Buster ESPN: How about Ortiz to Toronto?

dagger · Post #1 » by **dagger** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 6:56 pm

Buster_ESPN Buster Olney
A colleague had this idea which makes a lot of sense: David Ortiz to Toronto. Veteran guy who is very close with Bautista, he's won, mentor.

You have to think he's taking a paycut no matter what, and might like a combination of decent base pay, solid incentives plus a friendly environment.

flatjacket1 · Post #2 » by **flatjacket1** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 8:36 pm

I'd do it. He fits where we have somewhat of a hole, and Ortiz would love to play the Sox's and do funny bat tosses.

Adds swag

Only problem is we lose our draft pick :'( (Type A)

CapeCrusader · Post #3 » by **CapeCrusader** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 9:06 pm

Depends how much and how long.

Post #4 » by **Schad** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 10:13 pm

He's 36 in a month, and will want three years at big money. I dunno...if we can't get Votto, Fielder or Pujols, maybe. Wouldn't make him a priority, though.

Wo1verine · Post #5 » by **Wo1verine** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 10:39 pm

I highly doubt AA would give up our draft pick for 36 year-old.. Though 2/24 with a team option would get 'er done, imo.

Randle McMurphy · Post #6 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 11:03 pm

I'd do it if we don't make the same mistake that we did with Frank Thomas and give him 3 years (which is what the Big Hurt would have had if we didn't dump him two weeks into the 2008 season for little reason). It would be a much cheaper way of upgrading our offense than signing Pujols/Fielder. You could also platoon EE with Lind, then.

flatjacket1 · Post #7 » by **flatjacket1** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 12:30 am

Randle McMurphy wrote:I'd do it if we don't make the same mistake that we did with Frank Thomas and give him 3 years (which is what the Big Hurt would have had if we didn't dump him two weeks into the 2008 season for little reason). It would be a much cheaper way of upgrading our offense than signing Pujols/Fielder. You could also platoon EE with Lind, then.

I doubt his contract will look anything like Franks.

Kurtz · Post #8 » by **Kurtz** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 5:46 am

He's more likely to be a locker room cancer than a mentor.

And I'm fairly certain that he's had his two resurgence seasons to play himself into a lucrative career-ending contract, and will show up next year as a big fat, useless guy once more.

Post #9 » by **CPT** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:18 am

Kurtz wrote:He's more likely to be a locker room cancer than a mentor.

And I'm fairly certain that he's had his two resurgence seasons to play himself into a lucrative career-ending contract, and will show up next year as a big fat, useless guy once more.

Agreed.

Even if we strike out on adding a big bat by sign or trade, I'd prefer to steer clear of this guy. He'll probably still be looking for more than it would make sense to give him at this point in his career. And the draft picks.

Would be interesting though. Would actually be more interesting if we DO bring in a big bat. That would be a lineup with some serious pop.

flatjacket1 · Post #10 » by **flatjacket1** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 3:02 pm

CPT wrote:
Kurtz wrote:He's more likely to be a locker room cancer than a mentor.

And I'm fairly certain that he's had his two resurgence seasons to play himself into a lucrative career-ending contract, and will show up next year as a big fat, useless guy once more.

Agreed.

Even if we strike out on adding a big bat by sign or trade, I'd prefer to steer clear of this guy. He'll probably still be looking for more than it would make sense to give him at this point in his career. And the draft picks.

Would be interesting though. Would actually be more interesting if we DO bring in a big bat. That would be a lineup with some serious pop.

I believe Ortiz is loud, but would do the opposite. This dude adds character.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBCVp2PPdMk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCPnKpJP ... re=related

Post #11 » by **CPT** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 3:27 pm

Right. When I said it would be interesting, I should have included that it would be "fun." Having a character like Papi on your team just makes it more fun to watch.

I'm just not convinced he would be a positive influence/have the same swagger on the Jays. I don't see us being his first choice, nor would he be ours.

Just not the right match, IMO.

NeverGoingToWin · Post #12 » by **NeverGoingToWin** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 4:33 pm

Zaun said his only options are the Sox, Yankees and Jays but he will choose the Yankees in the end.

Post #13 » by **Mr Swagtastic** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 5:11 pm

AirCanada_1515 wrote:Zaun said his only options are the Sox, Yankees and Jays but he will choose the Yankees in the end.

He makes perfect sense for the Yankees. 1) it will piss the **** out of Boston fans to no end. 2) He is a perfect DH for that system who you could put at 4-6 and have no problems playing him there. Having a potential Cano/A-Roid/Tex/Granderson/Ortiz heart of your order is scary for pitchers to face esp in New York and their hitter friendly park.

Relentless88 · Post #14 » by **Relentless88** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 5:31 pm

Mr Swagtastic wrote:
AirCanada_1515 wrote:Zaun said his only options are the Sox, Yankees and Jays but he will choose the Yankees in the end.

He makes perfect sense for the Yankees. 1) it will piss the **** out of Boston fans to no end. 2) He is a perfect DH for that system who you could put at 4-6 and have no problems playing him there. Having a potential Cano/A-Roid/Tex/Granderson/Ortiz heart of your order is scary for pitchers to face esp in New York and their hitter friendly park.

I don't think it makes much sense for the Yankees. Yankees have Montero who lived up to the hype in the time he played. They'd want to give him at bats (not too great defensively at C so he'll DH a lot). Also Jeter and A-Rod have both been declining on the field, so they'll need the DH spot to play them.

Post #15 » by **Mr Swagtastic** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 7:28 pm

Relentless88 wrote:
Mr Swagtastic wrote:
AirCanada_1515 wrote:Zaun said his only options are the Sox, Yankees and Jays but he will choose the Yankees in the end.

He makes perfect sense for the Yankees. 1) it will piss the **** out of Boston fans to no end. 2) He is a perfect DH for that system who you could put at 4-6 and have no problems playing him there. Having a potential Cano/A-Roid/Tex/Granderson/Ortiz heart of your order is scary for pitchers to face esp in New York and their hitter friendly park.

I don't think it makes much sense for the Yankees. Yankees have Montero who lived up to the hype in the time he played. They'd want to give him at bats (not too great defensively at C so he'll DH a lot). Also Jeter and A-Rod have both been declining on the field, so they'll need the DH spot to play them.

Jesus Montero is a good prospect no doubt about that and has imprssed so far. I think that Russell Martin is still the man as far as their catcher fulltime. The point I think I was trying to make is that Ortiz is a guy who puts them over the top more so then they are now. Having that much power is just scary Texas proved it all year long and look where they are. Yes they have a great all around team but they have scary power as well. I think The Yanks would be happy to add another true slugger to the fold while maintaing their team. The way I see it is Russell Martin and Jesus Montero split the duties at the catchers spot bearing Martin's injury history and Ortiz is the full time DH.

A 2 year $12 million a year is peanuts for the Yankees I am sure they spend that much on their grounds crew

Dr Positivity · Post #16 » by **Dr Positivity** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:22 pm

I think it's a no brainer, it doesn't effect the Fielder/Pujols/Votto situation whatsoever unless we wanted to go after 2 of those guys, and it weakens the Red Sox.

I would love to see Bautista, Ortiz and Fielder/Votto in the middle of the lineup next year.

Weems · Post #17 » by **Weems** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:22 am

Yeah, I'd happily watch Fielder 150 games a season at 1B if we had those 3 in the middle of the order.

baulderdash77 · Post #18 » by **baulderdash77** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:13 am

First off- I don't think he's going to cost a draft pick. There's no way the Sox offer arbitration.

If we can get David Ortiz on a 2 year/16 million deal or something like that then you have to jump at it. He is the best DH in baseball and you know he's going to be killing the Sox and Yankees for the next few years if you sign him.

Relentless88 · Post #19 » by **Relentless88** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:06 am

I think he'll cost a lot more than 2/16. Maybe something like what Manny got in LA (3 year 36 million?). That would be too much, and he'd cost a draft pick. Doesn't seem like something AA would do.

Earlier this season ESPN Insider's Matt Meyers wrote that the Toronto Blue Jays should sign Prince Fielder. They are certainly one of the clubs that have a need at first base and could use some left-handed power. Whether or not the money works for them remains to be seen, but ... what a lineup!

As seen above, adding Fielder could give the Blue Jays the best middle of the order in the game with Fielder, Jose Bautista and Brett Lawrie, easily competing with the middle three of New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers.

The Jays could also improve the options at the top of the order in front of big boppers, and if Colby Rasmus finally flips the switch, we may be talking about the top offense in baseball, and one where Rasmus, left fielder Travis Snider and catcher J.P. Arencibia bat in the bottom third of the order. Yikes.

Jays lineup with Prince
Yunel Escobar, SS
Kelly Johnson, 2B
Jose Bautista, RF
Prince Fielder, 1B
Brett Lawrie, 3B
Adam Lind, DH
Travis Snider, LF
J.P. Arencibia, C
Colby Rasmus, CF

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/features/rumors

Randle McMurphy · Post #20 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:54 am

There won't be a large market for Ortiz' services. It's hard to see him getting that much.