Morosi: AA scouting Joe Blanton, trade possible?

[Rhettmatic]

Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos scouted Joe Blanton’s start for the Philadelphia Phillies today and left the ballpark after Blanton exited the game, major-league sources told FOXSports.com.

The circumstances are straightforward: The Blue Jays would like to add experience to their rotation, and the Phillies are willing to listen on offers for Blanton.

Blanton, 31, pitched three shutout innings against the Orioles, allowing four hits. He walked one and struck out three. His starts will be closely scrutinized this spring, since a medial impingement in his right elbow limited him to 11 games last year (1-2, 5.01).

Philadelphia’s primary interest in moving Blanton would be salary relief; he is set to earn $8.5 million this season in the final year of his contract. If the Phillies move Blanton, they could use the savings to renew their efforts to re-sign free agent Roy Oswalt. The Phillies spoke with Oswalt’s agent during the offseason, but the sides weren’t able to agree on a contract.

http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbb ... n/10278331

More at the link.

He also tweeted this:

Jon Morosi ‏ @jonmorosi
#BlueJays are interested in pitching, and Joe Blanton is available in the right deal. #Phillies could benefit from salary relief.

[MGD24]

It is interesting...especially considering what Cecil was registering on the radar gun so far this Spring.

I'm fine with Cecil not being on the team.
But Blanton at 8.5 mill is a lot

[Avenger]

There's zero chance of this happening, even if Cecil flops the Jays will not pay 8.5 million for a mediocre number 5 starter when they can fill that spot with Villaneuva, Carreno, McGuire, Hutchison, Jenkins etc

[Schad]

Unless Philly is paying three-quarters of his salary and we're giving up diddly, I see no reason to go after Blanton. Yes, he's been the victim of a bit of bad luck on balls in play, but he's also a bad-body fifth starter coming off elbow troubles.

[Duffman100]

There's zero chance of this happening, even if Cecil flops the Jays will not pay 8.5 million for a mediocre number 5 starter when they can fill that spot with Villaneuva, Carreno, McGuire, Hutchison, Jenkins etc

Zero chance even though AA was there scouting him

We do need some veteran presence in our rotation. I'm not sure if Blanton is the way to go.

[Avenger]

There's zero chance of this happening, even if Cecil flops the Jays will not pay 8.5 million for a mediocre number 5 starter when they can fill that spot with Villaneuva, Carreno, McGuire, Hutchison, Jenkins etc

Zero chance even though AA was there scouting him

We do need some veteran presence in our rotation. I'm not sure if Blanton is the way to go.

and how do you know this ? Morosi only thinks that because AA left after Blanton was taken out of the game, he could have easily been there to see someone else(Domonic Brown?) but had to leave early?

[UN-Owen]

Wake me up when AA is scouting Lincecum or Hernandez

[Dr. Nick]

From cormacks snet blog:

Oh, and a quick note about the stories that came out about Alex Anthopoulos going to check out Joe Blanton’s outing with the Phillies.  The Jays have said all winter that they’d like to add another top-flight starting pitcher, and Blanton certainly isn’t that, though he has some strong seasons in his rear-view mirror.  What’s interesting is that prior to the game, Jays’ manager John Farrell joined pitching coach Bruce Walton to check out Brett Cecil’s bullpen session.  Farrell was only there to see Cecil, and left when he was done.  Managers don’t usually watch starters’ bullpens, so maybe the Jays have some concern there.  Then again, maybe it’s nothing.

[Relentless88]

AA isn't stupid. Blanton makes little sense. I'd rather have McGowan and Cecil in the bottom end of the rotation than 8.5 million dollar man Blanton.

[Homer Jay]

We're not going to pay Joe Blanton more salary than Ricky Romero or Brandon Morrow....

/thread

[Al_Oliver]

It is interesting...especially considering what Cecil was registering on the radar gun so far this Spring.

I'm fine with Cecil not being on the team.
But Blanton at 8.5 mill is a lot

Jays wouldn't be paying his full salary. Unless Philly eats most of it, they won't find any takers

[polo007]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/r ... ?page=full

2. Joe Blanton, RHP, Phillies - The Phillies would love to trade Blanton and insert Kyle Kendrick into the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Major league sources tell me the Phillies are making it clear that they would take as much as $2 million of Blanton’s $8 million deal.

[CapeCrusader]

Not interested.

[satyr9]

Heard on the radio today that AA went 'cause it was 10min away. If he'd been playing in TB they wouldn't have bothered. Just a due diligence trip 'cause their stadium is basically around the corner and they knew he is available for nothing.

[Homer Jay]

Bob Elliot is mentioning that it could be Snider going the other way for Blanton.

I think the organization is reaching it's end point with Travis. They could be locking in with Thames and decided not to keep an asset like Travis wallowing in the minors, and want to convert him into something to help the big club.

I just think he's worth more than an overpaid #5 starter... even at this point.

[YogiStewart]

Bob Elliot is mentioning that it could be Snider going the other way for Blanton.

I think the organization is reaching it's end point with Travis. They could be locking in with Thames and decided not to keep an asset like Travis wallowing in the minors, and want to convert him into something to help the big club.

I just think he's worth more than an overpaid #5 starter... even at this point.

that would be a horrible trade of epic proportions.
I don't care if Snider's really a AAAA guy. if you're trading for a vet pitcher, you don't toss away what is a highly rated prospect who's having very nice spring training #s.

[soulchild_07]

Don't we already have Joe Blanton? and isn't his name Chad Jenkins? smh.
I get there's value in having an average veteran pitcher but really I think you can get the same value with a combination of any of the young pitchers in a year where we still aren't really expected to contend for anything.

[Avenger]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2012/03/11/checking_to_see_how_this_division_adds_up/?page=full

2. Joe Blanton, RHP, Phillies - The Phillies would love to trade Blanton and insert Kyle Kendrick into the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Major league sources tell me the Phillies are making it clear that they would take as much as $2 million of Blanton’s $8 million deal.

how generous of them, they'd have to eat 6-7 million for me to even think twice about Blanton

[flatjacket1]

They apparently want Snider in any deal for Blanton. The day we trade Snider for Blanton is the day I stop being a Jays fan.

[Relentless88]

Snider for Blanton? Really?