seats. I am sure they need to make arrangements to cover the shortfall.

I think it came about by accident, if that is possible in baseball. The Al east looked like it was wide open with the Sox/Yankees floundering. The pressure was starting to build with more fans coming back to the park and expectations rising. Then there was the additional money that every team will be getting this year. Plus, AA had a chance to get Reyes, that he has always coveted, and the trade grew from there. I actually didn't have a problem with the Marlins trade. It was the Dickey trade that I really disliked. Not because I didn't want to give up D'Arnaud (I think he will be less than stellar), but because they gave him up for what I considered a pitcher that was not going to be our Ace. I would have given away all three of our stud pitching prospects, to get a true Ace, that was young and healthy. This club is really not that far away. Just my take.

My apologies. Sometimes it is difficult to get the point, on these boards.

They are a business first. You may not like it, but it is the truth. If they can combine both things, then all the better, but until Mark Cuban comes along and buys the team, you either accept it, or get another team. The angels went all in, and had no more success than the Jays. Are they a joke too?

Well since you seen to be intimating that I am out of touch, perhaps you could enlighten me. I know exactly what the big picture is, but since your dream is for this team to be a self sustaining entity with a never ending supply of top prospects, that never get injured, and always work out exactly when needed, maybe it is you that can't seem to understand the big picture. This is a business, and as such, it's main purpose is to make money for Rogers and it's shareholders. As bad as this year was, they took a chance, and it has paid off at the bank. I can't help it if you want a team like the Rays, supported with the payroll of $120 million, with one of the best farm teams. That is not what the Jays are, nor would it have been that way for at least another 3-4 years, if ever. They draft too high, in case you haven't noticed. And as far as the Rays are concerned, they are having their own set of problems, and that ten years of top prospects and number 1 picks, have made their way to the top, and then what?

And I am quite sure Rogers has seen the jump in dollars in every aspect, from attendance to advertising rates. I doubt they will let this go backwards now.

Not debating the worth of the trade, but would this team's attendance continue to spiral down if nothing was done, after the disaster that was 2012. Could the Jays maintain any momentum with the new fans without no sign of improvement before 2015 or beyond.

It's not about beating the best. It is about having the same opportunity as everyone else in your division. Why should Cleveland get to play Houston,while the Rays are beating themselves up trying to get by the Red Sox. All teams should play each other equal # of times.

Well glad to see that the constant negativity, that is blue jays land reigns supreme. How about some suggestions on how to fix the team. And not the fire so and so, over and over again. How about some suggestions on who is a better player that the Jays have a chance of getting. How about some prospects that most are so in love with, that the Jays could get, and what they would have to give up. How about some legitimate discussion on what pitchers would be successful in Rogers center. How about some viable trades that would help this team going forward. It is easy to say, this team will be dead last again next year. But since this is a discussion board, how about some discussion.

You have to have hope :-) I do believe that if they can manage to keep their players on the field, they could meld into a good team. I loathe Boston, and try to be objective. But I really don't think they are that good, just that everyone else in the division has been so bad. Now if they win the WS, then I will have to admit I was wrong. But in the meantime, I am just going to look forward to next year for the Jays (again), and wish nothing but bad luck to the Sox.