Rogers wants to air MLB net in Canada (+ ratings tidbits)

[Kurtz]

Big contracts almost never pan out, and there is no point signing one until you are certain that are going to make the playoffs with said player. Eventually they become garbage.

Well, I think you've let Rogers off the hook quite nicely there. With Yankees, Sox, Rays and now evidently Orioles somehow, there will never be a guarantee that we'll make the playoffs - so why ever invest in a FA?

But I'm glad you're holding out for Cole Hamels. Will you lament it when we don't make a bid on him, or will you say that whoever of the actual spenders that gets him for 8/200 this offseason overpaid, and we should wait until say Harper hits free agency to really open our wallets?

[Waylon Mercy]

Hopefully those jerk offs at the CRTC allow it...If they don't Rogers should start a Blue Jays
channel like Raps TV and Leafs TV. I wish I could watch old Jays games only channel I know
that shows it is ESPN Classic Canada from time to time.

[whysoserious]

I still don't see the argument for always waiting until we're ready to contend.

There is no specific time and there is no guarantee that everything you do will get you to a contender level and then suddenly you spend money. Also, there's no guarantee that players you covet will be available at that specific moment you feel ready to spend.

The other part of it is teams know you need something and are looking to contend and they'll typically ask for more if you're going the trade route.

Would signing Darvish have been such a bad thing just cause you feel you're not ready this year per se? Could he not develop alongside the team when it's ready.

What kind of message do you send the players who have been here all along when you don't go out and spend.

And lastly, even if a guy isn't productive the whole contract, was he productive enough at times to help you reach your goal or give you a legitimate shot somewhere during that contract.

It's definitely all about timing, but there is no point in always being of the mindset that we need to wait till we're ready to contend, you have to spend at different times, sometimes earlier, sometimes later.

[dagger]

it's also worth pointing out that the CBA cuts down on the team's ability to spend in areas where it has been spending - on draft picks and Latin signings. AA didn't ask for the new CBA and is trying his best to game the new system, but the bottom line is that he'll be spending a few million less at that level. You would hope it gets added to the budget somewhere else, but I'm skeptical.

[flatjacket1]

Would signing Darvish have been such a bad thing just cause you feel you're not ready this year per se? Could he not develop alongside the team when it's ready.

I think Darvish would have been different, his time line fits perfectly with our pitchers. I wish bids were made public, but still it was a huge risk huge reward type deal so I can understand why it wasn't a "no brainer"

Hindsight is 20/20 and I'm sure if AA had a time machine he would have bid more.

[Attonitus]

“@DKnobler: While Blue Jays have been out looking for pitching, they've been telling teams they can't take on any money. Hard to find it that way.”

[flatjacket1]

“@DKnobler: While Blue Jays have been out looking for pitching, they've been telling teams they can't take on any money. Hard to find it that way.”

I would say either "the Jays are buyers" or "the Jays can't take on any more money" is false. Both can't be true, you aren't a buyer without willing to give up money.

My feeling? We are sellers, which then makes sense why we aren't taking on any more money.

I still expect a big FA signing this offseason.

[Wo1verine]

Obviously this is not surprising! I swear, if they don't spend meaningful money this upcoming winter, I hope Bautista asks for a trade! It would look good on those cheap ****..

[BigLeagueChew]

“@DKnobler: While Blue Jays have been out looking for pitching, they've been telling teams they can't take on any money. Hard to find it that way.”

We must have spent all of our availablemoney on Sean O'Sullivan and a Vlad Guerrero tryout

[Michael Bradley]

“@DKnobler: While Blue Jays have been out looking for pitching, they've been telling teams they can't take on any money. Hard to find it that way.”

I would say either "the Jays are buyers" or "the Jays can't take on any more money" is false. Both can't be true, you aren't a buyer without willing to give up money.

My feeling? We are sellers, which then makes sense why we aren't taking on any more money.

I still expect a big FA signing this offseason.

I think it is more likely the Jays just want to find someone that can pitch league average MLB innings instead of depending on O'Sullivan, Laffey, Carreno, Chavez, etc, to start games.

I expect the Jays to start selling though. The pitching staff is not going to survive the AL East schedule, and AA can't play the draft pick system like he used to. Just have to hope he can work deadline magic like he did the last two years (Escobar in 2010 and Rasmus in 2011).

[whysoserious]

I would say either "the Jays are buyers" or "the Jays can't take on any more money" is false. Both can't be true, you aren't a buyer without willing to give up money.

My feeling? We are sellers, which then makes sense why we aren't taking on any more money.

I still expect a big FA signing this offseason.

I wonder if you're opinion of the Jays will change if that last statement doesn't happen. You've defended their position over and over again. And you have valid points around the timing but you tend to dismiss anyone calling out Rogers.

[flatjacket1]

I wonder if you're opinion of the Jays will change if that last statement doesn't happen. You've defended their position over and over again. And you have valid points around the timing but you tend to dismiss anyone calling out Rogers.

Well, don't forget we offered the most money and the most years to FA Carlos Beltran, who ended up signing for 2 years 13M/year (so we offered him more than that, at least 42M/3 years).

I think AA realizes the need for the front of the rotation starter and will spend this year, especially due to our super duper run differential (shows team success).

If we don't, I'll be upset with AA.

[whysoserious]

Well, don't forget we offered the most money and the most years to FA Carlos Beltran, who ended up signing for 2 years 13M/year (so we offered him more than that, at least 42M/3 years).

I think AA realizes the need for the front of the rotation starter and will spend this year, especially due to our super duper run differential (shows team success).

If we don't, I'll be upset with AA.

But we pretty much new Beltran didn't want to play in Toronto and on the turf. To me that's more a move of showing the fans you're trying but knowing you have no legitimate shot at getting a guy.

The only pitchers I see at the front of the rotation that are free agents are are Greinke and Hamels and I doubt we land either. And that's if they aren't traded and re-signed before they even hit the market.