RealGM

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/ar ... r&c_id=tor

Interestingly, Josh Johnson was reinstated from the DL, but made a free agent. He and Ramon Ortiz are not on the 40-man now. Presumably they would rather deal with JJ as an FA, try to get him on an incentive-laden deal, than tender him.

They have flexibility, with Storey, Weber, and Ricky Romero seems to have been DFA'd, again. Nickeas is out.

No surprises, really.

The 40-man stands at 39 right now, one vacancy.

dagger wrote:http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20131101&content_id=63606792&vkey=pr_tor&c_id=tor

Interestingly, Josh Johnson was reinstated from the DL, but made a free agent. He and Ramon Ortiz are not on the 40-man now. Presumably they would rather deal with JJ as an FA, try to get him on an incentive-laden deal, than tender him.

They have flexibility, with Storey, Weber, and Ricky Romero seems to have been DFA'd, again. Nickeas is out.

No surprises, really.

The 40-man stands at 39 right now, one vacancy.

But we can still extend a qualifying offer? Not that I really want them to but I am curious.

Attonitus wrote:But we can still extend a qualifying offer? Not that I really want them to but I am curious.

Yes, the Jays have until Nov 4th to extend a QO (5 days after World Series). JJ then has a week to either accept or decline the offer.

Word this afternoon is the Jays won't extend the QO to Johnson.

He'll go back to the National League, where there's a big ballpark - Pittsburgh maybe?

LBJSeizedMyID wrote:He'll go back to the National League, where there's a big ballpark - Pittsburgh maybe?

And him and Burnett will win the World Series together except the roles will be reversed.

Yeah, I highly doubt he comes back to a team that plays in the AL East.

We'll just have to watch him tear it up in the NL.

J-Roc wrote:Word this afternoon is the Jays won't extend the QO to Johnson.

Confirmed

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/bl ... ing-offer/

Shi Davidi ‏@ShiDavidi 48s
#BlueJays confirm they will not make qualifying offers to all their free agents: Josh Johnson, Rajai Davis, Darren Oliver and Ramon Ortiz

So does this mean Johnson goes on to win the Cy Young Award for another team next season, or just finish in the top 10 in voting? I'll go with the latter. It's safer.

I have mixed feelings on this. I know Johnson for $14 million would have been a huge gamble, but it would have been one year and would not have involved losing assets. Now the Jays will have to overpay a middling rotation option and/or trade prospects for that type of starter.

Can't give 14M to a guy who can't be trusted to actually pitch.

Josh Johnson to go to Pirates and win a WS ring next year

Garmfay wrote:Josh Johnson to go to Pirates and win a WS ring next year

After calling it his dream job.

Strike from list of possible Blue Jays fixes: "Johnson needs to revert to his career norms for the Jays to compete in 2014."

Does this mean Davis is gone for sure?

ghostinthepost wrote:Does this mean Davis is gone for sure?

Not necessary, but hopefully. He just isn't the best use of that money, unless he's willing to take next to nothing.

Schadenfreude wrote:

ghostinthepost wrote:Does this mean Davis is gone for sure?

Not necessary, but hopefully. He just isn't the best use of that money, unless he's willing to take next to nothing.

And we have Anthony Gose who can fill the 4th OF role.

Relentless88 wrote:

Schadenfreude wrote:

ghostinthepost wrote:Does this mean Davis is gone for sure?

Not necessary, but hopefully. He just isn't the best use of that money, unless he's willing to take next to nothing.

And we have Anthony Gose who can fill the 4th OF role.

Or Pillar, who might (might) be able to hit.

Pillar doesn't steal bases and his bat or defence isn't better than Rajai's. Gose cant hit to save his life.

CreaM wrote:Pillar doesn't steal bases and his bat or defence isn't better than Rajai's. Gose cant hit to save his life.

Rajai is a poor defensive LF, and his base-stealing is not worth $2-2.5m. He has averaged 0.3 fWAR with the Jays...that can be replaced.

CreaM wrote:Pillar doesn't steal bases and his bat or defence isn't better than Rajai's. Gose cant hit to save his life.

I feel comfortable in predicting that Pillar can field and throw well enough to handle the fourth outfielder job. Batting will determine whether he gets the assignment or is sent back to BUF to play every day. Given the Jays' greater need for a solid SP or two, a starting 2B and an upgrade behind the plate, I think we had better be ready to content ourselves with minimum salary backups who are extremely versatile. Pillar can play all three outfield positions, Gose, too. Goins can back up 2B, SS and 3B. There may be other options, but they are not likely to be $3 million ones like Davis.