The Blue Jays thread! - Page 35

FrankieFlowerpot · #**681** Posted **Nov 17, 2014, 5:42 PM**

Russell Martin returns to Canada in a 5-year, $82million deal

DrNest · #**682** Posted **Nov 17, 2014, 10:25 PM**

And yet the Jays wouldn't give Melky the money he was asking for. I know which I'd rather the Jays sign. That being said, if they do come to terms and sign Melky in addition to Martin, that will be great acquisitions.

Ramako · #**683** Posted **Nov 19, 2014, 12:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrNest

And yet the Jays wouldn't give Melky the money he was asking for. I know which I'd rather the Jays sign. That being said, if they do come to terms and sign Melky in addition to Martin, that will be great acquisitions.

I'd way rather have Martin than Melky. Melky can hit but he's useless on defence, whereas Martin's a decent hitter in his own right, will make our entire pitching staff more effective, and provides needed clubhouse leadership.

FrankieFlowerpot · #**684** Posted **Nov 29, 2014, 3:17 AM**

And Brett Lawrie has been traded to Oakland for Josh Donaldson

Dr Awesomesauce · #**685** Posted **Nov 29, 2014, 3:32 AM**

Lawrie, Graveman, Nolin and Baretto to the A's for Donaldson.

Awesome!!!!

DrNest · #**686** Posted **Nov 30, 2014, 5:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

Lawrie, Graveman, Nolin and Baretto to the A's for Donaldson.

Awesome!!!!

I was surprised at first to hear of Lawrie being traded, but after thinking about it for a well, I see this as a good trade for the Jays. Donaldson has quite a potent bat, and will be interesting to see how he fairs in the home run friendly Rogers Centre.
Now if they can reach a deal with Melky, this is going to be a very potent offence the Jays will have with every one healthy!

YoungRepublic · #**687** Posted **Nov 30, 2014, 8:17 PM**

It's a great trade for the Jays! With Martin's backloaded deal, we are in win-now mode. We need to now look at pitching (both bullpen help and a starter... Lester?

) and LF. It seems like Melky wants to return so I hope he can reach a deal with the Jays. An upgrade on 2B would be awesome too. I wonder what a Navarro trade could fetch us.

We have the longest playoff drought in all of pro North American sports. I want to see post season baseball in Toronto! I was too young to remember '92 and '93.

Great offseason so far!

Dr Awesomesauce · #**688** Posted **Dec 4, 2014, 12:22 AM**

It's been confirmed that J.A. Happ has been traded to Seattle for OF Mike Saunders.

Barring anything unforeseen, Saunders will start in LF, so the subtext here is that Melky's brief tenure in Toronto is almost assuredly done.

To Toronto so far this off-season:
C - Martin
3B - Donaldson
2B - Devon Travis
LF - Saunders
RP - Estrada
1B - Smoak

Exiting Toronto:
DH - Lind
CF - Rasmus
LF - Cabrera
SP - Happ
CF - Gose
3B - Lawrie
IF - Juan Francisco
RP - McGowan
SP - Morrow
RP - Santos

A lot of the guys above are either injury-prone or are perceived to have attitude problems of one sort or another. AA's MO seems pretty clear: improve the team; change the culture.

DrNest · #**689** Posted **Dec 4, 2014, 12:47 AM**

Are Rasmus and Cabrera definitely out of Toronto? I know they're free agents and not yet re-signed with the Jays, but wouldn't rule out them returning. At least not Cabrera.

Dr Awesomesauce · #**690** Posted **Dec 7, 2014, 12:08 AM**

Re Rasmus and Cabrera

Rasmus played himself out of Toronto last year: poor defense and terrible at the plate. He'll pop up somewhere else later in the off-season on a one-year, perhaps, incentive-laden deal. Or maybe he'll just retire because, as has often been reported, he really doesn't love playing the game.

As far as Cabrera's concerned, he's gone. He wants a lot more than the Jays are willing to spend. He's a nice player but, like many others, I wonder about his defense/ health going forward. Saunders is much cheaper and plays much better defense - he's a potential 20-20 guy, so he's not a serious step down from Melky.

Ramako · #**691** Posted **Dec 7, 2014, 12:51 AM**

Love the Saunders deal. I wouldn't be surprised if he produced a higher WAR than Melky next year... and certainly on a per dollar basis.

DrNest · #**692** Posted **Dec 7, 2014, 6:03 PM**

I agree the Saunders deal is a good move. I am finding a bias towards Melky and hope in my heart that he can reach an agreement with the Jays and return, but am realistic to understand it's now looking unlikely. I did read yesterday that the Reds were trying to sign Melky, no news yet though if anything has been agreed.

DrNest · #**693** Posted **Dec 14, 2014, 2:15 PM**

I see Melky has signed a 3 year deal with the White Sox for $42-43.5m over 3 years.

http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/news/artic...ve-3-year-deal

Hearing those figures makes my blood boil that the Jays didn't sign him!
What was it they offered to make the qualifying deal? Something like $12-12.5m. Would an extra $1-2m a year really have affected the budget that much to get a proven bat of Melky's calibre back in a Jays' uniform.

Dr Awesomesauce · #**694** Posted **Dec 17, 2014, 1:59 PM**

I can only assume that the Jays just didn't want him back that badly. There's more to this story than we know...

DrNest · #**695** Posted **Dec 18, 2014, 3:26 PM**

Interesting point, I wonder if we'll ever know what offers we're made and what was said.

Horus · #**696** Posted **Jan 28, 2015, 7:59 PM**

Bye-Bye to Casey Janssen. Signed with the Nationals

DrNest · #**697** Posted **Jan 29, 2015, 9:30 PM**

That's too bad. I thought highly of Janssen and had hoped the Jays would work out a deal to keep him.

Horus · #**698** Posted **Jul 30, 2015, 5:26 PM**

David Price acquired today! Jays are all in.