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The Toronto Blue Jays have claimed shortstop Brian Bocock on waivers from San Francisco and they signed outfielder and 2003 first round pick Chris Lubanksi from Kansas City to a minor league deal.  If Lubanski makes it to Toronto, start printing up the "Little Lubanski Urban Achievers" t-shirts.



The 24 year-old Bocock was a 9th round selection of the Giants in the 2006 amateur draft from Stetson University in Florida.  Baseball America rated the right-handed hitting shortstop the 11th best prospect in the Giants system in its 2008 Prospect Handbook.  They described him as a shortstop with plus range and arm strength and was rated a 65 runner on the traditional 20-80 scouting scale.   The 5-foot-11, 185 pound Bocock was also rated as the organization's best defensive infielder with the strongest infield arm.  However, BA says he has a long way to go with the bat as he struggles to hit breaking balls. 

Despite hitting just .220 with the Giants A affiliate in San Jose in 2007, Bocock played in the Futures Games at AT & T Park.  He came back to AT & T Park as a member of the Giants to start the 2008 season thanks to a knee injury to Omar Vizquel.   The Harrisonburg, Virginia native got in 32 games and struggled with the stick by hitting just .143/.258/.156 with one double, two RBI and four stolen bases.  He was sent down to AAA Fresno in early May and stayed there for the rest of 2008 where he hit just .163 in 35 games.  Bocock spent most of last season back in San Jose with some time in AA Conneticut but only hit a combined .230 with three homers and 51 RBI but was just 8-for-18 in stolen bases.

Bocock was designated for assignment by San Francisco this week after they signed Juan Uribe to a one-year deal.

Lubanski, also 24 years of age, was the fifth overall pick in the 2003 amateur draft by the Royals out of high school in Pennsylvania.  He was selected eight picks ahead of the Jays Aaron Hill.  The left handed hitting outfielder made steady progress through the Royals system that was highlighted by a strong 2005 campaign in which he batted .301/.349/.554 with 38 doubles, six triples, 28 homers and 116 runs batted in the hitting haven known as High Desert.  The Lansdale, Pennsylvania native didn't have quite the same success at AA Wichita but still hit .282./369/.475 with 15 homers and 70 RBI in 2006.  The 2007 season saw him split time with Wichita and AAA Omaha where he slugged .495 in Wichita but just .363 with the O-Royals.  That dropped Lubanski from #4 to #16 in the Baseball America rankings for Royals prospects in 2008.  Also factoring into the ranking was Lubanski's performance in the Arizona Fall League in 2007 in which he hit just .200.  Despite having a smooth swing while adding power, BA says the 6-foot-3, 210 pound Lubanski has added more weight which has meant a move from center field to left where he's described to be average at best.  He's also credited for a strong work ethic but tends to get down on himself. 

Unfortunately for Lubanski, he has remained stuck in Omaha over the past two years.  He hit just .242 with 15 homers in 2008 and endured a trying 2009 that saw him miss three months with a hamstring injury.   That led to a .227 batting average and two homers.  Lubanski is expected to start the 2010 season with AAA Las Vegas.  Let's hope the dude abides and earns a call up to Baseball North in 2010!

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The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Helpmates - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 01:00 AM EST (#210914) #
Anthopolous seems to have absorbed Ricciardi's predilection for signing has-been former number one draft choices. 
Richard S.S. - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 04:48 AM EST (#210915) #

Brian Bocock is drafted in 2006.   In 'A'-ball in 2007, where he struggles.   (He should repeat A-ball.)   SF's minor system is so bad Bocock starts the season with the MLB team in 2008 - where he struggles.   Back in A-ball in 2009, he struggles and is moved to AA, where he struggled.   Can he be salvaged, a repeat of  A-ball in 2008 could have been the difference?

Our Outfield is Wells, Snider, Bautista, Gathright - enough said?

China fan - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 05:17 AM EST (#210916) #

For a 21-year-old at the AA level, Lubanski had excellent success in 2006.   He seemed to have good power (.475 SLG), and good patience at the plate (72 walks and a .369 OBP).   The jump from AA to the next level shouldn't have been too onerous.   Yet he never seemed to adjust to the AAA level at all.  It's rather mysterious.  But he's still relatively young and maybe the Jays can get him back on track.

Anthopoulos does seem to have a fetish for draft-level pedigree.   Over the past few weeks, he seems to have collected every former first-round draft pick that he can possibly find:  Wallace, Drabek, d'Arnaud, Morrow, Lubanski.....

Gerry - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 08:42 AM EST (#210921) #
The team has to fill out it's AAA roster.  That's what these moves are.
Matthew E - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 08:49 AM EST (#210922) #
Shrug. Might help; couldn't hurt.
Mike Green - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 09:16 AM EST (#210924) #
They do need a shortstop in triple A.  I suspect that there is a little more hope involved in the Lubanski signing. 
ayjackson - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 10:16 AM EST (#210926) #
What's wrong with Ankiel that his only suitor seems to be the Pirates - and they won't guarantee him a starting job?
rpriske - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 10:32 AM EST (#210927) #
I haven't noticed this on here: Brian Wolfe signed...elsewhere: http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=479519
lexomatic - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 11:55 AM EST (#210932) #
ayj: i figure Ankiel  is making high guaranteed salary demands, and teams are trying to wait him out.
Richard S.S. - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 12:56 PM EST (#210935) #

First round picks have a certain cachet and sparkle that never passes.   There is always a hope the magic still exists.   Wallace has been on the Blue Jay Radar for a long time.   He's a 2008 pick who could play in Toronto in 2010 (He's that good now, and has been that good since Day 1).   Drabek and Morrow were high on the watch list too.   D'Arnaud was almost a Jay, so he's another Wish List member - almost born an elite defender.

Bocock was treated like Morrow and has his upside.   He just needs to learn to hit, he's really got everything else.    Lubanski had trouble making it in AAA.   Toronto has good people to help him take the next step.   He needs to want to be better.

Moe - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 01:10 PM EST (#210937) #
Looking at these signings, I wonder whether one of Ryan Church or Ryan Lagerhans would sign a minor league with invite deal at this point. Both offer great defense and some upside. My guess is they'll get a major league deal and they'll provide value (in particular Lagerhans) while the Jays run out Bautista.


92-93 - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 01:26 PM EST (#210938) #
"Wallace has been on the Blue Jay Radar for a long time."

Hopefully we will start to see more Wallaces signed out of high school, making it worth it for them to forego their scholarships. I don't know the situation regarding the first time he was selected, but it's possible one of our scouts at the time thought he was worth quite a bit of money and management wasn't willing to shell it out.
Jim - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 01:45 PM EST (#210939) #
Langerhans already resigned a minor league deal with Seattle back in December.
China fan - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 02:33 PM EST (#210940) #

One advantage of trading for a former first-round draft pick is that you can evade those big $2-million signing bonuses that the early picks get.   I suppose this makes it attractive for the cheapskate Jays:   you wait until another team has paid the signing bonus, and then you try to acquire the guy a year or two later.... 

Lubanski got a signing bonus of $2.1-million in 2003;  Morrow got $2.4-million in 2006;  Drabek got $1.55-million in 2006; Wallace got $1.84-million in 2008;  d'Arnaud got $832,500 in 2007.    So that's a total of $8.72-million in bonuses that the Jays managed to avoid by acquiring those 5 players AFTER they were drafted!  That must really appeal to the bean-counters.....

Moe - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 03:53 PM EST (#210945) #
One advantage of trading for a former first-round draft pick is that you can evade those big $2-million signing bonuses that the early picks get.   I suppose this makes it attractive for the cheapskate Jays:   you wait until another team has paid the signing bonus, and then you try to acquire the guy a year or two later....

Of course they are not worth 2+million any longer.

Btw, any need for a RH 1B/DH type: A's designated first baseman Tommy Everidge for assignment
He has a bit of a prospect status left...
Mick Doherty - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 04:16 PM EST (#210946) #

He just needs to learn to hit, he's really got everything else. 

Yeah, and that sailor has oars and a paddle. If only he can build a boat before the storm hits!

perlhack - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 06:43 PM EST (#210949) #
Ex-Jay Miguel Negron has been suspended for 50 games for "testing positive for substances in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program".
krose - Friday, January 08 2010 @ 07:04 PM EST (#210950) #
Aroldis Chapman Rumors: Friday

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 8 at 5:49pm CST] 5:49pm: Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com tweets that the Reds are in on Chapman, however the Jays remain the favorite.

4:00pm: Jon Heyman of SI.com tweets that the Blue Jays have a "decent shot" at signing Chapman, now that they appear to have bid over $20MM. He names the Nationals, Marlins, Red Sox, A's and Angels as potential players for the prospect.

12:11pm: As the Aroldis Chapman sweepstakes continue, at least one outlet is reporting that the Blue Jays have made the left-hander a considerable offer. Jorge Ebro of El Nuevo Herald reports that the Jays offered Chapman a $23MM deal (click here for the Miami-based paper's original Spanish story and here for some Drunk Jays Fans analysis).

Ebro reports that the Marlins raised their offer to $16MM, but have now conceded defeat. Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reported yesterday that the Marlins did not expect to sign Chapman. That leaves the Angels, Red Sox and Blue Jays in pursuit of the Cuban prospect.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Blue Jays have a good chance of further strengthening their minor leagues.

Richard S.S. - Saturday, January 09 2010 @ 06:53 AM EST (#210954) #
Elite defenders and hitters are born.   Star defenders and hitters are born.  Great defenders and hitters are born.   The very good need to be taught the finer points, the rest need to be taught a lot.
ramone - Saturday, January 09 2010 @ 10:23 AM EST (#210955) #
Former Blue Jay first rounder Zach Jackson is a Blue Jay again, he was traded for a player to be named later and assigned to the 51's roster according to MLBTR.
timpinder - Saturday, January 09 2010 @ 10:48 AM EST (#210956) #

What's this Baxter?  You know I don't speak spanish.  But apparently translated this reads, in a nutshell, that the Jays are close to signing Chapman:

http://www.elnuevoherald.com/deportes/beisbol/story/623681.html

greenfrog - Saturday, January 09 2010 @ 11:07 AM EST (#210957) #
Actually, the article suggests that (1) the Marlins may be out of the Chapman bidding, and (2) the Blue Jays have bid $23M for Chapman and the Angels have bid a similar amount. It doesn't really assert that Toronto has an edge over Anaheim.
Flex - Saturday, January 09 2010 @ 11:27 AM EST (#210958) #
I don't understand the Jackson move unless somebody in the Jays organization figures they can get more out of him than anyone else has been able to. Seems like a ship that sailed and they should have let it go.
Ryan Day - Saturday, January 09 2010 @ 11:33 AM EST (#210959) #
Jackson's still just 26, which doesn't seem too old for a left-handed pitcher. They can stick him in AA or AAA for depth, and if he figures things out, bonus.
ds - Saturday, January 09 2010 @ 01:17 PM EST (#210961) #
It seems as if AA has figured out some inefficiency with stalled former 1st round picks.   Maybe it has to do with their development as opposed to scouting failures.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
ayjackson - Saturday, January 09 2010 @ 01:41 PM EST (#210962) #
Jackson's upside is probably a Tallet-like role at the MLB level. I wonder if that's the next shoe to drop. He could join Sean Henn in pursuit of that role. There isn't really a rotation spot available for him at Vegas.
Hodgie - Saturday, January 09 2010 @ 03:08 PM EST (#210966) #

"Elite defenders and hitters are born.   Star defenders and hitters are born.  Great defenders and hitters are born.   The very good need to be taught the finer points, the rest need to be taught a lot"

If you mean born out of 10,000+ hours of practice then yes I agree.

subculture - Saturday, January 09 2010 @ 09:20 PM EST (#210969) #
If you mean born out of 10,000+ hours of practice then yes I agree.

Well-said.  It certainly helps to have supporting physical characteristics passed down to you, but these don't mean much without THOUSANDS of hours of training, practice, and elite-level competition - BEFORE most of your eventual competitors.

Anyone interested in this should consider reading Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell...

LINKhttp://www.gladwell.com/outliers/index.html

dan gordon - Saturday, January 09 2010 @ 11:47 PM EST (#210970) #

There's a good 7 minute long clip of Chapman vs Australia on youtube.  He seems to have a very nice looking, smooth, effortless delivery.  He was consistently hitting 94-97 on the gun and reached 100 at least once.  Made a couple of lefties look pretty bad with his breaking ball which seems to have decent, but not great action.  His arm speed does seem to me to be a little slower on the breaking ball than the fastball, but I'm no scout.  Fastball looked pretty straight, but the Aussies couldn't touch it.  Overall impression was of a guy who was overpowering when in the zone, but with some difficulty putting the ball where he wanted to.  Considering his age, I'd say he's a great prospect with tons of upside and I hope the Jays get him.

Chuck - Sunday, January 10 2010 @ 08:52 AM EST (#210972) #

He just needs to learn to hit, he's really got everything else.

In almost 1400 minor league PAs, Bocock's slash line is 228/301/311. In 93 MLB PAs, it's 143/258/156. He hasn't hit a lick from ages 21 to 24. Yes, at age 25 he "just" needs to learn to hit. How hard could that be?

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