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These guys are headed for a big payday next offseason so likely they prefer to become FAs but do you think the Jays should attempt to convince them to sign extentions "this" offseason. Especially Bautista. The face of the Team. Next sesson will be tough as they will be in demand.

With Donaldson, Martin, Tulo locked up, i think the Jays can extend their window to compete by another 2-3 years by resignin Edwin and Joey Bats.... Or atleast Bautista.

What would the price be?

Maybe let Price walk and use the money here. Then add affordable arms like Estrada, Fister, Smarzdija to compensate?..... Just a thought.

The issue is, I don't know how much longer you can trot Bautista into RF. He was one on the worst RF defensively this season. He will need to make the transition to DH in the near future IMO.

Can't see both of them here past next season. Bautista seems the more likely of the two to leave.

I would prefer to move Bautista this year (and get a very nice package for him - better then an EE package).
I'd like to see Pompey as a full time starting OF, we take take advantage of his speed more then just pitch-running.

The Duke wrote:I would prefer to move Bautista this year (and get a very nice package for him - better then an EE package).
I'd like to see Pompey as a full time starting OF, we take take advantage of his speed more then just pitch-running.

not on a jays team that is contending next year. Pompey hasn't proven enough yet to be more than a 4th outfielder.

Sticks wrote:

The Duke wrote:I would prefer to move Bautista this year (and get a very nice package for him - better then an EE package).
I'd like to see Pompey as a full time starting OF, we take take advantage of his speed more then just pitch-running.

not on a jays team that is contending next year. Pompey hasn't proven enough yet to be more than a 4th outfielder.

Okay so lets say that we did move Bautista for a package that didnt include an OF (operating under the assumption that both EE/Jose beyond next year will not happen & we're trying to get value). And AA concentrated his FA/trade efforts on building the pen & rotation, who would you like to see as our outfielders.

Travis
JD
Edwin
Cola
Tulo
Martin
Pillar
Pompey
Revere

(just throwing that out there) + additional Pitching help [from a Bautista trade]

Both Jose and Eddie are essentially a zero on defense. They're similar as far as offensive production, and Eddie is two years younger and does not have the perceived market value of being able to play defense. He will have a lot less trade value than Jose and be cheaper to re-sign, but I don't know that their actual contributions will be much different. And with Eddie, we know he can produce from the DH spot, whereas with Jose, his pride may get in the way of that transition, and lots of people simply don't like being a DH. Might be best to just ride out their contracts and enjoy them while we have them, and take the comp picks if they bolt. I can see possibly extending Eddie, but I don't think it make sense with Jose. Enjoy them while we have them and don't live in the past, is what I think.

Skin Blues wrote:Both Jose and Eddie are essentially a zero on defense. They're similar as far as offensive production, and Eddie is two years younger and does not have the perceived market value of being able to play defense. He will have a lot less trade value than Jose and be cheaper to re-sign, but I don't know that their actual contributions will be much different. And with Eddie, we know he can produce from the DH spot, whereas with Jose, his pride may get in the way of that transition, and lots of people simply don't like being a DH. Might be best to just ride out their contracts and enjoy them while we have them, and take the comp picks if they bolt. I can see possibly extending Eddie, but I don't think it make sense with Jose. Enjoy them while we have them and don't live in the past, is what I think.

Jose is good at defense. He may not be able to make the type of plays Pillar makes but he makes up for it with his arm and all the outfield assists he can make.

Yeah, if I had to choose one, it would be EE. He's younger, will come cheaper, and is already settled into the DH role. Bautista is two years older, his defence is on the downtrend, and he will demand the more expensive contract.

Given it's unlikely we sign both to extensions, it might make sense to move one of them now if (and I emphasize the if) the return is right. We rather desperately need pitching help, and have a surplus of outfielders and 1B/DH types at the moment.

Keep both, give them both 3-year extensions at fair market value, transition Jose to 1B in Year 1 of the extension years. We're talking about two guys that were both huge parts of this offense and still look like they can contribute at a high level offensively for another couple of seasons. Deal with the back end of the extension in two years time when/if our window is winding down.

Keep Jose until he wants to finally retire at age 57.

duppyy wrote:Jose is good at defense. He may not be able to make the type of plays Pillar makes but he makes up for it with his arm and all the outfield assists he can make.

He had 4 assists this year, which was last among qualified RF. He typically has more than that, and probably stops guys from taking extra bases in the first place, but a great arm can only help so much. It was an exaggeration to call him a zero, because he could conceivably bounce back being an average RF, but when a guy enters his mid 30's and has his range decline that sharply in one year, it's a really bad sign. Defensive reputation has a tendency to last way longer than it should.

Due to the age of both players, and them both looking like full time DH's sooner rather than later, I don't see any scenario where it's wise to lock up both players with extensions. Edwin also keeps getting hurt despite not playing in the field

duppyy wrote:

Skin Blues wrote:Both Jose and Eddie are essentially a zero on defense. They're similar as far as offensive production, and Eddie is two years younger and does not have the perceived market value of being able to play defense. He will have a lot less trade value than Jose and be cheaper to re-sign, but I don't know that their actual contributions will be much different. And with Eddie, we know he can produce from the DH spot, whereas with Jose, his pride may get in the way of that transition, and lots of people simply don't like being a DH. Might be best to just ride out their contracts and enjoy them while we have them, and take the comp picks if they bolt. I can see possibly extending Eddie, but I don't think it make sense with Jose. Enjoy them while we have them and don't live in the past, is what I think.

Jose is good at defense. He may not be able to make the type of plays Pillar makes but he makes up for it with his arm and all the outfield assists he can make.

Jose's defense is in sharp decline and he certainly didn't look good this year. I wouldn't mind seeing him moved to 1B, if not next season then definitely 2017.

Santoki wrote:Keep both, give them both 3-year extensions at fair market value, transition Jose to 1B in Year 1 of the extension years. We're talking about two guys that were both huge parts of this offense and still look like they can contribute at a high level offensively for another couple of seasons. Deal with the back end of the extension in two years time when/if our window is winding down.

No one is questioning that they were both huge parts of this offense, but that we got good contributions from Cola and Tulo as well, without even saying that Travis will be in the lineup. Offense always dries up in the playoffs, when you against top pitching & top teams. It shouldnt matter to try and outscore MLB by 100 runs, it should be just having a strong offense, which I still think we can be with Travis/JD/EE/Cola/Tulo/Martin/Pillar/Pompey/Revere. If we can move Jose for a very good package centered around a good Pitcher, thats a move I'm willing to make.

And Jose's defense has been downhill, and I expect worse this year. His bat, will give us good value if we trade him.

Guys are we forgetting that both Edwin and Jose have full veto rights for any trade? That will surely drive down their value on the trade market

AND why would they do the jays a favour and agree to waive their trade veto rights when the jays are essentially saying to them hey guys we dont want to pay you market value so can you please do us a favour and agree to go to _____ team so we can get a return ?

Bautista to 1B. Eddie stays at DH. What if Bautista is like Ortiz and mashes until he's 40? He's not even really slowing down yet.

And I love Colabello but let's not pretend he's the answer at 1B long-term. He's 32 and has little track record. Makes way, way more sense to bet on Bautista continuing to mash into his late 30s than to bet on Colabello.

Find an athletic RF to upgrade our defense (Pompey?), Jose at 1B. Eddie at DH. Works out fine for me.

Sticks wrote:why would they do the jays a favour and agree to waive their trade veto rights

Because it means they can't be given a QO, and therefore can't cost their potential free agent landing spots their first round draft pick. Might give them an extra $5M in free agency. Also, if the Jays are out of contention at the deadline they might want to go to a better team.

I know this is "average fan talk" but I can't imagine Rogers dealing with the optics of trading Bautista after all of his service here and the big homers in the playoffs. The guy's made the last 6 all-star games (voted on to 4 of those). This isn't a Halladay situation.

If one of them goes, I think it'll be EE. But maybe I haven't fully accepted (or even recognized) Anthopoulos's MO.

anj wrote:I know this is "average fan talk" but I can't imagine Rogers dealing with the optics of trading Bautista after all of his service here and the big homers in the playoffs. The guy's made the last 6 all-star games (voted on to 4 of those). This isn't a Halladay situation.

If one of them goes, I think it'll be EE. But maybe I haven't fully accepted (or even recognized) Anthopoulos's MO.

It doesn't make sense to trade either of them if we're talking about extending the window for contention. You can never have enough offense. You don't need to trade either of them to get better in your rotation. That's what FA is for and there are lots of guys out there available that can improve the team and stay within a reasonable payroll for Rogers.

Also, along with veto rights, that means you're trying to find a trade partner in the AL that has established, excess pitching they're willing to give up. EE can't play in the NL because he's best as a DH and no team is going to make him a full-time 1B again. Jose could play in the NL for a short time before having to move to 1B, but again why are we trading the heart of our offense at a time when we're planning on extending our window of contention. This isn't a video game. You're not going to magically trade Bautista or Edwin for a stud pitcher who is going to perfectly balance out our team. To win in the playoffs you have to get their first and our best chance of doing that is keeping this historically good offense together. Figure out the rotation with FA money or make another deadline deal to bolster it.