King

I'm interested to see what peoples thoughts are on Rowdy Tellez going into this season. I know there have been some people that have been really down on him due to being a chubby 1B with no defensive value. But here are some recent articles on him. https://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/canadian-baseball-network-articles/blue-jays-prospect-tellez-moves-to-dunedin-to-get-head-start-on-2017?platform=hootsuite Rowdy Tellez figured the time was right for him to leave his native California and move to Florida. So three weeks ago, the highly prized Blue Jays’ prospect moved to the Dunedin-Tampa area so he could be next door to the team’s spring training facility. “I thought it would be best for me that I live here,’’ Tellez said in an interview Wednesday. “I’m working with the major-league training staff and I’m getting ready for spring training. I got a letter telling me to get ready for spring training and what date to report in February but I’m getting a head start.’’ The 6-foot-4 first baseman had just spent a short time with his family in Sacramento after a five-week tour of duty in the Dominican Republic winter league with Estrelles Orientales in San Pedro de Macoris before heading to Florida. Tellez wants to show that he can make the switch from Double-A to the big-league roster in one, swell swoop. Even though there has been little mention in the media this season of Tellez’s chances of making the Blue Jays, he’s ready to jump in. “I had a great time down in the Dominican. It was very nice,’’ Tellez said. “I’m ready to go into spring training and open some eyes. I changed my body and I like my weight. “I’m comfortable with my weight and my power. I wanted to get strong and lean and be comfortable and strong. I’m lighter than I was at the end of last season. I’m not a little person.’’ No, he isn’t. He weighed something like 245 pounds at the end of the 2016 season, a season in which the left-handed hitter slammed 23 homers, drove in 83 runs and batted .297 in only 124 games for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Tellez is headed into spring training with the intent of forming at least part of a platoon scenario at first base once the regular season starts. At this moment in the off-season, holdover Justin Smoak, a left-handed hitter, and right-handed hitting free-agent acquisition Steve Pearce are pencilled in to split time at first. Tellez is looking to force the Jays to stand up and take notice of him. With Edwin Encarnacion gone, don't discount the notion of Tellez dislodging Smoak in the platoon but the Jays' brass also has to look at the idea of Tellez's development doesn't lie in part-time work at the big-league level. In the end, the Jays might decide to send him to Buffalo Triple-A where he can play full-time. “It’s a dream to make a major-league team,’’ Tellez said. “I don’t know what they have in mind for me but they’re giving me this opportunity at spring training and I’m going to run with it. I’m confident. Everyone wants to be in the big leagues. I think I’m ready and we’ll let the gods decide.’’ As for those rumours he’s being thrown into trade talks regarding Pirates outfielder Andrew McCuthen and others, Tellez doesn’t sweat the talk. “I’m not worried about that stuff,’’ he said. “People send me stuff that this is happening, but it’s not the first time I’ve been mentioned in trade talks. http://clutchlings.blogspot.ca/2016/12/its-time-for-rowdy.html One of the joys of writing about baseball prospects takes place when the team you follow lands a player in the late rounds of the June amateur draft that even though he was highly ranked, fell in the draft because of a college commitment. Rowdy Tellez, for me, was perhaps the ultimate late-round choice by the Jays. A batting-practice legend on the Showcase Circuit as a high schooler, Tellez was thought to be headed to USC after his senior season. Taking advantage of new rules regarding slot values in the 2013 draft, GM Alex Anthopoulos and his Amateur Scouting Director Blake Parker found a way around the slots, drafting low-leverage college seniors in rounds 4 through 10 (except for California HS P Conner Greene) , and offering them slim bonuses (Matt Boyd, traded to the Tigers as part of the David Price deal, received a $75 000 bonus as a 6th rounder: Chad Girodo, taken in the 9th round, signed for a $5 000 bonus. The Blue Jays used those savings to sign Tellez, who they took with their 30th round pick, at a bonus of $750 000. The Blue Jays have taken Tellez' development slowly and steadily, giving him two years in short season ball before starting him in full season at Lansing in 2015. The knock against him prior to the draft was that he was a base-clogging, one dimensional slugger, but Tellez has worked hard at many aspects of his game to become more of an all-around player, and his time in short season allowed him to sand off the rough edges. Tellez checked in at about 275 lbs when he left high school, but through a dedicated regimen of nutrition and conditioning, he now weighs 245. Tellez admitted that he knew little about how to eat properly, or even prepare his own food until recently, but has come a long way in that regard. As for improving his defence, Tellez has worked on his agility, and infield coordinator Mike Mordecai worked extensively with him on his footwork and positioning around 1st base over the past two seasons. Tellez may not remind anyone of Wes Parker, but he has upgraded his skills tremendously. "Everybody is confident in throwing the ball over to me and pitchers don’t worry about ground balls hit to me," he told Fangraphs' David Laurila. "Defense is what I’ve worked on the most. I’ve worked on it day in, day out." At the plate is where Tellez excels. His strike zone management was what convinced the organization that he could handle the jump to AA this year after only one season of A ball. And he has modelled himself after major leaguers like Adrian Gonzalez and Anthony Rizzo when it comes to his approach with two strikes. He told Laurila: I look at how easy Gonzalez swings and I’ve adopted a little bit of what Rizzo does with two strikes. He takes out his leg kick and works on driving the ball the other way. He knows he can hit home runs to all fields, even with a two-strike approach and not having the leg kick. That’s what I’m doing now. If you can eliminate strikeouts… it’s a huge game-changer. Tellez' spray chart from 2016 would seem to bear that out. Half of his doubles were to the opposite field (while only 1 Home Run was): Tellez got off to a rocky start with New Hampshire in 2016, and was hitting only .164 at the end of April. Some of that could be attributed to the fact that he saw very few pitches to hit over that opening month, with ABs like these being fairly typical: Despite seeing few strikes and even fewer fastballs, Tellez still posted a .345 OBP for April. As the weather heated up, so did Tellez and his Fisher Cats teammates, with his OPS climbing every month, culminating in a 1.046 mark for August. In his first year of AA ball, where he was one of the youngest players in the league, Tellez managed 54 extra-base hits, and posted an impressive 12.4% walk rate. With Edwin Encarnacion gone, and Jose Bautista seemingly set to follow, there may be a looming power shortage in the Blue Jays lineup. Kendrys Morales' approach and swing may be far more suited to the Rogers Centre than many fans would realize, and Steve Pearce's value and versatility can't be understated, but barring a move in the New Year to bolster the starting lineup, it appears that maybe the Blue Jays are leaning toward Tellez earning a 25-man roster spot this spring. The ideal plan would be fore him to receive at least a half season of AAA experience, but it's not unusual for a player to bypass that level once he's proven himself in AA, either. Tellez is what he is: a bat-first player, who will not get any faster or more agile as he ages. But just as Encarnacion worked hard to become at least an adequate 1st Baseman, so has Tellez, and he has shown the work ethic that makes one think that he could continue to improve his defensive skills. He profiles as a put-the-ball-in-play, make the pitcher work (I've been charting his ABs for the first few weeks of the 2016 season, and have him at just over 5 pitches/PA), use the whole field, and change the approach with two strikes kind of hitter that this lineup proved to be sorely lacking down the stretch last year and into the ALCS. There is some thought that the slight hitch in his swing might be exploited by MLB pitchers, but this is a player that has made adjustments throughout his career (despite a 1-37 stretch in 2014 with Bluefield, he still finished with a .293/.358/.424 line), and considering his strike zone judgement, will likely continue to do so. Whether or not it happens this April, at mid-season, or in 2018, Tellez should be a fixture in the middle of the Blue Jays lineup for years to come. ---------- So what do you think? Is Tellez the next Anthony Rizzo/Freddie Freeman? Or is he a Mitch Moreland? Or does he flop completely like Jon Singleton?

Wow!

You're a f***ing dumbass.

5 GP, 1 point, 25 penalty minutes last year in the WJC including one I remember was 5 and a game for a spear. They also have a history of cutting top scorers for "grit" on the back end of the forward group. Kyle Connor was leading the NCAA in points last year and they inexplicably cut him, he would have easily been a top 3 forward on the team. Can't have too much skill, you know.

RotoWire News: Blackmon was part of an unsuccessful trade attempt when the Rockies tried to acquire right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman from the Blue Jays, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. (12/8/2016) old news lol

From yesterday, but didn't see discussed http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/12/trade-rumors-smyly-blackmon-blue-jays-pitching-lowrie.html The Blue Jays reportedly turned down the Rockies’ ask of Marcus Stroman as part of a deal for Charlie Blackmon earlier this winter, and that seems to have ended the Jays’ chance of landing the outfielder, MLB.com’s Gregor Chisholm writes. “Talks quickly died” between the two clubs once Stroman wasn’t made available, and Chisholm doesn’t think Toronto has enough other trade chips to get Colorado’s interest.

Join Date: Oct 2015

Chirch s lit

Classic abom guy

What would have been your easy path to 88 wins? Re-sign Bautista, EE, sign Fowler, reddick

The team projects to win 82 games with sub 1 fWAR contributions from both corner OF spots and no backup catcher. Hopefully they can upgrade those spots and add a reliever or two to take the team to an 85-86 win projection.

I just don't see an easy way for this roster to be retained, going back to the start of the offseason. The team projects to win 82 games so in a sense that is a disappointment compared to last season.

If we added all of those to what we have done so far then sure. Fowler would have been nice but it didn't happen. Eaton we didn't have the pieces. I'm not losing sleep over this. Who are realistic OF options still available?

Well that's just semantics. None of us know if the team will add an outfielder or not, but it is a possibility

I expect the team will upgrade the bullpen and backup catcher, and possibly add one more OF.

I asked what he reasonable expected them to do that they haven't to date. Reddick would have been nice, People here were pounding the table for Pearce. Not everyone was committed to bringing back EE and Bautista. There will probably be a reliever signing or two and a veteran backup catcher signing, and possibly one more OF.

This is just my personal feeling/speculation(s), but I have a feeling (not quite 50-50% but close to it), that the Jays wind up bringing back either one of Joey Bats AND/or EE. I think JB might have a hit to his pride, like many have said, since he might have to take less money, and less years on the deal. He might have to play LF, with either Zeek or someone else manning RF that the Jays acquire, and occasionally playing 1B and DH. With EE, I could see them possibly bringing him back on a lesser contract than he expected to get, maybe even a one year deal, or a 3 year deal, with an opt out/player options for the next two (a la what the Mets had with Cespedes), and he can start at 1B, with Pearce moving to LF. It wouldn't be ideal defensively, but it gives the Jays more power. I could see both coming back on less AAV deals, or backloaded deals, or short term (1-3) simply because, if someone wanted them, they'd be signed by now. You look at the moves made by other teams to add power bats, some even older than both of them, giving up some nice prospects, and they're sitting in the cold right now. EE would be a bit more difficult with Morales at DH full time, but as i said, EE could man 1B. Wouldn't be ideal, but he showed he could handle it at least decently. Pearce has the ability to play LF. It might not be the best defense, but if EE wants to come back, can't find a place elsewhere, and the Jays can say "hey, we offered you a solid deal, you said no, you didn't find anything, you want to come back, the door is still cracked open, but it'll be at a one year deal worth this amount which is lower than you expected, or a short term deal, with an opt out, or less money, but you'll have a place to play, and on a contending team, we'll make it work" then maybe he comes back. Similar with JB. If someone wanted him, he'd be signed by now. Maybe he doesn't get the AAV he wants, but maybe he gets the number of years he wants, or maybe a higher AAV on a short term deal. I see JB more likely to come back simply because they can, worse case, stick him in LF, or work him out at 1B during ST, and Pearce in LF, and see how that goes. If not for anything just to see how it works out in case they want to try it during the season, but I see JB in LF, Pearce/Smoak manning 1B, unless they find a taker for Smoak. But then we lose a switch hitter (mostly a LHH, but he seems all or nothing. Could be from lack of ABs or he just is all or nothing). I'm sure a lot of teams aren't jumping on these two, because, 1) the draft pick tied to them, 2) they might be asking for too much. I can see EE declining the rumoured Jays' offer of 4/$80 to test the market and because he's earned the FA rights, but the Jays weren't going to sit around waiting. One, or both might come back if the Jays say hey, here's the deal. Come back on one year deals, or 2-3 year deals on lesser AAV or backloaded deals (not a fan of those), and you get to play for a contender, and if you come back for one year, two years, you hit the market next year and might get a better chance especially with the changes to the CBA and the QO system, or you opt out and try your luck, and hopefully by then, the Jays have internal options, or can target other guys on the FA market next season. Maybe they even try to bring back Saunders. It's odd no one has made a play on him yet. I know there's concerns about his knee, how he seemed to just disappear offensively in the 2nd half, but he made less than $3M, you'd think he could be had for next to nothing. Even doubling his contract from last year is a cheap gamble considering what some guys are getting this year who are much older (yes, I know, better histories of being consistent too). I'm sure the Jays have back up plans and have targeted players either via free agency and/or trade, and the meetings are typically where sometimes ground work is just laid out. With what they need (1-2 corner OF, back up catcher, even though they've added AJ back to the roster and signed Mike Ohlman to a minor's contract who seems like he could compete for a back up spot as catcher, and really need some BP arms to compete with the revamped teams in the AL East, especially since we saw last season, if not the past 2-3, how early on the pen collapsing costed the team much needed games that they couldn't make up later on) they're certainly not done. I'ts not even mid December and many players aren't really concerned with what's going on (again just my opinion) especially with the holidays coming up, so there might be a flurry of moves made before the holidays, shortly after, plus there's January where you see guys who haven't found homes yet, sign for less. To recap, I could actually see them bringing back both EE and JB on lesser contracts, and possibly (if not definitely) moving Smoak (really a cheap contract that someone will likely take on without the Jays having to pay anything on it, maybe a little bit if they're getting a solid BP arm, or three team trade might make it so they can just dump his contract without paying), and utilizing Pearce's ability to play LF to help out with accommodating one or both of them. But as I said it might require opt out clauses/player options, with back loaded contracts to get them back, and to address the bullpen. I really see it more likely that JB could return simply because he's more of a fit. We could use an OF. He fits. He's a fan favourite here (for the most part), and is kind of sitting waiting for a suitor. As long as what he's paid this year (which is why I stress maybe a 1-2-3 year deal, with opt out or back loaded) won't cripple the team's chances of trying to help with the 'pen, then I can see him back. EE would be a lot tougher since we have a full time DH, a guy who's a fairly solid 1B in Pearce, though he could play LF if needed, but might not be best defensively, and a redundant player with having Smoak sitting on the bench, wasting money. Personally, I like both players, I like EE a bit more, but since he turned down the deal, the Jays had to act, rather than be left out in the cold, so I wouldn't mind if they went elsewhere and the Jays wind up with a pair of draft picks to help add some players to the farm. I also wouldn't mind seeing one, or even both back, providing it doesn't hurt the team's financial needs to try and bring in BP help. Both seems highly unlikely. One doesn't seem likely. I could be wrong, but their markets seem dry. They both seem to like Toronto. The FO could have just said we're moving on since we only have $X to spend and need some more help in the pen, especially since Cecil is gone, Loup hasn't been the same guy over the past two season that he was during the first few seasons. We have some rookies who look promising, but if you're going to contend you don't want to count on them. They could be like Biagini last year and surprise everyone, but you don't want to count on that, because if they falter, who are you going to? Biagini is going to prepare as a starter (or so it's said, but likely will be in the pen, to help Grilli in that set up role, unless a starter goes down, and they stick him in the rotation), our recent Rule 5 pick could be a nice pick up, but I'm not holding my breath. If either return, it's going to have to be at a discount, or back loaded deal, or opt out/play option deal, that might be a blow to their egos, or might upset the union, since if either come back for less than the QO, or what some other guys were getting, the union might not be happy, but screw them. Ideally, I'd like to see the Jays add some starter depth. Even though the Jays barely, but still had a good staff since they were a few points better than the team that beat them and went to the World Series, lead the league in ERA, I still think they need some starters to help out just in case. So, excuse my long post, and getting off topic, since this is a JB thread, I can actually see him returning, mostly since his age, his poor season, people like him here, he seemed to like being here, (here means Toronto, I don't actually live there), but it would have to be at a lesser price than he is/was expecting, probably lower than the QO, maybe a 2-3 year deal, that is back loaded, which I don't like, especially for an aging player. Granted his injuries (slamming into the wall and hurting his toe, and them keeping him out because they didn't want to rush him back is understandable, and it was a more "freak accident" since it could happen to a 23 year old blue chip prospect, and his other injury, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it a knee/leg injury from getting caught in the seem of the turf? That could happen to anyone) played a role in his production, or lack thereof, but when healthy it looked like he was either trying too hard, or just never found his grove. He's defense has been poor, so maybe the swap to LF, or maybe starting games at 1B, and seeing how Pearce can play in LF during spring, might help out, or maybe just tell him, we want you to bite the bullet, swallow your pride and play LF, because your defense is fallen, and look for a better option for RF. I think he's still not signed because of the draft pick, maybe his asking price, the talk of his ego/attitude since he seems to be a guy people either love or hate, and sometimes he spoke his mind more than he should have, or thought before speaking, and when OF are getting a king's ransom in trades, while he just sits waiting, something is up there. Maybe he's being stubborn, or his agent(s) are just trying to get him that one last deal since he's 36, and likely won't get much, coming off his worse season, or maybe multiple factors, or trying to wait and see what teams get desperate at the end of the offseason and will part with the pick to sign him. I wouldn't mind him back if he was moved to LF, maybe played 1B at times, DHed other games, and he didn't cost that much this year, which keeps the team from addressing other needs. All that being said, as long as the Jays do what makes them a better team, gives them depth, gives them the ability to score runs, prevent runs, compete, and maybe make it to the World Series this year, obviously need some depth too since some guys are out of options, and might get lost on waivers, or are borderline replacement guys who were claimed, I'll be happy. If JB does come back, and can give at least one more year of solid production, and doesn't have a bad season, then I'll be happy. If he goes elsewhere, the Jays get a pick for him, and they fill the spot with someone with production, defense, and athleticism, I'll be happy. Whatever makes the team better, can score runs, prevent them, get back to the post season, and this time win the ALCS, then I'll be very happy. The other teams improved. It doesn't mean the Jays have to go nuts to compete blow for blow in acquisitions, since we have some good pitching, at least starters, some offense, defense, but we could use some depth, bullpen help, starter depth, and hopefully not have to rely on the homer run as often. And since I'm making a huge post, and touching on many subjects, just a quick comment on the Yankees' code about facial hair, hair length, dress codes, and other things. I know many clubs have certain rules. I think MLB requires players to wear suits while traveling (from one city to another, but not wear them all the time, again, if I'm wrong, someone correct me), but the rules the Yankees have, even though they've had a long history, just seem a bit overboard to me. And no, it's not just because I'm a guy with long hair and a goatee that would have to be cut and shaved if I were to play for them. It just seems like arbitrary rules to have. I can see if someone signed as a FA, then you know what you're getting into. It's like taking any job and they say here's the dress code and how you must look. That is a little more understandable to me. But what about the guys who get traded, claimed on waivers, who don't have a say? They're supposed to give up what they consider their identity? I get you're earning more money than most people will see in many life times, and it's probably a small price to pay, and your employer can kind of dictate what you can and can't look like, (MLB with the "Brandon League Rule about having to wear sleeves or other covers on your arms if you have tattoos that might distract hitters, I'd think, and this is also coming from playing baseball for years, that unless the ink looks like a ball, you're not really going to be too distracted, but safety, ok), but let the players be themselves, and as long as they're not being a distraction to the team, who cares? If they get the job done, who cares? Hell, my back doctor looks like a guy you'd mistake as a Hell's Angel, and is the nicest guy you could meet. They talk about team chemistry (AA did, the Jays have over the past few years, and then they started to get good), you're kind of disrupting it if you're making people change who they are, in a sense. Maybe it's just me. OK, I'm shutting up now. I've posted enough for a week with this post.

25 mil AAV for a mid 30s, fat 1B/DH. He can kick rocks

Not sure what you expected them to do other than re-sign Bautista (who could still re-sign) and EE, who turned down the Jays offer. We had a full SP rotation at the start of the offseason. Pearce, Morales, Gurriel were all good signings. Sparkman looks like a good rule 5 pick. And there is still more to come, certainly.

https://mlb.traderumors.com/2016/11/blue-jays-80-million-offer-edwin-encarnacion.html

He can take his stds to cleveland,

Mods

Fire shartkins

lol

I artificially inflated the first number so that people would think lots of people are sending in entries and send in their own. That didn't work so now I lowered it so that people see not many people are sending in entries and submit their own. Might have worked on Pendleton. It's BJMB pyschology 101.