JaysFan4Ever

I'm surprised Navarro is still with the team honestly. I figured someone would have made a call or two with a fairly decent offer after Martin was signed. Then again maybe the other GMs know AA might have a commodity they'd like to have (offensive catcher) but he's in a bit of a bind because they know it'll be hard for the Jays to accommodate Navarro as far as catching, getting ABs in, and knowing he'd want to be a catcher so they're not going to blow AA away with an offer and absorb the $5M attached. Kind of make AA get desperate to move him to someone and take what he can get but still I'm surprised no one has offered at least a solid BP arm who might be arbitration eligible for about the same much, or a prospect, or something. As far as Martin wanting to catch RA, I'm sure he'll get his shot in ST and that's what he's signed for to be the big catcher and the starter. Unless he flat out can't handle it he should make starts when RA is pitching unless they DH him which alters the line up. Thole has been a black hole and at times hasn't seemed to do any better than most catching RA. You have to go with the best 25 especially coming off a season that was supposed to be promising and fell apart. If RA wants Thole catching all the time wasting the spot in the line up, he can pay for him to learn to hit, or they can both pack up and be sent somewhere else.

I love the hair. I love the mechanics in the one gif. I haven't seen him pitch before so I'm basing it off the stats and what you've all said but not a bad pick up. Certainly better than many waiver claims. He might be one who can be a solid MR guy for the Jays if he can translate some of those number in the bigs.

I'm sorry I started drooling once I read that. I hope that trend continues this year and for many years from here on. If Navarro helped out, imagine the framing Martin helping out.

I only like about 85-88 mins north of NYC via commuter train so I'm no help with hotels but like mentioned the further away from Manhattan you get the cheaper. You might want to even try some in Westchester county (Sleepy Hollow haha). They might jack the prices up big time though for opening night. I was at a Yankee game this summer with a friend for his birthday and we paid $22 a ticket for the grandstands in the 406 section. High up but not bad for the price considering it's NYY. We could see everything except the RF corner.

Worse case he's another one of AA's waiver claims that he tries slipping through waivers later on. Not a horrible pick up. We've had worse over the years. There's never too much pitching especially if worse case he winds up back on waivers and some other teams claims him. It would be nice if AA can grab some solid, proven help for our pen, which I'm sure he's working on, but grab some guys who could surprise you or give you a few innings if/when someone gets hurt, there's a blow out, extra innings game when you need another arm. Maybe he can fool MLB hitters for a bit and get by and give the Jays some innings. If not, he's not a big loss if he can't handle it.

This was called by almost everyone on the board. He'd go out there, rebuild his value, try to make a larger contract elsewhere. Interesting to see if he starts or relieves, swings, or how long his DL stint will be.

That was a time where I wish Gibby "Hillbranded" him. The guy acted like he was on something at times. I don't mind high energy people or those who give it there all but he seemed like he went out of his way to find ways to get hurt. s*** happens and minor injuries can re-aggravate but damn blaming the turf? I'm not saying the turf probably doesn't contribute to some degree or cause some injuries (wear and tear, or what happened to Johnny Mac when his ankle was caught in the seem between the dirt and turf) but bouncing around like you're in bubble wrap and diving into the stands, sometimes playing "too hard" would all be better than the turf considering he also manned a portion where there was more dirt than most other places. We'll see how he does in Oakland. He'll likely wind up on the DL there too if he doesn't calm down and be on his way out if he keeps being a douche since he's not the "country's golden boy player" or some such nonsense that seemed to give him more of a leash than other younger player who pulled half the crap he did.

If the Jays are still "in their window" and serious about trying to win and make the playoffs, they're going to have to do more than make a huge signing and then sit back with their fingers crossed again with the old "if everything works out and everyone plays to their skill level/ceiling then we should have no problem..." Bringing in a proven MLB caliber arm shouldn't be out of the question if they're someone who can stick around with the young pack and help win now and teach the youngsters a few things. Hutch, Stro showed what they have but it doesn't mean they'll reproduce or even improve on it. Sanchez is still in the air on where he'll be. They may have high ceilings but no guarantee they'll come back as good or better especially now that the league has seen them and will adjust. Plus anytime you can add to your rotation with a solid arm it's a plus. It comes down to what the Jays plan on doing. Try to win this year, they'll try to add another decent arm. Let the young pitcher pitch them sit back and see.

I'm sure they're "interested" in him like every other team in the game but the level might be different not to mention Lester's side too. Would be nice since he's proven in the AL East and it would be nice to have a proven guy but I doubt it happens at least not without the Jays having to open the pocket book or trade someone away for cash like some have mentioned. I'm sure AA is being aggressive seeing who he might have a shot at signing or at least the terms to see who he can rule out on the FA market and see about trades or waiver deals. The team could use a true Ace (what team can't?) but with the money just given to Martin I can't see it happening since Lester should get a nice paycheck especially since he's not tied to a draft pick unless they're going to back load the deals which could be a problem later on.

Either the Tiger's system was horrible, ours that much better, or the system of ranking is just....some kind of strange.

LOL! Jesus Christ! I'm sure it's a bit out of context but come on AA!

Always a few interesting potentials on the list each year. I wouldn't be surprised to see Francisco let go since Smoak is now on the team and he fell apart last year. I could see him being non-tender, resigned to a minor league deal, or if AA lucks out trying to get something for him before the deadline to tender contracts approaches or even the arbitration deadline approaches. Then again with Lawrie's injury history I wouldn't be surprised if they kept him around for at least one more year unless another acquisition is made hoping he works on his swing in the offseason and his pop comes back.

AA manages to pull out a decent prospect for a guy who's bat seemed like it wouldn't come around, was out of options (therefore likely going to be lost anyway if he went on waivers if his bat struggled too much this year) for a guy who will have 3 years of options, could wind up being the everyday 2B I'd say by midseason (conservative estimate depending on his spring) and at worse could be an average player at a position we sorely needed something for. Not a bad trade at all. I like Gose but there were times where he was a blackhole offensively. I still think AA will bring someone in for the OF whether it's Melky or someone else who has every day experience to help out offensively and take some pressure off Pompey. I have the feeling if they really wanted him as the every day CF right off the bat he would have played more in September. He could win the job in ST but it's early, AA might pull another move out of thin air that sures up the OF a bit more. Blue Jays give up a player who might get a better shot in a different organization especially with some "better" ranked players knocking on the door and the Jays wanting/needing offense, Jays get a potential solution to 2B for the foreseeable future if he turns out to be even an average player. We still have Izturis to start the season if need be until he's ready unless AA does another deal. Unless he's Rule 5 Eligible it keeps a roster spot open too. Jays got their potential long term solution at 2B by using spare parts, who's out of options, who was frustrating to watch at times at the plate. Time will tell but not a bad move so far. Also depends on who AA brings in for the OF. I can't see him completely ignoring the loss of Melky, Gump and hoping Pompey and a platoon in LF will work out. Then again I've been wrong before.

Remember, it's AA "doing his homework." He's going to check in on almost everyone so he can say he's checked in on players, spoke about deals but nothing ever came together. With guys like this it's not a shock. Then he can say he tried. to get something done but nothing lined up money and player wise because we know the Phillies will want the top yooung starters we have plus the Jays to take on as much money as possible and that won't happen.

Then his press conference goes a little like: "Well, we offered what we thought the value of the players were. Some dont' want to come here. Many out priced themselves when they didn't want to sign for less than what some of our own players heading to arbitration are going to get. I just don't see why they don't take my troll offers seriously anymore."

Could be 2 players at or about the same price for one kind of thing. Smoak will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Nor would I. To be honest I Wouldn't be surprised if it happens relatively soon. I can't see him making more than that on the market unless a team gets really desperate but I can see him back at that price.

I thought it was much more than that. For some reason I thought he had been hurt and missed at least that many games in one year midseason. My memory must be shot.

Don't worry McGowan's replacement was traded for at what might be a few extra dollars too. I'd like Morrow back as a possible 8th/9th inning kind of guy but like many have suggested he'll probably take a contract with some team in a big ballpark to try and rebuild his value as a starter and hope to hit a multi year deal next year. Part of me hates to see McGowan go since I was rooting for him to finally overcome everything but he's just not worth the money and is a borderline player at this point.

I guess another way of looking at it is it's one of those you take out bad contract we'll take yours while AA gets something instead of just buying him out?

I go out of town for a few days, then ignore the internet for a couple more, and I find this. Holy f***ing s***. They basically shipped Lind for a $5M RP who might be on his way out (with our usual RP changing game) in a month or two into the season depending on if the long ball follows him here? I know Lind isn't great but I would hope they could have at least gotten back something a little better or at least a little less money. Then again $5 is less than $7.5 if he makes that in arbitration unless AA signs him low somehow. Lind seemed gone after Smoak was claimed but eh, think there could have been a better deal to make. Then again I might be delusional.

Eventually the spots run out and you have to move someone. It would be nice to grab another Wagner providing they don't blow his elbow out.

http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/97868234/blue-jays-claim-right-hander-schultz-on-waivers-from-d-backs Apologies if it's been posted/mentioned before and it's barely even noteworthy that AA claimed yet another BP arm of a 29 YO rookie, with options left who will do nothing but suck up a spot until he's passed through waivers to be minor league depth. We know more will be coming shortly after the WS is over.

That seems like a perfect (or closest to) idea. I can hear the excuses of course but it shows it's possible to do. I'm sure they're aware of it but for some reason have passed on the idea. Don't do this but buy new turf every few years claiming the new turf is so much better and closer to grass than its predecessor.

If I recall correctly a lot of issues with the Jays' turf is, as mentioned earlier in the thread, from having to be placed down, removed, placed down again, removed, yet again placed down to ad nauseum because of the multiple purposes and re configuring that goes on. A few players really bitched a couple years ago and you could see patches of it where it looked like someone ran it over with a snow blower. I'm making an assumption here but if it were permanent instead of constantly being pulled up it might be better. Then again I don't know since I'm not the grounds crew or know much about it. I think it would also come down to what is underneath the turf too. I know it has its own padding and such but what's under the turf itself ie concrete or such might make it worse. It would be nice if they would just go to grass already. It's easier said than done considering everything they use the place for but it might make a world of difference in some cases or in some minds. I'd rather the Jays' be in a different stadium all together but we know that's not going to happen. I fear the turf is here to stay even beyond this BS projection they keep giving us about installing it. They keep replacing it and spending money on turf which I think would be better used for grass or even temporary grass but hey I'm not the people making the call. I'd rather see some ripped up sod/grass out there even if they have to move it around for the Argos or whatever but I'm not in charge. Maybe they really will have some issues with drainage or keeping it alive in under the best case scenario since this concrete tomb was never designed for grass in mind.