glory

I think Edwin is still possible unless the team wants to keep DH open. The DH options right now (assuming Teoscar starts in the OF) are Fisher, Drury, backup catcher, McKinney, Alford, Davis, etc. I don’t think this move makes Edwin impossible though lessens the chances depending on what the payroll is. If anything they need a back IF who hits lefties and can platoon with Shaw, though that will probably end up being Drury because he hits from the right side (doesn’t hit lefties though).

Yup thumbs up for this move. Can play multiple positions, and is controllable through 2021, and was a 120 wrc+ bat in 2017-18. If he bounces back, that’s really good value. If he doesn’t, not a huge risk taken. I’d imagine he slides over to third when Vlad is out of the lineup or at DH. That definitely makes Drury less needed, but he has an option left so maybe they’ll use it.

My guess is the Jays made a legit competitive offer but Ryu doesn’t want to sign with Toronto so Boras is trying to get others to offer a better deal. Heyman keeps mentioning the Jays interest in Ryu, and he’s a Boras puppet. There’s definitely some smoke there. I don’t think the Jays will sign him but they likely did make a good offer for him, if that means anything.

It wouldn't shock me if Edwin declined in 2020, maybe not as badly as 2017 Jose but decline nonetheless. The key is what the alternatives are. Eric Thames is 33 and won't move the needle either. Shaw would be a decent gamble to take as he can cover many positions (1b/3b/2b) and prior to 2019 was a 120 wRC+ bat for two straight years. He also comes with an additional year of control (arbitration). He'd probably be my first choice over what's out there in free agency, but as we know, players actually have to want to play in Toronto, and he's also coming off a horrendous season so the Jays would have to feel he can bounce back. Other than that there isn't much out there. Maybe we can work out a trade for Dom Smith, but that would mean losing assets in the process (Shatkins seems hesitant to do that).

Edwin might be the only free agent where a competitive offer might actually work, though. Edwin brings a reliable bat (assuming he doesn’t age overnight), nostalgia to make the casuals happy, and some vetrin presents for the youngsters. Not my first choice but I’m warming up to it.

Atkins in a TSN interview said the team is looking for either someone who can make a significant offensive contribution or someone who offers positional versatility, and he made it seem like it will be one or the other. Considering what’s out there in terms of 1B (no real long term options), I’m starting to think Edwin is the guy we end up with if for no other reason than he actually wouldn’t mind taking the Jays money.

The Reds don't mind trading top prospects so that seems like the best spot to trade Lindor.

The chances of Giles being elite for another five years in his 30’s is pretty remote. I mean it could happen but I wouldn’t pay $60 million over 5 years to find out. There’s probably a reasonable extension that can be worked out between Giles and the Jays but I don’t see it happening. He was almost traded in July and with the team striking out in free agency (unless the Ryu pipe dream happens) I don’t see why they’d keep him without getting those significant additions they thought they’d get. Might as well do it in the winter. Waiting until July to trade players has not worked out well for Shatkins.

Five years for Giles, or any reliever for that matter, is never going to happen with this front office, and in this case it shouldn't. You might be right that the value in a trade may not be there for a one year rental, but that doesn't mean extending him is necessarily the right move either. I think you move him now or in July either way. Now might be better just to avoid potential injury and complete loss of value in July, but the deal has to make sense as well.

If he can’t pitch in 2020 then don’t sign him. They’ll have to review his medicals and obviously he’ll have to pass a physical. The intention would be to sign him and hope he pitches well/ stays healthy to flip at the deadline. If you get something for Giles now and then something for Betances at the deadline, then hopefully at least one of those pieces can potentially become a core piece. The only leverage the Jays would have to sign someone like him would be the closer role where he can pile up saves and make himself more marketable next winter.

Trade Giles and sign Betances to close seems more logical.

Travis Shaw. Or trade for Dominic Smith.

Giles was actually traded to the Yankees at the deadline but Cashman backed out at the last minute. With only a year of control left it's going to be hard to extract great value, but I don't see them taking another chance of waiting until the deadline and risking him getting hurt again.

Yeah now that they struck out in free agency, this season should be used primarily to develop existing talent, integrate new talent from the minors (Pearson, Kay, etc), and find a way to add players to the core either via trades or player development. You can’t force contention. Just have to keep adding as much talent as is available and hope the young players develop. Giles is the last remaining vet that they haven’t moved yet so they have to get a good package for him as well.

Reports say the Jays made an offer to Gibson who wanted to play in Texas (this was from Shapiro himself), and I think Davidi mentioned the Jays offered more for Porcello than the Mets did but he's from Jersey and decided to sign for less with NY. It's easy to say "just sign (insert player)", but free agency is a combination of overpaying and the player actually wanting to play here. AA thought it was so hard to attract free agents to Toronto that he traded a zillion prospects for players with free agent contracts, and AA is someone who would actually overpay for a free agent if he wanted him bad enough (not as risk averse as Shatkins). Either way, I don't think the rebuild will last beyond 2020. Next winter, I think the Jays make a real effort to contend. Whether that works or not is a different story, but let's keep in mind this front office wanted to lose games last year. You don't go from outright tanking to blowing your wad in free agency in a span of 12 months unless you have a roster ready for that type of jump. The best plan is to just be opportunistic and improve where you can. If we can sign Ryu, great, but that's probably not happening. Just find the bargains where you can, try to maximize roles, and maximize trade returns. Also, wrap Pearson's arm in bubble wrap.

I hate almost everything about the Rays, so hopefully the Jays are not trying to emulate them going forward, but in 2020 if they need to spam the opener option in order to win games, then by all means do it.

Yet incredibly fitting for Tanner Roark. Boring all the way around.

Sounds like Hernandez will be starting the OF again this season, and Fisher will get plenty of AB's (probably as 4th OF/DH). I was expecting that anyway, but with Shapiro specifically mentioning them by name, it certainly adds some substance to that. Of course it's all talk until the season starts. Things can always change.

Looking at the 40 man roster, I think that's the direction they plan on going in until Pearson and others come up. They already have Font who has had success as an opener. Yamaguchi might be someone who could succeed in a similar role. They have a bunch of fringey SP types on the 40 man roster who may not be successful 180-200 IP starters but use them after openers and they could maximize their talent. I'm not sure how Montoyo is going to pull it off, but I expect them to use it a lot. Roark and Anderson might be the only guys who consistently start games, and that's only because they could get through 5 innings whether they are on or not.

Band aid. If the Jays are going to use up payroll space over a 3-4 year period, then it should be for a player they really like, not someone like Keuchel who is likely a stopgap himself and not a difference maker. Another option would be to trade for someone who another team wants to move for salary reasons and doesn't take much to acquire.