Governator

Saunders' biggest question mark is his health, he's as much of a wild card as Lawrie when it comes to durability. However, I'd have to agree now that if the Jays acquire him they'd save that money for other areas plus have a draft pick. Otherwise I say sign Aoki as the lowest cost for highest return. Not to mention he'd be an ideal #9 bat in this line up.

Yes you do pretend to know, or at the very least assume what it wouldn't take to acquire him. Truth is no one knows, but this board lets people think their thoughts loudly, express their inner fantasy GM. This is the offseason and that's the fun of it as there is no right or wrong. Instead of being so arrogant towards everyones opinions, why don't you start contributing your actual thought on the matter like you did above instead of arguing with every post.

The Rays were probably sure hoping they were getting Rookie of the Year when they acquired him... Again, 21yr old, 6 years control, and ranked everywhere as a top 5 prospect in baseball. That is a premium prospect that teams with payrolls the size of tip jars will move big assets to acquire. Why don't you tell us what Souza would cost the Jays?

Wil Myers was a top 5 prospect in all of baseball with 6 years of control and was 21 yr old and if you want to talk about awards, he was the AL Rookie of the Year... They are not equal.

Is it just me or does it seem like every active thread is basically the same conversation? I think I shall just stay in this one the remainder of the year.

I'd take my chances with Lester who's been there/done that then count on luck with Dickey when the season is on the line.

Aoki

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/toronto-blue-jays-may-not-have-the-payroll-to-sign-melky-cabrera/ Jays may not have the payroll to sign Cabrera Shi Davidi December 1, 2014, 5:34 PM TORONTO – The endgame between the Toronto Blue Jays and Melky Cabrera is probably coming soon, and the perception that Alex Anthopoulos is sitting on a significant cache of payroll to spend may not be the case as the moment of truth looms. Where the final number for the free-agent outfielder lands is unclear, although the $57-million, four-year agreement Nelson Cruz reached with the Seattle Mariners combined with the $53-million, four-year deal the St. Louis Cardinals handed Jhonny Peralta last year might offer a rough guideline. If that’s the case – and we’ll get to why it might not be later – the Blue Jays are unlikely to have enough room in the budget for Cabrera because things are starting to get pretty tight. Worth keeping in mind as you consider the numbers is perhaps Anthopoulos heavily backloaded Russ Martin’s $82-million, five-year deal because he had to, not because he wanted to maintain payroll flexibility for other moves. And that part of Josh Donaldson’s appeal is that at a projected $4.5 million arbitration hit for 2015, he is a very reasonably priced middle of the order bat. As things stand now, the Blue Jays have $108.2 million committed to 11 players, a figure that jumps to about $128 million when you factor in projections for their seven arbitration-eligible players, including Donaldson. Add another $2-$3 million for 0-3 service time players, and that leaves $9-$10 million to seek upgrades at left field, second base and the bullpen presuming a payroll of $140 million. Barring salary-clearing deals for Dioner Navarro and/or J.A. Happ, there’s no room for Cabrera under such a scenario. Even if the Blue Jays did move either of them, each would leave holes in their wake, Navarro as DH/catcher and Happ thinning out a pitching staff already down two depth pieces in Sean Nolin and Kendall Graveman, both dealt to the Oakland Athletics as part of the Donaldson trade. None of that rules out the possibility of another significant transaction, but calculus is much more complicated for Anthopoulos from here on out. A debate can be had on whether the Blue Jays are best served by piling their remaining dollars into one more significant player and riding in-house assets elsewhere, or spreading it around for a wider range of incremental gains. For instance, Cabrera’s price could reasonably be pegged beneath that of Peralta – who provides offence at a premium position, shortstop – and Cruz – who hits home runs. If that happens and he prices out in their salary range, are the Blue Jays better off bringing him back, or spreading the dough around? Internal options available to Anthopoulos include an Andy Dirks/John Mayberry Jr., platoon in left field, a Maicer Izturis/Ryan Goins platoon at second base while prospect Devon Travis seasons, and some combination of Edwin Encarnacion/Navarro/Justin Smoak/Danny Valencia at first base and DH. The Blue Jays also have a stash of potential bullpen arms, but likely not the elite relievers a team with designs on the post-season requires. Remember that Anthopoulos has focused on the bullpen – 12th in the AL with a 4.09 ERA – as a key area of failure in 2014. With Casey Janssen, Sergio Santos and Dustin McGowan all gone from last year’s late-inning crew, and who knows what Steve Delabar will look like next spring, you’d think at least two more relievers with some prior success are needed to fill the void. If the Blue Jays do get two relievers, will they then be out of money to get someone like free agent outfielder Nori Aoki, who’d be a perfect less-expensive fill-in for Cabrera in left field? Ideally they’d get someone that can also play centre field in case of injury or underperformance by Dalton Pompey or Kevin Pillar. An everyday second baseman would be nice, too, and while the Blue Jays have done background work on Alberto Callaspo, as Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports tweeted Sunday night, they don’t appear to be locked in on him at all. One other thing worth keeping in mind: Sportsnet colleague Jeff Blair suggests the Blue Jays might save some payroll money for the deadline, learning from this past July not to max out early. How might that factor into play? Put all together, the Blue Jays in many ways still have their heavy lifting ahead of them. Sure adding Donaldson and Martin makes them better, and replaces the lost offence from Adam Lind and, probably, Cabrera, but their primary needs at the beginning of the off-season are still their primary needs now. Upgrading areas that were already set is an unusual way to improve a team, but when you factor in that Anthopoulos has also been changing the heartbeat of the club at the same time, the greater whole makes more sense. The key now will be in finishing a job very well done so far, but not good enough just yet.

Jays can't afford anything close to that.

but its JOSE FREAKIN REYES

Goins > Beckham

Well since Steamer suggests he's going to make the most plate appearances of his professional career after a dismal attempt at staying healthy, then I don't think it takes injuries in to that much of consideration. I'm not discounting Saunders ability but the hassle of constantly replacing him could be painstaking, even if we say just stick Pillar or Dirks there in between. If this however is the difference of being able to acquire a front of the rotation arm I'm all for it.

I was trying to find a body to body comparison, he popped in my head. Not talent to talent I guess. I just don't like the idea of giving up assets for a glass man. An outfielder in his prime age shouldn't have that many injuries.

When you say physical prime, do you mean knee hyperextension, shoulder soreness, and spent two stints on the disabled list because of a bad A/C joint in his shoulder and was lost for 50 games with an abdominal strain? Or the fact that he's 28? He's Peter Forsberg.

Why is everyone always so gitty about the possibility of giving up assets for Saunders? Canadian love?

As an accountant, you have poor judgment in finances.

Agreed, although Cruz certainly helped considering Davis' nosedive this year. Speaking of, they have no idea which Chris Davis is going to show up next season. What a downward spiral he was on this year, then capped off the season with a suspension.

Lets hope they add Colby Rasmus instead.

I read somewhere he averages 37hr/162 games. Last year he played a full season (159) as they O's used him sparingly in the OF. Mariners could get a very good return on him if they keep him as DH.

AL DH Stats Pretty sure it's a concern for them.

Yea Mariners had one of the worst numbers from the DH hole, I think Cruz is going to be that missing bat they've needed. It's a good signing for them.

Now Cabrera can realize $50MM over 3 years is unrealistic.

What this shows is that 3 of them have proven MLB success, one of them does not. We already have a wild card in CF and replacing Melky's LF production with Pillar is not equal.

Last 3 Seasons Melky Cabrera: 6.2 fwar Nick Markakis: 4.1 fwar Nori Aoki: 6.2 fwar Kevin Pillar: 0.6 fwar

Melky Cabrera MLBTR Predicts: Five-year, $66.25MM 2014: 2.6 fWAR 2015 Steamer: 1.7 fWAR Nick Markakis MLB Predicts: Four-year, $48MM 2014: 2.5 fWAR 2015 Steamer: 1.3 fWAR Nori Aoki MLBTR Predicts: Two-year, $16MM 2014: 2.3 fWAR 2015 Steamer: 1.5 fWAR