Offseason Roster Thread 2016-17

[MikeM]

Why would you take Smith now when you still have a few months to trade from someone better? Once you acquire Smith, you have to play him and you can probably do better in the trade market. And if you can't, it's such a small opportunity cost to miss out on Smith. He's probably 1 WAR next year.

[Terminator]

Why would you take Smith now when you still have a few months to trade from someone better? Once you acquire Smith, you have to play him and you can probably do better in the trade market. And if you can't, it's such a small opportunity cost to miss out on Smith. He's probably 1 WAR next year.

We aren't running out of time but we are running out of options. The Free Agent market is pretty pathetic at this point and I don't know who is on the trade market but it's tough because we don't have depth to trade at any position right now. I imagine whenever we approach teams about trades for OFers they inquire on one of our starters. But we only have 5 with little to no depth and next year we only have 3.

We need two OFers and offense. Smith isn't a great OFer anymore but he can still hit. He bats lefty which also works well for us. He's got a reasonable contract and it wouldn't preclude us from acquiring another OF as we need two.

[Angrioter]

Ian Hunter ‏
An update to the Jays rumours: Stephen Brunt tells @timandsid "by this time next week, something will have happened"

According to Stephen Brunt, "something's cooking" on the Blue Jays front. And talk of the asking price on McCutchen.

Brunt when asked whether these developments could be Bautista-related or other - "I would say other".

[LGBJ29]

so Jay Bruce is a blue jay by this time next week

[Maahfaace]

so Jay Bruce is a blue jay by this time next week

Barf

[burlingtonbandit]

http://www.tsn.ca/bautista-back-atop...-list-1.648042

The Toronto Blue Jays have been quiet but that doesn’t mean they aren’t talking. The team is in discussions with every corner outfielder available in the free-agent market. They are also having dialogue with clubs that have corner outfielders available via trade.
The first-choice options include: Brandon Moss, Michael Saunders, Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson and Jose Bautista. Chris Coghlan and Angel Pagan are on the call list too, but only in case of desperation.
A source familiar with the Jays’ way of thinking indicates they’re confident they will land one of their preferred options.
More interesting though is how Toronto ranks the available corner outfielders. Sources indicate the Jays have Bautista at the top of their list of remaining performers.
That doesn’t mean the Jays are going to sign Bautista and bring him back. Being able to make the right deal matters.
Remember, Edwin Encarnacion was Toronto’s Plan A at first base/designated hitter, but didn’t accept his market before the team was ready to move on to Plan B (Kendrys Morales).
Bautista was a far cry from Plan A as a corner outfielder for the Jays when the off-season started, but he looks better now that they have further evaluated the other options. As the market has slowly whittled, Bautista has moved to the top.
This negotiation will be a race to acceptance. Will Bautista accept his severely limited market and become willing to take less than the $17.2 million qualifying offer the Jays made in November before the team has to pull the trigger on Plan B?
The Jays can’t afford to add two corner outfielders and improve the bullpen as well. They have to make choices. One source indicated that it’s far more likely the Jays will add one outfielder and solve the other corner using a combination of Melvin Upton, Ezequiel Carrera and Steve Pearce. That would allow them to use their remaining resources for bullpen upgrades.

[burlingtonbandit]

I don't like how they say Toronto won't be able to afford 2 OF. If Colby Rasmus only cost $5 Million you should be able to sign Bautista for 17 and another platoon corner OF like Moss.

In now way should Carrera have a starting spot on the team.

[glory]

Rasmus signed for 1/5 and Plouffe signed for 1/5.

No reason why the Jays couldn't afford two of Moss, Valbuena, Pagan, whoever. They could probably afford Bautista and one of those other guys depending on how much money they have left.

[BTS]

Blue Jays sub-Reddit found fangraphs:

Jaysfan
12:18
Who says no Stroman for Cargo?

Dave Cameron
12:18
Well, considering that CarGo has basically no real trade value as an average-ish player making $20M on a one year deal, I'd think the Jays would say no even if they had to give up just a Stroman jersey without Stroman in it.

[Sorrow]

Blue Jays sub-Reddit found fangraphs:

Jaysfan
12:18
Who says no Stroman for Cargo?

Dave Cameron
12:18
Well, considering that CarGo has basically no real trade value as an average-ish player making $20M on a one year deal, I'd think the Jays would say no even if they had to give up just a Stroman jersey without Stroman in it.

That is the greatest response I've read for a trade proposal like that.

[Terminator]

Rasmus signed for 1/5 and Plouffe signed for 1/5.

No reason why the Jays couldn't afford two of Moss, Valbuena, Pagan, whoever. They could probably afford Bautista and one of those other guys depending on how much money they have left.

Why did we give Morales 3 years and 33 million again?

[Brownie19]

Blue Jays sub-Reddit found fangraphs:

Jaysfan
12:18
Who says no Stroman for Cargo?

Dave Cameron
12:18
Well, considering that CarGo has basically no real trade value as an average-ish player making $20M on a one year deal, I'd think the Jays would say no even if they had to give up just a Stroman jersey without Stroman in it.

Holy fuck that's phenomenal.

[Brownie19]

Here's some more from that chat:


A. Reitz 12:51

Explain to me please how Cargo has no trade value...would love to hear you back that up. Since 2010 he's been one of the best offensive OF's in baseball. Steamer projects another 30+ HR's this year w/ a wOBA of 360. Putting him 6th among all OF's. Go ahead...

Dave Cameron 12:52

Park effects are a thing. Gonzalez's three year wRC+ numbers: 83, 114, 108. He's not that much better of a hitter than Mark Trumbo at this point, and you can see how much interest Trumbo is generating as a free agent.



Craner 12:31

Toronto radio says that Vlad Jr was the start to a Cutch deal. Would you make that move?

Dave Cameron 12:31

The Pirates aren't trading McCutchen for a guy who is six years from the big leagues.


afnj 12:40

I've been a Jays season ticket holder since 2008. This offseason is making me want to abandon ship through their poor decisions. Would you say it's time for Jays fans to crack each other's heads open and feast on the goo inside?

Dave Cameron 12:41

I don't love the Morales signing, but they actually got lucky that Encarnacion turned them down; that deal wasn't going to turn out well. If they end up with Bautista on a discount, they'll be better off.



NatsFan 12:04

Two questions:

1) Are the Nats the best possible fit for Chris Coghlan? (Lefthanded insurance for Werth and Zimmerman while also being middle infield depth)
2) Is this the first time you've thought about Chris Coghlan this offseason?

Dave Cameron 12:04

I think Seth Smith was the best fit, but Brandon Moss would work too. Not sure you want Coghlan playing 2B much anymore.

And yes, I had forgotten he existed until 15 seconds ago.

[glory]

You can tell Jays fans miss AA. A player who used to be good, making $20mm a year, has no trade value? Prove em wrong, Alex.

[MikeM]

You can tell Jays fans miss AA. A player who used to be good, making $20mm a year, has no trade value? Prove em wrong, Alex.

Actually I think Alex was the king of trading away the guys with no trade value.

[wk680]

Blue Jays sub-Reddit found fangraphs:

Jaysfan
12:18
Who says no Stroman for Cargo?

Dave Cameron
12:18
Well, considering that CarGo has basically no real trade value as an average-ish player making $20M on a one year deal, I'd think the Jays would say no even if they had to give up just a Stroman jersey without Stroman in it.

I think he has trade value and could help the Jays at least as much as a Moss, but the salary is pretty big. Maybe he is worth the likes of a Drew Hutchison (were he still with the Jays), but no doubt it is laughable to consider Stroman for Cargo straight up.

There is an article on the issue of the Rockies extending Cargo past this season on Fangraphs today. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up trading him and bringing in Trumbo as a replacement. Although the article mentions Cargo has been mentoring Arenado and is a fan favorite, so they may want to continue that for one more year.