jaysblue

If the Jays want to bring back some solid prospects to rebuild their farm system, it starts with guys like Stroman, Sanchez, Donaldson, Travis etc. being shopped. Stroman is arbitration eligible and we've seen so many other teams trade solid pieces who still had 2-3 years of club control, so that doesn't make him or those other guys necessarily untouchable.

Maybe Happ if he's having another All-Star caliber year, though don't expect anything special for Estrada or Grilli lol.

Estrada is a FA after 2017. Jays are unlikely to get anything significant back for him long term due to his age and one year remaining, so just best to hold onto him and hope he stays healthy enough to make 30 starts. Estrada is more valuable to the Jays right now than anything they would get back for him via trade.

Ross likely would have cost the Jays $8-10 million + incentives if Texas landed him for only $6M.

JJ was coming off a 3 win season and it looked like his injuries were behind him after a healthy 2012 season. He posted 5.5 and 5.9 WAR in 2009 and 2010. The guy was a legit NL Cy Young contender during those two seasons. It was a risk that I didn't mind to be honest. If JJ stayed healthy and even matched his 2012 season, and pitching in the AL East, he easily gets a QO from the Jays and signs a big contract as a free agent somewhere, which nets the Jays a draft pick. I understand how the Marlins trade really looks bad, though I can't think of anyone in that deal that I miss other than Anthony DeSclafani. And like I said, if JJ was healthy in 2013, trade looks totally different. The trade set things in motions to put the Jays in "win-now" mode and if it wasn't for that trade you probably don't see the Jays making the postseason in 2015 and 2016.

I gotta watch this movie!

Don't forget Blake Snell as well in that rotation. Plus they have a lot of depth as well - Whitley, Andreise and Ramirez. Plus their bullpen is pretty decent with Colome, Boxberger, Cedano etc. Rays could be dangerous.

I'm making a bold prediction. If the Rays sign Bautista, they win one of the wild card spots.

If the Rays actually signed Bautista and he returns to his 2015 level, they could have a dangerous lineup. Evan Longoria found his power stroke last season, Brad Miller could build off his strong 2016 breakout year, Duffy is very underrated, Dickerson could rebound, Kiermaier has his amazing looks, Rasmus could hit between 20-25 HR's easily, Ramos was having an All-Star year in 2016 before getting hurt, etc. I could go on. I wouldn't count out the Rays.

Rasmus and Bautista both in Rays uniforms could still be possible. Would mean that they'd have to platoon Souza & Rasmus and rotate some players around, though could still work. CF Kiermaier 2B Forsythe 3B Longoria DH/1B/LF Bautista 1B/SS Miller LF Dickerson SS Duffy C Ramos RF Souza/Rasmus Ok not the exact setup, though that isn't that bad of a lineup. Factor in the Rays pitching as well, they could be sleepers.

Moss probably gets 1/5 or 1/6. Doubt he gets $8-10 million.

Packers fans have been able to watch two of the best quarterbacks over the last two + decades with Favre and Rodgers. You've been spoiled my friend

I would have picked the Texans, Seahawks and Steelers easily. This game between the Packers and Giants will be good and close to call. Giants could upset, though so far all 3 home games won their games. I'm rooting for the Packers though for Spanky and since I hate the Giants! Would love to watch a game someday at Lambo!

You also have to factor in that Cleveland isn't like Toronto which is surrounded by other cities like Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughn, Oshawa, Barrie, Burlington and Hamilton etc. that have a decent size population on top of the population already in Toronto & the suburbs. Also, Toronto is more of a business city, so you'll have a lot of foreigners/people here on business and that have money. Same with tourists who visit Canada, Toronto is a main spot since its the biggest city and with Niagara Falls close by. Tourists who visit the U.S. from overseas tend to visit NYC, Washington DC, Florida, California, Las Vegas etc. They have no incentive to visit Cleveland lol. With 81 home games, it's tough to sell out every game in Cleveland especially when the weather is usually s*** in April/early May. Even in Toronto, it's not like April/May games are all sold out except maybe on weekends, and still its easy to get a ticket. Tickets are cheap in Cleveland, though still $15 USD per game, plus food/beers would add up if the average joe goes to 3-4 games per week. And beer prices aren't that cheap in Cleveland at the ballpark, especially when doing the USD/CAD conversion. Also, have to factor in that that walk-up crowds in Toronto are significantly larger than in Cleveland. Cleveland's downtown is pretty much a ghost town, and it's not like many people live in condos in the downtown Cleveland area as they do in Toronto. So like you said, I don't think it has to do with the notion that Clevelanders can't afford to attend games. While I'm sure money does play a small factor, there are other numerous factors at play.

Cleveland isn't that bad of a city as its made out to be. I mean I wouldn't go there as a travel destination in the States, though to go for a weekend to watch a sporting event like baseball or basketball isn't bad at all. There are definitely nice pockets in the city. Locals are very friendly. There are great bars & the restaurant/food scene has been booming there. Great craft beer selections as well.

I reckon if he's in the player database.

Would be perfect. The Jays need to get rid of Smoak anyway they can.

Or even Bolsinger?

Watch Gallardo thrive in Safeco lol.

I'd consider rolling the dice on him in this league now.

Send me a PM, or shall TCA be the middle man again?

TCA could have actually had Freddie Freeman last June/July for Stras, though he left the discussion table and never heard back. I think it's been almost over a year we've been trying to work out a deal that involved Stras lol. We come so close, then something stalls and it gets forgotten. Kind of the same with this deal. I think I threw this idea by him back in October and it wasn't going anywhere. I just threw the idea by him again just the other day.

This kind of was on the back of my mind as well. Plus with this being an .OBP league, it hurts his value slightly in comparison to the standard 5x5 leagues. Don't think he'll be a main power threat like in 2015 again as well. Still he's a solid all-around player to own and his CF eligibility is a huge plus. I've been trying to shop for a No. 1 starter and had no luck. Even put Marte on the block numerous times and wasn't getting offered anything. Heck, even if I wanted Chris Sale from you it would have cost Nolan Arenado, so I'd rather go this route.

Had no idea.