A pair of potentially crazy ideas...

SDM · Post #1 » by **SDM** » Sat May 31, 2008 3:18 pm

I do like Burnett, and he gets quite a bit of slack. With this staff being dominant without him, I'd like to move him. He may get it together and opt out, which is the concern. Of course, we don't have a single AAAA pitcher right now and I don't want to switch Tallet into the fifth spot. I have a wacky suggestion. Win now, but do it differently.

1. A.J Burnett/low minors prospect for Jason Bay (Bay is not happy, Burnett is close to home and could stay with the Pirates and would immediately be the ace. If they can keep the core of Maholm/Snell/Gorzelanny/Burnett together, and healthy, they can compete with any staff in their division)

2. Adam Lind for Greg Maddux (Gives the Padres another prospect for a player who is retiring at the end of the season, which is finished for them anyway)

Bay gives us a legit bat and someone who would actually get pitched around. Maddux gives us a solid fifth starter, who would work wonders with the young staff. He might have to throw four strikes to get people out now, but the majority of the AL East's heavy hitters have never seen his stuff.

Thoughts? I think the Padres would do it, but the Pirates might require a decent prospect. I'd be willing to go Campbell, or maybe Cecil, if we get a decent prospect back too.

Relentless88 · Post #2 » by **Relentless88** » Sat May 31, 2008 3:32 pm

I'd do the first deal for sure, I'd love to have Bay here, but I'm not sure I want a 3 month rental who is aging for one of our top prospects.

SDM · Post #3 » by **SDM** » Sat May 31, 2008 3:39 pm

It's what the Yankees and Sox have been doing for years. That's my reasoning behind it.

LLJ · Post #4 » by **LLJ** » Sat May 31, 2008 5:44 pm

The only time JP does a deal is to cut costs... it seems like he rarely ever makes a deal to help push us into contention.

The Flying Gent · Post #5 » by **The Flying Gent** » Sat May 31, 2008 6:10 pm

LLJ wrote:The only time JP does a deal is to cut costs... it seems like he rarely ever makes a deal to help push us into contention.

Troy Glause?
Scot Rolen?
BJ Ryan?
AJ Brunett
Vernon Wells?
Lyle Overbay?
Just to name a few.
Could you have said something stupider?

whiterasta80 · Post #6 » by **whiterasta80** » Sun Jun 1, 2008 3:39 am

Dangerously Dan wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Troy Glause?
Scot Rolen?
BJ Ryan?
AJ Brunett
Vernon Wells?
Lyle Overbay?
Just to name a few.
Could you have said something stupider?

Well actually Troy Glaus was the only "deal" on your list.

Edit: Missed Rolen but the point stands.

Modern_epic · Post #7 » by **Modern_epic** » Sun Jun 1, 2008 4:19 pm

If by deal you mean trade: Scot Rolen and Lyle Overbay weren't "deals"?

If by deal you mean what everyone else means by deal, then signing AJ, BJ and Vernon were also deals, for a new contract, in which JP certainly did not cut costs.

There are a lot of things you can knock JP for; not spending Ted's money isn't one of them.

LLJ · Post #8 » by **LLJ** » Sun Jun 1, 2008 8:07 pm

JP had a pretty good offseason, I'm not denying that. But since the season started, he's had an eye for cutting costs moreso than tweaking the team. But who knows. It's still early. He had to have known the offence would struggle going into this season, and in some ways it probably has done worse than he expected.

heemer · Post #9 » by **heemer** » Sun Jun 1, 2008 8:30 pm

The Jays havent been legit enough contenders any time lately for JP to actually make a midseason move from a buyers perspective.

AJ just cant be traded if we plan on contending. If there are any injuries, as is, were in big trouble. The Jays just dont have a decent #6 option to warrent trading a good starter.

Also, no team is goin gto take AJ on because he has an opt out and will 100% be using it at the end of the year. The Jays wont get any value for a guy who is a) going to bolt, or b) could be targeting as a FA this offseason anyway.

I do love the idea of getting jason bay and i think in a couple months if this team is in contention we almost have to trade some prospects for some better starters, but a whole lot has to play out before that

The_Hater · Post #10 » by **The_Hater** » Mon Jun 2, 2008 5:04 am

Dangerously Dan wrote:Troy Glause?
Scot Rolen?
BJ Ryan?
AJ Brunett
Vernon Wells?
Lyle Overbay?
Just to name a few.
Could you have said something stupider?

I think that he was talking mid-season deals like the ideas mentioned in the OP. Deals with with the idea of getting involved in a pennant race in mind. Every single move that you listed occured in the off-season.

As LLJ pointed out, his in-season deals have primarily been of the cost-cutting mold. Cutting Frank Thomas. Trading Hinske and others while eating a big chunk of their salaries. Trading Hillenbrand. And these are just the recent moves, go back to his early years and every move was of the cost cutting kind.

Michael Bradley · Post #11 » by **Michael Bradley** » Mon Jun 2, 2008 4:29 pm

Ricciardi has always been quiet at the deadline. The only time he did something noteworthy was trading Stewart for Kielty in 2003 and Hillenbrand to the Giants for Accardo in 2006 (and he was forced into doing the latter). The reality is, he just doesn't have the assets to make deals at the deadline to acquire impact talent. He may be able to acquire a Raul Ibanez type talent, but guys like Dunn and Bay are going to cost more than what the Jays have (unless they want to move Snider which I doubt). If the Jays are out of it by July, then Burnett might get traded, but I'd imagine Ricciardi would rather get the two draft picks.

Ricciardi seems to have some guts in the off-season, but becomes very indecisive at the deadline. It doesn't help that the Jays have never truly been in it at the deadline since JP took over. Ash would at least try to improve the team at the deadline (trading for hot prospect Jose Cruz in 97, trading for Segui in 99, trading for Loaiza/Trachsel/Martinez in 2000, etc). Of course, one of those moves involved trading Michael Young, so that may not be the best example.

PopAGat · Post #12 » by **PopAGat** » Tue Jun 3, 2008 12:21 am

Idk why we would give up one of o ur best prospects for a guy we can use for 3 months.

IMO we keep these guys until something comes to us that we really need.

Post #13 » by **Geddy** » Wed Jun 4, 2008 12:28 am

Here's another crazy idea - Bill Hall is unhappy with the Brewers so would it make sense to go after him? I've always liked his game and he can hit for power as well. I mean we're stacked with SS at the moment so it would be pointless.... (Damn i think i answered my own question there)

whiterasta80 · Post #14 » by **whiterasta80** » Wed Jun 4, 2008 7:32 pm

Re: Bill Hall

Pro's
1. They guy can hit for power
2. He can run a little
3. He's versatile- can play a little short
4. Probably available for value (won't cost top level prospects)

Con's

1. He's another Right handed bat (we need Lefty's)
2. He strikes out a tonne
3. He'd prefer to play 3B or CF, two positions we have a fair amount of money invested in.
4. His OBP has bottomed out the last 2 seasons.

In the end I'd say there are better options out there.

whiterasta80 · Post #15 » by **whiterasta80** » Wed Jun 4, 2008 7:35 pm

PopAGat wrote:Idk why we would give up one of o ur best prospects for a guy we can use for 3 months.

IMO we keep these guys until something comes to us that we really need.

Yup, then we let Burnett walk for picks, and take the money from him and Franko and give it to Dunn in the offseason.