SaskJaysFan_2

I'd move JD for two position players with control and a decent prospect. I would try to extend Happ honestly. I think he would be open to it. Morales I would almost just outright cut.

A pre-emptive TJ wouldn't happen, but that is what I would want as the AA FO. He's almost ready for the start of 2019 that way. You still have oodles of cheap control.

I agree. I love JD, but man, if we can get two controllable decent starters and an A- prospect, it sets us up right. I wonder if we could include Morales in the deal, and take on another not great contract for an OF or something.

I do! For the right price I think he'd be a fantastic #5. 2-years, $18M?

A few thoughts... 1. I hate Rogers but we could have a far worse owner. 2. < 1% chance we sign a huge contract anytime soon, or trade for a huge contract 3. I wonder if one if this sets up one of the Rogers heirs to buy the franchise and stop answering to a board for every major decision baseball org-wise.

With Goins gone, we only have one drafted player left on our current starting lineup.

That's true, and also since MLB players get paid in USD, he essentially would be getting 20% more (factoring exchange) in spending money when he is spending in Canada. US vs. Canada health insurance arguments are moot in MLB. If a player needs an MRI, he gets an MRI now. Whether he is in TO or Houston.

If the Jays sign Cobb for the rotation, and Bruce for RF (both possibilities) the farm stays intact and you have a team that has a chance to make some noise with a few more tweaks (versatile middle infielder, maybe a reliever, maybe a LF). I'd be okay with that. Not flashy, but flashy might have to wait a couple of years.

Alex Cobb, 4-years, $48M appeals to me mightily.

I honestly think it behooves this FO to look at every younger (under 30) player that has put up positive WAR. Almost everyone is an improvement over our 2017 roster.

I think it might behoove the FO to spend right to the luxury tax threshold. This might keep 3M bums in the seats for 2018. And if it's spent on FA's, it'd keep the farm intact. When we traded and signed a bunch of players in 2013, we sucked, but man attendance was up. I'd like to do this again, hopefully without the "suck" component. What happened to the MLB USD to CAD exchange rate subsidy that the Jays used to receive? Even though it's improved from the FO's POV, a ~25% kickback would sure be nice. I thought that was a possibility a few years, to restart that subsidy?

Bustner Olney reports that there is a really good chance Joe Girardi doesn't re-sign with the Yankees after this season. He's a manager, IMO, who'd be a huge upgrade over Gibby. Would you go after him if he becomes available? The TO FO seems to like Gibby quite a bit, so it seems unlikely that they would make this move. But Girardi is a guy I've respected from afar for quite a while.

It'd be so great to harness all your baseball knowledge though. Consider a career change.

I don't get why you don't have a job in baseball with all your knowledge.

There's a correlation, certainly, but it's not for shizzle. My father-in-law is 5'9" and I'll bet he was still throwing 85 mph at 60. I am 6'2" and topped out at 84 mph at the Canada Games back in the day. I remember reading that forearm length is a big factor in pitching speed. And you can be short, like my father-in-law, but have monkey arms and toss bullets. That's all pitching talk, not batting, but the same notions may juxtapose to hitting mechanics, extension, and so on. I can easily make the case that tall hitters have less balance and are prone to lower BAs and OBP. Anyway, pitchers like Stroman and hitters like Altuve really intrigue me because they buck the short guy stereotype. But it's an interesting topic.

Short. Really great at baseball. I don't get why height is a big deal for position players. It's not like a short player's muscles are smaller than a larger players. And typically they have a smaller strike zone and suffer from fewer back and ankle injuries.

I just saw the reply. So gross. I was really hoping for EE to go all the way. Know I don't know who to cheer for. Maybe LA, because Puig runs like his hair is on fire.

When Bautista came over soon after Scott Rolen was shipped out, it was a bad time for Blue Jays fans. Mediocre teams. Major budget restrictions. Players wanted out, not in. But I remember looking at JB's stats from the Pirates when he was first brought in and thought man, 18-19 (IIRC) dingers for ~ 300 ABs. That's something. And then I binged, er googled, his background and history and was intrigued. Then I heard him interviewed and thought wow this guy is super smart, thoughtful and 100% bilingual. Pretty amazing, at least to me. Then he broke out and I have loved him ever since. I bought his jersey. Not an aliexpress.com $20 knock off, a $230 jersey. But anyway, I loved him and I loved the fact that he has always extolled the virtues of TO and Canada. He gets us. And I think a lot of us get him. Memorable moments I will cherish? So many. The bat flip of course. But I loved, just loved, the O'Day vs Bautista moments. I can't recall but I think it was twice he ripped him for big hits, once a dinger, after getting brushed back. Those moments were so special. Anyway, I will miss him. And I would love if the Jays could find a spot for him in the FO. Or as an ambassador. Mostly for the reasons I outlined. He's smart, seems to love Canada, and is bilingual which (if you speak Spanish) is so crucial to the game in 2017. Just my thoughts. Maybe my fave player of all time. Well, maybe after Fernandez.

With Stroman, Sanchez, Cobb (I pray), Happ and Estrada you have 5 decent starters. 3-4 should pitch most of the season. Biagini and maybe Anderson, and that guy in AAA who seems decent (name escapes me) would be good 6-8 SPs. Koehler if he is brought back would also be great depth. To sign Anderson and Koehler it might take $8M+ AAV though. I am not sure that's possible. Koehler goes to arb4 for 2018 and should command at least $5M. Anderson showed enough promise to probably earn $3M+. He's only 29.

You can look at it as a composite, or break it down to make it more granular. I like to look at groups, and the WAR for each group in 2017 and what I hope or think may be the case for 2018. But I'm no expert. I really like stats, and they are super interesting if you break them down in different ways. But I know a lot of you are real metrics masters. I just started getting into the advanced metrics thing.

~ 8 wins right there. That's a big leap. Assuming we need 15 more wins to get to playoffs in 2018. Just need ~ 7 wins from other places. Cobb would get us 1-2 more wins. A decent infielder at 2B would get us 3-4 more wins than 2017, whether that is Dee or Devon. People like to slam this roster but really a few twists and we're right back in the thick of things.

That Koehler trade was still sort of weird. He's 31-years old and even during his best season wasn't more than a #6 SP. But I guess he's be a nice swing man. Anderson and Koehler would be nice SP depth if they both sign. I have to think the FO has interest in that, otherwise why make those moves during a lost season?

I think Dee Gordon is a tremendous fit. The Marlins, I assume, want to reduce payroll, and I think Gordon is good for 40+ SBs for the duration of his contract. He may even be able to be an effective lead off hitter with this lineup.

I think Cobb would be an excellent signing. I think he'd have a chance to be a 2/3 on our staff.

1. I'd rather have JB that Morales as DH. In a perfect world... 2. Maybe, but I'd sign one more person, too. Not a bank buster, but someone like like a Curtis Granderson. Maybe Jay Bruce. 3. I'm on the trade him side here. 4. Someone like Dee Gordon would be a nice get. 5. I'd say minors for sure here, unless someone falls into their laps.