E5 is back!!!!!!

[Randle McMurphy]

From AA conf call: Return of E5 means Jays set at 1B and DH with him and Lind. Also looks like Bautista at 3B, JPA/Molina at C.

If that's the case, the Jays simply went with the cheapest options at 1B/DH/3B/RF. I guess there's nothing wrong with that if you don't plan to contend, but I doubt this team will win 85 games again next year with that lineup.

[Kurtz]

Sigh, this means no Ramirez by the look of it. Dammit to hell.

[Michael Bradley]

From AA conf call: Return of E5 means Jays set at 1B and DH with him and Lind. Also looks like Bautista at 3B, JPA/Molina at C.

If that's the case, the Jays simply went with the cheapest options at 1B/DH/3B/RF. I guess there's nothing wrong with that if you don't plan to contend, but I doubt this team will win 85 games again next year with that lineup.

Wow, I hope that is not true. Whether the team intends to compete or not, having Davis in one of the corners (RF?) and EE at DH is pretty lackluster. Factor in Marcum being traded, and they are definitely punting 2011.

Who knows, maybe they surprise us with a Manny signing, and have EE on the bench as a utility player. Not looking likely though.

[Brew666]

From AA conf call: Return of E5 means Jays set at 1B and DH with him and Lind. Also looks like Bautista at 3B, JPA/Molina at C.

If that's the case, the Jays simply went with the cheapest options at 1B/DH/3B/RF. I guess there's nothing wrong with that if you don't plan to contend, but I doubt this team will win 85 games again next year with that lineup.

Wow, I hope that is not true. Whether the team intends to compete or not, having Davis in one of the corners (RF?) and EE at DH is pretty lackluster. Factor in Marcum being traded, and they are definitely punting 2011.

Who knows, maybe they surprise us with a Manny signing, and have EE on the bench as a utility player. Not looking likely though.

In regards to the offense, I was curious if AA would've been happy going into spring training with this group and I'm fine with that. He values flexibility and wasn't going to commit more than what he is comfortable with to the FAs available or other GMs were asking for too much. If Lind can show signs of being an everyday 1B then positionally it's really only 3B that is still needs filling. He's always talking and if he feels that the route to fill 3B for this team is through trade then he has lots of times to to find the right piece, no rush. See how things pan out. With our current roster, we can fill the holes on a temporary basis until he finds someone long term. I'm even be okay with seeing what we have internally to fill the pen at this point.

[augustine]

From AA conf call: Return of E5 means Jays set at 1B and DH with him and Lind. Also looks like Bautista at 3B, JPA/Molina at C.

If that's the case, the Jays simply went with the cheapest options at 1B/DH/3B/RF. I guess there's nothing wrong with that if you don't plan to contend, but I doubt this team will win 85 games again next year with that lineup.

I'm still holding out hope that AA is trying to drive down the Ramirez price by making these comments. The team could still use Ramirez. Ie., Davis plays poorly forcing Bautista to right and EE to third, leaving no DH. Or, EE plays poorly, leaving no DH. Or, one of Davis/Bautista/Lind/EE gets injured, leaving no DH. I think one or more of these scenarios are probable.

[hyper316]

I think AA should reconsider putting Bautista at 3B. It's much easier to fill OF than 3B. E5 can be DH then, that's a cheap 2.5 mill DH compared to Manny would sign for like 8mill with incentives

[WpgPage]

I would be very surprised to see anyone other than Bautista playing at 3rd next year.

[flatjacket1]

I think Bautista should play a fair bit of DH next year (not regularly) to keep his bat in the lineup and cut down on injuries/days off. He is our most valuable asset, every game he plays DH he'd be protected.

Edwin is an underrated fielder (people act likes hes the worst in the league) and can play 3rd fine every day.

The contract itself is amazing. Cut his salary an odd 40%, while maintaining flexibility and keeping him under our control for an extra season encase he explodes. Low dollar amount + team option = amazing.

I bet he hits 30+ one of the 2 seasons.
Hopefully Bautista gets a similar contract (lol)

If only we kept Fred Lewis :'(

[Leolovinliberal]

Reencarnacion!!!

Muy bueno

[satyr9]

Not sure about starting him at first/DH full-time, but I really like the idea of using him in a quasi-platoon with Eric Thames, if he makes the team. E5 murders lefties, and can play third (well, kinda); Thames murders righties and can play in the outfield; Bautista murders both lefties and righties and can play both third and the outfield.

If this is the case, then there's little left to do positionally right?

JPA/Molina
Lind/Hill/Escobar/EE5/MacDonald(right?)/empty CI spot
Bautista/Wells/Snider/Davis/Thames

Depending on how you like EE5 or Bautista at 3B, that could mean you sign a DH or a 3B, starting or back-up, right? Am I missing something?

[Morris_Shatford]

Its hard to argue the value,
I just hope that this signing is a plan B on the chance that AA doesn't find a better option.

[Schad]

If this is the case, then there's little left to do positionally right?

JPA/Molina
Lind/Hill/Escobar/EE5/MacDonald(right?)/empty CI spot
Bautista/Wells/Snider/Davis/Thames

Depending on how you like EE5 or Bautista at 3B, that could mean you sign a DH or a 3B, starting or back-up, right? Am I missing something?

Really depends on how we want to approach things, but yeah. Most likely scenario (because I think that Thames has a great chance to break camp with the team) would be those twelve plus a wildcard...Mike McCoy's still on the roster, and thus would be the logical pick if we were simply going with another utility guy, but he's easily turfed if we do manage to get a right-handed 1B/DH type.