Brownie19

Fair enough - hard to disagree. I just don't think the probability he returns to a 3+ WAR player is worth giving up our remaining budget and/or prospects (although those are both assumptions). Ryan Howard has 20 career WAR - but at some point, you just accept the fact that the good things you did 3-5 years ago is simply irrelevant. Bruce may not be at that point...but he's right on the edge.

How did Bruce look in 2014? unlucky? or like s***...just like he did last year. I have no idea why you think he doesn't need to be fixed after 1000+ PA's of sub 90 wRC+ production. He's as broken as Brown is. That said, I agree that there's a better chance Bruce bounces back (simply due to the longer track record).......however, I think it's still highly unlikely.....I think it's even more unlikely he bounces back to the point where he's significantly better than 600 PA's of Pompey and thus I STRONGLY disagree with spending our remaining budget on this glimmer of hope that Bruce returns to a 3+ WAR player and is a big upgrade over Pompey/Saunders.

I think so - but Machado, Davis and the Showalter effect should keep them out of the basement.

Bruce has a better track record - but the last time either player was good - Brown was the better hitter... Let's be honest - both players probably suck.........but only one comes with a $13.5M price tag.

Christ - why didn't we just trade for Coghlan? only owed $4.8M this year (FA next year) and has been 2.4 - 3.3 WAR the past 2 years. We could have offered him a QO after the year and watched the O's sign him for no reason and give us their draft pick.

Same could/would be said about Jay Bruce...who we'd owe $13.5M. That said - both Brown and Bruce played RF....is there a chance their defense improves (to a reasonable level) if they spend most their time in LF? I guess the only way it would is if it's their arm that's the issue....something tells me Brown has a cannon...no idea about Bruce.

I'd sign him up on a minor league deal / invite too!

Dom Brown - meet Tewks...he'll be working with you for the next 2 months to resurrect your career.

There - now we don't need to trade for Jay Bruce and pay him $13.5M... I don't mind this as a depth move....we need OF depth.

I think both are turrrrible. The solution seems so obvious to me.....bring back the white faced hats (either with the old 92/93 symbol - or the new symbol) and call it a day. Personally, I hate when they try and assimilate the Blue Jays with Canada I'm tired of remembering 92/93, so I'd go white face/new symbol. If I recall, they brought those back in season last year - just make them the ST hats.

The flaws are you've made an assumption that Price wanted to come back to Toronto. You've also made another massive assumption that Sanchez can start at the ML level. Your math is also poor as Price at $31M/year is $6M more than they spent on Happ & Estrada.

IMO - AA already did this by acquiring Donaldson and Tulo...even Martin to some respect. Drafted Stro....heck I already kinda consider Jose and EE to be "old news".

They have KFC buffet down in Florida where my parents are. They took us there one night "as a treat" (as they put it). It was disgusting. As expected.

My comments are bias as I despise the man. I hate Jeff Blair too.....with a passion.

oh well....if Bob Elliot says so. Did he get this tip via fax or telegram?

It's interesting because there are cases where you can use leaks and rumours to your advantage, but I have to think the best approach is to keep your yap shut. Will be interesting to see if they make an effort to get this under control or not.

Yeah I was aware of that clause...same with us and Happ...

Oh and I had a general (dumb) question.....can you issue a qualifying offer to ANY pending FA? Ie, it's not limited to guys who are hitting the FA market for the first time or something? I assume you can, which is why we could do that with Jose and EE?

Gives us a lot more to talk about though... Nobody wants to discuss how dumb Bobcat and his friends are?

Oh wow...off to a glorious start...

Happ was 28th most valuable starter in baseball last year and came without draft pick compensation. Gallardo is s***. Odd to see some surprised that Happ got more...

Did anyone catch Bobcat's riveting discussion with Barker today? It was classic. Highlights include: - Barker believes Sanchez will be in the pen because he only his 2 pitches...fastball and slider - but he still thinks his upside as a starter is off the charts. Bobcat notes he's been working out with Stroman in the offseason...assumes Stroman taught him a third pitch. No mention of his curveball or change up. - Barker thinks Osuna will stay in the pen because he only has 2 pitches...fastball and change up. Then he mentions a slow curveball Osuna was throwing late in the season (no idea what he's talkng about). Nobody intelligent enough to mention Osuna throws a wipeout slider... - Bobcat thinks Bruce would hit 40 hrs in Toronto...I'd have to assume he thinks that because RC is so good for hitters and he has no idea Cinny's park is a bandbox...errr maybe Bob is just stupid/ignorant. - Bobcat insists to every guest that Shatkins should be exploring trading Batista NOW.....not one guest mentions that Jose has 10/5 rights, which severely complicates the matter. - Everyone talks about losing Jose for nothing....nobody mentions a QO and draft pick compensation... - lots of chatter about how Bruce plays good defence. - Actual discussions on whether Jose has lost a step defensively with most suggesting he hasn't amd remains elite. I know I shouldn't expose myself to it...but it's f***ing embarrassing. These guys get paid to talk sports...can they at least not try and keep up? Barker was a catcher for Christ sakes - can he not keep track of what pitches our guys throw?

Players who play good defence and can hit are all the rage right now....Skatkins be like "we zig when others zag! We're going after guys who can't hit and can't field! We'll get ahead of the trend!" Shakes head. Thank god Saunders has no knee and this nightmare is over...

Even if the Reds pay the salary difference and the Jays don't give up a prospect you're forgetting Bruce has been worth -0.8 WAR (MINUS) over the past 2 years. Saunders was worth 2 WAR in 1/2 a season in 2014. I know that's old news and the knee injury may not allow him to return to that level, but Jay Bruce f***ing sucks...

What the f*** is happening and why in on earth do we now want Jay Bruce? Bruce was supposed to believe traded to the O's and we sit over here and laugh at how stupid they are.....