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Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Fri Nov 5, 2010 4:31 pm
by LittleOzzy
MLB free agency period begins on Sunday, and while the Toronto Blue Jays aren't expected to be very active on the open market, they do have a few holes on their current roster that need to be filled.
Improving the starting rotation may not be a priority for the Jays this off-season – Ricky Romero, Shaun Marcum, Brendan Morrow, and Brett Cecil are all but locked into the top four spots and a number of prospects, including Kyle Drabek, are being considered for the final spot – but as evidenced by last year, injuries occur and you can never have too many arms at your disposal.
A number of Canadian ball players have passed through (or are currently in) the Jays system, including right-hander Shawn Hill, who started four games for Toronto last season, and another Canadian hurler could certainly give Jays fans someone extra to cheer for.
Let's take a look at each player:
Jeff Francis: Francis started 19 games last season and finished with a 4-6 record and a 5.00 earned run average. The 29-year-old southpaw's best season was in 2007 when he finished 17-9 with a 4.22 ERA in 34 starts but hasn't been able to recapture those numbers since as he has fought shoulder injuries for the past three seasons.
Rich Harden: Harden started 18 games for the Rangers last season, compiling a 5-5 record with a 5.58 ERA. Early in his career, Harden started strong putting up a few very solid seasons while with the Oakland A's, but injuries and ineffectiveness has plagued his career of late, and the 29-year-old right-hander has been on three teams in the past three years.
Erik Bedard: Bedard sat out the entire 2010 season due to shoulder injuries. Once considered a legitimate ace, Bedard has been a bit of a disappointment ever since being traded to the Mariners in a blockbuster deal. The biggest question with Bedard may now be whether or not he can stay healthy enough to contribute to a big league club.
http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=340001
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Fri Nov 5, 2010 5:00 pm
by Relentless88
I say Bedard.
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Fri Nov 5, 2010 5:23 pm
by Raptor_Guy
Considering we need bullpen arms I'd say Harden, he could be a nice late inning reliever. Bedard seems better suited for starting, I doubt he'd want to be the lefty guy in a bullpen.
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Fri Nov 5, 2010 6:45 pm
by hyper316
wow i can't believe francis is already 29. seems like yesterday when he was just the young kid getting his first start. if i'd pick, i'd say bedard. just hope he can return back to form, although most likely not
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Fri Nov 5, 2010 8:19 pm
by The_Hater
It's pretty incredible that all 3 of those guys basically fell off the map with injuries at the same time.
I think Bedard is the best bet. Francis has never reached the same level as the other two and Harden, while the best pitcher of the 3 at his peak, was pretty brutal this year. He's had so many injuries over his career that he might be on a permanent slide.
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Fri Nov 5, 2010 10:52 pm
by DonYon
3-4 years ago we'd all be jizzing at the possibility of getting all three guys...
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Sat Nov 6, 2010 1:23 am
by J-Roc
Was there a purpose to this article? I don't see the Jays going after any of these guys. Should have been an article about who the 3 Canadian free agent pitchers are this offseason, and not even mention the Blue Jays.
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Sat Nov 6, 2010 1:50 am
by MGD24
J-Roc wrote:Was there a purpose to this article? I don't see the Jays going after any of these guys. Should have been an article about who the 3 Canadian free agent pitchers are this offseason, and not even mention the Blue Jays.
I agree...no reason to mention the Jays.
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Sat Nov 6, 2010 5:49 pm
by Nolan
I wouldn't mind taking a chance on Francis. He's got a good arm and he's put up some decent numbers in the past pitching in a hitters park.
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Sun Nov 7, 2010 8:35 pm
by vancityballer
I don;t see any of the three on the Jays roster next year. I know Rich through his sister and understand that he is a very, very hard worker. He has had real shoulder issues that surgery will only complicate and force him into retirement. I'd like to see him in camp w/ a team next year, but he doesn't suit the Jays current direction. Francis is a huge question mark, joining Bedard in that department.
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Sun Nov 7, 2010 9:48 pm
by Mike Hunt
Francis would give the Jays two Canadian guys picked in the top-10 of the same draft (2002) that both underachieved due to injury (Loewen being the other). They also had the underachieving 1st overall pick from that draft, last year (Bullington). It would make for an interesting story.
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Sun Nov 7, 2010 11:37 pm
by KPJR
dont wanna sound like a hater, but why do the jays or jays fans feel obligated to acquire canadian players? some are really good (morneau in particular) but if it unnecessary why do it?
remember when JP got corey koskie? what a failure that was.
bedard and harden are injury-riddle
francis i might take a shot at...
btw whats up with adam loewen? how is his progress?
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Mon Nov 8, 2010 3:33 pm
by DonYon
not a starter, but isn't Jesse Crain also a FA? His number looks good, but I don't much about his pitching style, mechanics, or his arsenal...
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Mon Nov 8, 2010 4:33 pm
by Ong_dynasty
KPJR wrote:dont wanna sound like a hater, but why do the jays or jays fans feel obligated to acquire canadian players? some are really good (morneau in particular) but if it unnecessary why do it?
remember when JP got corey koskie? what a failure that was.
bedard and harden are injury-riddle
francis i might take a shot at...
btw whats up with adam loewen? how is his progress?
I dont think we feel obligated. Its just nice, same as when players go play for their home teams.
I will look at bedard and harden if its one year incentive deals. Those are the type of deals that could be real steals. Bedard as a number 5 and Harden to start off the bullpen. If they are willing, why not?
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Mon Nov 8, 2010 5:36 pm
by tecumseh18
If you take as a given that it's harder for Toronto teams to attract US-born free agents (see the limousine to Baltimore rider in AJ's contract with us), then I don't see why the Jays shouldn't make a point of targeting Canadian, as well as Asian and Latino, free agents.
But as always, I'd first like to know - what does AA want to accomplish this year? It's a given that we still can't ride the young pitchers' arms too much. Morrow for one will still have his innings restricted. I'd stick to the 2012 agenda. OTOH, the Jays are the only winning team in Toronto right now, and it would be a shame to sacrifice the goodwill that may flow from that by taking a (temporary) step back in 2011.
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Tue Nov 9, 2010 1:39 am
by Leolovinliberal
I'll be the unpopular guy and say that despite they hype of the other guys, at this present time, Shaun Hill is better than the other three.
Re: Which Canadian starter should the Jays pursue?
Posted: Tue Nov 9, 2010 9:00 pm
by The_Hater
KPJR wrote:dont wanna sound like a hater, but why do the jays or jays fans feel obligated to acquire canadian players? some are really good (morneau in particular) but if it unnecessary why do it?
remember when JP got corey koskie? what a failure that was.
bedard and harden are injury-riddle
francis i might take a shot at...
btw whats up with adam loewen? how is his progress?
I wouldn't acquire any of them just because they're Canadian but each of them could be a low risk, low cost, high reward type player.