jaysblue

Isn't V-Mart finished? Beltran has had better numbers so far this season. Beltran did leave the game today, so I guess we'll see if its a serious injury or not.

Carlos Beltran is available. Something similar to what V-Mart got.

Glad I picked him up in the FC. I had him on my NA slot originally and then dropped him, though once he got called up I had a roster spot available. Regardless, I'll keep enjoying the ride!

Ahhh I had Barzal and Konecny targeted and they were both snatched two picks before mine. As I'm enjoying a Czech beer as we speak, I'll take Pavel Zacha.

So just to clarify with all prospects, if they reach their appearances threshold during the season, you don't have to add them to your roster in season and can wait until February?

KingKat I own Robbie Ray!

Yeah I don't have a problem with Osuna as the closer. I'd go after another late inning reliever, possibly a 7th or 8th inning guy instead if they are cheaper.

Would Kazmir or Sharky want to sign here in Toronto? And if so, how many years? Likely looking at 6-7 years for Sharky close to $18 million/AAV and Kazmir likely gets a 4-5 year deal worth $15-16 million/AAV.

Would the Nationals do that though?

If the Jays traded Bautista or EE for a bunch of prospects nobody heard of it would be a PR disaster. Unless you completely blow it all up (which makes zero sense right now considering the Jays position), then you try to win with both Bautista and EE.

Remember a couple of years ago some posters wanted to trade Bautista to Texas for a package built around Profar and Perez or some other names who I can't remember. Good thing that never happened. I'm up for trading Jose or EE though it makes zero sense to trade them for prospects right now when this team is in contention to win the AL East in 2015 and in 2016. And it's not like you are going to get a prospect like Joc Pederson or Kris Bryant for a year and a half of Bautista or EE.

Exactly. So you have EE and Bautista both until 2016, so why not try and win a World Series in the next two years with them while they still are performing at a high level rather than without them?

I don't want the Jays to keep Jose or EE around after 2016 considering the cost to bring them back, though the Blue Jays should do everything in their power to try and field a team that could contend for a World Series in the next two-three years when you have guys like Jose, EE, Donaldson and Martin all locked up as your core.

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.