The Official Jays Off-Season Thread (Rumours, Opinions, Etc)

baulderdash77 · Post #61 » by **baulderdash77** » Fri Nov 2, 2012 11:40 pm

The largest Free Agent contract in 3 off seasons that AA has signed anybody to has been Francisco Cordero for 1 year- $4.5 million.

Every other signing has either been extensions, players under team control (pre-arbitration or arbitration) or trades.

When AA signs a bona fide MLB free agent for multiple years with a contract value over $10 million I will believe that he's willing to be a player in free agency. Last year we heard the same sabre rattling that the Jays could be a major player and literally nothing happened. I'm at the believe it when I see it stage.

Kaizen · Post #62 » by **Kaizen** » Fri Nov 2, 2012 11:47 pm

baulderdash77 wrote:The largest Free Agent contract in 3 off seasons that AA has signed anybody to has been Francisco Cordero for 1 year- $4.5 million.

Every other signing has either been extensions, players under team control (pre-arbitration or arbitration) or trades.

When AA signs a bona fide MLB free agent for multiple years with a contract value over $10 million I will believe that he's willing to be a player in free agency. Last year we heard the same sabre rattling that the Jays could be a major player and literally nothing happened. I'm at the believe it when I see it stage.

This is the stage everybody should be at every year in every sport. It bothers me that so many fans actually care about what people say when their actions are all that matters.

Michael Bradley · Post #63 » by **Michael Bradley** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 12:13 am

I doubt the Jays will sign anybody significant. The payroll doesn't appear to be going that much higher than last year, and AA's team friendly concept to contracts won't work in free agency. Teams have money to spend this off-season and I don't see AA going into a bidding war for mid-tier free agents.

I honestly see the Jays trading for starting pitching before paying the necessary money to sign a good starter. They have too many holes to allocate so much into one player, unless the payroll is going to be a lot higher than I'm anticipating.

gp2015 · Post #64 » by **gp2015** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 12:53 am

Ortiz is off the market.

dballislife · Post #65 » by **dballislife** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 1:23 am

scratch haren and ortiz off list, whens it our turn

Ado05 · Post #66 » by **Ado05** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 2:25 pm

dballislife wrote:scratch haren and ortiz off list, whens it our turn

Haren is a free agent right now, isnt he?

Kaizen · Post #67 » by **Kaizen** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 2:43 pm

spykelee · Post #68 » by **spykelee** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 2:52 pm

The first day of free agency?

Says all the other teams

Mehar · Post #69 » by **Mehar** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 7:10 pm

If the Blue Jays are serious trying to compete next year, there is no reason why its payroll can not be at least 105-110 million. I heard no exact figures, but the number 90-95 million was tossed around, leaving the team about 11-13 million dollars to spend in the offseason. Rogers is not hurting for money. Frankly i am sick and tired of waiting for this team to make a serious splash. I am sick of the excuses. This is the offseason to do it. 19

damn years of meaningless games of baseball in September have taken a toll on me as a fan. I am 29 now, and all my good memories of this team is when i was in damn middle school. Time to walk the walk. The fan base supported this team in greater numbers in terms of t.v. and attendance, and it is time for Rogers to open up the purse strings. Enough of building for 2014, 2015, 2016, etc. Seeing the Orioles and Rays playing meaningful baseball in September this year also further left a bitter taste in my mouth.

jrsmith · Post #70 » by **jrsmith** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 9:24 pm

Mehar wrote:If the Blue Jays are serious trying to compete next year

They are not.

hyper316 · Post #71 » by **hyper316** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 9:30 pm

another year of bautista's prime goes to waste.

if they really have money to spend on FA, it should have been last season on Yu Darvish. 53 million bid (which will make back in extra japanese revenue) and 50 million contract/5 years is cheap.

Now they would have to pay like 200 Million/8 years for a Zach Greinke for a top FA this offseason

Ado05 · Post #72 » by **Ado05** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 10:24 pm

I wish there were more rumours. Im so bored.

hyper316 · Post #73 » by **hyper316** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 10:28 pm

Adrian_05 wrote:I wish there were more rumours. Im so bored.

For AA, less rumours may be a good thing

torontoaces04 · Post #74 » by **torontoaces04** » Sun Nov 4, 2012 10:50 pm

zZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZ

Wake me up when we sign Yu Darvish and Prince Fielder.

flatjacket1 · Post #75 » by **flatjacket1** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 11:29 pm

I'm excited. This seems like the offseason to spend.

polo007 · Post #76 » by **polo007** » Tue Nov 6, 2012 5:59 pm

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2012/1 ... ngs_plans/

Starters Anibal Sanchez and Edwin Jackson may very well be right among that group, as the Blue Jays scouted them extensively during the season, although that’s par for the course with the way they operate. Brandon McCarthy, Dan Haren, Francisco Liriano and Ryan Dempster are also interesting possibilities.

The Blue Jays also have a need at second base, particularly after the trade of Mike Aviles, acquired from the Boston Red Sox as part of the John Farrell deal, along with Yan Gomes to the Cleveland Indians for reliever Esmil Rogers.

Aviles was the fallback option at second base if nothing else presented itself during the off-season, and now the only real in-house option is Adeiny Hechavarria, whose $2.75 million salary is on the books whether or not he’s in the big-leagues.

Marco Scutaro may be the most appealing target on the open market, but he’s expected to remain with the San Francisco Giants and is likely to be too pricey should the Blue Jays succeed in landing some starters. Maicer Izturis and Ryan Theriot could be middle-ground possibilities if Anthopoulos is as intent on starting Hechavarria at triple-A as he seems.

The strong preference is to have him and outfielder Anthony Gose open the 2013 season in Buffalo, but that decision rests on how the team spends its dough.

s e n s i · Post #77 » by **s e n s i** » Thu Nov 8, 2012 1:29 am

Shi Davidi ‏@ShiDavidi
One interesting thing I've heard. Sounds like #Jays may soon sign a 2B (don't know who yet). Probably in next few days if it goes down

Michael Bradley · Post #78 » by **Michael Bradley** » Thu Nov 8, 2012 1:56 am

Looking at the free agent list, I'd guess Maicer Izturis or Jeff Keppinger. No one else really stands out.

Edit: Scutaro would be my first choice but I am going to assume his play with the Giants has made him a little too expensive for the Jays.

Tyrone Slothrop · Post #79 » by **Tyrone Slothrop** » Thu Nov 8, 2012 2:37 am

Michael Bradley wrote:Looking at the free agent list, I'd guess Maicer Izturis or Jeff Keppinger. No one else really stands out.

Yeah I'd be ok with those two. Not thrilled about the Theriot suggestions, I think I'd prefer giving KJ another chance.

flatjacket1 · Post #80 » by **flatjacket1** » Thu Nov 8, 2012 3:09 am

Michael Bradley wrote:Looking at the free agent list, I'd guess Maicer Izturis or Jeff Keppinger. No one else really stands out.

I really hope we get Keppinger. He crushes lefties, can defend decently enough at 2B to pass but can also play a bit of 1B. (so he can platoon with Lind and/or KJ if we resign him) He won't cost a heck of a lot.

I wouldn't welcome him being an everyday starter unless he was platooned with a Lind or KJ type player. (or both).

This could be a great bench piece going forward. This may not seem like much but it could be the difference between a 84 and a 85 win season.