2018-19 Offseason Thread

[polo007]

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[Schad]

Smart play if the Mariners do tear it down. They have no money to spend, and not a lot of talent on the way.

[dagger]

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[polo007]

MLB insider Shi Davidi joins Arash Madani from MLB GM Meetings, where they’re hearing the Blue Jays will be cutting payroll again in 2019, but will still have room to be creative on the pitching front in free agency.

Shi Davidi expects the Toronto Blue Jays' payroll to be in the $120-$130 million range.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-making-apparent-payroll-will-drop-2019/

[Schad]

MLB insider Shi Davidi joins Arash Madani from MLB GM Meetings, where they’re hearing the Blue Jays will be cutting payroll again in 2019, but will still have room to be creative on the pitching front in free agency.

Shi Davidi expects the Toronto Blue Jays' payroll to be in the $120-$130 million range.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-making-apparent-payroll-will-drop-2019/

The size of the drop is a bit surprising, but perhaps shouldn't be. Last year was likely brutal financially, and frankly we're too early in this process to start handing out big-money contracts anyway.

[polo007]

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Before the Jays go spending, like most teams this week, they’re investigating possible trade matches.

But pitching is the complete focus.

“It could be in free agency, it could be via trade,” Atkins said. “Any way we can possibly get more depth for our pitching will really set us up to complement that young position player core well."

“Whether that ends up being one or two major-league starters or one or two major-league relievers, we’ll see. Really, we have the flexibility to do it in free agency and time will tell, but, I think, we also want to understand what opportunities we have via trade, as well, before we’re aggressive there.”

There’s a surplus of infielders on hand.

“We can’t close off opportunity,” Atkins said when asked specifically about Stroman, Sanchez and Justin Smoak, whose $8 million deal for 2019 is quite palatable for a contender in need of some cold corner pop. “If there is one, if something is presented to us that makes some sense, we’ll have to consider it. But it’s not what we’re spending our energy on.”

[Cyrus]

MLB insider Shi Davidi joins Arash Madani from MLB GM Meetings, where they’re hearing the Blue Jays will be cutting payroll again in 2019, but will still have room to be creative on the pitching front in free agency.

Shi Davidi expects the Toronto Blue Jays' payroll to be in the $120-$130 million range.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-making-apparent-payroll-will-drop-2019/

The size of the drop is a bit surprising, but perhaps shouldn't be. Last year was likely brutal financially, and frankly we're too early in this process to start handing out big-money contracts anyway.

Where does our payroll stand currently?

[Schad]

MLB insider Shi Davidi joins Arash Madani from MLB GM Meetings, where they’re hearing the Blue Jays will be cutting payroll again in 2019, but will still have room to be creative on the pitching front in free agency.

Shi Davidi expects the Toronto Blue Jays' payroll to be in the $120-$130 million range.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-making-apparent-payroll-will-drop-2019/

The size of the drop is a bit surprising, but perhaps shouldn't be. Last year was likely brutal financially, and frankly we're too early in this process to start handing out big-money contracts anyway.

Where does our payroll stand currently?

With arb estimates/min salaries, about $108.5m.

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[polo007]

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[Cyrus]

The size of the drop is a bit surprising, but perhaps shouldn't be. Last year was likely brutal financially, and frankly we're too early in this process to start handing out big-money contracts anyway.

Where does our payroll stand currently?

With arb estimates/min salaries, about $108.5m.

So basically that allows us one pitcher, and maybe one reliever? lol

[Schad]

So basically that allows us one pitcher, and maybe one reliever? lol

I'd expect that we'll subtract quite a bit of salary, because this is a retooling year. But yeah, not a year to look for major free agent signings.

[Wo1verine]

Winning team and more money or losing team and less money? Choice is an obvious one for Happ, right?

[polo007]

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CARLSBAD, Calif. — Ross Atkins’ strategy heading into the off-season was no secret, and he reiterated the obvious need for arms as the GM meetings got underway this week.

While Atkins explores the trade market in the early stages to see if there’s an opportunity to add a rotation piece with some contractual control, he’ll eventually turn to free agency, hoping to find arms that can help fill out a back of a rotation that currently has zero depth behind the as-of-today top three of Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez and Ryan Borucki.

The goal is to find quality innings which, in turn, could morph into a July trade chip, or maybe even catch lightning in a bottle with a reclamation project who could be re-signed in-season.

With that in mind, here are 11 free-agent starting pitchers at various price points who could interest the Jays:

SP Yusei Kikuchi

SP J.A. Happ

SP Drew Pomeranz

SP Lance Lynn

SP Garrett Richards

SP Trevor Cahill

SP Matt Moore

SP Ervin Santana

SP Tyson Ross

SP Clay Buchholz

SP Martin Perez

[Skin Blues]

Garrett Richards is an interesting one. He's out for all of 2019, so having his lost year coincide with a re-tooling year for the Jays when a lot of the young talent is getting their feet wet and we hopefully big adieu to a lot of high priced veterans (Martin, Morales, 1/3 pay cut for Tulo, some expensive arb guys traded, etc). Would be ideal if we can get a couple reasonable team options out of it.

Those older guys coming off of reasonably good seasons make no sense, IMO.

[polo007]

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• While Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto is the prize backstop available on the trade market, Russell Martin is believed to be of some interest to contending clubs. There may be up to four potential suitors for the Blue Jays veteran, one source suggested, with the Brewers, Astros and Braves thought to be among the potential landing spots.

Milwaukee used veteran stopgap Erik Kratz behind the plate during the post-season, Houston’s tandem is in free agency and Atlanta is looking to complement Tyler Flowers. The Dodgers, Mets and Rays are also seeking catching help, and the demand creates an opportunity to move Martin if the Blue Jays can find the sweet spot between paying down his $20-million salary and the prospect return.

• Another piece of the Blue Jays puzzle without an obvious fit right now is Brandon Drury, and the way Atkins spoke of him as a third baseman raised some antennas since they won’t be blocking off the hot corner with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. coming.

“He wants to play third. He loves third base and thinks he can be elite there. We agree with him. We feel like if he got a chance to do it on a daily basis that he could be a special third baseman,” said Atkins. “At the same time, the value of his versatility, having done it before, we’re excited about where he is from a vision perspective and having come off the migraines. Hopefully that impacts every aspect of his game. Most players would prefer to just play one position and that be where they’re pencilled into the lineup every day. But more and more versatility has a premium.”

Sure sounds like a marketing pitch, but the belief is he’s unlikely to be traded, at least until he rebuilds some value next season.

[bartron_44]

I don't see Brandon Drury as an elite 3B. I don't think he can even get into the top 12 to even call him better than average. Definitely sounds like fluff before an attempted trade to me. I think ideally they have Drury and Diaz on the bench though.

If I was Atkins, I would 100% be trading Travis, Gurriel, Pillar and Martin. I know Gurriel had a great 2 weeks in the middle of the season, but he doesn't get a lot of walks to boost his OBP. If he doesn't get a hit he isn't reaching base. He has a walk rate similar to Kevin Pillar and no set position. If you want to let the kids play, then let Vladdy play 3B and Bichette play 2B. Diaz and Drury can fill in for a few weeks to start the season, and then bring up the phenoms.

I know Vladdy did silly things in the minor leagues this year, but don't let that make you less impressed with what Bichette did in AA. He was the youngest players in the Eastern league not named Vladdy Guerrero and finished:

1st in hits
1st in doubles
1st in extra base hits
1st in total bases
T-1st in triples
2nd in SB
6th in RBI
14th in BB


I think he is almost as deserving of a spot on the big league roster as Vladdy is this spring, and anywhere in the top 3 depending how the roster shakes out. If Tulo goes down they would still have Diaz , or they could slide Bichette over if that is where they see him long term.


Another question for 2019 is, just how much are they going to let Jansen play and where are they going to put him in the batting order. This is another guy who has been a middle of the order type of bat ever since he put on those glasses. He hits lefties, he hits righties and he seemed to thrive with RISP both in AAA and in the majors this year. He is another bat I think they should really keep in their lineup as much as possible, not someone who only catches 80 games as part of a platoon. That is why I would look to try and get something for Martin this off season. Even if they have to pay some of his salary.

[polo007]

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