Darren Oliver to return to Jays for... $3M!

[SharoneWright]

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/team/de ... p?c_id=tor

[BigLeagueChew]

John Lott ‏@LottOnBaseball

Oliver: "Not once did I ever demand anything from the Blue Jays or Alex." Agent Jeff Frye's comments annoyed him when he found out.

John Lott ‏@LottOnBaseball

The big trades "absolutely" influenced Oliver's decision. "I'm still chasing the ring."

[Graham's Cracker]

I'm sure AA would do him a solid (deal him to Texas) if we were out of contention prior to deadline anyhow. Not gonna happen though.

[spykelee]

That's awesome! Good job AA. Way to not give in. And ecstatic to have him back, he was as solid as solid get's.

And whoever wanted Soriano... I was shocked, shocked, at 14 million per. WOW. I mean, good pitcher but jesus man... I'll take Oliver @ 3 million 8 days a week over Soriano and that deal.

[Michael Bradley]

I can think of three million reasons why Oliver came back to play for the Jays, whether he wanted to or not. Regardless, great news. Even better that AA did not have to pay him more to come back.

With Happ, Lincoln, and Loup all having options left, it will be interesting to see how the bullpen shapes up by Opening Day. Cecil and Rogers are out of options, so I think it is safe to pencil them in along with Janssen, Santos, Oliver, and Delabar. That one remaining spot is up in the air.

[satyr9]

I can think of three million reasons why Oliver came back to play for the Jays, whether he wanted to or not. Regardless, great news. Even better that AA did not have to pay him more to come back.

With Happ, Lincoln, and Loup all having options left, it will be interesting to see how the bullpen shapes up by Opening Day. Cecil and Rogers are out of options, so I think it is safe to pencil them in along with Janssen, Santos, Oliver, and Delabar. That one remaining spot is up in the air.

I think it's a little too high to say $1 = 1 reason. How about $20 = 1 reason. So he only had 150,000 reasons. Really even if the current exchange rate for dollars to reasons is $3,000,000:1, that'd still be enough right? /semanticsfornopurpose

I agree with the rest of it about who stays and goes. I do think for Lincoln to start in AAA someone's going to have to absolutely destroy in comparison in ST.

There's also Happ, who's a tough one. Having options and actually sending him to AAA are different things. IMO he's done enough with his career to justify himself as a big leaguer and he'll be pretty upset if he's sent down. If there was a way to take Happ, Lind, and Davis, get a real AAA SP who fits as a 6th (meaning he's ready for MLB, but won't cry in AAA) and spend the savings on any kind of upgrade for DH, I'd be happy. I don't see trades with TEX as likely, but something like Happ and Lind for Perez and Moreland, then spend the excess money on a guy like S.Hairston to platoon. I'm not saying it's even possible, but if such a thing were out there I'd be interested.

Of course all that assumes a healthy roster coming out of ST, which is likely why AA isn't worried about these potential surpluses. He certainly hasn't ever had that kind of luck in the past.

[tecumseh18]

Really even if the current exchange rate for dollars to reasons is $3,000,000:1, that'd still be enough right?

Fine for Oliver. But I need at least one reason to get up and go to work each day, not some tiny fraction of a reason.

[LLJ]

Haha. Either Frye really did try to milk AA behind Oliver's back or Frye told Oliver to run a sword through him after it was apparent they lost the game of chicken.

[Santoki]

There's also Happ, who's a tough one. Having options and actually sending him to AAA are different things. IMO he's done enough with his career to justify himself as a big leaguer and he'll be pretty upset if he's sent down. If there was a way to take Happ, Lind, and Davis, get a real AAA SP who fits as a 6th (meaning he's ready for MLB, but won't cry in AAA) and spend the savings on any kind of upgrade for DH, I'd be happy. I don't see trades with TEX as likely, but something like Happ and Lind for Perez and Moreland, then spend the excess money on a guy like S.Hairston to platoon. I'm not saying it's even possible, but if such a thing were out there I'd be interested.

Of course all that assumes a healthy roster coming out of ST, which is likely why AA isn't worried about these potential surpluses. He certainly hasn't ever had that kind of luck in the past.

AA has learned from last season in that you need AAA depth that is major-league ready and not just guys who couldn't really make the big club but aren't in need of development (like AA).

I'd be more than happy to see a guy like Lincoln stretched out and Happ down in AAA to be ready if (when) the inevitable starting pitching injuries hit. At least this season we'll be able to hold the fort until that guy/those guys come back healthy.

[satyr9]

Really even if the current exchange rate for dollars to reasons is $3,000,000:1, that'd still be enough right?

Fine for Oliver. But I need at least one reason to get up and go to work each day, not some tiny fraction of a reason.

tecumseh, no one works fast food drive-through for the money, you're in it for the love of the mcgame.