Alex Anthopoulos: "I think that we

polo007 · Post #1 » by **polo007** » Mon Jan 9, 2012 11:34 pm

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2012/0 ... thopoulos/

In a conference call with reporters, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said Oliver’s signing leaves room to add possibly one more bullpen arm, but other than that, what you see now is likely what you’ll get when camp opens in six weeks’ time.

"I think that we’re done, but we’ll continue to explore a few things here and there," he said.

This winter the Blue Jays have seemingly been linked to every front-of-the-rotation starter on the trade market, but watched as the likes of Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez and Mat Latos were dealt elsewhere. In October Anthopoulos said he would like to add another starter before next season but on Monday he refused to reveal how high it is on his to-do list.

"I don’t know if it’s a priority, the priority is to continue to make the team better," he said. "But again it can’t be forced. It has to be at the right price. There are a lot of things we could have done this past off-season to say that we did it, but I don’t think they would have been good timing or good trades for us…I think they would have been bad."

Another one of Anthopoulos’ off-season priorities was remaking the back of the bullpen and he’s done just that with the additions of Oliver, closer Sergio Santos and setup man Jason Frasor, the latter two in separate trades with the Chicago White Sox.

"Right now we feel good about our bullpen, and we are still having some dialogue and we still might add one more guy to the ‘pen. We’re still open-minded if the right free agent landed in our lap."

powerhouse117 · Post #2 » by **powerhouse117** » Mon Jan 9, 2012 11:57 pm

Those words could lay the groundwork for an AA-style fakeout on the rest of baseball when he pulls another rabbit out of his hat.

Post #3 » by **CPT** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:08 am

A little bit of expectation management.

I think we all know AA is never "done."

flatjacket1 · Post #4 » by **flatjacket1** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:48 am

I believe if you use an AA translator it means "Don't yell at us if we can't sign Fielder"

Secueritae · Post #5 » by **Secueritae** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:13 am

I'm really disappointed if that's it, and it was a pretty weak off-season . Regardless of not signing Darvish or Fielder, none of our moves were really significant and we're walking in with the same team but with a slightly better bullpen (maybe +5~10 more wins).

We don't have another bat that can get good pitches while Bautista gets scraps. We don't have any starting pitchers, and we're left with starters who would be relievers on other teams or starters in AAA.

This team seems more like a circus, come watch Bautista hit a homer, or the Canadian Kid Brett Lawrie, but in no way are they advertising come watch us push for the play-offs.

Michael Bradley · Post #6 » by **Michael Bradley** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:14 am

I don't expect AA to make a move for a starter unless that starter can safely be penciled in behind Romero in the rotation. If you think about it, why trade for a struggling prospect on another team when you have a top 30 prospect (pre-2011) in Kyle Drabek coming off a down year? The Jays are better off giving him a chance to rebound rather than trading assets to acquire someone similar. Why sign a reclamation project when you have Dustin McGowan presumably healthy again? If the Jays can acquire someone better than Romero (preferably) or someone at least better than Morrow/Cecil/Alvarez (more realistic) then I think AA would pursue it, but I get the feeling he is going big or sticking with what he has. Latos would have been a good pick-up, but I'm not convinced the Gio's of the world would really make a difference for this team.

Offensively I could see AA trying to get a LF or 1B, but again, they have two pretty good prospects in Snider and Thames who can handle LF, and since AA never sells low I think he will stick with Lind until Lind turns it around (if he ever does). You have to look at the cost of what it would take to get an offensive upgrade vs. what the team could reasonably expect from what they have.

AA can always pull a move out of thin air, and it wouldn't surprise me if he did, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Jays are legitimately done either.

Randle McMurphy · Post #7 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:19 am

If they're actually done (though I kind of doubt they are), they're likely going to waste another season in which they could have made the playoffs and another season of an elite player's prime. Not that any of this should be surprising for anybody that's followed this team under Rogers, but nobody should pretend like the Jays weren't capable of making the postseason in 2012 with some money spent on a few additions.

Michael Bradley · Post #8 » by **Michael Bradley** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:23 am

My hope is AA makes a move for an impact talent who no one even thought was available. I'm still clinging to that hope, but I'm prepared for the team to walk into next season with the core already in place (with maybe a few minor moves).

Post #9 » by **Duffman100** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:25 am

Done? Did they start?

BobbyBoy · Post #10 » by **BobbyBoy** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:50 am

One of the most disappointing offseasons that I can remember. I hope he has something up his sleeve.

baulderdash77 · Post #11 » by **baulderdash77** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 2:07 am

Duffman100 wrote:Done? Did they start?

+1.

Big moves for our offseason. Picking up a closer and our major free agent signing- a 41 year old lefty specialist. Underwhelming to say the least.

J-Roc · Post #12 » by **J-Roc** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 2:20 am

AA still living off the genius of the rebuilding GM. Making moves for players who only need to show potential. The hardest part of being a GM is taking the next steps and deciding where to make bold moves that are worth a lot of money. Clearly the majority of fans are willing to give the Jays another year, maybe two, so he's all good. Good thing the have Jose "the placeholder" Bautista to keep fans happy for now.

Chevy Chase · Post #13 » by **Chevy Chase** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 2:31 am

Secueritae wrote:I'm really disappointed if that's it, and it was a pretty weak off-season . Regardless of not signing Darvish or Fielder, none of our moves were really significant and we're walking in with the same team but with a slightly better bullpen (maybe +5~10 more wins).

We don't have another bat that can get good pitches while Bautista gets scraps. We don't have any starting pitchers, and we're left with starters who would be relievers on other teams or starters in AAA.

This team seems more like a circus, come watch Bautista hit a homer, or the Canadian Kid Brett Lawrie, but in no way are they advertising come watch us push for the play-offs.

Oh, but don't worry. The media will be chiding us with: "the Toronto fans didn't even come out to see an all-star like Bautista play, why should Roger's spend money on a bid name." in a couple of years. Just like how they put us down for not coming out more to support Clemens or Halliday. People don't come out to watch one star on a loosing team. It doesn't work like that and the reporters in the city know that, but they have to find a reason to back up the big bosses.

Graham's Cracker · Post #14 » by **Graham's Cracker** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 2:36 am

Dissapointed they're squandering a year of Jose's dominance by not 'going for it'. On the other hand, I'm glad guys like Snider, Drabek and Cecil will have an opportunity to regain their status with the Jays. It'd be dissapointing to sell low on these guys this off-season only for them to bounce back with another club.

Back2back2back · Post #15 » by **Back2back2back** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 2:41 am

Randle McMurphy wrote:If they're actually done (though I kind of doubt they are), they're likely going to waste another season in which they could have made the playoffs and another season of an elite player's prime. Not that any of this should be surprising for anybody that's followed this team under Rogers, but nobody should pretend like the Jays weren't capable of making the postseason in 2012 with some money spent on a few additions.

Agreed.

U_Mad · Post #16 » by **U_Mad** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:02 am

Massive smokescreen... no more hanging out with BC Alex

Mattd97 · Post #17 » by **Mattd97** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:11 am

PeterPetr wrote:
Randle McMurphy wrote:If they're actually done (though I kind of doubt they are), they're likely going to waste another season in which they could have made the playoffs and another season of an elite player's prime. Not that any of this should be surprising for anybody that's followed this team under Rogers, but nobody should pretend like the Jays weren't capable of making the postseason in 2012 with some money spent on a few additions.

Agreed.

tecumseh18 · Post #18 » by **tecumseh18** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:22 am

Duffman100 wrote:Done? Did they start?

Didn't you get the memo? Oliver is AA's biggest free agent signing yet - $4 million. If I were a journalist on the call, I would have asked him what his ceiling was for signing an FA next year - $5 mill? $6 mill? Of course, I'm talking total life of the contract.

Post #19 » by **Duffman100** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:32 am

tecumseh18 wrote:
Duffman100 wrote:Done? Did they start?

Didn't you get the memo? Oliver is AA's biggest free agent signing yet - $4 million. If I were a journalist on the call, I would have asked him what his ceiling was for signing an FA next year - $5 mill? $6 mill? Of course, I'm talking total life of the contract.

Right, sorry, I forgot about adding some bullpen arms. Silly me wanting a clean-up hitter and another solid starting pitcher.

dagger · Post #20 » by **dagger** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:41 am

Duffman100 wrote:
tecumseh18 wrote:
Duffman100 wrote:Done? Did they start?

Didn't you get the memo? Oliver is AA's biggest free agent signing yet - $4 million. If I were a journalist on the call, I would have asked him what his ceiling was for signing an FA next year - $5 mill? $6 mill? Of course, I'm talking total life of the contract.

Right, sorry, I forgot about adding some bullpen arms. Silly me wanting a clean-up hitter and another solid starting pitcher.

Ya, even if they had signed an interim guy like Beltran, it would have given the fans a reason to be optimistic. I'm not sure I can watch Adam Lind batting cleanup for another 162 games.