What Mistakes Has Alex Anthopolous Made as a GM?

[Avenger]

we know about you're obsession with Retardi, do you have some kind of script on your browser that notifies you everytime someone insults Ricciardi on the internet? I've seen you come to his defence instantly on DJF, realgn, battersbox, MLBTR and probably hundreds of more blogs that i don't read.

[Hoopstarr]

Sounds more like you're obsessed with me. I posted on MLBTR and BB for the first time in ages yesterday. By the way, if you noticed, those people agreed with me.

[Randle McMurphy]

I agree with you on this, and that's what really counts.

[LBJSeizedMyID]

I really think that his inability to move any of our bullpen arms will cost us assets in the end. I don't believe we'll get good value for all of them this off season. Downs, especially worries me...at his price tag, I imagine that the team that signs him will have already signed a big name starter, and we'll be stuck without a first rounder for him.

We kept Downs because he's a Type A free agent meaning we get the team signing Downs first round draft pick and a supplemental pick between the first and second round. For AA to trade Downs, we would've had to get a pretty good return on him, otherwise these picks especially with the Jays huge scouting staff are much more valuable.

In order to get Rasmus, I would think the Cards would want Snider (although I think they're in good shape with Allen Craig & Jon Jay there), or someone like Yunel Escobar or a package involving Romero or Cecil. The Cards have no left handed pitching except for Jaime Garcia, and both Romero and Cecil are a tad older which the Cards favour. Hell, I'm sure they'll ask for Jose Bautista straight up for Colby Rasmus - they could use a 3B/OF and he would fit the Cards lineup perfectly. All these packages of JP Arencibia + Travis Snider is all silly talk. AA would never give up these 2 prospect studs for another prospect stud - trade 1 for 1, but Arencibia, Snider & Rasmus are still relatively unproven.

[OldNo7]

We kept Downs because he's a Type A free agent meaning we get the team signing Downs first round draft pick and a supplemental pick between the first and second round. For AA to trade Downs, we would've had to get a pretty good return on him, otherwise these picks especially with the Jays huge scouting staff are much more valuable.

This is true unless the team signing him has also signed a higher Type A free agent. Case in point - last Scutaro was Type A, but Boston also signed Lackey, thus dropping our return for Scutaro somewhat significantly.

[Hoopstarr]

We kept Downs because he's a Type A free agent meaning we get the team signing Downs first round draft pick and a supplemental pick between the first and second round. For AA to trade Downs, we would've had to get a pretty good return on him, otherwise these picks especially with the Jays huge scouting staff are much more valuable.

This is true unless the team signing him has also signed a higher Type A free agent. Case in point - last Scutaro was Type A, but Boston also signed Lackey, thus dropping our return for Scutaro somewhat significantly.

And it could happen yet again if Downs goes to New York or Boston and they sign a Crawford or Werth. Just another ridiculous disadvantage of being the Toronto Blue Jays.

[Dr Positivity]

Going after Brett Wallace looks like a mistake now, though getting out early on him may end up a smart hedge.

Taylor hasn't been *great* either, but I'd prefer him at this point. And Dominic Brown if we could've gotten him

[J Dilla]

The Wallace for Gose trade is the only thing mistake he might of made. But we won't know if that was a mistake for a few years.

Wallace's stock is plummeting down the **** faster than Usain Bolt runs the 100m. Gose may be a complete bust, but getting a potential all-star CF for a guy who looks like will be nothing more than an average 1B at best is a steal.

Keith Law just said the other day that a scout told him that Wallace's hips are so wide that it makes it hard for him to rotate them on inside pitches. This would also explain why as a left handed batter he consistently hits much better against LHP: their stuff moves away from him, which plays into his strength of hitting.

I wasn't initially happy with the Taylor for Wallace swap. Wallace was too fat.

[evilRyu]

Going after Brett Wallace looks like a mistake now, though getting out early on him may end up a smart hedge.

Taylor hasn't been *great* either, but I'd prefer him at this point. And Dominic Brown if we could've gotten him

I think it's still early to call the Wallace a mistake.. he had a bad last couple of months with the Astros, but he may bounce back. Though the reviews aren't great so far.

As for Brown, isn't he ranked much higher than Gose in the Phillies organization? If they weren't going to give AA Gose then, I doubt they were going to give him Brown

[Ong_dynasty]

^^
If Im correct wasn't it either drabek or brown not both was suppose to be the centerpiece?

[evilRyu]

^^
If Im correct wasn't it either drabek or brown not both was suppose to be the centerpiece?

I guess that's a possibility.. If that's the case, then the Jays definitely wanted Drabek as the true centerpiece of the deal..

[Hoopstarr]

Brown was completely off the table. It wasn't a choice between Drabek and Brown. Also, Brown wasn't just the top Phillies prospect, he was arguably the #1 prospect in baseball after guys like Heyward and Posey moved up to the majors.

[LBJSeizedMyID]

Going after Brett Wallace looks like a mistake now, though getting out early on him may end up a smart hedge.

Taylor hasn't been *great* either, but I'd prefer him at this point. And Dominic Brown if we could've gotten him

I think it's still early to call the Wallace a mistake.. he had a bad last couple of months with the Astros, but he may bounce back. Though the reviews aren't great so far.

As for Brown, isn't he ranked much higher than Gose in the Phillies organization? If they weren't going to give AA Gose then, I doubt they were going to give him Brown

Brown is one of the top prospects in baseball, and the Phillies refused to part with him in any deal. I'm assuming it's because their outfield is aging and they're ready to hand the reigns over to him.