http://i.imgur.com/8sGebWo.gif
The new top 5 in the order (though not the order I think they'll bat). Had to learn how to edit a .gif but I think it turned out decent.
I agree that 2B is a much bigger hole than LF. I'd love Jed Lowrie. Can spell Reyes at SS once or twice a week or if Reyes gets injured. He's a very good fit.
Why buy a Russell Martin jersey when you can get his pants?
http://auctions.mlb.com/iSynApp/auctionDisplay.action?auctionId=424904&pgmode1=teamsearch&pgcust1=jays&&qt[0].type=fieldmatch&qt[0].name=panname_teamname_s&qt[0].value1=jays
The more I think about it, the more ok I am with a Dirks/Pillar platoon in LF. I think they could reasonably combine to be a league average bat with above average LF defence. Could hopefully squeeze 2+ wins out of them.
But there is definitely something to be said for having a more established player with less variance in a reasonable expectation.
Jason Parks had a good interview earlier this season on a blue jays prospects/vancouver canadians blog called YourVanCs.
http://yourvancs.com/your-van-cs-weekly-episode-3/
The whole interview with Parks is a great listen but he talks specifically about those three shortstops you mentioned around the 1:04:00 mark. He really raves about Urena's defence saying: "That guy has surpassed a lot of major leaguers as far as what he can do with the leather."
He was also really high on Lugo.
This and the David Price trade really show how teams are looking more and more towards years of control and cost. They're going after getting huge surplus values out of players in early years of their careers. Salaries for free agents and extensions are still exploding while pre-arb and early arbitration years still cost effectively nothing.
I'm still loathe to move Sanchez. With that groundball profile and short stride putting him in great fielding position, I think he'll consistently outperform peripherals that are based on his K and BB numbers. I want to give him another year to make it as a starter.
What?
If the payroll goes up, it's not going to be by a huge amount. The Russell Martin signing doesn't signify a big spending spree. He's only making Adam Lind money next year.
Ignoring acquisition costs, how would you guys rate these three potential outfield pickup purely based on your expected value: Aoki, Michael Saunders, Alex Rios?
I'd say Saunders, Rios, Aoki. Pretty close though