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MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that the Jays have signed Edwin Encarnacion to a $2.5m deal for 2011 with an option for 2012.  I guess Adrian Beltre won't be coming to Toronto then.

Guess who just got back today

That wild-eyed boy who had been away

Hasn't changed, hasn't much to say

But man, I still think those Jays are crazy

Gregor Chisholm tweets that the plan is to use EE at first and DH along with Lind.



Oakland had claimed EE off waivers but couldn't sign him.  No team wanted to go to arbitration with EE, they wanted a negotiated deal.

MLB T-R story is here but it is brief.

Guess Who Is Back in Town? | 193 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
85bluejay - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:07 AM EST (#227713) #

I believe a healthy EE can hit 30hrs.  - I dislike his demeanour intensely, but as numerous posters

have pointed out his numbers are pretty good and he's likely going into his best yrs. - a good signing and

a guy I could see been flipped at the deadline. Also, this likely means that Bautista (if he's still here) goes

to RF - another benefit

The_Game - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:09 AM EST (#227714) #
E5 put up a 1.8 WAR in 98 games last year. Why not just play him at 3B? It's not like they have any better option outside of moving Bautista there.
85bluejay - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:10 AM EST (#227715) #

I apologise - didn't read the post - apparently he's going to be 1B/DH  - I think he's a better defensive 3rd

than Bautista - perhaps a 3RD. will be acquired

Jonny German - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:11 AM EST (#227716) #
I like it. This is very similar to the Buck and Gonzalez signings from last year.
Thomas - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:15 AM EST (#227718) #
At the very least, those who decried AA losing EE on waivers should now admit that it wasn't a mistaken, and a nifty to save $3 million or so. On the whole, I like it. He'll provide decent production and not having to worry about him air-mailing a throw every three days will be nice.

While sadly this probably puts an end to the Manny rumours, I guess this isn't a bad option since Berkman is off the table, as the team needed a DH who could spell Lind at 1B, if that turns out to be a disaster. He provides a safety net at 3B for Bautista or another, as well. Also, there is a no-zero chance that EE could be flipped at the deadline, particularly given an ability to play both corners.
Ryan C - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:19 AM EST (#227719) #
Welcome back EE, nice signing. Seems odd though the mention to put him at 1B/DH when the team could use a 3rd baseman.
Forkball - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:23 AM EST (#227721) #
Which ought to tell you how bad the team thinks he is at 3B.

Here's the press release:  http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20101216&content_id=16330222&vkey=pr_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor

Club option for $3.5 million in 2012.  That's probably the best part of the deal.

eudaimon - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:24 AM EST (#227722) #
This is good. I like the addition of the club friendly, cheap 2011 option (3.5 million). If he hits really well, which he could, he could be worth way more than that. I like his defense more at 1b than 3b, and like someone else said it would be good for him to backup Lind in case that whole thing goes haywire. He's not really more than a stopgap, but as far as stopgaps go he's not too bad.
Alex Obal - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:26 AM EST (#227723) #
Yeah, good deal all around.

I always thought Encarnacion's only problems were with his arm. His range is pretty good. He could totally be a gold-glove caliber first baseman, if his bat lets him play there.

eudaimon - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:27 AM EST (#227724) #

Oops, I meant 2012 option.

Was Beltre ever in the picture? I don't really like him much. He only seems to produce in contract years. Also, his irrational hatred of head-rubbing makes him look like an idiot.

Forkball - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:47 AM EST (#227727) #
I doubt the Jays are interested in Beltre, based mostly on the years it'd take, but it sounds like this signing wouldn't stop that from happening.
Marc Hulet - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:48 AM EST (#227728) #
By playing EE at 1B and DH (hopefully mostly) the team can significantly improve his value, which we will see in his WAR, as his defensive numbers will not drag down that value. It's a very smart move by AA, especially if the move away from third will help his bat take a step forward (as a result of less time spent working on his poor defense at 3B).
rtcaino - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:49 AM EST (#227729) #
I wonder what the chances are that he sneaks into type b free agent territory with a decent year?
John Northey - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:54 AM EST (#227730) #
I see it as much like the signing of Bautista a few times over the past years - basically you sign a guy with tons of potential that hasn't been reached, who can play 3B in a pinch but is better suited to 1B/LF/RF/DH (I suspect EE could handle LF/RF if given a shot). He is cheap, and can be released without fear if something better comes along mid-season.

So 2 years (just 1 guaranteed) for what he probably would've got for 1 had he not been lost on waivers. Works out quite nicely.
The_Game - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:56 AM EST (#227731) #
His defense took a major step forward last year, though. Considering position scarcity, he has a lot more value at 3B if he can play even passable defense there.
Moe - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 12:00 PM EST (#227732) #
Guess that's the end of my Derrek Lee fantasy for 1B/DH with Lind.  And still leaves 3B/RF open...

But I like the deal.


Mike Green - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 12:15 PM EST (#227734) #
Interesting.  If the club was playing to win in 2011, this wouldn't be the choice.  Another powerful right-handed hitter who doesn't reach base very often.  As it stands, the club is evidently marking time and this is a cheap way to do it. 

The dollar figures are low enough that you could conceivably run out an Encarnacion/Lind platoon in 2012 if the team payroll increases. 

China fan - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 12:15 PM EST (#227735) #
So, the Jays have settled for a 1B/DH who never managed more than a .306 OBP in a season and a half with the team.  So much for improving the team's OBP skills, as the new manager had allegedly hoped to do.  The basic message from Anthopolous is:  forget about 2011, it's another "rebuilding" year, we'll fight with Baltimore for 4th place, maybe we'll make an effort in 2012 or 2013 if everything works out okay.  In the meantime, try to get excited about our prospects in New Hampshire.
Anders - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 12:15 PM EST (#227736) #

Count me also amongst those who thought Encarnacion's defense improved markedly last year. Fangraphs agree's, for what it's worth.

As it stands I don't think Encarnacion hits enough to play first. His numbers with the Jays were about 240/305/470.

Chuck - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 12:21 PM EST (#227737) #

By playing EE at 1B and DH (hopefully mostly) the team can significantly improve his value, which we will see in his WAR, as his defensive numbers will not drag down that value.

A significant component of WAR is positional adjustment. The offensive bar at first base is much higher than it is at third base. It's not clear to me that his (presumed) defensive improvement moving from 3B to 1B will be near enough to claw back the loss his WAR will suffer in positional adjustment.

Mick Doherty - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 12:25 PM EST (#227738) #
Rumor in these parts (North Texas) is Beltre to the Rangers, with Mike Young splitting time among DH amd all four infield spots. Modern-day Tony Phillips?
eudaimon - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 12:26 PM EST (#227739) #

It's likely that he will platoon with Lind.

Encarnacion: .266/.373/.474/.847 Career vs Lefties (.255/.322/.446/.768 vs Righties)

Lind: .290/.342/.519/.860 Career vs Righties (.217/.264/.344/.608 vs Lefties)

Lind: .275/.327/.502/.829 Last year vs Righties (.117/.159/.182/.341 vs Lefties last year)

 

I didn't realize how bad Lind was vs lefties... A platoon could produce a nice overall statistical line. Encarnacion isn't bad versus righties, and might improve on that if he continues to improve at the plate.

I don't think this is a pure rebuilding year. I think there are a lot of good parts, which, if things go our way, could be competitive. I think spending to put us over the top this year is a bit of a waste, since a lot of talent will be maturing and may be ready to produce in 2012.

 

Mylegacy - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 12:31 PM EST (#227740) #
OK girls - here's what goes down now -

Rasmus or Upton. Gotta be - last big YOUNG STAR move that would make sense. I'm still reading that Rasmus is on the outs with the Cards and Upton - well who knows for sure.

We trade for Rasmus - obviously Gose and others would be included in that trade - he goes to CF, Wells to RF or LF and Snider to LF or RF, Bautista to 3rd, Escobar at SS until Hech is ready, Hill at 2nd (when Hech is ready Hill fights Escobar for 2nd - and I think Hill wins), Lind at 1st, Arencibia at C (if he falters D'arnaud, Perez, Jiminez AND others await their turn) and Edwin at DH until Loewen or Thames pushes him to who knows where (I think that's in Kansas).

85bluejay - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 12:32 PM EST (#227741) #

Mick

Beltre to the Rangers would be great news - Hello, Angels, we have this RH home run champion looking for

a home and can play multiple positions.

Wildrose - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 12:37 PM EST (#227742) #
His defense took a major step forward last year, though. Considering position scarcity, he has a lot more value at 3B if he can play even passable defense there.


Maybe it's just me , but I thought he was an absolute butcher at third defensively. The numbers however,  did show him to be somewhat passable last year. (Last years number with career numbers in parenthesis).

UZR  -2.3 (-11.5)
total zone -2 (-13)
+/-  +4 (-9)

The problem is sample size. He only played 841 innings at third, 2/3 of a season in 2010. Many feel that you need at least 3 years of full time defensive data because of variation before you can start reliably seeing " true" defensive ability. With EE I'd probably default to the larger sample size.

I don't mind this deal, moving a guy like this down the defensive spectrum to catch some value is not a bad move. The team does however , seems to be counting every single dollar  this off-season , to the dismay of many I'm sure.

rpriske - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 12:45 PM EST (#227743) #

I my initial reaction was three words long and can better be indicated by the initials W, T and F.

 

I suppose if he isn't playing third, he isn't as much of a detriment...

 

Jonny German - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 01:08 PM EST (#227744) #
Interesting.  If the club was playing to win in 2011, this wouldn't be the choice.  Another powerful right-handed hitter who doesn't reach base very often
 
I don't think it's as simple as that. It's obvious to everyone that there's upside in his power (given the crazy power streaks he's shown), but I think there's upside in his OBP as well. A curiosity in his career is that he forgot how to take a walk when he switched from the NL to the AL. In Cincinatti he had a solid OBP of .342, in Toronto it's been just .305.
 
I had wondered if he hit 8th a lot in the NL and thus drew a lot of cheap walks as teams put him on to get to the pitcher. But the numbers don't bear that out. For his career he hasn't put up a higher than normal walk rate from that spot:
 
 
Split PA BB BB/PA
Batting 1st 3 0 0.0%
Batting 2nd 23 1 4.3%
Batting 3rd 68 5 7.4%
Batting 4th 293 30 10.2%
Batting 5th 420 44 10.5%
Batting 6th 746 75 10.1%
Batting 7th 457 34 7.4%
Batting 8th 375 29 7.7%
Batting 9th 155 9 5.8%
Totals 2540 227 8.9%
 
 So if it wasn't a matter of pitchers giving him cheap passes in the NL, what was it that made him so much better at taking a walk there?
Alex Obal - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 01:16 PM EST (#227745) #
Theory #1: Inferior Pitching
eudaimon - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 01:51 PM EST (#227746) #
Comeon, the NL isn't that bad.
cybercavalier - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 01:52 PM EST (#227747) #
I don't know but I think the better remedy for today scenario is having Butterfield working with Lind and EE during the offseason to throw ball across the diamond and play infield.
China fan - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 02:00 PM EST (#227748) #

....I didn't realize how bad Lind was vs lefties... A platoon could produce a nice overall statistical line....

A platoon of Lind and Encarnacion at DH or 1B might make some sense.  The problem is that this would cost $7.5-million in 2011 salary for a single position in the lineup, and I don't see Anthopolous spending $7.5-million on a single lineup slot -- not when he is obviously being extremely parsimonious this year.  Seems more likely that Lind and Encarnacion will have to cover two positions in the lineup, and neither is likely to be particularly great. 

uglyone - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 02:08 PM EST (#227749) #
E5 put up a 1.8 WAR in 98 games last year. Why not just play him at 3B?


2010 AL Third Basemen WAR/150gms


A.Beltre: 7.0
Longoria: 6.9
Valencia: 4.7
Rodriguez: 4.3
Kouz'Off: 3.1
EdwinE: 2.8
M.Young: 2.6
B.Inge: 2.2
Peralta: 1.4
Callaspo: 1.4
Tejada: 1.3
Lopez: 0.7
Vizquel: 0.5
Wildrose - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 02:41 PM EST (#227750) #
I don't think simply extrapolating what EE would do over 150 games is very accurate, when one of the WAR inputs, defensive value, is based on the equivalent of about  150 plate appearances ( remember 3 years of defensive data equals one year of offensive data in terms of reliability). 

I don't think anybody would have much faith in an offensive projection that is based on 150 plate appearances , as any player can be hot or cold in such circumstance, the same applies for defence.
stevieboy22 - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 02:45 PM EST (#227751) #
The other thing to remember about EE is that he was seemingly injured when he was playing...

It's like a low risk, high reward signing....

The other thing I love, is that if Bautista goes down, you don't have to play Jonny Mac at third.. You have an okay replacement.... If I we're a baseball GM I would love having a guy who can play the corners at a fairly high level off the bench.. Like a Hinske/Branyan type.. With Bautista's versatility it also puts you in a position where you are covered with a quality backup every position but short and catcher (assuming Bautista can still play second).....
Forkball - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 03:02 PM EST (#227752) #
The basic message from Anthopolous is:  forget about 2011, it's another "rebuilding" year, we'll fight with Baltimore for 4th place, maybe we'll make an effort in 2012 or 2013 if everything works out okay.  In the meantime, try to get excited about our prospects in New Hampshire.

Is this a surprise?  AA has been saying he's building for the long haul since the day he was hired.

I'd rather the team not waste money now (and perhaps committing to players they don't really want beyond 2011) in an attempt to try to win 88 games.  Might as well bring back Ricciardi if you want to do that.

EE is a player that could potentially hit 40 HRs and has a $3.5 million option for 2012.  Alex Gonzalez's affordable team option is a big reason why Escobar is the team's starting SS today.
david wang - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 03:11 PM EST (#227753) #
Jenks signs for 2/12 with Boston.

Considering everyone else got three years, I think its a good move.

I would have been happy if the Jays got him at that price, or slightly higher. However, who knows if he wanted to go to a winner, but the allure of getting the saves in Toronto should have helped.
ComebyDeanChance - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 03:17 PM EST (#227754) #
As others have said, a very good holding move. Changed a 4.75 million contract to a 2.5 million one, with perhaps a faint hope of a Type B free agent next year, in which case they obviously wouldn't exercise the option.

Anthopoulos has said that Wells will DH 50 games next year, thus the pickup of Davis in centre, and I would anticipate that one of LInd or Encarnacion will handle the rest. I think there is still a third baseman on the horizon.

TamRa - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 03:20 PM EST (#227755) #
The basic message from Anthopolous is:  forget about 2011, it's another "rebuilding" year, we'll fight with Baltimore for 4th place, maybe we'll make an effort in 2012 or 2013 if everything works out okay.

Harsh.

Maybe it's just me - but my guess is that EE is here to basically be a bench player. He takes the weak side of the platoon with Lind (on occasion - I don't think the Jays are going to give up on Lind as a full timer yet), he's the reserve 3B, he could be the DH if the season started next week.

Basically, he's a lot like what Russel martin would have been - a safety net for various positions, a part time player.
IF I'm right, and that's his projected role, then this says next to nothing about the team's intentions for 2011, or about future acquisitions.

We can ruminate about what the current team looks like but very few of us believe these are the players they break camp with in April.

As for fighting with the O's" - don't be absurd. At this point the jays are clearly better than TB and Baltimore and closer to NY than to either of them. IMO. But they are certainly better than Baltimore.


Jonny German - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 03:25 PM EST (#227756) #
JoeyBats, RickyRo, JPArencibia all tweeting their approval of EE's return. LunchBoxHero talkin' tacos. Plus ça change...
smcs - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 03:27 PM EST (#227757) #
Maybe it's just me , but I thought he was an absolute butcher at third defensively. The numbers however,  did show him to be somewhat passable last year.

I call this the "Lyle Overbay Effect."
Jonny German - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 03:27 PM EST (#227758) #
Anthopoulos has said that Wells will DH 50 games next year

That's an interesting angle, hadn't heard it before. When did he say it?
85bluejay - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 03:35 PM EST (#227759) #

Is this a surprise? AA has been saying he's building for the long haul since the day he was hired.

Well said Forkball - couldn't have said it better myself.

uglyone - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 03:51 PM EST (#227760) #
I don't think simply extrapolating what EE would do over 150 games is very accurate, when one of the WAR inputs, defensive value, is based on the equivalent of about  150 plate appearances ( remember 3 years of defensive data equals one year of offensive data in terms of reliability).

I'm not sure "accuracy" is the driving factor in here, as simply looking at WAR for someone who played only 98 games is also "inaccurate" as a measure of what that player did when healthy.

I'd say this falls under the "useful information" category, though.
Wildrose - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 03:52 PM EST (#227761) #
I call this the "Lyle Overbay Effect."

I think this is true to a certain degree. From Fangraphs;

Players with at least 1000 matched throws total where the minimum of the two pair for each fielder is added to the total:

Best per 1000 throws

Berkman +4 runs, 2928 matched throws
Choi +4, 1361
Conine +3, 3100
Connor Jackson +3, 1790
Loney +3, 1679
Mientkewicz +3, 4344
D Ward +3, 1119
Olerud +2.5, 4481
Sexson +2.5, 6471
Tony Clark +2.5, 2880
Dan Johnson +2.5, 1774
Overbay +2.5, 4834

 
Paul D - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 03:57 PM EST (#227762) #

I strongly doubt that Lind ends up in a platoon.  This is the year to figure out what you've got in Lind, not platoon him.

BumWino - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 04:00 PM EST (#227764) #

My best Howard Cosell impersonation...

The Juice is back!  The Juice is back! 

No.  Sorry, eh. 

The Milk is back!  The Milk is back! 

Yeah, that's better.

Who gave EE the moniker, "Milk?"  Any idea what it means?

Jonny German - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 04:04 PM EST (#227765) #
Google says you're the only person ever to refer to EE as Milk.
electric carrot - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 04:18 PM EST (#227767) #
Who gave EE the moniker, "Milk?"

Mystery solved!!  It was you BW

Still not sure what it means tho ...

Mike Green - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 04:26 PM EST (#227769) #
Last year, EE walked in 7.9% of his PAs compared with a career average of 8.9%.  That is explicable by the difference in pitching quality between the NL Central and the AL East, and simple year-to-year variation.  The big change that was relevant to the decline in his OBP was his very low BABIP and batting average.  His batted ball profile has changed very signficantly over the years from even GB/FB to extreme FB.  His line-drive rate is down.  He pops up a lot and he hits a lot of balls out of the park. 

Normally, a player with as much power as EE who doesn't strike out too often will see his walk rate increase in his late 20s rather than have it stagnate or decrease.  You do get the feeling that if EE dedicated himself to being a professional hitter, he could improve significantly.  The X factor of motivation/dedication has always been an issue with him. 

TimberLee - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 04:33 PM EST (#227770) #

I can't see anything to criticize about this move. The Jays didn't have a backup at 1B or 3B or DH and now they do. Encarnacion won't stand in the way of a developing player, and almost every observer seems to think there is a good chance that he will become a solid hitter.

 

bpoz - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 04:58 PM EST (#227771) #
EE is very good insurance. We could be hitting a lot of HRs in 2011. Other than Y Escobar, Snider & JPA everyone else, in some kind of possible line up has hit 20 HRs.

I even see Escobar, Snider & JPA as potential 20 HR players. I know the player acquisition is just heating up, according to the still empty 40 man spots, so additions will arrive, but I don't fear a weak offense.
IMO there are still multiple balls in the air. ie 3rd=?. I am leaning towards a team friendly contract.
Parker - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 05:24 PM EST (#227772) #

Baseball-Reference has Morgan Ensberg as Encarnacion's #1 comparison.  At age 29 (E5's $3.5M option year) Ensberg hit 36 home runs with a .945 OPS.  Some other guy at #5 on E5's list of comps also had a monster age 29 season... you guys might have heard of him.

Of course, there are a few other players in his comp list that aren't as impressive.  B-R sure thinks E5 still has some potential, though.

China fan - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 05:30 PM EST (#227773) #

.....The Jays didn't have a backup at 1B or 3B or DH and now they do.....

Why do you assume that Encarnacion won't be a starter?   True, there's still time for the Jays to acquire a better 1B or DH, relegating Encarnacion to a back-up role, but Anthopolous is running out of time and a lot of the better options are gone.  It could also be argued that the Jays gave $1.5-million to John McDonald to be a back-up, so maybe they could give $2.5-million to Encarnacion to be a back-up;  but remember the howls of outrage from many Bauxites when McDonald was given such a hefty contract?  I would have thought that the fury would be even louder if we thought Encarnacion was signed at $2.5-million to ride the bench.  It seems more likely that he's been signed as a starter.

.....almost every observer seems to think there is a good chance that he will become a solid hitter....

Encarnacion was once a solid hitter -- from the ages of 23 to 25.  Since then, he has been in decline.  He's not exactly a young prospect who might be expected to improve.  He will be 28 in a few weeks.  To expect improvement from him, at this stage, seems risky at best.

Shaker - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 05:42 PM EST (#227774) #
Hello Alex?

According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, free agent reliever Brian Fuentes is in search of a three-year deal worth around $15 million.
And why wouldn't he be? Setup men are inking multi-year contracts left and right this offseason and Fuentes has as good of numbers as all of them. The southpaw finished the 2010 season with a 2.81 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, holding left-handed hitters to a .128/.122/.149 batting line. [rotoworld]


david wang - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 05:47 PM EST (#227775) #
Just last night, people were complaining the Jays won't have a 3rd baseman, since everyone except Beltre is gone. There is still over 2 months till Spring Training starts, a lot can happen.

The Jays aren't asking E5 to improve, just to go back to previous levels.

Even if he repeats last years production, this deal is a bargain. He had a 1.8 WAR in 96 games, and had the lowest BABIP of his career. He is very much a value signing in this market, where All-Star Ty Wiggington got 2/7.
Sherrystar - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 05:51 PM EST (#227776) #

Mylegacy, I was thinking the exact same thing.

The Rasmus rumours have gone cold... which probably means that AA is constantly harassing Mozeliak

But it'll take a lot more than Gose to get him...

pubster - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 06:06 PM EST (#227777) #
AA has constantly said that he wants to keep accumulating assets.

I think most people believe that EE at 2.5 mill is an asset, so I see no harm in bringing him on board.

Depth is always important, and EE provides good depth.

AA released EE at the start of this offseason. If he wanted EE to be the starting 3B for the jays this season, why release him? I doubt he's pencilling EE's name into an everyday position just yet.

brent - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 06:10 PM EST (#227778) #

I wonder if the Jays were the highest bidder for him or he wanted to come back or the Jays just matched the best offer?

At a certain point, players will actually want to come to Toronto to play, especially if it means being able to beat down Bos and NYY.

ayjackson - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 06:12 PM EST (#227779) #

I like the move.  Not too surprised by it, except for the commitment to move him to 1B/DH....which I agree with, just surprised by.

We still have a fairly gaping hole at 3B or corner outfield.  Time is ticking.  I wonder what AA is working on.  The conspiracist in me says he is the mystery player on Beltre, but is waiting to see if he can land Grienke first.  The Vulcan in me says he is trying to find a young 3B man or outfielder as a permanent solution and will fall back on Davis/Thames if he can't.

Chuck - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 06:16 PM EST (#227780) #

We still have a fairly gaping hole at 3B or corner outfield.

Don't forget the Mike Green hypothesis of signing a second baseman and moving Hill to 3B. Orlando Hudson on a one-year deal would buy the front office some time to sort out the infield situation.

earlweaverfan - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 06:43 PM EST (#227781) #
Why do you assume that Encarnacion won't be a starter?   ... It seems more likely that he's been signed as a starter.

Being a starter in one role does not preclude someone being a back-up at another position as well.  If EE becomes our starting DH and new acquisition X arrives for 3B, only to end up on the DL, then EE shifts to 3B and VW, say, shifts to DH, and RD starts in center.  Ditto with 1B, if Lind goes down.

Encarnacion was once a solid hitter -- from the ages of 23 to 25.  Since then, he has been in decline. 

So, I am missing something.  Yes, EE had a decline in 2009 at age 26, where his OPS+ dropped from the previous year of 108 down to 91.  And, yes, he was on the DL at the start of the season.  But he closed the 2010 season with an OPS+ of 111, his highest ever.

Count me among those who think this guy is an intriguing hitter, and could end up having a Buck/Gonzalez career year next year, and for a similarly modest price.  For EE, a career year could be 35, even 40 HR, and an .825 - .850 OPS.  He could also prove to be uncoachable, I recognize, and fail to take full advantage of the opportunity he has just been given.  To expect from improvement from any player in MLB, I acknowledge, "seems risky at best".  Still, if I had to bet, I would bet on this guy.


Thomas - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 06:47 PM EST (#227782) #
Shaker, I'm not sure where you're going with your post, but if it's a suggestion the Jays should sign Brian Fuentes to a $15 million/3 year contract, I would immediately call that a mistake and AA's worst move as GM. I doubt he's interested.

The Red Sox have signed Bobby Jenks to a $12 million/2 year contract. That's not unreasonable, although according to Olney that pushes the Red Sox's payroll past the Yankees. I don't want to rehash the discussion from a previous thread, but I think that supports my contention that the Red Sox are becoming more of a #1B then a number 2. However, the Yankees will still make moves and I doubt they won't be number one with a bullet by the end.

The Padres acquired Eric Patterson as the PTBNL in the Adrian Gonzalez trade. I could hardly be more underwhelmed.
ayjackson - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 06:55 PM EST (#227785) #

Orlando Hudson on a one-year deal would buy the front office some time to sort out the infield situation.

AA ruled a move like that out when he said that he'd only move Hill off second if there was a permanent solution that he had in mind - not to make room for a stop gap solution.  Or maybe I dreamt he said that.

Gerry - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 06:56 PM EST (#227786) #

Gregor Chisholm has a few words from the GM.

"We always felt there was potential to Edwin's bat," Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "We think now being completely healthy going into next year and getting everyday at-bats ... he can be a pretty impactful bat in our lineup, and we think there is a lot of upside to him going forward."

Encarnacion is expected to get the majority of his playing time at DH while backing up Adam Lind at first base. Lind appeared in just 11 games at first last season, but the Blue Jays would like to experiment with him at the position next year.

 

ComebyDeanChance - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 07:19 PM EST (#227787) #
That's an interesting angle, hadn't heard it before. When did he say it?

One of the broadcast interviews that I think are on the video section of bluejays.com Try the one following the Lawrie/Marcum deal but it may be a different one. It was a couple of weeks ago and I was surprised there was no mention of it here.
brent - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 07:22 PM EST (#227788) #
If I were GM AA I would be sweet talking Cashman into taking Vernon's contract straight up. They wouldn't have to give up anything other than money- which they have a lot of.
ayjackson - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 07:27 PM EST (#227789) #

talking Cashman into taking Vernon

Can he pitch?

brent - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 07:30 PM EST (#227790) #
Just checked the 40man roster- EEE makes it 38 (he's listed as a DH). Lawrie isn't on it, so I'm not sure what's going on as he was on the Milwaukee 40man before. I guess GM AA has 2 spots left before he has to make room on it.
brent - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 07:54 PM EST (#227791) #
comebydeanchance, I just checked a bunch of those videos and nothing like that is there. Farrell even said they're not moving Vernon off CF. Links or it didn't happen!
Chuck - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 07:54 PM EST (#227792) #

AA ruled a move like that out when he said that he'd only move Hill off second if there was a permanent solution that he had in mind - not to make room for a stop gap solution. 

Thanks. I hadn't heard that.

ayjackson - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 08:01 PM EST (#227793) #
John Lott asked LaCava about Lawrie being on the 40-man.  He said he was not, that it was a website error, and that it would be fixed.  And it was.
eudaimon - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 08:58 PM EST (#227794) #
Farrell even said they're not moving Vernon off CF. Links or it didn't happen!

Links or it didn't happen indeed. On the other hand though, not moving Wells off CF and having him DH 50 games or so are not mutually exclusive.
Shaker - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 09:15 PM EST (#227795) #
Thomas, the Fuentes comment shows what Fuentes "would like to sign for". I don't think we need to meet his desires, but I do think we can start a dialog with his agent. I would certainly like to avoid a 3rd year on any contract with him, but I don't know why a club option on that 3rd year would be so awful.

You categorized a signing of Fuentes at $5M salary "as AA's worst move". Could you use statistical evidence as to why that would be so? Please use Downs and Jenks in your analysis and/or any other free agent reliever signing this offseason. Thanks.
Wildrose - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 09:58 PM EST (#227796) #
You categorized a signing of Fuentes at $5M salary "as AA's worst move". Could you use statistical evidence as to why that would be so? Please use Downs and Jenks in your analysis and/or any other free agent reliever signing this offseason. Thanks.

Shaker I think you'll find what your looking for here. (http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/relievers-are-not-worth-multi-year-deals/)

Unfortunately for the teams with the open wallets, recent history suggests that giving contracts of 3+ years to a relief pitcher is generally a terrible idea. Here’s a list of free agent relievers who have received deals for three or more years since over the last four off-seasons.

Danys Baez (2007-2009), 3 years, $19 million: -0.4 WAR
Justin Speier
(2007-2010), 4 years, $18 million: -0.2 WAR
Jamie Walker
(2007-2009), 3 years, $12 million: -0.5 WAR
Scott Schoeneweis
(2007-2009), 3 years, $11 million: -1.5 WAR
Chad Bradford
(2007-2009), 3 years, $11 million: +2.0 WAR
Francisco Cordero
(2008-2011), 4 years, $46 million: +2.8 WAR
Mariano Rivera
(2008-2010), 3 years, $45 million: +7.8 WAR
Scott Linebrink
(2008-2011), 4 years, $18 million: +0.5 WAR
David Riske
(2008-2010), 3 years, $13 million: -0.6 WAR
Francisco Rodriguez
(2009-2011), 3 years, $36 million: +1.7 WAR
Damaso Marte
(2009-2011), 3 years, $12 million: -0.2 WAR
Brandon Lyon
(2010-2012), 3 years, $15 million: +1.0 WAR

12 relievers were deemed worthy of long term deals as free agents. Half of them performed below replacement level and were a complete waste of money. Four of them were simply disappointments, ending up as semi-productive relievers making far too much money. One of them had a good first year, but still has to justify the decision with two years remaining on the deal. And the other is Mariano Rivera.

Now I'm not as stringent as the author of this article ( read the comments as well) , but I think you'll see the gist of why signing free agent relief pitchers can be dicey.



JohnL - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 10:24 PM EST (#227798) #
he can be a pretty impactful bat in our lineup, and we think there is a lot of upside to him going forward..

Going forward, I think Mr Anthopolous could have a more impactful upside if he could sprinkle a little more plain English into his speech....

Thomas - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 10:38 PM EST (#227799) #
Shaker, Wildrose's piece is a good starting point. However, like he is, I am not as stringent as David Cameron and I don't think the use of WAR for relievers is very illuminating. However, as much as I object to some parts of his analysis, I don't dispute the overriding conclusion that most relievers who have been offered 3-year deals as free agents recently have not been worth their money. There is a lot left to be desired in Cameron's piece, but as a starting point his premise isn't incorrect.

Secondly, I would rather have Scott Downs than Fuentes. Downs has been better than Fuentes in every season over the past four. I know the Jays gain two draft picks for Downs, but if the team was to make a heavy investment in a reliever, I would rather increase the odds the reliever would be effective - given the inconsistency of many bullpen arms - than make a swap for a potentially less effective pitcher for the sake of a supplemental round pick and a second-round pick, at best. By the way, I acknowledge that Downs was worth his last three-year contract, but was, like many, left out of Cameron's analysis because he wasn't a free agent when it was signed.

Thirdly, to my eyes, the Jays aren't at a point in the success cycle when they should be investing heavily in a relief arm. Fuentes will be more likely to be worth his salary in 2011 than in 2012 or 2013 (and our opinions of how likely it is in each year may differ). This season isn't a write-off, but the Jays appear better suited to contend in two years down the road, and if the team were to invest in a top-notch setup man, I'd rather sign an arm during that offseason then be paying for Brian Fuentes' decline. I believe the team would be better suited to spend that money elsewhere than make a budget commitment the team might regret in two years. I'd rather the team sort through internal options this year than do that.

Like you, I agree the team should be speaking to Fuente's agent. I'd have no problem with him on a one-year deal with an option and I might consider a two-year deal at a reasonable numbers. But, I wouldn't want three years (unless it was a Gregg-type three years) and not at $5 million a year. So, we may disagree that much, but if you were proposing three guaranteed years at $5 million a year, then yes, I can't think of a worse move by AA off the top of my head.
greenfrog - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 10:42 PM EST (#227800) #
Based on his 2010 performance, I predict that EE hits 33 HR over the course of a full season. However, he will hit approximately 24 of those HR during four white-hot series. Most of the rest of the time, he'll be in a season-long slump.
Thomas - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 10:42 PM EST (#227801) #
When I said second round pick in my post, I did it knowing Downs was a Type A. I just believe that the days when teams will sacrifice a first round for a merely very good and non-elite reliever are over. I think the odds were always very heavily weighted in favour of Downs being a team's second marquee free agent signing and/or being snapped up by a team with a protected pick.
earlweaverfan - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:17 PM EST (#227802) #
Based on his 2010 performance, I predict that EE hits 33 HR over the course of a full season. However, he will hit approximately 24 of those HR during four white-hot series. Most of the rest of the time, he'll be in a season-long slump.

Yes, but if you were a hitting coach, wouldn't you find that really intriguing?  What it seems to suggest is that when he is on, it does not matter who is pitching for the other guys or what stuff they are throwing, EE can track the pitches and send them out of the yard.  So, I would want to know, what differentiates his approach or his swing in the times he is hot, and can I help him understand it, and replicate it?  Suppose that instead of having four white hot series, he could have 8 of those series in the year.  He could be the next Bautista (of 2010, to be precise).

One Bauxite (i am sorry for not remembering which) said that actually EE's hitting got better and better from his first AB in the game to the second, the third and so on.  His suggestion was that EE should spend much more time preparing with videos of the opposing pitchers.  That kind of preparation might also bring his OBP back to the peak level he had achieved before.  Of course, if he goes yard at JB's level, he will get his share of semi-intentional walks, too.

So I think the issue with EE is whether he is coachable, which some have questioned.  If I were Farrell and his coaching staff, I would sit down with him over the off-season and tell him that he is one of the Jays' top projects and that, based on how hard he is willing to work to be an premium hitter, the club would invest that much time in him.

Can't wait to see how it turns out.






david wang - Thursday, December 16 2010 @ 11:50 PM EST (#227804) #
Indeed, Edwin does get better when he faces the SP the 2nd and 3rd time.

By OPS in 2010:

1st time: .679
2nd time: .848
3rd time: 1.017

I don't know what the major league average is, but I am fairly certain it's not quite this pronouced.
TamRa - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 01:15 AM EST (#227805) #
Why do you assume that Encarnacion won't be a starter?

I do not assume he won't be a starter.
Rather,
I do NOT assume that he WILL be. The whole tenor of this thread revolves around the assumption that he'll get a full time role. And if his better doesn't come along before ST, then presumably he will be in the line-up most every day.

But I'm not assuming his better won't come along yet.

I would have thought that the fury would be even louder if we thought Encarnacion was signed at $2.5-million to ride the bench.  It seems more likely that he's been signed as a starter.

Do I really need to explain the difference in their relative value? EE IS, in fact, marginally overpaid if he ends up on the bench - but that overpayment is mitigated by the fact that he could be an at least competent full time starter (on offense) in case of a need, which McDonald really can't.
85bluejay - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 07:14 AM EST (#227807) #
I would be surprised if the jays offered Fuentes or any
reliever a multi year contract - at most I expect a 1 yr with
club options - thus not likely Fuentes - more likely a pitcher
trying to come back from injury or poor season like the guy
they lost to Boston on waiver (Taylor bucholz?)
From listening to the Jays, I expect EE to be the everyday DH
who can spell Lind at 1st (at least to start the season).
Forkball - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 08:53 AM EST (#227808) #
EE's upcoming role reminds me a little bit of Hillebrand with the Jays.  You want him for 1B/DH, but it's a nice fall back to have if there's an injury at 3B (or the team never fills that hole).
Marc Hulet - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 08:55 AM EST (#227809) #
Count me as someone that does not see a pressing need to add any relievers, especially with the market the way that it is. The club has quite a few options: Shawn Camp, Jason Frasor, Carlos Villanueva and Casey Janssen are all proven MLB relievers. Toss in David Purcey, Jesse Carlson, Rommie Lewis, Brad Mills, Bobby Ray, Scott Richmond, Josh Roenicke and possibly Marc Rzepczynski and you can surely find three more capable (0.0-1.0 WAR pitchers) to fill the bullpen void. If Toronto can find a Joel Peralta out there, then I am fine with that, but there are no relief pitchers on the market that would make me want to give a 2- or 3- year contract or a 1-year contract for $3+ million.

Given the way that the market has blown up, AA's move to nab Villanueva could end up being a really good deal. He posted a 0.4 WAR in '09 and 0.3 in '10. Guerrier was 0.4 in '09 and 0.2 in '10. Crain was 0.4 and 0.8. Those two are going to make a heck of a lot more money than CV.

Shaker - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 09:15 AM EST (#227810) #
Thomas, thanks for your reasoned response - much appreciated.  We are indeed not that far apart.

I am interested in signing players at good value that improve the club.  In my opinion Fuentes at $5M is good value, meaning he and his contract could get a valuable asset in return from a trade.  I don't believe we could sign him for 1 year at $5M.  There is potential that he could be a Type A after this season and those 2 picks have "about" $2M in value, so I think if it's Fuentes for only 1 year, then he should receive closer to $7M.  Personally I'd rather have him for 2 years at $10M.  If it takes a club option (on year 3) to get him to sign on (with no buyout) I'm ok with that, too.

In terms of success cycle I would completely agree with you if Bautista was traded away this off-season, but in the meantime and assuming reversion to the mean by all our key players I think we have an outside chance at a pennant race.  To me that pennant race has huge benefits to our younger players.

I think Fuentes would help us get closer to contention and at $5M would represent very good value.  To me that's 2 reasons to sign him for 2 years.

Must say I'm surprised to hear you say that Downs has been better than Fuentes in each of the last 4 years, so I'll have to check that this aft when I have more time.

Forkball - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 10:45 AM EST (#227812) #
In my opinion Fuentes at $5M is good value, meaning he and his contract could get a valuable asset in return from a trade.  I don't believe we could sign him for 1 year at $5M.  There is potential that he could be a Type A after this season and those 2 picks have "about" $2M in value, so I think if it's Fuentes for only 1 year, then he should receive closer to $7M. 

There's a lot of assumptions in there taken as certainties:  1.  You can't assume he'll be a Type A free agent.  He could tear a rotator cuff in ST or be really ineffective.  2.  You have to assume the Jays would offer him arbitration.... if he was good and healthy that's actually probably likely.  3.  You have to assume that he would decline arbitration.  He'll be 36 next offseason and probably guaranteed at least what he's paid in 2011.  4.  You have to assume that a team will be willing to give up a draft pick, and potentially 1st round pick, to sign an old reliever.  Unless you are an elite reliever that's not likely.

The chances of all of that happening are pretty low in my opinion.  And even if they were high you wouldn't want to just tack the value of the picks on the contract because then you wouldn't have any 'profit'.  There needs to be some discount for risk.
Anders - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 10:46 AM EST (#227813) #

"he can be a pretty impactful bat in our lineup, and we think there is a lot of upside to him going forward.."

Going forward, I think Mr Anthopolous could have a more impactful upside if he could sprinkle a little more plain English into his speech....

I laughed out loud at this. The brutal misuse of the word impact by almost everyone is painful.

Shaker - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 10:58 AM EST (#227814) #
Forkball, that's why I used the word "potential" before Type A.  Of course it's not guaranteed he'll be  a Type A.  That potential, or option has value.

Quick question, if you were Fuentes' agent, what contract would you suggest he sign?

Powder Blues - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 11:32 AM EST (#227815) #
In my opinion, Fuentes is the type of high quality reliever you might sign as a final piece. Teams like Minnesota, Texas, Anaheim etc should look to offer him a secure 2+1 year offer. 

A team like Toronto has little need for Fuentes, as relievers are not only fungible, but also poor investments at the age of 36. At 38, how likely is it a team would sacrifice a 1st rounder for him?

Stick to the plan and add these types of guys before 2013, when our payroll should bloat to the 100-125 range (assuming fans start packing the seats).

ayjackson - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 12:19 PM EST (#227816) #

The brutal misuse of the word impact by almost everyone is painful.

The thing is, if almost everyone misuses it, it isn't misuse.  If everyone uses a word to convey a point, wouldn't it become a definition of the word?

Mylegacy - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 12:23 PM EST (#227818) #
ayjackson -

that comment had impact!

Anders - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 12:30 PM EST (#227819) #

The thing is, if almost everyone misuses it, it isn't misuse.  If everyone uses a word to convey a point, wouldn't it become a definition of the word?

It can be widely understood but still incorrect! To be fair there is apparently disagreement on whether impact can be used as a verb... I'm in the no school.

China fan - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 12:35 PM EST (#227820) #
I'm not dogmatic on the "misuse" of words if the misused word still manages to achieve the main job of language:  communicating a thought clearly and precisely.  But what on earth does "impactful" mean? 
BumWino - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 12:40 PM EST (#227821) #

Jonny German & electric carrot

Well done!  You win a cookie.

The origins of EE's moniker "Milk"?

When I was in the Canadian military, I was taught how to "neutralize the enemy with extreme prejudice".  This involved a lot of traipsing around the boondocks shooting people and being shot at.  

In order to preserve some semblance of civilization to the activity, a truce was called at 10AM and 3PM everyday on order to observe that wonderful old Canadian tradition, coffee break. 

In those days, Tim Horton was still toiling on the Leafs' blue line.  So we were obliged to drink a tepid, foul-smelling brown liquid which was delivered to the troops in gigantic urns, accompanied by sugar and canned Carnation milk.

If you say EE's name fast three times, it sounds like "Edwin and Carnation".  Hence, the nickname, "Milk".  Appropos, because the proverbial Milk of Human Kindness courses through EE's veins with a vengence.  His .951 fielding percentage represents the gifting of a free out to the enemy every score of chances.

I can't understand why "Milk" has never caught on with Jays fans everywhere.

uglyone - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 12:41 PM EST (#227822) #
I'll go way out on a limb and suggest it means something to the effect of "having significant impact upon".
electric carrot - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 12:41 PM EST (#227823) #
yup ... language evolves in hitherto ways unknown ... per its use.
Forkball - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 01:31 PM EST (#227824) #
Forkball, that's why I used the word "potential" before Type A.  Of course it's not guaranteed he'll be  a Type A.  That potential, or option has value.

Maybe I made some incorrect assumptions on what you wrote.  I was thinking you thought he was worth $5MM, but because two compensation picks had $2MM of value you would offer him $7MM for one year.

Regardless, the general point is that if you're factoring in compensation picks when signing a player to a contract you better heavily discount it.

Quick question, if you were Fuentes' agent, what contract would you suggest he sign?

The one from the team offering the most money as that would provide me with the largest commission. 

If I were in AA's shoes I wouldn't be running out with a contract that said 2 years on it.  But if it were similar to Kevin Gregg's last contract (one year plus team options), sure.
Bid - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 01:41 PM EST (#227825) #

Yes indeed, Anders. Nero Wolfe hated anyone who used contact as a verb...one can only imagine his ire at impact's more brutal fate.

 

Richard S.S. - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 01:51 PM EST (#227826) #

I thought signing Edwin Encarnacion was a good deal, then I stumbled on to this http://jaysjournal.com/2010/12/16/edwin-encarnacion-returns-to-the-jays/ and then this http://jaysjournal.com/2010/12/17/why-having-edwin-encarnacion-on-the-2011-blue-jays-isnt-a-bad-thing/ .   Now I'm sure it's a good thing.   We were able to buy out Gregg and Olivo, resign Encarnacion, all for approx. $1.25MM-$1.50MM less than keeping him initially.   We save approx. $5.0MM-$6.5MM on players who might not be as good as he can be?

It is interesting to see Boston signing Bobby Jenks http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/12/red-sox-to-sign-bobby-jenks.html ,perhaps A.A. could trade for Jonathan Papelbon (@ $11.0MM).   He'll be a high ranked Type A Free Agent after the season, possibly letting A.A sign a Type A Free Agent, while keeping a First Round Pick.   Or he could be that good, worth keeping for possible Mariano money.   Otherwise the Closer market is getting old and thin.

Orlando Hudson is off the market.  

The remaining Free Agent catching list sucks, so any upgrade at Backup Catcher will need to be on the trade market or sign Josh Bard?

And I don't have a clue, whether we sign any relievers, as most of those with any value are gone.   I just hope A.A. doesn't go as long between acquistions, next time.

Chuck - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 02:03 PM EST (#227827) #

I'm no etymologist (or entomologist for that matter), but I believe that a great number of nouns have become verbs, because, well, it just seems to make sense. Hit someone or something with a club and the verb club is born.

Same with contact and impact and dialogue and e-mail and Google and Facebook and friend and ...

Shaker - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 02:12 PM EST (#227828) #
Richard, as mentioned in another post, acquiring ersatzful switch-hitting Catcher Ryan Doumit (along with cash and/or a prospect) would provide even more flexibility to our lineup.  Doumit smacks RHP and can play C/1B/OF/DH and rest any of our right handed batters when needed.  Not really a starter, per se, at any of those positions but over a 162 game schedule would sure come in handy.

DJR - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 03:08 PM EST (#227829) #
I just hope A.A. doesn't go as long between acquistions, next time.

A guy we used to call "Stand Pat" just got voted into the Hall.

Chuck - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 03:18 PM EST (#227830) #
Orlando Hudson just signed for 2/11.5 with the Padres. This is surprising for any number of reasons.
Mike Green - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 03:28 PM EST (#227831) #

I would have been happy if Hudson had signed here for that number, and Hill was moved to third.  So far, it is hard to see that this off-season is setting up an effort to compete in 2012, let alone in 2011.  I guess the club is hoping that Lawrie will be ready to take over at either second base or third base by then, but it would not hurt to have both Hill and Hudson under contract for 2012.

 

sam - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 03:29 PM EST (#227832) #
It's a little disappointing that we didn't get Kerry Wood. He signed for 1.5 million dollars which I think is quite affordable considering the run on relief pitchers this winter. If rumors are correct, it looks like Octavio Dotel will be closing games at least for part of next year for us. I'm not the biggest fan of his, but I think his contract will be affordable.

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if someone like Asher Woj... or Zack Stewart get some opportunities to close next year.

And it seems like Ricky Romero, Travis Snider, JP Arencibia, Brett Cecil, and the likes were all quite close to Shaun Marcum. I wonder how someone as "confident" and quite frankly abrasive as Brett Lawrie will gel with them. If Lawrie tears up Spring Training and there aren't any more additions to the ball club, I really think you have to start Lawrie at second and Hill at third and live with his fielding errors. Then again, the right side of the infield will be Lind and Lawrie which could be ugly.
Spifficus - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 03:33 PM EST (#227833) #
Given the rumors that he was weighing a $3.5M offer from the White Sox and a multi-year offer from another team, I think the $1.5M was probably a Cubs-only price. Not sure what it would have cost to keep Wood away from Chicago.
sam - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 03:48 PM EST (#227834) #
Good point.

Around now a lot of the international amateur free agents start lowering their asking prices as teams begin to gear up for next years crop. For example, around July 2 last year I remember a couple reports that suggested Albert Triunfel was looking for seven figures, he just signed with the Rangers for 300K. There are still a few big names out there, namely Eskarlin Vasquez and Roughned Odor. Both were rumored to be asking for seven figures but you've got to figure that that figure is going down. I know there were ages issues surrounding Vasquez, but it appears as though Odor has checked out. I like Odor, he has quite the swing and it's hard not to draw comparisons to someone like Robinson Cano.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DopjJoCBXF8

Vasquez on the other hand apparently is considered the best all-around prospect of the class and has been linked to the Giants.
BumWino - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 03:58 PM EST (#227835) #

The impact of the tedious run-on sentence as it relates to over-kill...

Impacting the vital subject at hand to a considerably more far-reaching extent, in the opinion of many of those who still care about the English language, and at the same time broadening its parameters in terms of being a remarkably useful tool of expression available for employment by the vast majority of English-speaking peoples (as it pertains to considerable oral and written communication which should appeal to those individuals who value the possession of a good deal of flexibility in both the formal and, indeed, the often much more-relaxed casual social interchange many of us have come to expect from our fellows), and could well be achieved by the usage of a form of the word "impact" as a gerund, an example of which I have attempted to achieve to either greater or lesser success--depending upon one's personal views, preferences and comfort levels relating to this particular area of English usage--as outlined in this painfully lengthy, run-on sentence, which now, in deference to what little remains of the possibility of maintaining good form, shall be brought to its merciful conclusion.

cybercavalier - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 04:32 PM EST (#227836) #

The remaining Free Agent catching list sucks, so any upgrade at Backup Catcher will need to be on the trade market or sign Josh Bard? And I don't have a clue, whether we sign any relievers, as most of those with any value are gone.   I just hope A.A. doesn't go as long between acquistions, next time.

I thought at least a backup catcher and serviceable late inning reliever (closer) could be signed. Josh Bard and Kerry Wood were economical solutions. IMO, trading Marcum for Lawrie surprise quite a few people but it went along AA's philosophy of building for the long haul. I don't know but trade seems to bring better benefits to the Jays. Ample examples include League for Morrow, Alex Gonzalez 2.0 for Yunel Escobar etc. So some other factors have been the cause, Is the Jays being the only Canadian MLB team always a factor in negotiating free agent signing?

ayjackson - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 07:15 PM EST (#227838) #
Lawrie seems set to fill in for Bautista at third or RF in 2012, when Bautista leaves for the big money.  That would really only leave one position left to fill with premium talent (the other of 3B and RF).
Mike Green - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 09:01 PM EST (#227839) #
Steve Parris is your Blue Jay birthday boy for December 17.  Tomorrow, it's Jeremy Accardo, Jim Clancy and Roy Lee Howell.  It fits that Howell was born in December, what with his preference for wearing short sleeves even on cold days...
Mylegacy - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 09:09 PM EST (#227840) #
Grienke has fired his agent and officially requested a trade!

I suspect the Ranger get him - they've got the trinkets to pay - and the "burning desire" to get him and then change his name to Cliff Lee. As to our beloved Jays - I suspect since his new agents are the ones that Roy used when he wanted out of Dodge (er... TO) that he won't be interested in Kansas North. Pity - however, I strongly suspect whoever gets him will overpay atrociously.

timpinder - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 09:32 PM EST (#227841) #

ayjackson,

There was also mention of Lawrie moving to RF.  Another possibility for 2012, if Hechavarria develops as hoped this year, would be to have Escobar move to 2B, Hechavarria start at SS, and Hill move over to 3B, with Lawrie taking over in RF.  That would shore up the infield and the outfield through at least 2013, after which time Escobar and likely Hill (assuming the Jays don't pick up the 2014 option this year) would become free agents.

Ducey - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 10:36 PM EST (#227842) #

"Roughned Odor. ..., but it appears as though Odor has checked out. I like Odor..."

I don't know, smells funny to me.

Richard S.S. - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 11:39 PM EST (#227843) #

Is the Jays being the only Canadian MLB team always a factor in negotiating free agent signing?

The Canadian Tax situation for Baseball Players is more of a factor.   Being the only Team to have an artificial surface and one of the few with a Dome are more of a factor.  

Of course, some Players like the City so much, they keep coming back to it.

... if Hechavarria develops as hoped this year, ...

If you cover a lot of Jays news / blogage on the web, you pick up stuff that can be hard to source.   2013 may be the earliest we see Adeiny Hechavarria as he hasn't developed as well as they would wish, hence Tony Fernandez's hiring.

... and Hill move over to 3B ... 

Brett Lawrie will take over as 3B or RF, whichever he adjusts to first.   He's got that good and accurate an arm, so it won't be wasted at 2B.

Aaron may be with us through 2014, through only 2013,or, a Free Agent after 2011.   His Spring Training and his 2011 season will be the deciding factor in how long he stays.

Who plays 3B, not named Tony Bautista, will be interesting.


 

Paul D - Friday, December 17 2010 @ 11:43 PM EST (#227844) #
The Canadian Tax situation for Baseball Players is more of a factor

I really think that this is overblown.  There are all kinds of ways around it, via official residence, number of days spent in Canada, etc, and for some players, particularly the top free agents, it's gross not the net that interests them.
Wildrose - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 12:18 AM EST (#227845) #
The Canadian Tax situation for Baseball Players is more of a factor.

False. Players are mainly taxed in their home jurisdiction. Several years ago the Raptors had to have part of their training camp in Buffalo as the players would have exceeded the minimum number of days in Canada regarding the tax treaty.
TamRa - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 02:55 AM EST (#227846) #
If rumors are correct...

Where Anthopolous is concerned, they virtually never are.

Were i to gamble, Id be willing to wager a great deal more against a Dotel signing than for one. I'll be quite surprised if it happens.

Also, while commenting I have to mention that I'm apparently caught in another one of those loops where that which sems obvious to me s apparently not so to others.

When you have a 2B who is in most estimations anywhere from above average to elite level on defense, and you have a prospect with documented defense issues at 2B and the tools which provoke his GM to say publicly that he might play better at 3B...

Why oh why do you see that and conclude the obvious future is for Hill to move to 3B for Lawrie.

let me make a flat prediction - I can't guess whether he will end up at 3B or in RF but Lawrie will NEVER be the Jays full time 2B on the same team where Hill is healthy and on the roster..



China fan - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 05:03 AM EST (#227847) #

Just thinking more about AA's description of Encarnacion as "pretty impactful."  Some of the better players in MLB are described as "impact players."  What is the relationship between "impact player" and "impactful"?  Is it something like the relationship between "truth" and "truthiness"?

And if Encarnacion drops a throw at 1B or runs lazily on the bases, is it "impactful" on the team's chances of winning the game?

 

earlweaverfan - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 08:29 AM EST (#227848) #
I'm no etymologist (or entomologist for that matter), but I believe that a great number of nouns have become verbs, because, well, it just seems to make sense. Hit someone or something with a club and the verb club is born.

But, Chuck, wouldn't it be great if you were BOTH? You could be an expert in the meaning and origin of words that bug people!

(I guess we are all short on real news, right now.)
ayjackson - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 08:50 AM EST (#227849) #
Nice one, Weaver!
greenfrog - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 11:18 AM EST (#227850) #
I wonder if Frasor is second-guessing his decision to accept arbitration. Lots of relievers are getting two- and three-year deals. Some team that added a higher-ranked Type A (Anaheim, Boston, Philadelphia) might have taken a flyer on him. Then again, maybe not - Anaheim seems content with its 'pen after having added Downs, and Boston added Jenks, who won't cost them a draft pick. Sometimes life can be tough when you're a Type A.
Powder Blues - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 11:21 AM EST (#227851) #
Good points Froggy, though perhaps in the back of his mind he's looking towards his FA year. He'll have a good shot at closing/setting up in Toronto this year, which should increase his leverage next winter.
Magpie - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 11:31 AM EST (#227852) #
let me make a flat prediction - I can't guess whether he will end up at 3B or in RF but Lawrie will NEVER be the Jays full time 2B

Possible, but youneverknow. Jeff Kent got his first taste of major league action filling in for Kelly Gruber at 3b on the 1992 Blue Jays. While doing so, he made errors far, far more often than Edwin Encarnacion has ever done in his life. I certainly wouldn't have expected Kent to end up playing 2000 games at 2b in the majors.
Mylegacy - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 11:51 AM EST (#227853) #
On Lawrie at 2nd - as James would say, "Never say never." As far as his fielding at second - remember by all accounts he's a good athlete - give him a spring with Brian and who knows - he might just end up being as smooth as Butter. Just sayin'

As to these discussions of the English language - I can't really contribute - it's my second tongue - my first is Profane. With my first language I'm a f*ckin' artist!

stevieboy22 - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 11:52 AM EST (#227854) #
His Spring Training and his 2011 season will be the deciding factor in how long he stays.

The impression I got from an interview with AA on the fan, was that the Jays have to decide about the options before opening day...  Perhaps I'm wrong and whoever was interviewing him stated it, an AA never took the time to correct him, can't remember who it was...
smcs - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 12:02 PM EST (#227855) #
The decision on exercising all 3 of Hill's options is due before opening day 2011.  If the Jays decline the option for 2014, or simply don't pick up the option for 2012-2014, they can still exercise the 2012-13 option after the 2011 season.  The options are worth $8,$8 and $10 M.
Flex - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 12:46 PM EST (#227856) #
I certainly wouldn't have expected Kent to end up playing 2000 games at 2b in the majors.

I remember being at a game in which Kent played 2B for the Jays, filling in for Alomar. I seem to recall that it was his debut for the team at that position, but I might be hazy on that. At any rate, I recall him diving flat-out for a ball with amazing agility and firing to first for the out, and I remember being absolutely wowed by the play, because Alomar never seemed to have to dive for the ball, perhaps because he was always well-positioned, or just super-quick on his feet. But that was the play I remembered when I heard Kent had been traded, and I thought, hmmm, we might have lost something there.
greenfrog - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 01:32 PM EST (#227857) #
I think AA has made inspired moves so far, but the true test will come when the team starts to become more competitive. At that point, will the Jays stay cheap, trying to win on a shoestring (and remaining at best a dark horse contender), or will they step up and make the necessary moves to build a championship team? Increasing your team's draft budget to $11M or so (or spending $10M on an international free agent like Hechavarria) is one thing; spending $120M+ on a key player like Lee, Gonzalez or Crawford is another.
eudaimon - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 03:05 PM EST (#227858) #
I think the plan is for, this year, to not go crazy spending money, but also to put together a team that could reasonably compete this year, if we get good luck (good player development, injuries, team BABIP, etc).

This team has a chance to compete, but only with good "luck". Say there is a continuum between anti-luck and pure luck, we would definitely need to be on the moderate to strong side of luck, which is not theoretically impossible (were the 2002 Anaheim Angels like that? Haven't looked at the stats, but a lot of players overachieved that year). We definitely need to get less lucky than, say, the Pirates, but we certainly can't afford to be unlucky, while the Yankees can afford to be slightly unlucky and will probably still make the playoffs.

But overall, I think AA is thinking more around 2012 for true contention, a time when the team starts coming into their own. Players will be getting more mature, we could make a nice trade or free-agent signing, etc. But, given some of the moves made (acquiring Davis, retaining Bautista (so far), signing Encarnacion for 1b/dh), I don't think AA is thinking of the Blue Jays as non-competitive, but instead a team that could compete if luck goes our way. The Blue Jays will be an interesting team for sure.

BumWino - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 03:29 PM EST (#227859) #

Mylegacy

Dear ESL Cirrhosis-Challenged Profane Friend

If you are sitting home today, getting an earful from "She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed" for the usual, your transcendent premium single-malt scotch consumption, here's something to take your mind off your troubles.

Try constructing a sentence on Blue Jays baseball of 25 words or less, utilizing the F-word six times, including two adverbs, one ending in "-ly". 

This type of foul-language mastery separates the men from the boys.  You know, raising profanity usage to the level of an art form. 

Must close for now.  I blew my pension cheque on umpteen cases of economy French shiraz yesterday or order to have something to do over the weekend.

Have a good one.

Your pal

BumWino

TamRa - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 03:42 PM EST (#227860) #
On Lawrie at 2nd - as James would say, "Never say never." As far as his fielding at second - remember by all accounts he's a good athlete - give him a spring with Brian and who knows - he might just end up being as smooth as Butter. Just sayin'

It's not a matter of what Butter can do, it's an observation that if you already have a guy who is obviously a great defensive 2B, why move him in order to try to create another one? it's nonsensical.

Maybe if hill was a well established excellent 3B before moving to 2B it would be different.

christaylor - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 04:03 PM EST (#227861) #
In principle I agree -- why move Hill, who is established at 2B, for a prospect with defensive issues, but positions break down into different skills. Perhaps Lawrie has issue with his arm accuracy (see E5) that could be better hidden at 2B. Hill has already shown some skill at 3B when he first came up and it wasn't too long ago that the talk was he'd be moved to SS. Also, unless Lawrie is shifted to 3B in the minors next season (I hope this happens), it might be better to have Hill utilize his position flexibility so that when Lawrie comes up he won't have to deal with any defensive issues he might have so that he can concentrate on adjusting to ML pitching.

I see/understand where you're coming from and I think it much more probable that Lawrie will be moved to 3B than Hill, but I think there's enough uncertainty at this point to think it might happen and that Hill moving to 3B might prove to be the best move.

Heck, if Hill has another season at or near his 2010 season at the dish, it might be best to try and trade him for whatever he's worth...
BumWino - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 08:16 PM EST (#227862) #

The Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club have a brilliant young executive in charge of day-to-day business operations, whose tireless, tough-minded, utterly focused approach to improving the organization's playing personnel in terms of "real baseball value" should pay major-league dividends to Rogers Communications shareholders for years and years into the future. 

Like the old Old Milwaukee beer TV spots opined:  "Fellas, it doesn't get any better than this."

Of course, if you're a Jays baseball fan, well, that's a little different.  On the one hand, if you're an aficionado of the endless acquisition of inherently great, high-risk/high-reward, sure-fire, can't-miss, real-baseball-value prospects, you've found Nirvana.  On the other, if you'd like to cheer on an actual contender once in a while, sorry, you're out of luck.

Does Alex Anthopoulos have a hidden agenda? 

Maybe. 

All he has to do is get 80 wins out of his economy crew for the next couple of seasons to mollify the remaining fans (while concurrently building the Fantasy Island juggernaut) and keep the payroll down near the bottom of MLB to please Nadir, the Head Bean Counter, then some other team is going to reward AA with a contract for five to ten times what he's earning right now. 

 

 

Mylegacy - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 08:43 PM EST (#227863) #
Dear Bum Wino

Being a tad cynical, eh what?

I for one will give AA at least until opening day of Spring Training before I metaphorically throw him under the train. As to throwing him under a real train - I'll wait until the All-Star break before I recommend such a drastic step. In the immediate future I intend to have a small double of a fine single malt to wash away your nasty thoughts.

Earlier you commented on my "second" language - just let me say this - "My alleged use of profanity is a tad exaggerated - I wouldn't say sh*t - even if I had a mouth full."

earlweaverfan - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 09:38 PM EST (#227864) #

Does Alex Anthopoulos have a hidden agenda? 

Maybe. 

All he has to do is get 80 wins out of his economy crew for the next couple of seasons to mollify the remaining fans (while concurrently building the Fantasy Island juggernaut) and keep the payroll down near the bottom of MLB to please Nadir, the Head Bean Counter, then some other team is going to reward AA with a contract for five to ten times what he's earning right now. 

BW, just give it up.  Really. 

You portray yourself as an Irishman - and I choose to believe you.  Why?  Because unless I have reason to prove that you aim to mislead, I take you to be truthful.  I do not assume that you are trying to pull one over on the rest of us, nor that you have a hidden agenda.  I do not, for example, accuse you of being an employee of Bell or Telus, with a hidden agenda to undermine the reputation of Rogers.

So listen to what (that Irishman) Oscar Wilde had to say about cynics:  What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.  You seem to decide on how serious (or even truthful) a team's management is, not on whether they field a team that is fun to watch, or increasingly filled with future stars, or likely to play all-out every game, but rather based on what price management paid for that roster.  You show no interest in that roster's value: the performance they can deliver, OR their likelihood of offering several years of contribution to a consistently contending team, OR the value they bring for the dollars spent, none of that matters to you. 

How much does AA spend on his roster?  That's all you can see.  If AA makes smart moves without spending a ton (Gonzalez, Morrow, Buck, Olivo...), that does not matter.  If anything, it proves him a cheapskate.  If he trades a more expensive player for a less expensive one (Gonzalez for Escobar, Marcum for Lawrie), their relative upside or years under control do not matter, any such deal proves him a cheapskate.  Maybe we should criticize AA for getting EE for $3MM less than last year:  "Aha, you see, he's a cheapskate!"

But wonder of all wonders, it is not even your money in any sense - you do not apparently buy a single game ticket of your own.  You also promise not to do so until Rogers throws a whole lot more money at this team (amount unspecified).  When you have no skin of your own in the game, why should we take your viewpoints seriously?

But, its worse.  If he does not spend to your standard, he is not merely a miser, he has a hidden agenda, mollifying the fans long enough to leave town and to get paid "five to ten times what he's earning now".

Do you have any basis for this slander?  Do you know what he is earning now?  Do you know what he gets incentive payments for?  Do you know what other GMs get paid, and whether any other MLB team pays a new GM much more than he is making?  Do you know any of this at all?

AA has made many assertions about his deep desire to bring a long-standing winning club here to Toronto.  You are essentially, without using these precise words, suggesting that he is a liar and is just in it for a fast ticket out of town.  Why do you have to go there?

There is actually a perfectly legitimate point of view that says that AA, John Farrell and Rogers are all naive about how little money it will finally take, to turn Toronto into a perennial pennant contender.  There is a respectable view that says that they are taking longer to build up the team than they need to, that they could contend sooner.  There is a defensible view that says that they are taking the wrong risks on players like Hech, Gose, and even Drabek.

Absent any facts, there is nothing legitimate, respectable or defensible about your suggestions that AA is pursuing a hidden agenda.

 

brent - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 10:19 PM EST (#227865) #
I am okay with the hitters, but it's the 440 innings the team needs to replace that I'm concerned with now. Villanueva could take 40+ but that's a lot of innings to replace only from within the farm system.
Jonny German - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 11:06 PM EST (#227866) #
Very well put earlweaverfan. Bravo.
Richard S.S. - Saturday, December 18 2010 @ 11:49 PM EST (#227868) #

Does Alex Anthopoulos have a hidden agenda? 

$78,689,357.00

That's the bar A.A. has to exceed.   A.A. saves Approx. $16.5 MM for monies off the books for Halladay, Ryan and Ruiz.   A.A. saves approx. another $ 25.5 MM for Free Agents, Waivers and Non-tenders.   Salary increases are approx. $10.0 MM.   Arbitration raises are approx. $15.0 MM.   Pre-arbitration raises are approx. $ 3.0 MM.

$64,689,357.00

The new bar we start from.   A.A. spends $2.5 MM on E.E.

The Team surprised everyone with 85 wins - with a lot of holes.   The object of the entire off-season was the fill the holes while making the Team better. 

I beg to differ, but A.A. is not filling the holes and making this team better.   Just watch as A.A. spins this off-season, but don't drink the Koolaid.  

Time to go to work.

Ryan C - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 12:43 AM EST (#227869) #

That's the bar A.A. has to exceed.

So in your world this off-season will be considered a success if the Jays simply spend more money than last year?  I think of all the scales and metrics you could use to judge success or failure that's got to be the absolute bottom of the barrel.

smcs - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 01:02 AM EST (#227870) #
I think of all the scales and metrics you could use to judge success or failure that's got to be the absolute bottom of the barrel.

I for one am basing the success of the offseason on vowel to syllable ratio in players names.  Marcum (2 vowels, 2 syllables) getting traded for Lawrie (3 to 2)?  Genius!
cybercavalier - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 02:35 AM EST (#227871) #
Very well put earlweaverfan. Bravo.

That just showed the caring of Batter's Box regular posters that posters DO help each other in various ways. Bravo.

That's the bar A.A. has to exceed.

IMO, one characteristic of A.A. managerial style is his obvious following of the rules, laws and the conventional wisdom of the MLB managerial game.
1) His explicit use of gathering draft picks and probably unintentionally changing the overall values of players at a particular position through letting go of player that might be of interest to other teams. Scutaro the shortstop was let go and Gonzalez 2.0 was signed. BoSox got Scutaro but the values the Jays got from Gonzalez 2.0 (Escobar and compensation draft pick) were more rewarding than retaining Scutaro. Even without Escobar, A.A. still got more than half season of unexpectedly good performance in Gonzalez and the pick. EE was let go and resigned in similar fashion of gaining prospective values when he will go into career seasons.
2) Constant restocking of the minor league system and the Jays roster with trades that follows the common wisdom of the managerial game: trading an established major leaguer (Marcum, League) for potential high rewarded players (Lawrie, Morrow), even taking potentially wrong risks (Hech from Cuba, Gose instead of Brent Wallace)
3) No big money signing as of last season, in contrast to J.P. Ricciardi in acquiring Burnett.
4) Planting baseball roots in Canada (the Vancouver Canadians as the Jays SS team etc.)

Given the above, IMO it is difficult to speculate the success of A.A. in just 1 or 2 seasons. As his intention of building for the long haul was spoken, it is easy and wiser to look back to his HISTORY of management to say what went wrong and could have been done better (Hech instead of Jose Iglesias). However, I suspect the long haul could be a way of establishing a CULTURE or INFLUENCE of Jays baseball in Canada and that could translate into economical fan support for the team and ease the potential money burden from Rogers. Culture or influence is a human value, which could also translate into money value.
TamRa - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 02:45 AM EST (#227872) #
I am okay with the hitters, but it's the 440 innings the team needs to replace that I'm concerned with now. Villanueva could take 40+ but that's a lot of innings to replace only from within the farm system.

you can't really think that way. IIf teams did, few young pitchers would ever step in. Take a prospect like Drabek - most anyone would agree that at some point a pitcher of his caliber is ready to step into a regular turn in the rotation - when that opportunity is granted you are turning 180-200 innings over to a guy from the system.

That's just one guy.

In any case, there are about 447 innings on last year's stat sheet pitched by guys no longer iwth the team. BUT 130 of those belong to sucky pitchers. is it REALLY such a stretch to imagine that, for instance, Brad Mills could throw 77 crappy innings in place of Brian Tallet?

Or that Scott Richmond (for instance) couldn't improve upon the 6.45 ERA we got from Dana Eveland?

Drabek, or Zep, or even Litsch for Marcum is going to get you pretty much the same number of innings. likely not quite as good, but the innings will be pitched in a relatively quality fashion and who can say if Morrow and Cecil don't improve enough to offset whatever you lose in quality on Marcum's innings.

So, really, you are not worried about 400 IP - or shouldn't be - you should be worried about the 120 or so between Downs and Gregg.

brent - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 02:51 AM EST (#227873) #
The other thing is that you have to give some time for the merry-go-round to stop. GM AA is just waiting for the players to lower demands. I mean, Buck got 3 years @ 6 per. The guy was let go for nothing a year ago. Teams like Boston can eat a Crawford contract if it goes south. The Werth deal smells of desperation. If the team won 75 games last season, would everyone be up in arms? The team wasn't even in the pennant race, they finished fourth.
cybercavalier - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 03:01 AM EST (#227874) #
The other thing is that you have to give some time for the merry-go-round to stop. GM AA is just waiting for the players to lower demands.

IMO, I suspect AA put his eyes on maximizing values. Actually most of his managerial task emphasize of value maximization (League for Morrow, Scutaro to Gonzalez 2.0 to Escobar, waiver claim on Bautista, EE coming back to the Jays, getting Rajai Davis, getting Vancouver Canadians as a Jays' A team)
cybercavalier - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 03:04 AM EST (#227875) #
Sorry for double posting.

IMO, value maximization have been his emphasis of management.
BumWino - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 03:21 AM EST (#227876) #

earlweaverfan

Thank you for your long and comprehensive criticism of my recent post regarding the possibility of Alex Anthopoulos having a hidden agena.

I particularly enjoyed your citing my brilliant fellow Irishman Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde's comment on cynicism.

Right along these lines, a famous Napoleonic Brigadier-general, whose name escapes me at the moment, joined the newly formed Royalist army after Napoleon was sent off to St. Helena.  An old friend jokingly asked him how he came to believe in the Royalist cause so suddenly.  The General replied with a grin, "I'm much more realist than Royalist."

Yes, there are cynics, realists, the naive and the ignorant.  It is all very, very subjective and most often depends upon the exact positioning of one's butt on the great spectrum.

Earl, you state that I have "slandered" Rogers Communications' reputation.  That, Earl, may be libelous.  Against me.  But you're entitled to your opinion, erroneous or not.

Rogers Communications routinely misleads millions of people and recently has apparently crossed the line and lied to millions of people in order to discredit a competitor and boost the company's profits.  The upshot of this is that the federal government has charged Rogers with false advertising and Rogers stands to be fined in excess of $10 million. 

In view of this, Earl, do you actually believe that the communication from the mouths of Alex, Paul and Nadir to Jays fans is always factual, complete and pure as newly driven snow?  That there is absolutely no chance of a bit of hyperbole or even the sin of omission in order to put more warm bums in the chairs at Rogers Centre? 

I spent twenty-five years publishing business magazines so it behooved me to be intimately acquainted with the laws of libel and slander.  Stating the truth or a probability based on historic precedent is neither libelous nor slanderous.

Does Alex Anthopoulous have a hidden agenda?  Maybe.

What's the probability of AA eventually going to another team to earn considerably more money?  Well, let's look at historical precedent.

Scott Downs came to Toronto from another team, did well, and has gone to another team for more money.

John Buck came to Toronto from another team, did well, and has gone to another team for more money.

Alex Anthopoulos came to Toronto from another team, is doing well, and will eventually be staying in Toronto for less money?  Going to another team for considerably more money?   You're entitled to an opinion; I'm entitled to an opinion.  Fair enough?

Last, I've been accused many, many times of wanting to throw money at free agents because I have criticized the Jays of being penny wise and pound foolish in terms of the teams' personnel moves vis-a-vis putting the best possible product on the field.   Absolute nonsense.

I've made hundreds of posts and never once have advocated spending ten of millions of dollars on superstar free agents.  I believe in building the team from within, including very selective trades and the rare free agent signing of slightly better than league-average players to short-term contracts in order to fill specific needs.  This can be accomplished with a less than league-average payroll.

However, part of the building process should be to retain the team's league-average or better players until comparable or better young players come up through the system and push the veteran players aside. 

Then and only then, should those veteran players be disposed of through trades for prospects, waived, DFA'd, etc.  However, retaining veterans like Buck, Downs and Gregg would have cost the team (say, last August) perhaps $12-$14 million per year for the next two or three years. 

Other teams believe that these three players are certainly worth the cost.  But Rogers Communications doesn't.  Rogers goes with the cheaper alternative virtually everytime at the cost of on-field performance. 

If the concept of retaining competent veteran players until equally competent rookies/replacements push them aside is considered foolish spending, then my opinion is wrong.  But I'm still entitled to it.

    

 

 

 

Thomas - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 03:30 AM EST (#227877) #
Reportedly, Zack Greinke has been traded to the Brewers for four prospects, possibly along with Yuniesky Betancourt. The Royals will get Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain and pitchers Jeremy Jeffress and Jake Odorizzi.

I'm glad he didn't end up in New York, of course, and I think this might make the Brewers the prohibitive favourite in the NL Central, even with Betancort and Carlos Gomez every day players.
Thomas - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 03:31 AM EST (#227878) #
I've not seen this widely reported, so in case it turns out to be fake, here's the link:

http://onmilwaukee.com/sports/articles/brewersgreinketrade.html
Magpie - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 07:15 AM EST (#227879) #
No matter what he wants, the only way Anthopoulos will ever have an opportunity to go somewhere else for more money is if he wins in Toronto. So if that's his secret desire, his main agenda is to Win, Baby. Surely, this is blindingly obvious.

So what the hell?
China fan - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 07:23 AM EST (#227880) #

I think it's silly to suggest that Anthopolous has a "hidden agenda" based on a desire to get a bigger salary at another team.  But there's one tiny kernel of truth in this:  it's fair to say that the Anthopolous agenda is not EXACTLY the same as the agenda of the average fan.  (And here, when I say "average fan," I certainly don't mean "average Bauxite." I think the average Jays fan, compared to the average Bauxite, is less interested in prospects, less interested in long-term development, and more interested in short-term gratification.)  Anthopolous is paid by the owners, not by the fans, and he is very aware of that.  Whereas the average fan would like the Jays to push hard for the playoffs every season, Anthopolous prefers not to push hard for the playoffs every season, for a variety of reasons -- some of which are perfectly defensible and others perhaps not.  And because he will never explicitly tell the fans that he is "writing off the season"  (although he might hint at it), it can be argued that his agenda is at least partially "hidden" from full public view. 

To be a little more provocative about it:  it is easier for a GM to satisfy the owners (and the Bauxites) than the ordinary fans.  The goal, for the average fan, has a very precise and rigid metric: the MLB standings.  Either you make the playoffs or you don't.  Success or failure can be measured instantaneously and quite harshly.  But for the owners, and the Bauxites, the goals are slightly fuzzier and easier to satisfy:  keep the payroll down, be frugal, build a good farm system, improve the scouting and drafting, have an intelligent long-term strategy, acquire lots of young prospects.  Since the fuzzier goals are easier to achieve, how could that not have some influence on AA's thinking?

On a psychological level, Anthopolous must feel that there is less pressure and stress on him when he is in rebuilding mode.  And, as a relatively new hire, he knows that he has "carte blanche" to rebuild for two or three years before he will be expected to push for the playoffs.  Again, how could this not have some influence on him, at least at a subconcsious level?  He had a free hand in 2010 and he has a free hand in 2011 and perhaps 2012.  There's no pressure on him to push hard for the playoffs.  So, unsurprisingly, he won't.  It's human nature to take the easier path. 

I know that this is counter-intuitive, since people might assume it is "easier" to think short-term than to think long-term.  But for a newly hired GM, employed by owners whose concerns are more financial than sporting, I would argue that it is easier to think long-term.

85bluejay - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 07:43 AM EST (#227881) #

BumWino,

You are so correct - With AA 's performance as a GM, I'm in Nirvana.

Shane - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 08:38 AM EST (#227882) #
According to Buster Olney Greinke is/will be traded to the Brewers. Snider and Drabek stay right where they are. Nice.
85bluejay - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 09:01 AM EST (#227883) #

Looking at what the Brewers give up, I would have been willing to include our own Escobar in a deal for

Greinke.

85bluejay - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 09:08 AM EST (#227884) #

With another outfielder in Cain, I'm hoping AA tries to get Alex Gordon out of KC to play 3rd. - With a change of

scenery, I think he's a breakout candidate and still yrs. away from FA.

christaylor - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 09:28 AM EST (#227885) #
"Then and only then, should those veteran players be disposed of through trades for prospects, waived, DFA'd, etc. However, retaining veterans like Buck, Downs and Gregg would have cost the team (say, last August) perhaps $12-$14 million per year for the next two or three years. "

I'd happily bet whatever the cheap replacements are JPA and the two pen arms that fill the roles of closer/set-up man they'll do as well or better than Buck, Downs, and Gregg. Even if the three could be retain for the cost you say, what concerns me most are the years that'd be in their contracts.

It is all well in good to say "only $14 million" -- but that's $14 million of resources that the team can't spend on scouting and the draft. The Jays were 2nd (IIRC) in bonuses paid out in the draft. They'll likely be near the top this year. Is stocking the farm system better idea than paying million to retain players who are likely to be below average (Buck) or fungible (relievers)?

There was a decent argument that AA could have put together (especially the way things have broken for NY/BOS/TB) but the Marcum trade signaled the path he's taking. That said, will this team be at .500 next season? I'd expect so...

Then again BW as has been pointed out, you don't and intend not to attend any games in 2011. So what's the point? Sit back and wait to jump on the bandwagon...
Mike D - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 10:04 AM EST (#227886) #
The approximate equivalent of the Brewers' package for Greinke would be Snider, Stewart, Gose and another arm like Sanchez/Jenkins/Alvarez.  I would not have made that deal.

I do think that there is a fine line between patience and failing to move the organization forward over the offseason.  There's still plenty of time, but there's not a lot of low-hanging fruit left.

greenfrog - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 10:21 AM EST (#227887) #
It sounds as though the Royals will get Escobar, Cain, Odorizzi and a PTBNL.

Not sure what the equivalent in Jays prospects would be. Hechavarria, Snider, Stewart and a PTBNL, maybe?

In any case, it's a bold move by Milwaukee. I'm not a big Escobar fan, despite the strong defense, but Odorizzi and Cain look like solid prospects. And on a different note: even though it would have been nice to receive multiple prospects for Marcum, I'm glad that in obtaining Lawrie, AA at least went for quality over quantity.
CSHunt68 - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 10:51 AM EST (#227889) #
"I think AA has made inspired moves so far, but the true test will come when the team starts to become more competitive. At that point, will the Jays stay cheap, trying to win on a shoestring (and remaining at best a dark horse contender), or will they step up and make the necessary moves to build a championship team? Increasing your team's draft budget to $11M or so (or spending $10M on an international free agent like Hechavarria) is one thing; spending $120M+ on a key player like Lee, Gonzalez or Crawford is another."

So, if he ends up spending $120M+ on one player, will that be a pass or a fail? ;)
bpoz - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 10:55 AM EST (#227890) #
BW... You certainly have a flair in your writing. Your criticism of AA & Rogers was responded to...er critically, but then your rebuttal was very good. Sincere and well written were the opinions of all.
Obviously we have people in opposite camps. Let me give an example of that viewpoint... IMO J Bautista will help the 2011 team greatly if he is not traded and plays really well, something like 2010, but if he is traded then the jays should get back a valuable return. The people saying lets try to contend in 2011 must prefer J Bautista on the team plus additions. There are many prospect seekers, who right now are getting their wish ie Marcum for Lawrie.

I am glad that it has been stated... EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINION.

IMO AA is possibly hiding things in that he gives vague answers to questions. For example, what will the role of R Davis be, catcher has multiple possibilities, EE's resigning was intriguing. But he has definitely said that he wants to improve OBP & the bullpen, so he has revealed some of his goals. I believe that we have to give him until ST before making a judgement, even then he may use methods that he hides from us. OBP improvement may mean a different hitting approach and the bullpen improvement may mean unproven but quite talented guys get difficult roles.

greenfrog - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 11:08 AM EST (#227891) #
Pass: when the time is right (we're not there yet), Rogers spends what it takes to compete with Boston and New York. It means strategically chasing the one or two "best in class" players in their prime like Gonzalez, Crawford, or Greinke *at the right time*, whether via trades or FA.

Fail: settling for lesser players who aren't good enough to put you over the top, again, *when the iron is hot*. The Jays did this in 92/93 by adding Molitor, Winfield, Cone, Morris, etc (to say nothing of Alomar/Carter). If AA builds enough in-house talent, and all indications are that he will, that opportunity is likely to come up again. Will Rogers step up to the plate, or go cheap?
CSHunt68 - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 11:19 AM EST (#227892) #
"Rogers spends what it takes to compete with Boston and New York"
Begging the question.
Tampa didn't do that and competed. Just sayin'.
bpoz - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 11:28 AM EST (#227893) #
Well said Greenfrog. Since this was not done so far this off season then now is not that time it looks like.

But when ever that time is... I think we have a smart person in AA. He proved that he is smart with the EE resigning & the Olivo move. The Escobar & Morrow moves worked out well, in them he showed that he will deal quality for quality. IMO Morrow was potential quality, Lawrie was definitely potential quality & Escobar was proven quality for potential quality.
China fan - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 11:51 AM EST (#227894) #

.....Tampa didn't do that and competed.....

Many other teams also did not spend much money.  Of those that went cheap, the vast majority did NOT compete.  If you don't spend money, the odds are very much against you.  One or two exceptions, like Tampa, don't prove anything.

Gwyn - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 11:56 AM EST (#227895) #
Doc, Lee and now Grienke. That's quite the movement of top flight starters from the AL to the NL recently. The NL's All Star team rotation is going to be phenomenal.
Alex Obal - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 12:02 PM EST (#227896) #
Wow. This might be the year the NL finally gets to the hump! Still not holding my breath, but I suspect having all these aces around might inspire all the other pitchers to step their game up..

No matter what he wants, the only way Anthopoulos will ever have an opportunity to go somewhere else for more money is if he wins in Toronto.

If he leads the league in mouthing off per 48 minutes for a few years, I'm sure ESPN will come calling.

Shane - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 12:15 PM EST (#227897) #

The approximate equivalent of the Brewers' package for Greinke would be Snider, Stewart, Gose and another arm like Sanchez/Jenkins/Alvarez.

                                                                 and

Not sure what the equivalent in Jays prospects would be. Hechavarria, Snider, Stewart and a PTBNL, maybe?

Where/Who in the Brewers package rivals the talent of Snider? Gose maybe with Cain (who I see is projected as fourth outfielder quality) but I don't see anything given up that matches Snider's power output potential, etc.



 

Paul D - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 12:20 PM EST (#227898) #

The Royals wanted up the middle talent, I'm not sure how much they'd have been interested in Snider.  (I know that sounds stupid, but look at the package - they wanted SS/2B/CF)

jerjapan - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 01:02 PM EST (#227899) #
Marc Hulet wrote at Fangraphs that Milwaukee paid quantity over quality for Grienke, and I have to agree.  With all the rumours of AA's interest, I'm disappointed we didn't get in on this - the rumoured Drabeck / Snider package was a much steeper price than what was actually paid.

Great news that Greinke is going to the NL.  I really do see the AL wildcard as wide open.  I'm glad AA is sticking to his guns on the rebuild, but it must be increasingly tough for him to stick with the plan as he sees the Yankees offseason heading off the rails. 

ramone - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 01:17 PM EST (#227900) #

"the Yankees offseason heading off the rails."

I really don't think the Yankees are as bad as many fans see them, they didn't have Lee last year and they still won 95 games.  Pettitte will likely return and Hughes was excellent for the first 2/3 of last year anyway and Nova will likely be better than Vazquez was.  Their offense is still amazing and they have one of the games best trade chips in Montero and I believe are in the running for a top ten farm system according to BA.

Boston looks incredible and the Yanks will still be strong, personally I'd prefer AA to stick to his plan rather than make some moves hoping he can sneak by the yanks and get the wild card.

Mylegacy - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 01:26 PM EST (#227901) #
Dear BW - as best I remember - 1993 was the last great year for the Jays. You, me, all of us - want more of that drug. We need a fix. Untill (IF) AA actually delivers us a dose of uphoria - we have not only every right - but an obligation - to look at his every move through a magnifying glass. If in doing that we are drawn to conclude AA's here for own personal agenda - so be it. Personally, I would be very surprised if AA wasn't here for HIS personal agenda - if I remember correctly every job I had - including when I owned my own businesses - was for my own personal agenda.

I shall judge AA not so harshly for what he wants - but for what he achieves. AA and I both know he will eventually be fired. I've been fired - I assume BW has been fired (he's Irish ergo he drinks, swears and talks too much - when he's not being happy fighting of course - remember he is Irish) - when AA has finally been fired IF he has won us several World Series during his stay I'll be a happy camper. So far - in my opinion - the guy has brought in more good - to very good - young talent than I've ever seen in Baby Blue Jay blue.

On Grienke - the NL is where good pitchers become great and great pitchers become - er - Roy Halladay. If I was a pitcher would I want to pitch in the AL East or in the "Seven Hitter, an Intentional Walk, Followed by an Easy Out" League (SHIWFEO). The NL is to baseball like rounders is to baseball. 'Nough said.

BumWino - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 01:30 PM EST (#227902) #

China fan

Couldn't agree more. 

Tampa is not a legitimate exception to the rule because the team had to finish last for nine of ten years in order to amass all those top-5 draft picks which have been responsible for its fleeting success in the AL East.

Due to financial constraints, Tampa's inability to retain of its top players as they reach free agency will likely start the team into a slow but inevitable downward spiral. 

The difference between the Rays and Jays is that the latter can afford to retain its key players.

Newton - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 01:36 PM EST (#227903) #

Best offseason news for Blue Jays fans thus far, and the best in years to be frank: Commisioner Selig all but confirming an extra wildcard team will be added in the near future.

2011 is not going to be our year, was really hoping we would be in on Greinke, but by 2012 with an extra wildcard slot and the Jays young talent further developing we might actually be in a position to witness playoff baseball in Toronto again. 

SJE - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 02:04 PM EST (#227904) #

Not hard to tell that we are in the `dog days`of the off season.  ``Hidden Agendas`` and trying to win a World Series on a shoe string. REALLY!!! AA said that he operates without a budget,maybe I am the few that believe him. He alot of time and money into scouting and developing high upside talent. At this stage of the Jays quest to win a World Series the amatuer draft is the number 1 priority. Draft picks are like gold to him. Downs,Gregg,Olivo, and Buck were like chess pieces that could be turned into Draft picks. I believe all 4 could have been making league minimum wage and they still would have been flip for draft picks.

One question. When considering the talent difference between Greinke and Marcum who got the better deal, the Jays or the Royals

Richard S.S. - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 03:00 PM EST (#227905) #

That's the bar A.A. has to exceed.

So in your world this off-season will be considered a success if the Jays simply spend more money than last year?  I think of all the scales and metrics you could use to judge success or failure that's got to be the absolute bottom of the barrel.

Ryan C

You don't know diddly-squat.   My favorite time of year is the Off-Season when the numbers start to flow.   And I've been a Baseball Fan since 1965, so I've got a reasonable idea of what's needed by a team and whether or not a GM is "doing it right".   How many people consider this a watershed (an important point of division or transition between two phases, conditions, etc. - Dictionary.com) year for both the GM and the Team?   I just don't see how you can't.

Anyone who heard Bud 'Light' Selig say "I'm thinking about increasing the playoffs teams by 2 teams by 2012" should have expected a frenzy trading / signing period where everthing costs too much.   The actual inclusion of this matter in the Winter Meetings just made things worse A.A.  spent almost 4 weeks "sniffing around" Justin Upton and Zack Greinke before deciding "they want too much", not, that he didn't want to take a risk.   (I'm shocked Milwaukee got Greinke, comparing the pieces of the trade, might suggest, we had better stuff to trade.)

We needed a Closer (better than Gregg) and an improved Bullpen (10th of 14 teams - Carlos Villanueva is not enough),  a Third Baseman (better than Edwin Encarnacion), a D.H. (who can take over 1B when Adam Lind fails), a better Catcher than Jose Molina (who can be our # 1 Catcher, if needed).   How has A.A. made this team better.

By the time the series was over, A.A.'s staff should have given him a list of the best 5 Free Agents and the best 5 Trade Possibilities at each needed position.   Failure to sign or trade for anyone is tantamount to giving up.   I assume everyone knows what Spin (to cause to have a particular bias; influence in a certain direction - Dictionary . com) is, A.A. does it enough.

I might have gone after Upton and Greinke, but stepped away weeks earlier.   I would have gone after Yoakim Soria for Closer and given Russell Martin, 3 years + option year, at $5.0 MM per year; Year 1: 100 G., Year 2: 81 G., Year 3: 62 G., if needed.   Signing E.E at this time in the off-season - he's as equal as most anyone else not signed, just cheaper - is giving up any possibility of Lind failing or really getting hurt.   Who's left at 3B or as a(n) reliever(s) to make us better.

If you can't add at least one piece to the core each off-season and perhaps in every other in-season is to be considered a failure by any GM.   When A.A. said he was going to trade for his needs rather than signing Free Agents, I laughed and said "He'll learn."   More later.

earlweaverfan - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 03:17 PM EST (#227906) #
I'd prefer AA to stick to his plan rather than make some moves hoping he can sneak by the yanks and get the wild card.
 
Ramone, I couldn't agree with you more.

If my fellow Bauxites will indulge me a moment, allow me to explain why I call myself earlweaverfan, and why it is relevant to where this team is now, and where it needs to get to.

When I was a teenager in the late sixties, I started following baseball, and with no Canadian team to cheer for, I picked the Orioles, I can't remember why.  One of the reasons why I stuck with them was that they seemed to be contenders year after year, and many of their best players were stars by anyone's definition:  Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell, Jim Palmer, Dave McNally and I could go on.  There were also plenty of wonderful role players, who were fabulous at a narrowly focused contribution and were carefully chosen for that contribution.  Mark Belanger, Davey Johnson and Brooks Robinson may not have swung the heaviest bats, but their defensive performance was consistently wonderful.

We would die for a record of consistency like the one that Weaver produced - from 1968, when he began half-way through the season, through to 1982 inclusive, when he stepped down for the first time, he did not have one losing season, not one.  His team won 100 or more games in 5 of those years, and 90 or more games in 6 more of those years, and in two of those years, (1968 when he started and 1981) he had less than a full season to work with.  Of course, many would say it is impossible to repeat in today's circumstances.

Was it on-field brilliance - somewhat, but IMHO, only a small part.  Partly, the team's managerial philosophy that drove their player selection was a major forerunner of the statistically-aware managements that are more common now.  Partly, they focused enormously on building the best possible starting rotation.  Partly, Weaver stuck with his players when they were struggling, when others would have given up.  But a very large part was that there was a Baltimore Oriole way to play baseball, and that was taught and re-taught, over and over, throughout the Orioles' minor league system.  By the time you reached the major leagues, you had already become an Oriole.  And their minor league system continued to develop some critical cogs in the wheel, just when and where they were required.

So what is today's equivalent of the right path to building a winning team, year after year?  In many ways, the team that has built itself into the closest comparable organization is the Tampa Bay Rays.  They have produced an exciting array of top players in recent years, their scouting is excellent, and even as their obituaries are being written for 2011, they will have by far the largest number of draft picks in a wonderfully strong draft in 2011.  Their remaining flaw is that their fans do not seem to care, even when they have every reason. 

I see AA having the ambition and perseverance to do nothing less here in Toronto and if anyone can replicate the Orioles track record of those 15 years, it is him.  What has he done so far?  It is the organizational revolution he has built, one brick at a time, that I am most impressed by.  When he started:
  • He had almost no chips to play with in the upper minors.  Now he has several (Drabek, Stewart, Lawrie, Rzep, and yes, JPA are all primed; all will make mistakes, but all will flourish in this league)
  • The lower minors had few players with apparent high upside.  Now he has several (name your favourites here)
  • He had a limited scouting capacity and little meaningful presence in the Latin America.  Now he has re-built both of those capacities to a substantial degree.  He has signed up an additional minor league team to bulk up the system.   Most of all, he listens to his scouts and acts on their advice
  • He had an on-field manager in Cito who was close to retirement.  Now he has someone who is primed for a long career of excellence, a system-thinker, with equivalent smarts and equivalent ambition to be AA's partner in crime.  Together, they have kept the best coaches in the Jays' system, and added others who will enrich that squad
  • His starting rotation was very young, many just off major injuries, and with many other holes in the lineup.  The starting three are now grown up and set up to be a long suit, under team control for a long time.  The best of Drabek, Stewart, Rzep and Litsch will deserve to be #4 and #5 from the outset, and the other two will deserve a place in the pen, as soon as they arrive there
This is what he has accomplished in less than two years.  I do not sense any slowing down of the tempo, any loss of drive or ambition.  By the way, this Jays management have not the slightest interest in moving backward.  How many wins they get next year will be not entirely within their control.  Which players have career years, which ones falter, which teams have injuries will all enter in.  But if you hear AA and Farrell say that they intend to strengthen OBP, base-running, and the bullpen this coming year, you can put it in the bank that they will.  If you can't see all the solutions by spring training, fear not, it will have happened during the year, either by dint of smart coaching or by personnel changes during the year.

As for the fans, they may not start with the belief that Bauxites do in the systematic building up of a franchise, but when they get to see the young, high upside players that AA is acquiring, they will turn out to watch them grow, and their excitement will rise accordingly.  The Jays will not need to go for the gold in 2011 to draw new fans to Rogers Centre, but any turnout is dependent on a realistic hope for the future, a hope that grows stronger every year, as the farm system gets better and better and the major league players get stronger and stronger.

Personally, I look forward to the day when the debate on this site and others will be mostly about which exciting new players deserve to be on the squad next, and which will have to wait their turn, on a perennially contending team.

SJE - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 03:34 PM EST (#227908) #
I  too agree with Ramone. I also do not buy into the fact that to win a World Series one has to strike when the iron is hot or when react whenever some other team does not get a player they want. If you build a team properly the window to win a World Series does not open and close on what  other teams are doing. And please do not tell me how long that you have falling baseball because that does not make you expert on how to build a champion. It just means that you are just an experienced baseball fan. If  age was the number criteria to being an expert on baseball, the Jays should have found some old crock that seen Lou Greig play instead of hiring AA.
CeeBee - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 03:38 PM EST (#227909) #
Well said, EWF :) As a Twins and baseball fan growing up in the mid 60's I certainly saw the O's rise to power. Pitching, defence and the bats of first Frank Robinson and Boog Powell and later Eddie Murray and Ken Singleton made for great teams.
Glevin - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 06:56 PM EST (#227914) #
Ramone is, of course, right. The Jays have no choice but to build long-term. They could have traded all their prospects for veterans, but that the Jays still would likely not have made the playoffs. And all those absurdly criticising AA for his moves, do you really think that holding on to Marcum would have made the Jays a contender? You'd be hard pressed to find a non-Jays fan who didn't think that they sold high on Marcum. (This is a theme on this thread, look at the reaction to trading Farquhar and Magnuson. You'd have thought that the Jays just traded Drabek and Snider  fpr Rajai Davis rather than two marginal prospects.  It's something I've noticed in Toronto sports in general-Leaf's fans have always thought their players are much better than they are while Hab's fans seem to work in the opposite direction, driving good player's out of town.)
earlweaverfan - Sunday, December 19 2010 @ 11:27 PM EST (#227920) #
I do think that there is a fine line between patience and failing to move the organization forward over the offseason. There's still plenty of time, but there's not a lot of low-hanging fruit left. (Mike D)

I beg to differ, but A.A. is not filling the holes and making this team better. Just watch as A.A. spins this off-season, but don't drink the Koolaid. (Richard S.S.)

With another outfielder in Cain, I'm hoping AA tries to get Alex Gordon out of KC to play 3rd. - With a change of scenery, I think he's a breakout candidate and still yrs. away from FA. (85bluejay)

It is really important for us all to realize that even after all the top free agents are gone (plus all their modestly-talented, but relatively expensive cousins) and all the expected deals have been struck, that the pool is not necessarily getting that much smaller. Nor is the fruit now all on the higher branches. At some teams, the pool may be getter bigger than ever and the fruit may be hanging lower than ever.

85bluejay points out that, having acquired an extra outfielder, the Royals may finally be willing to give up Alex Gordon.

That same team is excited because the upcoming first baseman, Eric Hosmer, is not far away. Well, they have a strong young first baseman already in Kila Ka'aihue, who just graduated from the minors. They won't easily make full use of both of them on the same team. I would take either if the right trade could be constructed.

Now, I acknowledge that the very idea of trades could start having a bad odor - the whiff of desperation. Richard S.S. is positively desperate for AA to make a big trade - practically any big trade - especially if he can fill a hole (!) by getting someone whose first name is 'stud', no, my bad, whose first name is STUD!!!! Now I begin to understand why he uses this term in a baseball context.

If AA does not meet these expectations, then Richard (who knows a thing or two about what makes for a successful GM) will declare him a failure. And of course, if you don't agree with Richard, then he will tell you that you must know diddly squat! I cannot speak for AA, but speaking for myself, this source of anxiety will not keep me up nights.

Actually (to keep everyone's anxiety levels down) the trading opportunities often get much greater once teams have committed themselves to big contract FA signings and big trades. At that stage, they often need to reduce their payroll, or give up players who are now redundant at their position. And at that stage, everyone knows that they need to make that trade.

So, for instance, there is some talk that the Rangers might be looking to sign up Adrian Beltre. Is it a coincidence that they are also willing to discuss a trade for Michael Young - I don't think so. Now I am unconvinced that Young would be the right short term solution (much too costly?) for the Jays at 3B, who need somebody strong there for a year or two until either Lawrie takes it on, or Hill moves over. But this is an example of the kind of player whose availability can open up, when the FA signings are mostly done.

And if Beltre does not do a deal with Texas? It will be more evidence that once you have spent big bucks on a 5-year contract for a player like Young, then adding someone like Beltre creates a problem, as much as or more than it solves one.
jerjapan - Monday, December 20 2010 @ 09:38 AM EST (#227928) #
I'm a huge AA fan, but let me just play devil's advocate for a moment.

Why do people assume that AA can't be both opportunistic AND build for the future at the same time?  Or that a one-off run at a wildcard is a bad thing?  Surely the latter is a result of the bad taste JP left in the mouths of many, but the casual fan is not a Bauxite with hope for the future based on the depth of starting pitching in A ball.  This Jays team does have momentum behind it, both with the team and the fanbase.  The Yankees core is aging fast, and for years now they've overcome this by adding the biggest names in free agency, but this year they've struck out.  The Rays are losing a number of key players and replacing them with prospects.  2011 could easily be the largest window of opportunity in the AL east for sometime - the Rays young players will continue to improve, the Yanks won't strike out on their primary targets every off season, and Boston looks like a beast for years to come. 

Grienke didn't cost nearly as much as antcipated - had the Jays snagged him with a similar package (quantity over ceiling) we could be taking a run at the wildcard in 2011 while still building for the future.  Building buzz with the fanbase - and other players, who may want to come to Toronto to be part of an exciting young team - is not a bad thing IF it doesn't compromise the long term vision.   



Paul D - Monday, December 20 2010 @ 02:18 PM EST (#227940) #
Did we ever find out who the Jays traded for Villanueva?
Richard S.S. - Monday, December 20 2010 @ 02:47 PM EST (#227943) #

I wonder who was awake and who was asleep this Off-Season.   A lot of blockbuster stuff occurred to totally change this Off-Season into a watershed moment for most teams.

1) Bud Selig says "I'm considering adding 2 Playoff Teams to the 2012 Post-Season."   He very rarely says anything of this caliber that doesn't happen.   And prices go up.   Did A.A. notice?

2) The addition of 2 Playoff Teams to the 2012 Post-Season is discussed at the Winter Meetings.   And the prices go up.   Did A.A. notice?

3) The Signing of Cliff Lee by Philadelphia crushed the Yankees and opened up the A.L. East.   And the prices go up.   Did A.A. notice?

4) The Signing of Carl Crawford (N.Y.Y. backup plan) by Boston opened up the Wild Card Race.   And the prices go up.   Did A.A. notice?

5) Milwaukee Brewers acquire Zach Greinke for a lot less than they asked Toronto for.   Did A.A. miss an opportunity here., the Wild Card Race is even more open.   And the prices go up?   Did A.A. notice?

Does anyone beside myself consider the Upgrading of the Bullpen and the Improvement in OBP was to be more than a one year task (because it hasn't happened yet)?  

1) You needed a Catcher better than Jose Molina, because you didn't think Jose was good enough to be your # 1 Catcher if needed.   How's that going A.A.?  

2) You need your D.H. to be capable of being your Primary 1B if needed.   Oops! How did that go A.A.?  

3) You need a 3B to be defensively better than E.E. but at least offensively equal with E.E.   How's that going A.A.?

4) You need to upgrade / improve your Bullpen (10th out of 14 teams). Losing your best pitchers only makes it worse (keeping them wouldn't make it better).   Acquiring Michael Hinckley, Winston Abreu and Carlos Villanueva aren't anyone's answer to better.   How's that going A.A.?

5) How does re-signing Edwin Encarnacion and acquiring Rajai Davis upgrade OBP?   How's that going A.A.?

When did Alex Anthopoulos give up on the 2011 Season?   He didn't try to trade for a Rule 5 Pick upgrade.   He didn't go after any Non-Tenders.   He didn't go after any Free Agents of any significants.   I could go on but even I get bored.

smcs - Monday, December 20 2010 @ 03:34 PM EST (#227945) #
He didn't try to trade for a Rule 5 Pick upgrade.   He didn't go after any Non-Tenders.   He didn't go after any Free Agents of any significants.

I don't usually use all-caps for anything but, well, HOW DO YOU KNOW ANY OF THIS?!?!
Gerry - Monday, December 20 2010 @ 04:08 PM EST (#227947) #

It is the middle of December, there are two and a half months to go until the start of spring training. 

I wait until people are finished a job before evaluating them.

Mick Doherty - Monday, December 20 2010 @ 04:54 PM EST (#227950) #

P.S. , some answers to your questions:

Did A.A. notice? (5 times)
Yes. It's his job to notice. It's also his job to not overreact!

How's that going A.A.? (5 more times)
Well, as Gerry said ... it ain't like he's done yet!

ayjackson - Monday, December 20 2010 @ 05:48 PM EST (#227956) #

I could go on but even I get bored.

Next time say nothing and give us all a break.

CSHunt68 - Monday, December 20 2010 @ 06:35 PM EST (#227960) #
"Many other teams also did not spend much money.  Of those that went cheap, the vast majority did NOT compete.  If you don't spend money, the odds are very much against you.  One or two exceptions, like Tampa, don't prove anything."
Well, again, you're begging the question - that these teams are the EXCEPTION.

Anyway, it's a straw man, as I said nothing about spending money, overall - the question, which I guess you missed, was about spending $120M+ on one player as a means of  "pushing a team over the top".

How many teams that have done that have had immediate success? Since you're keen to rule out "exceptions", I'll exclude the Yankees from your discourse. Go.
bpoz - Monday, December 20 2010 @ 06:54 PM EST (#227961) #
Richard SS...I don't think AA gave up on any season. He said that he prefers to work in secret and when he does speak he is often vague. He said that he wants the team to be good in the future, which sort of can be interpreted as being not good now. To make the team good in the future he is in talent acquisition mode as he puts it. So far he has made some acquisitions that are prospects for the future without really voluntarily giving up any good players off his ML team except Marcum. He has stated that Litch is an equivalent replacement for Marcum, of course he could be wrong. He said it to Bob McCowan.

One of his goals for this off season is to acquire prospects he stated that clearly to M Wilner I believe. His goal for the 2011 ML team was unclear, but he definitely did not say that he was going to try to make a contender of the 2011 ML team.

IMO he is following that agenda. I have mixed emotions on him actually weakening the 2011 ML team by trading our best players like J Bautista for future prospects.
For 1B/DH I think it is essential to get 40HR, 100RBI players, I think EE & Lind are potentially that.

By Opening Day many questions that we are asking will be answered like:
1) How much of the present has he sacrificed for the future he sees.
2) If A Hills 2014 option is or is not picked up, what does it mean.
3) How he fills the open 40 man spots will clarify his future vs present goals.

I agree with you that the OBP & bullpen to become extremely good will take time.

I don't think he is limiting himself to Rule 5 and non tender player moves. There is time for a 3B acquisition, but it probably will be a stop gap type player.

I am concerned about Intl FA signings. I am not sure but is not now the time to sign a few.

Magpie - Wednesday, December 22 2010 @ 05:37 PM EST (#228075) #
I wait until people are finished a job before evaluating them.

Well, you're no fun.
Magpie - Wednesday, December 22 2010 @ 05:46 PM EST (#228076) #
My favorite time of year is the Off-Season when the numbers start to flow.

Not me. For once, I'm more or less in agreement with Rogers Hornsby, who when asked what he did during the off-season replied that he stared out the window and waited for spring, when the baseball games begin.

The off-season sucks. Beyond all measure of suckitude...

But then I positively hate the Hot Stove League, and all of this generally pointless and futile gossip and speculation. Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing, and the Shakespeareans among you will know the teller of the tale...

I actually find myself watching the Leafs.
Original Ryan - Wednesday, December 22 2010 @ 06:17 PM EST (#228077) #
I actually find myself watching the Leafs.

Why?  Don't you get The Weather Network or CPAC?
John Northey - Thursday, December 23 2010 @ 10:07 AM EST (#228085) #
Better to watch a junior hockey team, at least then you might be watching a team that wins something :)

It is amazing that since my parents got married the Leafs have not made it to the finals. Despite having the potential for a Yankee type budget, despite having many players wanting to play here (for example, I recall hearing Gretzky wanted to but the Leafs didn't want to pay him). But as long as 20k people are willing to pay over $100 a ticket to see them 40+ times a year the Leafs will be laughing all the way to the bank.
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