Funky

Don’t mind the return. I am not naïve I know we’re not contenders for the world championship but we are down for the playoffs and it will do the young pups good to be around that kind of atmosphere. Happy with the moves made today without really losing anyone is a great way to go about it

So we have basically added Villar and Vogelbach on offense Ray and Walker as starters Sounds like Giles is close. Well we are better than we were a week ago. No more Drury and way less Panik is a good thing

Switch hitter with speed that can play all over. Leads majors in steals. Has some pop. But who did we give up?

We get a Flier for nothing. The guy could get bombed or throw 6 innings with 14 strikeouts. We just got Villar. Hope that makes people happy. Some speed for us

He’s free agent at years end.

Wow. We get Robbie Ray. He’s a wild child.

Not good. Just when we are looking for innings out of our starters. I like Shoemaker. Hopefully itÂ’s a short stint.

Merry Christmas everyone. Hope everyone has a safe and happy holidays.

Haven’t posted much but follow this board on a daily basis. This trade has me a bit upset. It isn’t with the return although I do think the return is a little light. SJF does intrigue me and if everything works out a Pearson, Monoah, SJF trio looks good. I have been following the front office since the start. I will admit I was not a big AA fan as a whole. He did do some great things but he did things at a price. The thing is he was in touch with the players, the media and the fans. He had a direction and that was to win no matter what. We now have two guys in charge who may just work for the CIA. They appear secretive and aloof and we cannot really see the total game plan. Even with that I am okay, it is the fact they seem to piss off everyone who plays for them. Now Donaldson and Stroman walk through life with their hearts on there sleeves and get a bit emotional but they seemed to resent management. Tulo basically showed the Jays what he thought of the organization during his brief return with the Yanks. We burned a folk hero in Edwin and signed a bonified slow DH in his place that we had to pay to go away. Now I ask you guys as there are some very knowledgeable people on the forums. If we had a front office that was more player friendly would someone like Stroman Who seem to love it in Toronto be open to the idea of coming back when he’s a free agent in another year and a half? Do you think because of his relationship with our front office the door is now officially closed? My other question is do free agents around the league appear to have one more reason to not want to come to Toronto because of our front offices mentality? I kind of always had it burning in the back of my head but I was just wondering after the Stroman trade if this may be the case? I love our young team, I am fully into a rebuild and I do think the front office has taken some of the right steps towards this, I am just wondering if their lack of communication, their better than everyone attitude will affect us when it’s time to bring in outside players in a few years?

Jose's attitude can be quite annoying, but I think it is part of the equation that fuels him. Unfortunately this year the attitude stayed but the fuel tank dipped. If the guy hit 35 homers, drove in 100 I think everyone tolerates the attitude that much more. Unfortunately he started the year on the wrong foot with the alleged contract demands then the dust up with Odor costing us a game, the injuries, capped off by a poor post season. I will never deny what he has done for us as he has been one of our top offensive power threats but it is time to move on. Best case is qualify him and get the first rounder when he signs elsewhere. The guy is done in the field and with the rotation we have I want a very good defender out there to back them. Russell Martin makes way to much money for the offence he provides. Russell Martin earns every dollar for the defence he provides as well as the way he handles our staff young and older. I am stoked about next years starters. The two pups have that much more experience, Estrada gets healthy, Happ looks great and Liriano as a fifth with upside at only 13 million is way better than Dickey. Martin will handle and call the majority of games and meshes very well. Tulo, Martin and Donaldson look like they will be the voices on the diamond and in the room. It will be an interesting offseason and with the rotation set hopefully we can focus on grabbing a few guys that can put the ball in play.

I didn't mind Navarro but don't want to spend a lot. Having two pitchers that excel with personal catchers is one to many on the team. Estrada is better and signed longer then Dickey so if anyone should get a personal catcher to give Martin a rest then it should be him. Also if Martin goes down fatso isn't a bad piece to have to throw out there for a few weeks vs Thole or any other garbage backup. Dickey excelled in NY and their stadium, they also need a SS. I would absolutely hate to trade Tulo but if Tulo and Dickey were thrown at the Mets with a little salary retention, would it get us one of their young controllable arms? Simple question and kinda off topic but it might help settle which backup we would use. With our offence we should be able to have Gibby himself pitch and stay in games.

Definitely not in love with Pillar. Alomar and Gruber of all people were my all time favorited. Just like the perks Pillar brings at a cheap cost on a team with a possible salary ceiling. Love Bautistas tweet. The guy says what he thinks

As nice as individual awards are, I am just happy AA tightened up team defence last year w Tulo, Pillar, Donaldson, Martin and even Goins. Of course this is just me basing it off of the ever unpopular eye test but with all our young pitchers, an aging knuckleballer and a park that launches balls and has turf the better defence is needed. It sucks for Pillar he didn't get a glove but I have never had so much fun watching one of our outfielders, the guy is a vacuum. Hope that our new GM, be it LaCava or someone else keeps defence in mind with new player acquisitions. I know Pillar is not the most popular guy around here. Taking in consideration his contract, our already powerful lineup, and the fact he seems to be on an uphill trajectory, I hope he is manning CF next year as he may just get a gold glove in his future. More interested in the team trophy as the rest of you are though.

AA is serving up rookies to all opposing GMs this offseason. Love the move. Salary is a wash yet it saves 10 mill on Melky.

That would be awesome. Send them Happ in a package to offset cost. Not a fan of AA but lately I like his moves, He has done a great job in acquiring talent with character. I think he signed the perfect free agent/ team captain who can run a rotation and provide both great defence and offence from the catcher position I was not a fan of Lind or Gose but I am biased, if the rumors are true about a crappy clubhouse, he cleaned that up in a hurry. I still believe Linds offence needs to be replaced and Morneau fits perfectly. I would love the lefty bat and he would allow EE to DH full time and spell Morneau off the odd time. I honestly believe Pompey can replace Gose's production. But I would rather Pompey develop more in the minors. Saying that if we had a top 6 of Reyes, Martin, Donaldson, Bats, EE, Morneau, we can gamble with Pompey or Travis. We are still a elite starter away. Yes we can fix a bullpen, grab another outfielder and hopefully upgrade second base but I believe we need a top line starter. If you forget about contracts for a minute, and we should as Rogers pays the bills and has opened the wallets both Dickey and Buerle are quality and comparable 3 and 4 starters with Stroman developing into a quality 2. Leave Sanchez in the pen and blow a load on Miller to help Sanchez. But mainly we need to aggressively pursue the big 3 starters. AA is developing a better and more enticing environment and maybe he can pull another one out of his butt. If the big three are to expensive or say no, try Martins old mate Liriano. He may not be ideal but may be better then what we have. Any fans here in Cali that can brainwash Kendrick's. imagine plugging Kendrick's and Morneau into our lineup, both cheaper and affordable. Ya I am to hyper. Damn AA. Playing with my hopes to see another winner

If they wanna make a splash we have Reyes, Dickey and Thole that I would be willing to personally deliver to the Mets. Of course I am in the minority and would love to bank the money saved for next year, let the pups gain another years experience, and trade some of the entitled vets for youth with athleticism and energy. This team is so full of holes even if a big name free agent is brought in, it would be like putting a bandaid on the Titanic.

No problem with Thole, just trade Dickey. We need a defence first catcher that can help groom the pups

At least he will give us a chance at a win on a majority of his starts. Hope it is true. Flip Happ and prospects to Seattle for a young infielder.

Started thinking about this a few days ago. In hockey I cheer for the Kings and would be severely pissed if Kopitar, Doughty, or Carter were traded as they are all young core pieces signed long term to good contracts. They have all been high draft picks and have playoff success. I look at the Jays and see a team sitting on the fence. Do we go all in and sell our future for a run, or do we take off the rose color glasses, forget the gutting of the farm last year and start fresh. I start with our core (guys to build a team around), wont include prospects EE - in prime, signed cheap - would be pissed if he was traded JBats - when healthy great plate presence, good contract, but over 30, injured a lot - sell high Reyes - could be superstar material, love him but injuries and nasty contract - on fence Lawrie - has the potential but hasn't shown consistency needed to be true core piece - young,cheap so keep Rasmus - so inconsistent and free agent to be, I would sell high for youth. That's all I can think of Our starters our either old, injury prone, or suck. If Dickey was 28 I would consider him We have an elite bullpen, but that supplements a core and we have an overstock Closer - we have 2, we are spoiled, they could be the new Henke, Ward. But again supplement a proper core I guess maybe I stopped drinking the punch, but this team as assembled looks like crap. Saying that we have some sell high pieces that could fetch a fortune in prized prospects. We have 2 high 1st round picks coming and at least 2 strong arms ready soon. In my opinion we need to forget about last years gutting and start a rebuild. I am not saying trade for guys years away but trade for guys ready to break out. Profar, Shelby Miller types. Just think, trading a JBats for Profar gives us money to pay a Tanaka. Back to my title response though. The only player I would lose sleep in trading would be Edwin and possibly Lawrie as I think he will blossom. The rest are either to old to be able to help when the team is ready to compete, or too expensive to keep around for this little false hope party AA has constructed

No way, we need personal under 30 who can shore up the D to help our s***** rotation. This is not a contender, it's going to take more then a few upgrades at SP, 2B, and DH and I would rather see youth get a chance (Goins) then sign an plug who is past his best by date

Sellers market Bautista lands Profar +. - key trade to set up rebuild Reyes lands Shelby Miller and Scott - top of lineup starter and a younger more powerful/ cheaper Lind Lind grabs us a decent prospect or possible catcher/OF Casey J or Santos + may get us Phillips in Cincy to keep some veteran leadership and help provide some lost offence Just some late night delusional thoughts

You build an infield and an offence around this guy in 2 years. We should go after him full bore. Cheap, 5 tool prospect who is MLB ready.

My first post as well. Liked the original posters thoughtfulness and articulation but I agree it might be to much money for the Cards to take on. Would still like to see a simplified version Reyes for Miller and Adams - cheaper version of Lind Of course this would be contingent on trading Bautista to the Rangers for Profar and a prospect We slash 30 mil a year off payroll and gain some ready to play youth. I know people wont like the Bautista trade but I would be all over a 21 year old 5 tool SS/ 2B. Add to this a pitcher with top 2 capability and payroll flexibility to grab a true 2B, C, and SP I am sold. Want a true young core to build around