(EE) Keep, Trade or let walk

[Griff83]

Unless we're smack-dab in the center of the race after another fortnight, trade. Not quite ready to call Encarnacion the next Bautista, and we'd likely get quite a good return given that he's a 29 year old soon-to-be FA who is largely restricted to 1B/DH, and has a career OPS+ of 108.

So lets say they trade EE.

We will go into this offseason with no starting pitching, no 1B and no DH?

How are we going to fill these holes when we have no immediate players on the team or in the system?

If we trade EE we might as well trade Bautista also because this team next season is going to be a mess.

Unless EE is asking for a ridiculous contract we should definitely keep him. We already have more then enough prospects and shouldnt be in the business of trading established talent for prospects unless its at a position where we have a bonifide prospect ready to take over (SS, C).

[Hamyltowne]

Unless we're smack-dab in the center of the race after another fortnight, trade. Not quite ready to call Encarnacion the next Bautista, and we'd likely get quite a good return given that he's a 29 year old soon-to-be FA who is largely restricted to 1B/DH, and has a career OPS+ of 108.

The second half of your post... sarcasm? They seem to be points against his getting us "quite a good return."

Certainly hope not, for I believe he would net us good value. I'm willing to edit back my use of the word "extraordinary," though. I never do well with superlatives.

[Griff83]

Unless we're smack-dab in the center of the race after another fortnight, trade. Not quite ready to call Encarnacion the next Bautista, and we'd likely get quite a good return given that he's a 29 year old soon-to-be FA who is largely restricted to 1B/DH, and has a career OPS+ of 108.

The second half of your post... sarcasm? They seem to be points against his getting us "quite a good return."

Certainly hope not, for I believe he would net us good value. I'm willing to edit back my use of the word "extraordinary," though. I never do well with superlatives.

So whos going to play 1B for us next season?
So whos going to be DH for us next season?

We already have a starting pitching epidemic that we dont need to be creating new major holes on the roster.

[Schad]

The second half of your post... sarcasm? They seem to be points against his getting us "quite a good return."

They're points against us getting a good return for him in the future. Around the deadline, when teams talk themselves into the fact that he'll cost less than players with slightly worse stats (and he will), we can still likely get a very good return relative his career production.

[Hamyltowne]

... I believe he would net us good value. I'm willing to edit back my use of the word "extraordinary," though. I never do well with superlatives.

So whos going to play 1B for us next season?
So whos going to be DH for us next season?

We already have a starting pitching epidemic that we dont need to be creating new major holes on the roster.

We have an embarrassment of riches in the minors. We'll trade to plug the holes and doubtless sign a FA. We might even do some musical chairs on the field and move Bautista to first. I trust AA to sort it all out.

[Griff83]

... I believe he would net us good value. I'm willing to edit back my use of the word "extraordinary," though. I never do well with superlatives.

So whos going to play 1B for us next season?
So whos going to be DH for us next season?

We already have a starting pitching epidemic that we dont need to be creating new major holes on the roster.

We have an embarrassment of riches in the minors. We'll trade to plug the holes and doubtless sign a FA. We might even do some musical chairs on the field and move Bautista to first. I trust AA to sort it all out.

So were gonna unload our entire farm to fill SP, 1B and DH? If anything I only see the team parting with some top prospects for starting pitching. Unless we get a crazy offer you cant turn down I dont think its worth trading him with the potential to look stupid in the end if this is the real EE.
We dont have anyone in the minors to take over any of those positions next season and it really doesnt send a great message to Jose whos one of EE's best buddies and EE is the guy hitting right behind him. Like I said unless EE is asking for some ridiculous contract we shouldnt be trading him and opening up another massive hole.

Ok lets play along in your scenario.....

Post a lineup you think we can run out next season (a season we should be trying to make the playoffs)

[Hamyltowne]

I dont think its worth trading him with the potential to look stupid in the end if this is the real EE.

Not many know of the real EE as he has been inconsistent over his career, not just year to year, but he has some inconsistent first and second half splits in a few of those years as welll. Plus he's already at his peak offensively and plays a gold-glove caliber DH.

... it really doesnt send a great message to Jose whos one of EE's best buddies and EE is the guy hitting right behind him.

He's a professional baseball player. He'll be all right.

Ok lets play along in your scenario.....

Post a lineup you think we can run out next season (a season we should be trying to make the playoffs)

What? You can't possibly... I don't know if you're bored or just loutish by nature.

[Griff83]

I dont think its worth trading him with the potential to look stupid in the end if this is the real EE.

Not many know of the real EE as he has been inconsistent over his career, not just year to year, but he has some inconsistent first and second half splits in a few of those years as welll. Plus he's already at his peak offensively and plays a gold-glove caliber DH.

... it really doesnt send a great message to Jose whos one of EE's best buddies and EE is the guy hitting right behind him.

He's a professional baseball player. He'll be all right.

Ok lets play along in your scenario.....

Post a lineup you think we can run out next season (a season we should be trying to make the playoffs)

What? You can't possibly... I don't know if you're bored or just loutish by nature.

So after that glowing report on EE you expect to get some kings ransom from another team?
Really Im curious exactly what you think we would get back in trade for a player thats by your description been inconsistant his hole career and noone knows what the real player is and then throw in hes a pending FA at years end. I doubt we could get back a top 30 prospect for him and if thats the case it just isnt worth dealing him.

Sure Jose will get over it but its moreso the message it sends about this team really not being all that serious in 2013-2014 if there willing to deal what will be a 2012 allstar for mostly prospects. If im Jose and I see the team not spending anymore then 80 million and trading away the teams 2nd best offensive player Im not sure how long I want to be wasting my prime years with that org. This team needs to get serious about winning soon or Bautista will turn into another Halladay and eventually want to go to a contender.

If you want to deal off EE I'd like to know what the plan is for DH and 1B next season in your opinion. Usually when you deal a player coming off a season like EE is currently having you should definitely have a follow up move if you plan on winning baseball games and trying to make the playoffs. If we had someone that could immediately fill in at 1B or DH then I would be much more for this but again we dont and trading EE right now would be a very risky move.

I just read in another thread you think McDdade is the answer

[-MetA4-]

Unless we're smack-dab in the center of the race after another fortnight, trade. Not quite ready to call Encarnacion the next Bautista, and we'd likely get quite a good return given that he's a 29 year old soon-to-be FA who is largely restricted to 1B/DH, and has a career OPS+ of 108.

This. It doesn't even have to be for prospects; I'd look to unload him in some sort of deal for a young controllable player.

[-MetA4-]

So lets say they trade EE.

We will go into this offseason with no starting pitching, no 1B and no DH?

How are we going to fill these holes when we have no immediate players on the team or in the system?

You move Bautista to 1B. This has always been the absolute logical move. He is a negative fielder in RF and he's not getting any younger. He may not like it, but it is the best move for the team. You then have a spot to play Gose in RF where you automatically upgrade that position defensively, and its not like you're "wasting" Bautista's arm because you are replacing him with a guy who's arm is just as good.

[Michael Bradley]

AA needs to find the next Rasmus/Morrow/Escobar/Lawrie. Over the last two years he has been smart enough to find talented players having down seasons and/or were rubbing their respective teams the wrong way, and was able snatch them up at their lowest value, but if the Jays are going to avoid the free agent market then he will have to do a lot more of it. I'm not sure how many of those types of deals he has in him. Only Marcum/Lawrie involved the Jays giving up something substantial and giving up quantity for quality is not as easy as AA has made it look in certain trades.

As far as EE, I'm hoping AA can use him to find that controllable player. Would I mind if EE is brought back at a fair price? Absolutely not. However, much like with Bautista two years ago, it is a huge risk to expect what is currently an outlier to turn into a norm over the next 4-5 years. It worked beautifully with Bautista, but Jose is the exception when it comes to player development. The Jays would have to be very confident that this EE is the one we will see for at least the next couple of seasons. I will leave that up to AA to decide, but if there is a player out there that figures to be more valuable/younger than EE that could be available in a trade for EE, then do it. As long as that player in not in A-ball and can be counted on to be a legit MLB contributor right away.

[akakalakin]

expensive DH, but he can play 3 positions sort of

wouldn't pay more than 7-8 per, if AA can't get it done before trade deadline - ship him

[ikosuave]

expensive DH, but he can play 3 positions sort of

wouldn't pay more than 7-8 per, if AA can't get it done before trade deadline - ship him

I've wondered why it is that so many of you guys are soooo worried about what we actually pay for a player. It's really not our money and I could give a rat's bum as to what Rogers pays for him. They're making some serious coin off of Canada having:

a) all Jays games on SN
b) all jays games on Rogers owned radio
c) HUGE discount on the park that they purchased for like 1/25 the cost of building it
d) merchandise
e) advertising

I, for one, want the Jays to sign EE and go after some substantial players. I'm tired of always wait-and-see...

We CAN and SHOULD pay for the services of the Yu Darvish's and Prince Fielder's of the world.

[Mattd97]

you can argue over his value all you like, but the reality is that there is a significant human factor to this too. the club has spent all this focus on 'developing from within' and 'well pay to keep our guys, not go the free agency route' -- and then when one of your guys does play well instead of showing loyalty and reward the player - you ship him off or let him go. thats not a good message to give to your clubhouse or teh fans.

[IMAN5]

keep him but only for the right price. no more over paying players.

[SCF99]

I would sign him and than see what i could get on the open market, shoot for a high return and if you get it great, and if you dont well than you have yourself a 1b/DH that hits 35 to 40 hrs

[DonVitoMan]

he's clearly playing way over his head this year to get a huge contract. I like EE but lets be realistic, he was pretty terrible for 4/5ths of last season and once he gets guaranteed millions, I can see him regressing a ton. I would trade him to a buyer this year and we could get so much back for him, a solid starter and he will regress next year.

[RalphWiggum]

If a team dying for a bat blows our doors off at the deadline we should probably pull the trigger. If not 5 years for around 45-50 million is not a deal I would hate. Wouldn't love it either but I'd rather overspend a little than watch him walk for nothing. Most teams that end up winning have a couple players that they are paying a little over market value.

Someone is going to give him around 10 million per on the open market assuming he finishes in the .275 35-40 HR range.

[Al_Oliver]

he's clearly playing way over his head this year to get a huge contract. I like EE but lets be realistic, he was pretty terrible for 4/5ths of last season and once he gets guaranteed millions, I can see him regressing a ton. I would trade him to a buyer this year and we could get so much back for him, a solid starter and he will regress next year.

Not sure how you got 80% of last year when he was killing it from the All-Star break onwards... He got into better shape, which I would consider a contract year move, but his change in swing is the bigger difference this year.
While I would be hesitant to offer him a big contract (duration more than money is an issue for me), I don't see the harm in trying to gauge his interest, demands for an extension. If anything, we still have at least another month before a decision is required.

[kavan]

I say about 5-6 million with some performance bonuses. He will not get paid close to what Jose is getting paid. He is doing good but there is a good chance he does not repeat his success.