jaysblue

Yeah Noah Syndergaard and who else? The others I don't see as front of the rotation starters. Plus how does the Marlins deal and the RA Dickey trade compare to landing Cole Hamels? We're talking about an elite arm locked up reasonably for 3 years.

You think its easy to go out and draft players that turn out to become like Bautista and EE?

The question is will the Jays get lucky and have players like EE or Bautista fall into their lap again after 2017? Plus locking them up on team friendly extensions, far below market value a couple of years ago (when a player of Bautista's or EE's caliber on the free agent market would demand massive contracts). Just saying this opportunity won't present itself again since trying to go out and signing bats of Bautista's and EE's caliber as free agents would be next to impossible financially and even from a baseball perspective irrational since you'd likely have to hand out 8-10 year deals like Pujols or Fielder got, which as we've seen have been huge mistakes that could cripple a franchise for years.

I know, just stated the facts and how ignorant Gibby is. Not directed towards you.

Smoak: 0.5 WAR, 113 wRC+ Navarro: -0.1 WAR, 77 wRC+

The goal of this team should be to field the best lineup everyday when possible that gives you the best chance to win. Against righties, Smoak should be in there everyday over Navarro, no excuse. You can't be f***ing around when the team is in a race.

I know. I hate empty 20 PPG players who don't contribute in any other of the offensive categories. I like DeMar but he isn't a franchise player to build your starting 5 around. He's more of a secondary, third piece. Even when he missed time this season, the Raptors played fine without him so he's replaceable. Still if he thinks he can get a max deal, then great! I hope he plays his best basketball in his contract year which would definitely help the Raptors a lot in 2015/2016.

I'm a huge fan of Wesley Matthews. Likely will be a great buy this offseason and he would fit in terrific with the Raptors.

Ewww, get rid of him then. That would be ludicrous if the Raptors gave him that type of money.

Not gonna happen. As much as I love Amir, you can't rely on him as a starter - he breaks down way to easily.

This is much different than the Marlins trade. The Jays had many holes on their roster still at the time and believed with the Marlins trade that they'd be able to jump right into contention, which was not true. They traded for a bunch of players with bad contracts (Reyes, MB) and an arm with an expiring contract (JJ). Reyes wasn't an elite SS anymore, MB was just a innings eater and JJ came with a huge amount of risk due to his injury concerns. They really didn't add anyone who was elite in that deal. In this case with Hamels, they'd be adding an elite arm at the top of their rotation which would push them over the top in the AL East (along with some other minor moves like the BP). Also, remember Hamels is a lefty and lefties usually pitch well into their 30's. I don't see any significant decline with Hamels if he stays healthy. Plus remember the Jays would have Hamels for his ages 31-34 seasons, so if their is any decline it likely happens in that last season and it's not its going to be a complete drop-off. The last 4 seasons Hamels has posted 4.9, 4.6, 4.5, 4.2 WAR respectively. His K/9 (9.60) right now also is his highest since 2006. To sign a pitcher similar like Hamels on free agency isn't happening - an arm like Cueto who yes is 3 years younger will demand a 7-8 year deal for at least 20+ million AAV and he'll get it from someone. At least with Hamels, you're not tied down for 7-8 years like you would be by signing Cueto.

Hamels can definitely be marketed and would create a lot buzz, not just this season but moving forward as well. The Jays need an ace in order to contend within their window (2015-2017). Cueto will still be a heavy price I'm sure and he likely leaves as a FA. Leake and Fiers aren't really anything special and don't put the Jays over the top this season, though one of those arms would be a nice FA signing this upcoming offseason to replace the innings of MB and Dickey.

Hamels' contract is more manageable than what it would cost signing Cueto as a FA, or Shark. The Jays are losing MB off the books and I'm sure Dickey as well. So money will be freed up next season to take on a contract like Hamels and possibly sign another FA arm like Leake or Fiers, who I'm sure wouldn't cost that much.

I'd rather target an ace like Hamels or Cueto for this season. Leake would be a nice FA signing in the offseason since likely MB leaves and the Jays don't pick up Dickey's option, so Leake would fit in nicely as a durable arm that could provide bulk innings. Trading for Hamels I think should be their No. 1 priority since they'd have an ace locked up over the next three years. $22.5 M is a lot of money per year, though I'd rather have Hamels over the next three years at that AAV over signing a FA like Cueto or Shark at 6-7 + years at a similar AVV. Hamels Stroman Hutchison Leake No. 5 starter - Estrada/Sanchez/Norris (if they don't trade him to land Hamels)

Adding an arm like Hamels can definitely take the Jays to the next level. This team is built to win a championship in 2015, 2016 or 2017. You have Jose Bautista, EE, Donaldson, Martin all locked up in their primes. This is the time to make a run. You are never going to have a core again like Bautista, EE, Donaldson and Martin all at the same time again, and I'm being rational here. There is no way the Jays could sign a FA bat like EE or Bautista on the open market - they got lucky with them as late bloomers and how they signed team friendly contracts, so take advantage of that. Same with trading for JD - players like him aren't made available that often. Hamels Hutchison MB Dickey Estrada And heading into next season, add Stroman to that mix (obviously MB and Dickey could be gone), though a top three of Hamels, Stroman and Hutch looks pretty sweet.

Any Leafs fans out there? There is a pre-sale for preseason games going on right now. Got a pair of greens in Section 318, row 5 for $94 against the Montreal Canadiens at the end of September.

Habs could use another scorer. Sharp would be a huge piece.

Alright the Raptors are OTC!!!

Getting a 1st rounder for Vazquez is f***ing awesome!!!!

Seriously!!!!!!!! AWESOME!!!!!

And I just traded for him in the FC. f***!

I will throw up if I have to watch like 7/9 players on the Kansas City Royals start the ASG. Just absurd. How the f*** is Omar Infante leading in votes at second base?

The players & prospects I'm keeping so far (if I don't make any changes before 10 - these will be my keepers) 1) Patrick Kane 2) Matt Duchene 3) Gabriel Landeskog 4) Alex Galchenyuk 5) Tomas Tatar 6) Ryan O’Reilly 7) Charlie Coyle 8) Jiri Sekac 9) Justin Faulk 10) Tyler Myers 11) Marco Scandella 12) Ryan Murray 13) Antti Raanta 14) Scott Darling 15) Andrey Makarov Prospects: Alex Tuch Thatcher Demko Conner Bleackley Rinat Valiev Laurent Dauphin

Also, could move one of my top forwards along with prospect or picks for NHL roster upgrades.

Ok.