Davidi: Jays ready to enter pitching market

Post #1 » by **Rhettmatic** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 7:27 pm

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/wa ... to-tigers/

“If you’re making a deal you want to hopefully get an impact guy so it doesn’t really impact who’s coming back,” Anthopoulos explained.

Left-hander Cliff Lee, this summer’s trade deadline crown jewel, came to mind when Anthopoulos revealed “I had a club I talked to (Monday) night, they said another week to 10 days” before they’d consider making trades. And with Josh Johnson’s $13.75 million coming off the books next year, the Blue Jays certainly have some wiggle room to handle the financial outlay.

But other, perhaps more, realistic names to consider are Seattle Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, and Chicago White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy (who is currently on the DL), both of whom were targeted by the Blue Jays last off-season and are on teams a few miracles away from legitimate contention.

Ervin Santana makes some sense, too, although it’s difficult to believe the Kansas City Royals would be willing to pull the plug on their season so soon after the bold move to get James Shields last fall, and with the AL Central still within reach.

Santoki · Post #2 » by **Santoki** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 7:34 pm

They're never going out and getting a guy like Lee, but they definitely need another solid 4th or 5th guy in this rotation with no sign of Happ or Morrow back any time soon.

galacticos2 · Post #3 » by **galacticos2** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 7:35 pm

I'd like to see us take a shot at Yovani Gallardo. Under achieved this year, has 11 million due next year and a team option of 13 mill for 14-15 with a team buyout of 600k. Not to mention Doug Melvin and Gord Ash are running the team, so there's always some open dialogue with the Brewers.

Randle McMurphy · Post #4 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 7:43 pm

Iwakuma would be a great addition. He's on a cheap contract too. Would cost quite a bit to get him, though, I'm sure.

MikeM · Post #5 » by **MikeM** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 7:46 pm

Trade Josh Johnson for Iwakuma. I'm sure SEA would do it, they're dumb.

Post #6 » by **Schad** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 7:47 pm

galacticos2 wrote:I'd like to see us take a shot at Yovani Gallardo. Under achieved this year, has 11 million due next year and a team option of 13 mill for 14-15 with a team buyout of 600k. Not to mention Doug Melvin and Gord Ash are running the team, so there's always some open dialogue with the Brewers.

He's underachieving because he's quickly losing velocity...his fastball is down 2 MPH over the past two seasons, his strikeout rate has bottomed out, and he's getting hammered. The sinker that has supplanted his four-seamer doesn't seem to sink much, either, which is scary when you're talking about a move to the AL East.

galacticos2 · Post #7 » by **galacticos2** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 7:50 pm

Schadenfreude wrote:
galacticos2 wrote:I'd like to see us take a shot at Yovani Gallardo. Under achieved this year, has 11 million due next year and a team option of 13 mill for 14-15 with a team buyout of 600k. Not to mention Doug Melvin and Gord Ash are running the team, so there's always some open dialogue with the Brewers.

He's underachieving because he's quickly losing velocity...his fastball is down 2 MPH over the past two seasons, his strikeout rate has bottomed out, and he's getting hammered. The sinker that has supplanted his four-seamer doesn't seem to sink much, either, which is scary when you're talking about a move to the AL East.

What would you suggest? We aren't getting Cliff Lee. Let's take a shot at Yovani.

There There · Post #8 » by **There There** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 7:53 pm

I may be in the minority here, but i'd prefer we hold steady.

This is not a one year window... moving multiples of Sanchez/Stroman/Osuna/Nolin, to give us a slightly better chance of competing this season, doesn't exactly excite me, especially since this year has been yet another reminder of why you want your system healthy enough that you have guys sitting there in AAA ready to be called upon when the need arises.

Post #9 » by **Schad** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 7:59 pm

galacticos2 wrote:What would you suggest? We aren't getting Cliff Lee. Let's take a shot at Yovani.

I'd rather we went for a low-cost stop-gap for the time being, someone who can fill a rotation spot somewhat competently, rather than a flashy high-cost guy like Gallardo who'd likely get lit up to the tune of a 5+ ERA. Kevin Slowey fits...he'd be cheap, thoroughly mediocre, but could tide us over until Morrow/Happ return from the DL, at the least.

turtle_15 · Post #10 » by **turtle_15** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 8:00 pm

There There wrote:I may be in the minority here, but i'd prefer we hold steady.

This is not a one year window... moving multiples of Sanchez/Stroman/Osuna/Nolin, to give us a slightly better chance of competing this season, doesn't exactly excite me, especially since this year has been yet another reminder of why you want your system healthy enough that you have guys sitting there in AAA ready to be called upon when the need arises.

i second that, don't want to see them trading away our top pitching prospects right now

Michael Bradley · Post #11 » by **Michael Bradley** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 8:43 pm

Lee has 3 years and $77.5M left on his deal (2/50 is guaranteed but he has a pretty easy vesting option to reach if he stays healthy). Even if the Jays wanted to trade for him, they'd have to move some contracts to accommodate him (unless Rogers goes nuts with payroll).

If the Jays want to win in the next 3 years, then Lee is the pitcher to get. Whether the Jays have the prospects and payroll room to make it happen is another story.

BigLeagueChew · Post #12 » by **BigLeagueChew** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 9:10 pm

I would kick tires on Shields. I doubt he stays with the Royals passed his current contract which comes with a $12M team option for 2014.

He gets NO run support in Kansas City and would cost less than Lee as far as us giving up assets, I woud think.

Santoki · Post #13 » by **Santoki** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 9:15 pm

BigLeagueChew wrote:I would kick tires on Shields. I doubt he stays with the Royals passed his current contract which comes with a $12M team option for 2014.

He gets NO run support in Kansas City and would cost less than Lee as far as us giving up assets, I woud think.

Can't see why they'd trade Shields already, especially with the AL Central still within reach. They gave up a lot to get him, wouldn't make sense to trade him this year. I could see it happening next deadline though.

galacticos2 · Post #14 » by **galacticos2** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 9:16 pm

Santoki wrote:
BigLeagueChew wrote:I would kick tires on Shields. I doubt he stays with the Royals passed his current contract which comes with a $12M team option for 2014.

He gets NO run support in Kansas City and would cost less than Lee as far as us giving up assets, I woud think.

Can't see why they'd trade Shields already, especially with the AL Central still within reach. They gave up a lot to get him, wouldn't make sense to trade him this year. I could see it happening next deadline though.

The asking price for Shields was high, what do we have to offer KC.

Avenger · Post #15 » by **Avenger** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 9:21 pm

I would be against any big moves too, even with a monster acquisition like Lee they're still like 2-1 against to get the wildcard. We should be looking for temporary minor rotation upgrades that involve taking on a little mpney

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There There · Post #16 » by **There There** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 9:32 pm

The other important thing is that JJ is likely to have a monster second half.

There's just too much money on the line for him not to figure things out and get on a real roll. There doesn't seem to be anything health related with him now, so with his track record and the money that he is potentially losing with each and every mediocre<->poor outing, you gotta figure that he's got a seriously strong stretch in him.

BigLeagueChew · Post #17 » by **BigLeagueChew** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 9:36 pm

galacticos2 wrote:
Santoki wrote:
BigLeagueChew wrote:I would kick tires on Shields. I doubt he stays with the Royals passed his current contract which comes with a $12M team option for 2014.

He gets NO run support in Kansas City and would cost less than Lee as far as us giving up assets, I woud think.

Can't see why they'd trade Shields already, especially with the AL Central still within reach. They gave up a lot to get him, wouldn't make sense to trade him this year. I could see it happening next deadline though.

The asking price for Shields was high, what do we have to offer KC.

If they want a pitcher back we can offer them Morrow or Johnson, a prospect like Sanchez or Gose and a roster player like Rajai Davis.

Maybe the asking price for Sheilds won't be as much this time, I'm not sure. I'd just like another reliable pitcher that has a good chance of throwing 200 innings but there isn't many to pick from.

galacticos2 · Post #18 » by **galacticos2** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 9:45 pm

I don't see them taking Morrow (injured), Johnson (FA). Also if they didn't think they could compete they wouldn't have traded Myers. Obviously they are not good, but theres next year. I see them asking for vets, they got a lot of great young talent, but need to some savvy vets to help out. Trading their ace is just stupid.

Post #19 » by **Schad** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 10:17 pm

BigLeagueChew wrote:
galacticos2 wrote:
Santoki wrote:
Can't see why they'd trade Shields already, especially with the AL Central still within reach. They gave up a lot to get him, wouldn't make sense to trade him this year. I could see it happening next deadline though.

The asking price for Shields was high, what do we have to offer KC.

If they want a pitcher back we can offer them Morrow or Johnson, a prospect like Sanchez or Gose and a roster player like Rajai Davis.

Maybe the asking price for Sheilds won't be as much this time, I'm not sure. I'd just like another reliable pitcher that has a good chance of throwing 200 innings but there isn't many to pick from.

The asking price would be ridiculously high simply because Moore's liable to get fired if he abandons their win-now plan and doesn't bring back an absolute fortune for Shields, a few months after shipping Myers/Odorizzi/Montgomery to get him.

The_Hater · Post #20 » by **The_Hater** » Wed Jul 3, 2013 10:45 pm

Santoki wrote:They're never going out and getting a guy like Lee, but they definitely need another solid 4th or 5th guy in this rotation with no sign of Happ or Morrow back any time soon.

Since nobody in the rotation pitched better than a 4th starter during the 1st half aside from perhaps Rogers, might as well add another 4th-5th starter to the mix.

I also think abandoning JJ right now is the wrong direction, we all know what he's capable of when healthy. They need some more pitching depth and they need JJ and Dickey to pitch like #1's in the 2nd half.