20yo Cuban OF Jorge Soler ruled FA eligibile

[-MetA4-]

He's officially a free-agent and can sign with any team. Also; because of the timing he is not subject to the new IFA spending rules, so he's going to get a good amount of money ($20+ million). He would likely be a Top 10 (potentially higher) pick in this draft. Profiles as a right fielder with very good athleticism and very good power potential.

Blue Jays are in the mix, Cubs considered a favourite early.

Kevin Goldstein ‏@Kevin_Goldstein

Cubs, Phillies, Red Sox, Marlins, Blue Jays. @NoSeeUmCreek: @Kevin_Goldstein Instead of asking abt every team, who are faves for Soler?

[flatjacket1]

Due to the cap in the draft and on IFA spending, I think with the ability to bypass these rules for this player, teams will bid a lot higher than what he would have got say last year.

I hope the Jays at least attempt to sign him.

[-MetA4-]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/pro ... ree-agent/

According to Ben Badler he actually isn't fully eligible to sign yet but is expected to be cleared relatively soon. Also:

Many teams believe that Soler already has a deal done, which would make most of this process no more than scripted theater, although doing so would be both a violation of MLB rules and U.S. federal law.

[dagger]

Cubs, Phillies, Red Sox, Marlins, Blue Jays. @NoSeeUmCreek: @Kevin_Goldstein Instead of asking abt every team, who are faves for Soler?

[/quote]

Meh, once a prospect gains high media visibility that can raise his value, you know the Jays' interest will be half-hearted or faked.

[-MetA4-]

Meh, once a prospect gains high media visibility that can raise his value, you know the Jays' interest will be half-hearted or faked.

You're right. The Jays will never sign a player again.

[flatjacket1]

Meh, once a prospect gains high media visibility that can raise his value, you know the Jays' interest will be half-hearted or faked.

You're right. The Jays will never sign a player again.

This is sadly true. We never signed Wells to one of the biggest extensions in baseball history under the same ownership. Nope. Didn't happen.

PS Fielder has half as many HR's as Edwin E.

[Wo1verine]

Meh, once a prospect gains high media visibility that can raise his value, you know the Jays' interest will be half-hearted or faked.

You're right. The Jays will never sign a player again.

This is sadly true. We never signed Wells to one of the biggest extensions in baseball history under the same ownership. Nope. Didn't happen.

PS Fielder has half as many HR's as Edwin E.

Say what you want, but they have never had 100M payroll, which is pretty embarrassing considering who our owners are/our market.

[flatjacket1]

Say what you want, but they have never had 100M payroll, which is pretty embarrassing considering who our owners are/our market.

Neither has Tampa or Baltimore. And we said we will go up to 120M. And we don't sell out like NYY or BOS.

[Wo1verine]

Neither has Tampa or Baltimore

BAL will comeback down to earth plus they haven't made the postseason forever, and Tampa is a unique situation.

And we said we will go up to 120M.

We actually said we'd go up to 150M and make the post season 3 times within the next 5 years?. (Doesn't look good at this point)
After the promises made by Beeston about payroll, all I see are excuses.

It was really quite annoying in the offseason when we refused to spend ANY money on ANYTHING, and the fanboys celebrated this as though 1 or 2 free agent contracts would cripple the club.

And we don't sell out like NYY or BOS.

Attendance would be very good if we spent meaningful money on the major league roster and were contenders every year like the Yankees and Red Sox.

[dagger]

Meh, once a prospect gains high media visibility that can raise his value, you know the Jays' interest will be half-hearted or faked.

You're right. The Jays will never sign a player again.

This is sadly true. We never signed Wells to one of the biggest extensions in baseball history under the same ownership. Nope. Didn't happen.

PS Fielder has half as many HR's as Edwin E.

PS, Fielder is hitting .322 which is literally 50 points more than any regular Blue Jay.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

PS, Fielder is hitting .322 which is literally 50 points more than any regular Blue Jay.

PS don't use batting average if you want be successful in a baseball debate.

[Kurtz]

PS, Fielder is hitting .322 which is literally 50 points more than any regular Blue Jay.

PS don't use batting average if you want be successful in a baseball debate.

I believe he's countering an argument that used HR as it's central point. Or is using HR a surer path to success than using Batting avg?

Either way, I do think we'd have been a much better team if we had Fielder and not Lind to start the season.

[torontoaces04]

Meh, once a prospect gains high media visibility that can raise his value, you know the Jays' interest will be half-hearted or faked.

You're right. The Jays will never sign a player again.

This is sadly true. We never signed Wells to one of the biggest extensions in baseball history under the same ownership. Nope. Didn't happen.

PS Fielder has half as many HR's as Edwin E.

Honest question:

Why do you always go so far out of your way to defend the Jays ownership?

[flatjacket1]

Honest question:

Why do you always go so far out of your way to defend the Jays ownership?

Because everybody blames Rogers and not AA for not spending. Rogers has proven they can spend, with big contracts, trying to go after big name FA and NEVER denying AA money.

It just makes me angry that we have a good owner with a terrible reputation because our GM is a value who_e.

PS, Fielder is hitting .322 which is literally 50 points more than any regular Blue Jay.

PS don't use batting average if you want be successful in a baseball debate.

You are completely right, but I was using HR's as a focal point so I'm just as guilty. Let's use fWAR. He is on pace for a 3.8 fWAR season (if he plays all 162 games), which is worth approx. 20M. He couldn't live up to even the first year of his contract at this pace.

Fielder would have been a terrible signing. The guys I would have liked to sign (Madson, Beltran, Darvish, Yoenis Cespedes) made more sense. AA offered more money/years to Beltran but he still refused to play here.

This offseason we will offer another player most years/average annual salary and this time he might bite. Lots of big name pitchers this year.

PS I also think we still have a decent shot at Soler, even though it's looking like he will be grossly overpaid. If we don't get him though blame AA not Rogers.

[brwnman]

Last day to get bids in for Jorge Soler. Does anyone expect anyone other than the Cubs to be the winner?

[Blessed]

Last day to get bids in for Jorge Soler. Does anyone expect anyone other than the Cubs to be the winner?

for some reason, I think its going to be the A's.