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I just wanted to get the board's thought on the slim scenario that Darvish doesn't sign with the Rangers before January 18. Assuming the Jays are still looking for an ace next winter and with the crop of top level talent next winter in Matt Cain, Cole Hamels and Zack Greinke, which of the four do you go after?

If it were up to me it would be any easy pick with Matt Cain.

Honestly at the reported 5/52 I would not be surprised to see Darvish didn't sign. Obviously, he does not care less about the posting fee. as he doesn't get it. He might feel he can easily make up the difference by waiting for free agency. I think the Rangers are about 2/mil per season light right now to get his autograph, and I would not be surprised to see Darvish easily get 5/75, if he goes to free agency in a couple of years.

Frankly I am very shocked after outbidding everybody else so dramatically that the Rangers would play cute now. Buyer's remorse? Or was this whole endeavour a Yankees cokblock? Like I said the sheer number of the Ranger's overbid really makes things look suspicious.

There's no reason to think that the Jays are going to sign an expensive free agent pitcher next offseason. Hamels or Greinke would be my choice, though. Cain's #'s are too inflated by his ballpark and competition.

Randle McMurphy wrote:There's no reason to think that the Jays are going to sign an expensive free agent pitcher next offseason. Hamels or Greinke would be my choice, though. Cain's #'s are too inflated by his ballpark and competition.

This exactly. Although I'd certainly be okay with throwing another posting fee the Ham Fighters' way as well. Can never have too much top quality pitching.

powerhouse117 wrote:I just wanted to get the board's thought on the slim scenario that Darvish doesn't sign with the Rangers before January 18. Assuming the Jays are still looking for an ace next winter and with the crop of top level talent next winter in Matt Cain, Cole Hamels and Zack Greinke, which of the four do you go after?

If it were up to me it would be any easy pick with Matt Cain.

I can tell you right now which one Rogers will go after.

I would love Hamels, but I could see AA going for Greinke since he was a guy that has been targeted.

I would go with Darvish if it were possible. I watched him a lot when I lived in Japan and I just have a really good feeling about him being dominating. But what do I know?

Hamels would be great, same With greinke. I don't see why he wouldn't go after one of those guys, unless you see some propSpects really move up

As per wiretap, Darvish is looking for a 5 year deal and the Rangers want to lock him down for 6.

Gotta say, I like the confidence.

I really hope Texas can't make a deal.

Even if Darvish doesn't sign with Texas, we still wouldn't have a chance next off-season.
He won't be posted next season as he will become a FA, so he can negotiate with any team he wants, and he has continuously said he desires to play for a west coast team as it is closer to Japan.

Plus, I don't think we have to go into the main reason why we won't be able to sign him

Back on topic, I don't see any of these players joining our team but Hamels would look nice in a jays uniform

CPT wrote:As per wiretap, Darvish is looking for a 5 year deal and the Rangers want to lock him down for 6.

Gotta say, I like the confidence.

I can't see that issue being a deal breaker. One side or the other will give, and the Jays will have Texas or Angels and/or two of the Big 3 in the East to beat out for a wildcard spot, forever.

BobbyBoy wrote:Hamels would be great, same With greinke. I don't see why he wouldn't go after one of those guys, unless you see some propSpects really move up

I can see a hundred million reasons why he wouldn't.

I think the Yankees are already planning to sign Cole Hamels, which is why they sat on their money or gave out a one year deal to Kuroda. I can't imagine a scenario where Hamels, if he leaves Philly, goes anywhere but to the Yankees. A young lefty with high K's and good control? The Yankees are not going to sit out of that market. Greinke and Cain are inferior to Hamels, IMO, but either one is unlikely to sign with the Jays anyway.

Free agent pitchers are not going to sign with the Jays because AA is unlikely to hand out player friendly contracts ala Ricciardi. JP was able to sign Burnett because he went five years (which was a huge deal at the time) and gave an opt-out after three. AA would never do that and he is not going to go above 5 years so the chances of signing even a non-elite free agent starter (CJ Wilson calibre) is highly unlikely, much less a Hamels or Greinke type.

Michael Bradley wrote:I think the Yankees are already planning to sign Cole Hamels, which is why they sat on their money or gave out a one year deal to Kuroda. I can't imagine a scenario where Hamels, if he leaves Philly, goes anywhere but to the Yankees. A young lefty with high K's and good control? The Yankees are not going to sit out of that market. Greinke and Cain are inferior to Hamels, IMO, but either one is unlikely to sign with the Jays anyway.

Free agent pitchers are not going to sign with the Jays because AA is unlikely to hand out player friendly contracts ala Ricciardi. JP was able to sign Burnett because he went five years (which was a huge deal at the time) and gave an opt-out after three. AA would never do that and he is not going to go above 5 years so the chances of signing even a non-elite free agent starter (CJ Wilson calibre) is highly unlikely, much less a Hamels or Greinke type.

ARE YOU CRAZY? Hamels is a elite pitcher. He won the phillies a world series. AA said he only gives up 5 year contracts to pitchers (Romero) and it's rare to see him give a 5 year to a player.

BobbyBoy wrote:

Michael Bradley wrote:I think the Yankees are already planning to sign Cole Hamels, which is why they sat on their money or gave out a one year deal to Kuroda. I can't imagine a scenario where Hamels, if he leaves Philly, goes anywhere but to the Yankees. A young lefty with high K's and good control? The Yankees are not going to sit out of that market. Greinke and Cain are inferior to Hamels, IMO, but either one is unlikely to sign with the Jays anyway.

Free agent pitchers are not going to sign with the Jays because AA is unlikely to hand out player friendly contracts ala Ricciardi. JP was able to sign Burnett because he went five years (which was a huge deal at the time) and gave an opt-out after three. AA would never do that and he is not going to go above 5 years so the chances of signing even a non-elite free agent starter (CJ Wilson calibre) is highly unlikely, much less a Hamels or Greinke type.

ARE YOU CRAZY? Hamels is a elite pitcher. He won the phillies a world series. AA said he only gives up 5 year contracts to pitchers (Romero) and it's rare to see him give a 5 year to a player.

I thought my post was pretty self-explanatory. Since AA is unwilling to go above five years, the chances of him signing even non-elite FA's is out of the question, much less elite FA's. In other words, I was putting Hamels (and Greinke) in the elite FA category. I was calling CJ Wilson a non-elite or mid-tier FA. Hamels will get paid. Big time. Not by the Jays.

Darvish has one more day left to sign with Texas. If he doesn't sign, I bet Texas signs prince fielder

Some reports already have Darvish signing or signed with Texas.

I hope the rangers can't sign him. I have a gut feeling that this guy is the real deal.

CapeCrusader wrote:Some reports already have Darvish signing or signed with Texas.

What reports? Not even f'n Twitter has any reports of a deal. All signs point to a deal being done in the last hour today. According to espn/dallas, the deadline is 7 pm EDT tonight (Wednesday).

Of course they're gonna do a deal. Texas was just talking up the Fielder option as a negotiating ploy.