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

[Wo1verine]

Now this is interesting.

Shi Davidi ‏@ShiDavidi
#Jays FA Carlos Villanueva wants team to promise 30 starts. Is AA willing to offer that? "Absolutely, I’ve never doubted Carlos."

I wonder if Carlos is our cheap option for a 2nd free agent starter. I read a while ago on MLBTR that they thought he could get a 2 year deal worth up to $10 million as his maximum. I wonder if a 3 year/12 deal or 2+1 option year for 10 million guaranteed, up to 12 million would be something he'd come back for.

Carlos is valuable to a point, and he could help us get the depth to go for a "Name" free agent pitcher without tying up too much salary.

Yeah, true enough.

I wouldn't mind a a rotation of :

Morrow
Sanchez
Romero
Villanueva
Happ

[torontoaces04]

I wouldn't mind a a rotation of :

Morrow
Sanchez
Romero
Villanueva
Happ

Barf! That group has 4th-5th place written all over it!

[Wo1verine]

I wouldn't mind a a rotation of :

Morrow
Sanchez
Romero
Villanueva
Happ

Barf! That group has 4th-5th place written all over it!

I'd take it that you're not a fan of the 4 and 5 starters?

[Wo1verine]

Mike Wilner @Wilnerness590

On manager search, AA says now following up and getting more in-depth. Now in "2nd round, final round, home stretch" #Bluejays #Jays

[spykelee]

Ya'll better brace yourselves for the trading of prospects to acquire starting pitching. IMO, that's a heck of a lot more likely than a signifigant FA splash.

[baulderdash77]

I could get behind a rotation of

Morrow
Sanchez
Romero
Alvarez
Villanueva/Happ

I'm still confident in Alvarez's improvement and I think he needs another year.

That rotation can be competitive assuming Romero has a bounce back year,

[James_Raptors]

After listening to reports all-day (we'll call them rumours) about what the Sanchez camp is looking for in FA I have a hard time believing Toronto is in play for a contract/length of that nature. AA also spoke to the press and said if he had to choose, he'd say that the Jays are closer to making a trade than a free agent signing, which is working from one of our few strengths (imo). There is information circulating that Tampa is interested in trading some pitching in order to improve their offence and the rumour is that although they favour moving Matt Moore and/or Jeremy Hellickson, they would listen to calls for James Shields or David Price. I didn't hear them mention Jeff Niemann whatsoever. If those names are in play I would hope that AA would be given Tampa a call. I assume they would want MLB ready player(s) (+ more, depending on who the pitcher coming back is) and we're a division rival so this scenario may not even be a notion either team would consider. I think we make unlikely dancing partners but it's fun to dream...

[James_Raptors]

Ya'll better brace yourselves for the trading of prospects to acquire starting pitching. IMO, that's a heck of a lot more likely than a signifigant FA splash.

I agree.
I'll think we'll see middle of the road and/or marginal starters in FA, on the cheap! (if possible) and the bigger splash, if it even happens, will be through trade and from a strength of the organization, our farm system.

[Wo1verine]

After listening to reports all-day (we'll call them rumours) about what the Sanchez camp is looking for in FA I have a hard time believing Toronto is in play for a contract/length of that nature. AA also spoke to the press and said if he had to choose, he'd say that the Jays are closer to making a trade than a free agent signing, which is working from one of our few strengths (imo). There is information circulating that Tampa is interested in trading some pitching in order to improve their offence and the rumour is that although they favour moving Matt Moore and/or Jeremy Hellickson, they would listen to calls for James Shields or David Price. I didn't hear them mention Jeff Niemann whatsoever. If those names are in play I would hope that AA would be given Tampa a call. I assume they would want MLB ready player(s) (+ more, depending on who the pitcher coming back is) and we're a division rival so this scenario may not even be a notion either team would consider. I think we make unlikely dancing partners but it's fun to dream...

Keep in mind that most of the big free agents don't sign until the winter meetings in December.

[Michael Bradley]

Ya'll better brace yourselves for the trading of prospects to acquire starting pitching. IMO, that's a heck of a lot more likely than a signifigant FA splash.

I think that was always going to be the case, unless there is a good starter out there coming off a down season willing to take a one or two year deal to increase their value. Someone like Francisco Liriano, assuming he comes a bit cheaper than the more established SP's on the market, is probably the best case as far as FA's go, IMO. Someone whose upside far exceeds performance that may come cheaper because of it. Otherwise it will be the Jeremy Guthrie types.

AA is still the same GM. He is not going to go five years on anyone, and chances are he won't be able to participate in a bidding war due to payroll. Not a good match for hunting free agent starters.

[MikeM]

God, free agency is such a disaster though. Seems like there's never been a good deal made through FA in the history of the MLB. But it is a necessary evil I suppose.

[polo007]

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

-- The Blue Jays are willing to move one of the young players off their roster to get starting pitching. "Absolutely. We’d have to be open to that," said Anthopoulos. While he didn’t go into names, classified within that group would be catcher J.P. Arencibia, centre-fielder Colby Rasmus, third baseman Brett Lawrie (although that’s highly doubtful), and shortstop Yunel Escobar, who is much easier to move after Thursday’s signing of infielder Maicer Izturis.

-- It’s not the money, it’s the years that would deter the Blue Jays from signing someone like free agent right-hander Anibal Sanchez, who is reportedly seeking something in the range of $90 million (all figures US) over six years. Speaking in general terms and not specifically about Sanchez, Anthopoulos said: "We could accommodate that type of AAV (annual average value). Right now, we don’t have an appetite to do six-year deals or seven-year deals. We don’t have an appetite to do anything beyond five-year deals, which is clear and not being specific to anybody. We can take on salary, we can make trades, we’ve been able to open it up a little bit more to talk about players that may not have been as good a fit in the past. With a little more room payroll wise."

-- There may be some cracks developing within the club’s policy on signing contracts beyond five years, a stance that seemed firm in the past. "We’d make an offer and if their numbers were higher, I’d let ownership know," explained Anthopoulos. "If I believe in it I might take the position and the stance with Paul (Beeston) and ownership that this might be something we need to look at and need to do. We haven’t had that come up yet, but I would never rule that out. We have certain leans we prefer to do, and five years is definitely that number."

[Wo1verine]

Ken Macha 'interested' in Blue Jays manager gig

INDIAN WELLS, CALIF. - Ken Macha sounded like a frustrated man.

“I’m interested in managing the Blue Jays,” said Macha from Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon. “I’ve applied for the job, sent off my resume, it would be an honour to be considered for the job.

“I haven’t had an interview from one team (hiring a manager) this off season.”

Macha managed the Oakland A’s for four seasons (two first, two second-place finishes) and the Milwaukee Brewers for two years (two third-place finishes) for a combined 368-280 record (.540 wining percentage).

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/MLB/ ... 45991.html

[Lateral Quicks]

I could get behind a rotation of

Morrow
Sanchez
Romero
Alvarez
Villanueva/Happ

I'm still confident in Alvarez's improvement and I think he needs another year.

That rotation can be competitive assuming Romero has a bounce back year,

I'm still a bit supporter of Alvarez, but it became abundantly clear last year that he needs time to develop his repertoire in the minors. You could live with him in the 5th hole next year, but they already have lots of other #5's available (Happ, Villanueva, maybe Jenkins, McGowan, etc.).

I don't expect AA to commit to two more pitchers long term this offseason. I think we'll see one Anibal Sanchez/Edwin Jackson long-term signing, and then a one or two year rental. The hope would be that down the road the latter would be replaced by one of Alvarez/Hutchison/Drabek, or maybe another young arm on its way up from the minors. I'm hoping for something like this:

Morrow
Sanchez
Romero
Rental
Happ

That would be a competitive starting rotation.

[Michael Bradley]

Yeah unless AA really strikes out in the free agent and trade market, I expect J.A. Happ to be the 5th starter and Alvarez in AAA, with two new starters sandwiched somewhere with Morrow and Romero. There is no conceivable way the Jays can count on Alvarez right out of the gate next season. His last three starts to end the year were encouraging (17 K's in 18.2 innings against New York and Baltimore), and he has great control at age 22, but he still needs time, and hopefully the AAA affiliate no longer being in the PCL will make the Jays more conservative with their handling of starters (no more Double-A to the Majors promotions). Give Alvarez half a season in AAA, assuming no injuries to the MLB rotation, and he will be better off by the time he comes back up.

[BigLeagueChew]

I know Alvarez peripherals are not great, but the fact that he finished the season strong while pitching 185 innings should say something. Happ has never thrown that many innings before in a single season.

[akakalakin]

wth with this sixth year nonsense

fire AA

[Mehar]

I know Alvarez peripherals are not great, but the fact that he finished the season strong while pitching 185 innings should say something. Happ has never thrown that many innings before in a single season.

I have the same question mark with Happ. Everyone has already made him a 5th starter, when it should be the other way around, with Alvarez the guy instead.

[NeverGoingToWin]

The thing is there are people who want Alvarez to be called up halfway through the year. He would be replacing Happ so he will not need to through that many innings.

[Michael Bradley]

I know Alvarez peripherals are not great, but the fact that he finished the season strong while pitching 185 innings should say something. Happ has never thrown that many innings before in a single season.

I have the same question mark with Happ. Everyone has already made him a 5th starter, when it should be the other way around, with Alvarez the guy instead.

At this moment, Happ is a better starter than Alvarez. That may not be the case in the future, or even next season, but Alvarez is young with high upside and I think it's wiser to try to maximize his potential by increasing his development time rather than throwing him out there to fail in the Majors before he is ready (like they did last season).

Happ is what he is; a bottom of the rotation starter. You don't have to worry about development or innings limits or pitch counts, etc. Personally, I am intrigued to see how he does next year because he saw an increase in strike outs and ground outs with a decrease in walks, and his ERA was likely higher than it should have been in 2012. If he can maintain those ratios, with a normalized HR rate, he could be better. Remains to be seen.

Regardless, Alvarez did not do anything to guarantee a rotation spot in 2013. Let him work on his pitches in AAA and be act as depth in case of injury.