jaysfan2014

Sanspo.com says that Tanaka will be posted. C'mon AA! https://twitter.com/dylanohernandez/status/412695419349504000

Well, Brandon Phillips is still available for the Jays--Yanks won't be trading Gardner + prospects for him anytime soon: http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/10141157/new-york-yankees-no-intention-dealing-brett-gardner

Maybe Callapso or Sogard.. Punto has already been signed, and Nakajima has not played above AAA.

And most of that negative WARP at 2B was likely because of Izturis and Bonifacio alone. Let's hope Goins and whoever we get for 2B(if any) can reverse this trend..

Boston isn't sure if they can afford Drew either--signing him would put them over the tax. Plus, it would likely necessitate a trade of Will Middlebrooks, because Bogaerts would be playing 3B.

Got to give the Cardinals credit for the farm development.. Yankees and Jays fans (along with the majority of the MLB) wish they had the farm the Cardinals have.

Well, we have a real back-up PG now.. plus the ball actually moves now with Gay not being there to hog the ball.

Pretty much realistic. However, Baltimore might be lower because of Machado's uncertain status, and loss of Feldman and Hammel to free agency. Also keep in mind the Jays are a little better removing Josh Johnson from the roster, and regaining depth with the recovery of Drabek and Hutchison. But we still need another arm to be even competitive. C'mon AA!

Well, they were a 79-83 team with their pythag, with a -21 differential. While we don't know the lineup, let's measure based on previous numbers(not including HRs) Cano 81 R, 107 RBIs Granderson: 31 R, 15 RBIs in 2013 (102 R, 106 RBIs in 2012) TOTAL LOST: 183 R, 213 RBIS A healthy Granderson and Teixiera would've given the Yankees a tough offense of 800 RBIs and a contending team that would've likely been a wild card team. Their losses really hurt the team. Now the replacements: Beltran 79 R, 84 RBIs McCann 43 R, 57 RBIs (about 60 R and 70 RBIs when healthy for a full season) Ellsbury 92 R, 53 RBIs Estimated Total 231 R, 207 RBIs Based on the math, the Yanks are only slightly better, depending how Ellsbury is utilized, especially considering they already have Jeter and Gardner around. However, losing Cano hurts considering how effective he was as the #3 hitter on the Yankees. Still, there is the risk of regression due to age, so past numbers can't be completely taken into account, especially considering the age of the Yankees team. The pitching is still a question mark unless the Yanks make an addition in the rotation. Losing Pettitte will hurt, and Nova needs more consistency. Kuroda and Sabathia still have age related concerns as well. And they desperately need bullpen help, as Logan's gone and Rivera's retired. BTW, the Yanks pitching was 8th in baseball last year. Sorry if my math is a little off.

Regardless, Floyd still isn't a good pitcher. 9.0 H/9IP, and 3.0 BB/9 isn't exactly encouraging.

True. But who's dealing right now? Unless you're the Cardinals or Rangers (Red Sox not included for being in the division), and have decent trading chips, AA's not dealing Bautista for nothing. He's going to want decent SP and prospects for him. Only real fit is the Cardinals, if they have the budget, but are more likely to use Oscar Taveras instead, as they are at their budget limit for 2014. Mariners are a possibility, if they gave us Taijuan Walker and Nick Franklin. Arizona's out due to the acquisition of Mark Trumbo. Keep in mind most teams are near their budgets, and can't just take on Bautista's contract, no matter how reasonably priced it is, especially with the prospect price for him likely sky-high, as AA will probably want MLB ready talent. Look what the D-Backs had to pay in the Trumbo trade, which sent Skaggs and Santiago to LA, and Eaton to Chicago, with Trumbo, Schugel and Jacobs to Arizona.

Still short a long-man (Crosby? Alvarez?) Depending on the offense, they're faves in the AL Central, although Kansas City could be a team to watch.

I agree. Just getting rid of Arencibia was a help. And Gavin Floyd isn't actually a good pitcher, as his career ERA is 4.48 with a WHIP of 1.34. Put him in any AL East park and he'd likely have an ERA north of 5. We already got burned with Josh Johnson and his 2-8, 6.20 ERA record, who had been injured and declining in Miami, especially after that injury he had in 2011, as he hasn't been the same since. We need someone a little more established, can pitch in the AL East, and is not coming off a major surgery. Gavin Floyd isn't the answer. Come on, AA, get us Santana, Garza, or someone..

Hey, Floyd spurned the Orioles as well. It's not just the Jays who get spurned by some pitchers like Floyd. Except for Tampa, pitching in AL East parks can be a nightmare, especially for flyball pitchers, as Boston, New York, Baltimore and Toronto are band boxes.

C'mon, the Tigers are much better now. With Fielder gone, they're a much improved team defensively. Bullpen is still a wild card with the additions of Nathan and Chamberlain, but the need at least another arm. And wouldn't you agree they should've gotten more for Fister? At least Smyly's finally getting utilized as a starter, which he was in the minors. And Nick Castellanos should be interesting to watch.

That's fair. Boston's projected for 93 BTW.. but how will they offset the loss of Jacoby Ellsbury? Jackie Bradley Jr. is still raw.. and Stephen Drew won't come back unless Boston clears payroll by trading a starter (they're currently right near the tax.) Good thing for that quality pitching and likely emergence of Xander Bogaerts.

Still got about 3 months--anything could happen by then. Could be worse--at least we're not selling for junk like Jemile Weeks, like Baltimore is because ownership refuses to raise payroll, even after 2 winning seasons.. because of their concerns regarding the costs of arb raises to Chris Davis, Matt Wieters, etc. And Baltimore might actually be worse than Toronto right now due to their failure to add starting pitching to upgrade a rotation that was already mediocre.

I don't know about 90 wins--losing a big bat like Cano (7.6 WAR) and Granderson(3.0 WAR in 2012-- 2013 was injury plagued) isn't good, especially when Beltran (2.4 WAR), Ellsbury (5.8 WAR), and McCann (2.2 WAR) just barely offset it, and Beltran/McCann are at risk of decline due to age(Beltran) or injury risk(McCann, Ellsbury). Don't forget that Pettitte and Rivera are gone as well. The current roster as stands is 85 wins (at best).. with a real risk of decline if age or injury hits. The projections also haven't been adjusted for A-Rod's potential suspension as well...

Not a bad deal for Atlanta--but it shows the limits of Atlanta's budget, plus there's no guarantee what Floyd will bring post TJ-surgery. Remember, the Braves lost Malholm and Hudson to free agency--and their farm isn't ready to produce new arms yet(Graham, Gilmartin aren't close to MLB ready.)

Meanwhile, the great Japanese pitcher Tanaka is looking like he's staying in Japan: http://nypost.com/2013/12/14/source-tanaka-may-stay-in-japan/ And delusional Yankees fans on the comments on the article think it's BS... they must be the same ones who think Ellsbury, Beltran and McCann will make them a World Series team.. far from it, especially with the lack of quality pitching on that staff in the rotation and bullpen due to free agency/retirements. Makes you wonder if the management even knows what they're doing.. I know they need offense, but it won't do any good without adding any decent pitching. (Yes, I know us Jays fans are pushing for pitching as well.. but this Tanaka thing has stalled the market.)

Juan Uribe returning to LAD on a 2 year deal according to Ken Rosenthal: Before Jays fans complain--remember, he hasn't played at 2B since 2011, and we already have Lawrie at 3B. Guess we can consider Michael Young again as someone suggested on these boards..

No way. He hasn't had a positive WAR since 2011. And it's uncertain how he'd do at 2B--he hasn't had significant playing time as a middle infielder since he was moved from SS in 2008.

Cot's already has the Yanks at $172.168M(including Ellsbury) before arb raises and questions regarding A-Rod's suspension. They're looking at $200M+ if A-Rod doesn't get suspended.

Not to mention that A-Rod may not get the 211 game suspension--the federal judges ruled in favor of A-Rod's PR maven Michael Sitrick, rejecting MLB's claim of him being in contempt of court. As a result, MLB's case looks a lot weaker: http://nypost.com/2013/12/13/a-rod-scores-huge-court-win-over-mlb/ As a result, if the suspension is cut to 50 or removed altogether, the Yankees will have difficulty getting under the tax--every dollar they spend over $189M will cost them 50% extra for every $1 spent. And they need SP, a real 2B (not Kelly Johnson), and a 3B depending on A-Rod.