Jays sign SS Alex Gonzalez

[5DOM]

Defense wins championships!

[Michael Bradley]

I don't mind Alex Gonzalez at one year and $2.75 million. He's still good with the glove and he's been traded before, so he should have value at the trade deadline for a team looking to add a veteran infielder.

The John McDonald contract is horrendous. When it looked like a one year deal it was bad. Two years? Ridiculous. McDonald is one of the worst hitters in baseball history and at ages 35 and 36 his defense is likely not going to be anywhere near where it was a couple of years ago. It has already slipped.

I realize the Jays need good defenders at short to make up for EE at 3B and whoever Overbay's replacement at 1B will be (he will likely be worse defensively than Lyle), not to mention once Halladay goes the pitching is going to need all the help it can get, but way too much money for replaceable parts. A rebuilding team should be trying to catch a lucky break with maybe a failed prospect needing a change of scenery (see Tampa with Carlos Pena), not established crap. Someone like Khalil Greene would have been a decent cheap gamble to see if he returned to his 2004-07 production.

AA better hit a home run with his bigger moves (Halladay, the draft, etc). It would certainly make these smaller ones more forgettable.

[youngLion]

Defense wins championships!

Which is why the Raps need tos tart Banks, right?

[zilby]

Defense wins championships!

Which is why the Raps need tos tart Banks, right?

[ghostinthepost]

Defense wins championships!

Which is why the Raps need tos tart Banks, right?

Green font?

[Modern_epic]

I ask: why not Angel Sanchez

FWIW, Angel Sanchez really isn't an option and I dont see why people keep talking him up as if he were a serious option.

It's not because he's good...it's because I would rather that the team didn't commit money at this time to re-treads. There's nothing wrong with the value in signing Gonzalez (he'll outperform his contract pretty easily), I just go apoplectic when the team adds salary for veterans who aren't going to take us anywhere, yet has balked at ponying up the cash to rebuild the farm system through the draft. Gonzalez probably adds two to three wins over a replacement-level guy like Sanchez, but we're a further 20 wins away from that making the slightest bit of difference.

From a fans perspective, I agree with you. But from the teams perspective, there can be. There is a clear correlation between team wins and attendance, which may or may not equal causation. It is perfectly reasonable for the team to believe that the extra 2 wins brought by Gonzalez is worth that $2.75 million in revenue. Last year teams valued one win above replacment in a one year contract at $2.6 million, presumably for a reason.

Now Johnny Mac's $1.5 million? I can promise you the .1 wins over replacement he will be lucky to end up with won't be worth that.

(I ignored the draft issue because I lean towards the Beaston and AA **** up the negotiations camp.)

[SharoneWright]

Irrelevant. No SS worth 2 mil or less will make a difference. There is no market consisting of
2 million dollar a year impact shortstops. You might have signed me for 1.5 and obtained the same result.

Why are we so limited? The answer plays CF.

[Schad]

Irrelevant. No SS worth 2 mil or less will make a difference. There is no market consisting of
2 million dollar a year impact shortstops. You might have signed me for 1.5 and obtained the same result.

Why are we so limited? The answer plays CF.

Well, that and the fact that the best shortstop on the market played for us last year.

[mikero]

Don't mind the signing.

With Halladay gone and a group of young pitchers, we are going to need all the defense we can get next season.

[Modern_epic]

Irrelevant. No SS worth 2 mil or less will make a difference. There is no market consisting of
2 million dollar a year impact shortstops. You might have signed me for 1.5 and obtained the same result.

Why are we so limited? The answer plays CF.

Well then it is a good thing Gonzalez signed for $2.75 mil.

I'm not suggesting people will come out for Alex Gonzalez. I'm suggesting signing these sort of ~2 win players (Alex Gonzalez is not you or Johnny Mac or Kevin Mencherson, and is actually passable) at our three open positions means the difference between 70 wins and 76 wins, and fans won't be completely depressed until a month later in the season. Between attendance, merch sales and TV revenues may be worth the extra 6 mil they are paying. Lots of teams do it, so the market would suggest it must be worth it, right?

Okay, so I probably think that last statement is more bull than anyone else on here, but it certainly implies that there is a reasonable chance it is worth it.

[-MetA4-]

FWIW, I dont think I've ever seen a rebuilding team just go out and fill the holes of their lineup/rotation with AAA/AAAA players. I know that it makes sense to say that "if you aren't going to win, then why waste money?" but at the end of the day it just really isn't reasonable to expect that we'd fill our SS and C holes with Angel Sanchez and Jason Phillips.

I hated the McDonald signing, but I fail to see the problem with the Gonzalez signing.

[Schad]

FWIW, I dont think I've ever seen a rebuilding team just go out and fill the holes of their lineup/rotation with AAA/AAAA players. I know that it makes sense to say that "if you aren't going to win, then why waste money?" but at the end of the day it just really isn't reasonable to expect that we'd fill our SS and C holes with Angel Sanchez and Jason Phillips.

I hated the McDonald signing, but I fail to see the problem with the Gonzalez signing.

It's probably irrational on my part, but my fear is that the haste to lock up two shortstops and dive into the shallow end of the catcher's market signals a continuation of the fetish for mediocre veterans shared by JP and Ash, bringing in guys like Royce Clayton or Chris Gomez rather than taking a flier on a AAAA minor-league FA who can suck just as hard but might have a little upside left.

Gonzalez is probably a bad target in that regard, given that he's a very useful player who could be moved with ease at the deadline, but I never claimed to be particularly rational.

[The_Hater]

While I hate to see Scutaro go, he was probably my favourite player this season, this is still the right move. He's not going to match those career numbers again so you just end up overpaying to keep him. Take the draft picks and run.

[zilby]

While I hate to see Scutaro go, he was probably my favourite player this season, this is still the right move. He's not going to match those career numbers again so you just end up overpaying to keep him. Take the draft picks and run.

exactly.

his season was very lucky. he wont have another one like it again. he got to type A, so it is important to getthe compensation ppicks.

[Raptors Realtor]

Yes! My Alex Gonzalez jersey becomes useful again.

That is too funny!!!

[zilby]

Yes! My Alex Gonzalez jersey becomes useful again.

That is too funny!!!

the quote or the fact that he actualy has an Alex Gonzalez jersey? (unless its sarcasm)