Carlos Pena

[turtle_15]

The Jays IMO don't need a 32 year old player who can barley hit .200 in there line-up i would much rather have Lind at 1b

[Ducksplatt]

Sounds like a smokescreen (either from the agent or the Jays).
Maybe throwing people off while the Jays trade for Greinke.

[LBJSeizedMyID]

It is more than likely a smokescreen, but Pena has a funny pattern developing in terms of his power.

2007 - .282 | 46 HR | 121 RBI
2008 - .247 | 31 HR | 102 RBI
2009 - .227 | 39 HR | 100 RBI
2010 - .196 | 28 HR | 84 RBI

I suppose there's a pattern with his average as well, but wonder if he'd sign a two year deal, hope for a monster season this year and then trade him next year. Just randomness I'm thinking right now. Anytime you can sign someone from the AL East I'm usually for. IF this is true I guess AA feels only way you can survive the AL East is outslug your way to the top. Baltimore may be thinking the same thing, but I'd rather sign Adam Laroche who's probably cheaper for a little less power and much better defense.

[mini]

Not really related to Pena, but about 1stB, does anyone know what's up with D.Lee? What kind of contract is he looking for? Is he washed up? His name is not mentioned very often with any team (although the A's appear to be interested... they have their name tied to every player it appears, much like the Jays).

[ItsDanger]

Id pass on this guy. We already have a lot of power in our lineup. Id rather have a .280+ hitter 25hr that walks a lot. You know, what Overbay was supposed to be.

[LBJSeizedMyID]

Think the Jays concept is to start getting their names out there as much as possible. Put it in players heads that they're almost ready to compete, might just make it more attractive to play in Toronto. As much free publicity to the American outlets as possible is a good thing. Even the John Farrell interview with MLB.com and their group of guys including Harold Reynolds were bigging up the Blue Jays saying we're stacked offensively.

[YogiStewart]

This is starting to become a Vaudeville act. We seem to be after every hoofer and tweeter on the Actors' Equity roll. It's great FREE publicity, but it gets a little tedious to just hear rumors of interest without any supporting evidence, and after a while, one suspects that it is just a ruse to make us think the team is super serious about doing something.

I'm not sure the organization is behind this, or agents who have done their homework and understand our positional needs and seeming ability to spend. Probably the later, but it is making me more cynical about AA's this offseason.

I think we're learning that, for good or bad, AA doesn't leave a stone unturned. he spent forever finding a new manager. i don't doubt that he's inquired about all of the B+/A free agents. but...you're complaining about a GM who's keeping his finger on the pulse of winter free agency so he can a) establish the value of his pending free agents, b) let Rogers know how much dough ray me he needs to be competitive this season or next, c) is ready to pounce on a FA that may slip through the cracks?

also, take Twitter with a grain of salt. AA may be "competitive", but it may simply be a media stunt to let player agents know to check with Toronto, or it may be a coordinated bluff to drive up a player's price/value. you really don't know.

[rarefind]

I'm going to assume this is fabricated. With their apparently being mutual interest between the Jays and Manny, this makes no sense. Manny would probably come much cheaper than Pena and will be on a shorter deal.

The last thing our line up needs is Pena, I don't care if he hits 60 jacks next season. His batting average woes and obp are disastrous. I rather see david cooper who has won't hit for much, but at least won't cost anything either.

[CapeCrusader]

I would get him if he came cheap, but he won't. His power numbers are great, but his BA will loose us more games then anything.

[kelso]

Pena goes from a .196 avg & .325 OBP to a .239 avg & .411 OBP with runners in scoring position. To me, RISP is a better indicator of worth than BA. BA won't lose you games, not cashing runners will.

I doubt we get him though because his agent will ensure someone overpays for him.

[Skin Blues]

BA is mostly meaningless. Bautista had a "bad" BA last year and was a top 5 hitter in the league. That doesn't mean there aren't other reasons to be worried about Pena, namely that his OBA and SLG have tumbled lately. He's a fairly safe bet to significantly improve those numbers, and even if he doesn't, a .325 OBA is an improvement over the .312 mark the team combined for last season, and we all know what kind of power he has. The low BA might be enough to drive his price tag down. Still, a one-year deal with Manny is probably the safest route.

[gill612]

The Chicago Cubs have signed Carlos Pena to a one year 10 million dollar contract. Matt Diaz also just signed with the Pirates to a two year contract.

[evilRyu]

yup, here's the link: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=A ... -cubs-pena

i had no idea he was 32!

[YogiStewart]

and thus ends the Jays' rumour