John_Havok

Reyes (3pts) - TheHurl, johnhavok Melky (2pts) - GD Bautista (1pt) - baseballsss Edwin (1pt) - Gen.Disarray, Orgfiller, Dylan Navarro (4pts) - vdub Rasmus (2pts) - P2F Juan (3pts) - G-Snarls, BBBB Kawasaki (9pts)- wilko "f***IN" Bench (10pts) -jays4life19, o2cui2i, Spanky99

Reyes (3pts) - TheHurl, johnhavok Melky (2pts) - GD Bautista (1pt) - baseballsss Edwin (1pt) - Gen.Disarray, Orgfiller, Dylan Navarro (4pts) - vdub Rasmus (2pts) - Juan (3pts) - G-Snarls Kawasaki (9pts)- wilko Bench (10pts) -jays4life19, o2cui2i, Spanky99

Yeah. The Morrow/Buerhle savings alone pay for your ace and a bit left over likely. I don't think Lester is going to be in the Kershaw 30 million per year category. I could see 25 though

I'm borderline okay with the rotation as it is but horrified at the same time. To have two veterans at the ends of their careers, A walking injury in Morrow, wildly inconsistant Happ and Hutchison, both who show flashes of brilliance surrounded by canyons of crap, Stroman who looks legit but not real front of the rotation legit, Sanchez who can get guys out in 1-2 innings of work but who knows what would happen over 5-6 once he gets into the lineup for a second and third time, and Norris, the breakout stud from the minors, along with depth in Nolin. I won't even mention Romero as it's pretty clear he's done. But the problem is, with morrow and Happ healthy to start 2015, who's the odd man out? Do you stick one in the pen horribly overpaying them to be the long man until someone gets hurt? Or do you trade 1 of dickey or Buehrle, knowing you probably can't replace their value but opening a spot for Morrow\Happ with Norris, Sanchez and Nolin as your next three? Basically starting the year with: Dickey or Buerhle Stroman Morrow Happ Hutchison Nolin, Norris, Sanchez in reserve for injury / emergency starts. My personal preference would be to dump Beurle, sign Lester(pipe dream i know, but with Buerhle off the books, the cost difference wouldn't be horrid, but we know AA will never land a big name FA) and then go with Lester 1, Dickey 2, Stroman benefitting nicely from the dickey effect, then Happ and Hutch. Whoever starts to stink out of Happ or Hutch gets sem down and Sanchez or Norris getting first crack. Happ maybe goes to the pen or DFA if he's that bad, but Hutch will still have options and won't be lost.

It's a weird scenario Ken. I'm sure there's some good that can come from young guys learning from a veteran, but when the talent is clearly of the side of youth, I think you go with it and add your crafty veteran on the cheap. Not one that costs almost as much as an ace but pitches like a 3/4

That would be interesting. And you know what all the dinosaurs would say... " this rotation needs a veteran presence that can really anchor things and be that mentor to the young guys..."

It's cots list, not mine. I'm sure there are updates that aren't there yet

Aoki another LHB... Gomes and Cuddyer have no position other than DH And Cuddyer is a huge injury risk. Denorfia is intriguing but on the old-ish side, need to regress the splits a bit... But could be had on the cheap and strictly as a platoon bat from the right side and backup outfielder... I like the idea.

Here's cots list of FA outfielders for 1015 with asterisk beside those with a team option. Outfielders Norichika Aoki Emilio Bonifacio Melky Cabrera Nelson Cruz Michael Cuddyer Rajai Davis Chris Denorfia Jeff Francoeur Jonny Gomes Franklin Gutierrez Tony Gwynn Jr. Scott Hairston Torii Hunter Raul Ibanez Reed Johnson Ryan Lukwick * Nick Markakis * Darnell McDonald Mike Morse Colby Rasmus Alex Rios * Nate Schierholtz Grady Sizemore Seth Smith Alfonso Soriano Denard Span * Ichiro Suzuki Ryan Sweeney Josh Willingham Chris Young Delmon Young Denorfia or Young?

Sure at that price Rasmus would be an amazing asset. But what are the chances he signs for that amount anywhere let alone in Toronto? He is the exact kind of guy that should take a 1 year deal and try to build his value, but someone will offer a multi-year deal. Nothing high enough to that he would decline a QO, but somebody will.

And in that scenario they're 1 inevitable Lawrie injury away from being even more f'd.

I'm sure Reimold is out, he's been on the 40 man since 2009. Ditto Valencia. Kawasaki might have 1 left. He never spent any time in the minors in 2012 when he was first in the bigs. **edit** Confirmed Valencia and Reimold are out of options. Mlbtraderumors had an article at the start of the year. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/03/out-of-options-2014.html

I wish there was an easy resource that you could just type in a player name, find out the exact date he was added to the 40 man roster and any assignments since.

Yeah. Lots of really decent relievers out there this year too that likely wouldn't be prohibitively expensive too. I think the decision on Morrow will set the tone for the offseason. Just based on history of how AA handles things, you can probably bet Morrow is coming back. I would not retain McGowan at 4 million with the plethora of arms out there that don't suck. I'd like to think AA would let Santos go at his price tag and volatility but who the hell knows. And if morrow comes back, where's the room for Happ? Want a 6.7 million dollar long reliever but keep him and have him step in when/if Morrow gets hurt? Kawasaki is probably back, and will be cheap. should be out of options now and if he's the 2b to start the season and batting 8th or 9th... Not the worst scenario in the world, but far from ideal. Mastro can be non tendered and nobody should lose any sleep. I wish Thole could be also ... That whole situation just plain sucks.

Sacrifice

He said runner was safe at first. But it would be ruled as either a wild pitch or passed ball, so would be in that category I would think.

To agrees the OP, no chance in hell would I offer Janssen a QO, there literally no upside to be had from it. It's all downside. As for Rasmus... Nope. Too risky. Could he put up 5 WAR next year? Sure, but it's unlikely. He's way way too volatile. I'm fine with Gose in CF and spend elsewhere.

You can't do that with every player. Some players you really have to keep around past age 26 or 27. There's no way any team could keep replacing 2-3 players evrey year with quality young and cheap replacements. The pipeline would never be that strong. At best you might be able to do that with 1 guy every year.

While you'd a bit over the top, you could also mention the fact that AA clearly has valuation problems and is not willing to pay market value for any upper tier FAs.

Maybe, but the pen is already in a bad spot from the last two games, they can't bring Jenkins back yet, and who knows what Drabek would do. I think Hutch has to wear this one for as long as he can.

Pitching will always be valuable but in the current declining run environment, hitting is going to be the premium.

Really don't think he went around there but... No replay

Yeah. Stroman and Redmond went 1.1 IP combined and gave up 10 ER... Hard to win that way

And the baseball gods give Navarro an IF base hit when it doesn't matter.... Wow

Might matter tomorrow if the starter can't go at least 6