So who gave Bautista that 1st place vote? Probably someone who loves HR (Bautista led by 15) & RBI (just 2 back of the leader), an old school voter. Or someone who likes the DRS fielding stats (see this article to see how Jose Bautista could be seen as the MVP statistically).

Or Shi Davidi. Bautista was baseball's most valuable player this year.

http://bbwaa.com/

It was Davidi

I think Juan Gonzalez won an MVP with Texas(maybe more?) and I know for a fact that Ivan Rodriguez won one as he is one of my favourite all-time players. Haha now I get the "ez" part ~ It has to be Alex Rodriguez then....but who the heck is the fourth.

You'd probably need to dig pretty deep to find that last Rangers MVP.

Aww I looked up who the fourth one was to win it(Well actually the first one). I never would have guessed this guy.

Well, anyone who was a Jay fan in 1985 should know the non-ez one. He DH'ed and actually hit decently but was forgotten once Cliff Johnson came to town. He was the final out of the regular season. Anyone else know from that bit?

Yeah, his career looked like it might end up better than it did.  Like father, like son.

I know who the 4th is, from doing Sporcle.com quizzes. And yes, it is a name that sticks out, and I do remember his Jays tenure (somewhat vaguely, I'm afraid)

You should have seen him run the bases. I will always remember him sliding into third.

92-93, that is an extremely veiled, but truly wonderfully  clever play on words on the man's name.

Which, iinterestingly, nobody has actually identified yet. Cuttlefish on the line here!

OFF TOPIC

Just got my BA paper and two interesting Jay's notes. One, Jay's have signed Jamie Vermilyea to a minor league contract. Good to see old friends return to the fold.

Also, at Instructional League Myles Jaye - a 17th round pick from HS in Georgia "impressed" with a 90 to 96 mph fastball in instructional League - add another arm from that 2010 draft - yummy, yummy.

I will always remember him sliding into third.

...and stopping a few feet short? That's got to be Jeff Burroughs, whose slide is right up there with Lloyd Moseby's running incident in which he ran 270 feet to advance one base on one play.

BTW: I would not have guessed Burroughs as MVP - the hint was the clincher for me.

Actually, JV finished last season in the Jays system. His resigning is a few weeks old.

Good to hear a good review on Jaye - I'd seen another referance somewhere that he was excellent value for the spot he was picked but no details.

On the MVP vote, not that it's not academic how the non-winners stood, but 15 of those voters are on crack. if you didn't vote JB in the top 5  and DID vote Cabrera in the top 3 then you simply don't bother to pay attention.

If Cabrera finished in the top 3, so should Bautista (i.e. you vote on offensive stats, not on fielding and such that people were using to pimp Cano)

On the other hand, if you had Cano second and Cabrera third - then JB HAS to be at least 4th.

In other words, once you lower yourself to vote for a player on a team that didn't contend in September (i.e. Cabrera) then you need to vote for a player who was his virtual equal offensively on the same basis rather than shift philosophy to vote for Cano or Longoria.

A cuttlefish for perlhack, who was about the sixty-fourth person with the right answer, but the first to actually answer the question!

That's got to be Jeff Burroughs, whose slide is right up there

Indeed. Easily the second funniest slide in team history. Nothing will ever, ever top Todd Stottlemyre in the 1993 WS.

Is anybody else enjoying the game of Chicken being played Derek Jeter and Brian Cashman? As the clock ticks down to the arbitration deadline....

If the Red Sox can't re-sign Beltre, they're going to need a third baseman. An enraged Derek Jeter ("you won't pay me as much as A.J. Burnett?")... man, that would be a Sight to See. I think he's going to bounce back and hit .320 next year anyway.

Ah, they'll cut a deal at the last minute...

Change of Pace.

When is A.A. going to get around to offering / not offering arbitration to our Type A & B Free Agents?

The Jays need a third baseman too. Wouldn't that be a splash by AA!

When is A.A. going to get around to offering / not offering arbitration to our Type A & B Free Agents?

No harm in waiting until the deadline, on the off-chance that someone actually signs Jason Frasor or Fred Lewis before then. In which case, you go "whoopee" and offer them arbitration.

Don't laugh - it's been known to happen.

No harm in waiting until the deadline, on the off-chance that someone actually signs Jason Frasor or Fred Lewis before then. In which case, you go "whoopee" and offer them arbitration.

I think the Jays offer Frasor arbitration regardless.

Well, only Dodgers, Reds, Padres, Twins and Jays are still tormenting their fans.

I think the Jays offer Frasor arbitration regardless.

Me too. And I think he takes it.

So... who catches for Boston next year? Miguel Olivo?

Saltalamacchia's a decent bet.

No harm in waiting until the deadline, on the off-chance that someone actually signs Jason Frasor

I suspect they're waiting instead to see what happens to guys like Wheeler, and Guerrier. With both not offered arb and thus not costing compensation, it makes it less likely that Frasor will be able to sign elsewhere and more likely he accepts arb.

So did Alex forget or is http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/freeagentarboffers that far behind.

I suspect they're waiting instead to see what happens to guys like Wheeler, and Guerrier. With both not offered arb and thus not costing compensation, it makes it less likely that Frasor will be able to sign elsewhere and more likely he accepts arb.

If a team sign one of the Jays Type A or B free agents and the Jays sign a Type A or B free agent from another team, does the second team get the first team draft pick compensation to the Jays?

So the prospect of seven additional draft picks in next year's draft remains a possibility as the Jays offered arbitration to all of their free agents. So far we know that we have one additional draft pick between the first and second round as a result of the John Buck signing in Florida.

According to many sources all located on mlbtraderumours.com, it's likely that Downs and Olivo will turn down arbitration and sign elsewhere. For Frasor and Gregg it remains to be seen what the market for them will be, although one would have to suspect that because of his Type B status and solid year, Gregg would be a more attractive free agent than Frasor. I think the Frasor decision will come down to the wire. I wouldn't at all be surprised if he accepted arbitration if it's clear other teams are simply unwilling to forfeit the draft pick.

A perfect world situation for the draft next year would read something like this:

Three picks between 15-33.
Five picks between the first and second round.
Thus, a remote possibility of eight picks in the first fifty selections in the draft.

And of course, considering the depth in next year's draft coupled with the Jays commitment to development and amateur signings. There exists a very real possibility that the Jays could shatter the record they set this past year on amateur signings.

The batch of power college right handers is mighty impressive in next year's draft as well as college third basemen. Hint hint.

Saw this on another site but Tim Collins was left unprotected by the Royals. Any chance AA and the Jays take him in the Rule 5 Draft?

Checking http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/freeagentarboffers they now list the 4 Jays as offered arbitration. No real downside as worst case is keeping them for a year at a reasonable rate.

A's not offered included Manny, Jeter, Rivera, Kerry Wood, A.J. Pierzynski, Magglio Ordonez, Arthur Rhodes, Dan Wheeler, Bengie Molina, Vladimir Guerrero, Miguel Tejada, and Derrek Lee.

Rays still could get as many at 10 extra picks from free agents (!)

A few interesting names there eh?

T Collins does not have to be protected. He has 1 more year left 7-10.

Rays still could get as many at 10 extra picks from free agents (!)

When you are forced to slash payroll that severely, you can't afford to keep anyone.   You plan it right (do you think Tampa did) and you should get that many extra picks.   A.A., on a lot less money invested and an expanding payroll may only get 7 extra picks.   Who is the better G.M.?   Who is in the better position?

For Frasor and Gregg it remains to be seen what the market for them will be, although one would have to suspect that because of his Type B status and solid year, Gregg would be a more attractive free agent than Frasor. I think the Frasor decision will come down to the wire. I wouldn't at all be surprised if he accepted arbitration if it's clear other teams are simply unwilling to forfeit the draft pick.

I don't know if A.A. explained it to them, but can't he waive them in Spring Training and only pay a pittance of their salary  - like Reed Johnson, Spring Training 2008?

What happens if Detroit signs Werth, Crafford, then Downs and/or Frasor - 4th and 5th round pick anyone?

IIRC teams are limited to 3 type A's per winter, although I could be wrong.

Tampa, if given the budget for the draft, will be setting themselves up for their next wave in about 5 years nicely, at which point their current stars will probably be elsewhere and they'll be in full rebuild mode. I think they have enough talent near the majors to stay over 500 and near contention for a year or two more but building again through the draft quickly is a smart move. If the rules for FA change (no more picks) then teams like Tampa will have to adjust quickly.

Richard SS 2 good questions.

AA has done very little to be considered good, so opinions are based on perception not deeds. Escobar & Morrow are good for now, but if the prospects become good then AA looks less good and if injuries occur on AA's side he looks bad again. And he cannot control that. Then again if a year occurs lets say 2013 & Goes wins ROY, Morrow CY and the Jays win the WS then he very quickly becomes legendary. IMO until Gillick lucked into Henke he was just good. Winning WSs is flashy as well as great, but building the 1977 Jays into a very good team in 1983 (89wins) is what I give him the highest marks for. Right now for me I give AA the highest marks for managing his $.
To me the TB GM is better hands down because he has a resume with results ie a winning team in the tough AL East and a strong farm, AA has a couple of lines on his resume

For J Fraser a contending team could be willing to give up a 3rd round pick for bullpen depth. In 2010 he was healthy but he gave up 26 earned runs 9 in April and 13 to TB,NYY,BOS. How much should he get based on his 2010 salary of $2.65mil is the big question to me. Tigers paid 3 years $16.5mil for Benoit so his agent should know in 1 week where the market is. AA can gamble on arb at $2.5 hoping that anything asked above $3mil puts the odds of winning in his favor IMO. Also any pitching has value for trades so Fraser +$.5mil gets you something at Jul 31.

I haven't seen this posted elsewhere here - short-time Blue Jay Tom Underwood died from pancreatic cancer on Monday.

"To me the TB GM is better hands down because he has a resume with results ie a winning team in the tough AL East and a strong farm, AA has a couple of lines on his resume"

I respect Friedman as much as the next baseball fan, but would you really consider him better hands than AA at a similar point their tenures? If you're comparing them now, it is apples and oranges and number 1 draft picks.

Christaylor... Thanks for responding.

I highly respect & admire AA. I believe in him & his plan & philosophy. Before getting A Heck and Escobar he said that he has offered as many as 8 players for a young SS. As is his style he did not mention names. Now adding D Thon,S Opitz & G Pierre, AA looks V Good.

When I said that AA's resume had 2 lines that was harsh. I believe AA is very smart, dedicated and hard working AND I also believe that he may be his harshest critic. The full listing of available players will be known after the non tender deadline, with the data available from his army of scouts I EXPECT he will add players very wisely. He will offer opportunity at sensible cost, as he always says. I also EXPECT him to get prospects in multi-team trades like he got Gose, again using the data from his scouts. Since the T Buchholz transaction I check the Jays site twice daily under transactions, because he is so active.

I must credit the TB GM and manager for their success, but they got to pick 1st very often in the draft. How long will they stay near the top will determine much about them. Poor attendance & small budget & competing in the AL East hurts them probably the most of any AL East team.

My money is on AA, hands down. And I don't mind TB softening up NYY & BOS.

AA has done very little to be considered good, so opinions are based on perception not deeds. Escobar & Morrow are good for now, but if the prospects become good then AA looks less good and if injuries occur on AA's side he looks bad again. And he cannot control that. Then again if a year occurs lets say 2013 & Goes wins ROY, Morrow CY and the Jays win the WS then he very quickly becomes legendary. IMO until Gillick lucked into Henke he was just good. Winning WSs is flashy as well as great, but building the 1977 Jays into a very good team in 1983 (89wins) is what I give him the highest marks for. Right now for me I give AA the highest marks for managing his $.
To me the TB GM is better hands down because he has a resume with results ie a winning team in the tough AL East and a strong farm, AA has a couple of lines on his resume

A.A. took over a system high in College picks, with few International picks, and very few high school picks.   Now compare the record of Tampa's picks (new GM 2006) and finances with ours and decide who had the advantage and when.   I still think A.A. is a better GM, Tampa's GM was just luckier.  

I just think any one who accepts arbitration will be waived in Spring Training for approx. $500 K, like Reed Johnson.