Jays & Rangers front runners for Garza?

[Wo1verine]

The Toronto Blue Jays are the front-runners, along with the Texas Rangers, to land Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Garza, according to ESPNChicago.com’s Bruce Levine.

The Blue Jays were among numerous teams reportedly scouting the right-hander during his start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night. The other clubs watching Garza included the aforementioned Rangers, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Detroit Tigers and the Baltimore Orioles.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/356196745677504513[/tweet]

Garza is in the final year of his contract and can petition for free agency in November.

[Randle McMurphy]

Jays have been after Garza forever. Doubt they give what it takes to get him, though. Other teams have a greater immediate need.

[Schad]

If we trade Sanchez...oh lord, if we trade Sanchez...

[There There]

Thankfully as with most rumours about this team, this is likely a non-starter.

Anthopoulos can't be that deluded about the remainder of this season.

But yeah, if Sanchez, Hutchison, Stroman or Osuna are moved for a rental, just no.

[mikero]

I doubt AA would be interested in a rental player. I could see the Jays being interested in Samardzija if he was available though.

[Ado05]

Only if an extension is agreed upon and we can get rid of Buerhle.

[Michael Bradley]

When AA is fixated on a player, he usually gets him (Reyes, KJ, Rasmus, Josh Johnson, etc). It wouldn't surprise me if he got Garza. Not sure what he would do with him though, since I'm sure Garza will test free agency. He would be foolish not to.

[Schad]

When AA is fixated on a player, he usually gets him (Reyes, KJ, Rasmus, Josh Johnson, etc). It wouldn't surprise me if he got Garza. Not sure what he would do with him though, since I'm sure Garza will test free agency. He would be foolish not to.

And we'd be foolish to pay him enough that he didn't test free agency. Garza's a good pitcher; I'm sure that his people will play the market unless he's offered silly money.

[Raptor_Guy]

Probably just floating it out there to drive up the price, just like how the Jays were "front-runners" for Prince Fielder and Yu Darvish

[dagger]

Probably just floating it out there to drive up the price, just like how the Jays were "front-runners" for Prince Fielder and Yu Darvish

From Heyman

St. Louis wouldn't seem to have a major need in the rotation, but Garza would upgrade any team, even better ones. Toronto has been speculated as a possible suitor, but there is little to no evidence there are actively involved, at least not at the moment.

[Santoki]

[galacticos2]

lol like this trade would improve this team. we are flawed all around. aa has made a mistake for a second time with the manager and coaches all around. At this rate, JP would be probably better than him.

[Toni]

Only if an extension is agreed upon and we can get rid of Buerhle.

Read my mind. Buerhle and his contract need to go.

[CapeCrusader]

Thankfully as with most rumours about this team, this is likely a non-starter.

Anthopoulos can't be that deluded about the remainder of this season.

But yeah, if Sanchez, Hutchison, Stroman or Osuna are moved for a rental, just no.

Only way I would trade any of those guys is if we get an ace like Chris Sale.

[Back2back2back]

No prospects for a rental . PLEASE NO AA! Don't make another mistake.

[Winggfly]

Doesnt make sense for the Jays....Unless he signs an extension and/or this means Josh Johnson is unlikely back for next season.

[Rep905]

lol like this trade would improve this team. we are flawed all around. aa has made a mistake for a second time with the manager and coaches all around. At this rate, JP would be probably better than him.

man are you stupid, you think the biggest flaw in our team is John Gibbons and his staff? LOL so if we had Joe Maddon, Josh Johnson & Dickey would have an ERA below 3, JPA would strikeout less, and Ricky Romero would turn back time?

[flatjacket1]

I think this trade would help the Jays a lot, but it'd have to be done creatively for it to work. I think the trade would have to have to have a lot of things fall into place.

We'd have to make a Johnson trade first, as signing both to large deals (Garza, Johnson) is unlikely, and at this point we are looking for next year. Johnson would still likely cost over 10M annually and Garza even more. This, combined with Reyes/Buehrle/Dickey all going up like 6M+ each for next season, we are talking about having an extremely high payroll.

The only way I see us getting Garza is if either Buehrle is going to the Cubs in the same deal, or Josh Johnson goes to another club in a trade (or a three team deal). We need to cut budget effectively to be able to add a pitcher of that caliber. Maybe even both.

I think Garza is due for a salary around 20M. I know you all likely think that's insane, but lets compare Grienke's last 3 years before FA and Garza over the same 3 years.

Garza 2010-2012:
3.68 ERA, 506.1 IP, 443K
Grienke 2010-2012:
3.83 ERA, 604 IP, 582K

Not saying they are the same caliber, but with inflation, baseball inflation ($$/win going up) and the growing need for front of the rotation starters, 20M is a reasonable expectation.

Anyways, I like the idea, but if we pull this off the wrong way we will lose Colby/Jansen/Johnson in FA.

[Attonitus]

Please don't.

[Dan2087]

IMO our more pressing need is a C, 2B or 3B - wherever Lawrie doesn't play - and a bench bat. Trading more prospects for even more pitching doesn't make sense. Either way, This season is done, just let it play out, trade anyone if presented with a really good offer, and try to improve in the offseason