Random Thoughts

by bunner on Oct 15, 2008 11:43 AM EDT Comment 19 comments

Moved From Diaries - Hugo

I've been thinking about who might be available and who might be a decent fit for the Jays. From the FA list a lot depends on what happens with AJ Burnett but on the trade front there are a few interesting names that 'could' be available:

1B Adrian Gonzalez SD: Apparently there are some that feel there could be a fire sale in SD this off season. AGon could be their best bargining chip next to Jake Peavy. Being that he has a SD-friendly contract he doesn't 'have' to be moved however he would get them a nice haul in return. I'm not sure what the Jays could offer to get AGon but he'd be a GREAT fit into the Jays lineup. I think SD would want Travis Snider or Adam Lind in any package and that might be too much.

3B Hank Blalock Tex: He's apparently on the block in Texas, he could be a decent fit as a DH/3B replacement when Rolen goes on the DL or even be a replacement 1B if Overbay is moved. Blalock has been slowed by injuries recently and could be had cheap but he still has 30HR pop in his bat and a a LH hitter is something this team lacks. Would someone like Brandon League be enough to get Blalock? or too much?

SS Ryan Theriot ChC: This is a bit of a stretch...but the Cubs could be players in the Furcal race and this would leave Theriot without a spot in the lineup, would be a good fit for the Jays. Not sure what the Cubs would want in exchange.

C Gerald Laird, Jarrod Saltalamaccia(?) Tex: The Rangers have Laird, Salty, Teagarten and Max Ramirez at catcher, the Jays have a hole behind Barajas. I see Salty and Laird as the most likely to go, what would the Jays have to do to get one? Texas could use bullpen help the Jays have depth there. Salty is a nice long term option for C/1B/DH all places the Jays could use an upgrade.

I can't think of any others off the top of my head, but will add to the list as I can, please comment or add other potentials you know of.

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working from the bottom, good point on the Texas catchers

I wonder what it would take to get one, Saltalamacchia seemed like the odd man out, but he’d likely still cost too much, no? I do like his skillset. I like Theriot quite a bit — how can you not like his walk rate this season — even though his BABIP was a little high (.340). I don’t think the Cubs will bite on Furcal, though.

Blalock would be interesting, he showed that the injuries haven’t hurt his raw power much, if at all. I’d love to bring him on.

Finally, Gonzalez had a great season, but if he and Lyle play to their career OPS, (.843 and .809, respectively), I’m not sure that’s quite enough of a difference to justify giving up Snider, and I very much doubt SD would take Lind since the Gonzalez contract is reasonable, unless we also gave up Cecil. Of course, Gonzalez put up his numbers at a pitcher’s park, so the straight OPS comparison isn’t really fair. It is also worth pointing out, though, that Lyle has the edge in OBP over Adrian.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 15, 2008 11:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

AGon

I do agree on the AGon info you provided, he may not be that much of an upgrade over Overbay and for the cost to acquire him it may not be worth it…thanks for moving my post to the main board!

by bunner on Oct 15, 2008 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not a fan of Gonzalez.

I think Blalock would be a good gamble, he could dh and rest Rolen and play the 40+ games Rolen doesn’t play next season.

I think if we were to get Saltalamaccahia he’d be the starting catcher over Barajas, which wouldn’t be a bad thing. I’d love Theriot but not sure what it would take to get him.

by Tom Dakers on Oct 15, 2008 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another Name out there...

Is Jake Peavy…I think SD would want a top hitter and pitcher prospect in return for Peavy. With AJ Burnett likely on his way out of town would it not make some sense to offer up Travis Snider and Cecil or Purcey for the 2007 NL Cy Young winner?

Think about it: AJ Burnett leaving gives the Jays 2 supplemental picks which would help to replenish the farm system with losing Snider and Cecil or Purcey. Peavy would more then make up for the loss of AJ and I think Peavy has an $8M salary in 2009, followed by $15M, $16M, $17M and a $22M club option in 2013. So basically, he’ll be making about as much as AJ Burnett will get on the open market this off season until 2013 when if he’s not worth the $22M he’s scheduled to make you don’t pick up the option.

I don’t think Snider is ready for fulltime duty in the majors just yet so a DH would have to be acquired in the off-season no matter what and either of Purcey or Cecil are expendable as all young pitchers have tons of outstanding questions.

If a deal from Atlanta of Heyward and Hanson is something that SD would consider there is no reason why the Jays offer wouldn’t be considered as well.

by bunner on Oct 15, 2008 1:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that's an interesting suggestion

Peavy really had trouble on the road last season, so I would be a little concerned that Petco, and the not-great NL West, is helping him. If San Diego is really doing a fire sale, as some have suggested they might, I wonder if the Jays would have to Cecil and Snider for Peavy in addition to paying his full salary. San Diego could certainly expect that much for a young pitcher under the team’s control for arbitration or at a team-friendly deal, but it’s a lot to ask for someone who is essentially getting paid (at least close to) free agent money. I’d rather resign Burnett, and keep Snider and Cecil. It would cost the same, and I think the team would be better off.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 15, 2008 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

here's

a Buster Olney article on Peavy. It sounds like he’s not too interested in waiving his no-trade to go to an AL team, which is a little strange to me. I bet we could get Khalil Greene for very little now, as long as we’re willing to pay his salary. I think that would be a low-risk move that could improve the offense and wouldn’t cost any of our top prospects. Of course, the reward is not what it would be if the Jays managed to get Hardy.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 17, 2008 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gonzalez

You have to remember that Gonzalez has an .850 OPS with 36 HRs playing half his games in PETCO park, where power hitters go to die. I really think Gonzalez is one of the most underrated players in baseball. Hitting half the time at Rogers Center, it is not unreasonable to think he can hit 40+ homers. Check out his Home/Away split:

Home: .247/.355/.433
Away: .308/.368/.578

I think his line would be closer to his away line if he is a Blue Jay. In addition to his underrated bat, he is also a gold-glove caliber first baseman. If we can dump Overbay, I would not hesitate to trade Snider for a 26 year old all-star.

Another player I would look into is Prince Fielder. The Brewers have interest to move him since it is unlikely they can sign him long term. In addition, he is not at his peak value right now coming off a sub-par year. I would look into acquiring Fielder.

Other players I would be interested to see in a Blue Jay uniform includes SS like JJ Hardy, or Brandon Wood.

by slitheringslider on Oct 15, 2008 10:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i like brandon wood

but he struck out like 1/3 of the time in the minors. i’m not as concerned with MLB Ks but if you strike out that much in the minors, it is really tough to get on base enough to be useful in the majors. i do like jj.

i love hardy and i think that gonzalez is good, but wouldn’t he be sad to be away from his brother (and look-alike) Edgar? really i just wanted to point out that they look very much alike.

i like prince, hopefully he didn’t peak at 23. his production last year was still very good, but i am not sure if he can get up to his numbers from two years ago.

"The NY Mets are my favorite squadron" --Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

by jessef on Oct 15, 2008 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you make a good point about Gonzalez

people were surprised to see him hit so many home runs, particularly with the Petco factor. With 30+ HR in the last two seasons, though, it seems clear his power is for real. If it will take Snider and Cecil, though, that might be too much to give up.

I really like the idea of getting Fielder after a bit of a down season, and he and Hardy would seem both seem obtainable, if pricey, though I don’t know the Jays have enough to get both. I think I might prioritize Hardy, just because it would fill such a glaring and obvious hole. Wood would be interesting, particularly if the Jays tried him as an everyday SS. The Angels seem uncomfortable doing so.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 16, 2008 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wood

I’m not sold on Wood due to the Ks and the way the Angels have handled their prospects (Dallas McPherson, Kendry Morales, Howie Kendrick all seemed like can’t miss and have missed so far)…Wood needs a change of scenery however Anaheim never wants to part with their young guys.

The point on Fielder or Hardy are very interesting…with such a stacked minor league system I’m not sure what anyone could give the Brewers that they don’t already have. But if Toronto could somehow pry either one of those guys from Milwaukee it’d be a coup…Maybe Prince has a soft spot for Toronto since Daddy used to play here…

by bunner on Oct 16, 2008 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another name...

That i mention above is Dallas McPherson…He’ll be a FA after popping 40HR in AAA last year he’d be a nice addition to the Jays lineup as a part time DH/1B/3B

by bunner on Oct 16, 2008 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually advocated bringing McPherson this past offseason

and I still think it’s a good idea, yeah

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 16, 2008 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've got a soft spot for him

Drafted him as a prospect years ago in my fantasy league before anyone knew about him, then everyone wanted him and pride wouldn’t let me deal him, then he got inured and I’ve kept him on my IR…had to drop him last year but I still root for him.

by bunner on Oct 16, 2008 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the khalil greene idea sounds great

…but the idea to give up snider AND another top prospect sounds absurd…but i would love too see prince in toronto but someone mentioned the daddy factor but a dont think ther relationship is too good tho

Jack McCorry

by JMC93 on Oct 19, 2008 3:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It was meant as a bit of a joke...

I know prince and cecil aren’t on the best of terms.

by bunner on Oct 20, 2008 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

Apparently there are 4 AL teams that are in the running for Peavy…Yankees, Red Sox, Rangers and Angels AND Jake the Snake is said to be willing to excercise his no trade clause unless he’s dealt to an NL team…there goes the pipe dream.

by bunner on Oct 20, 2008 11:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't say the idea is dead yet.

Players can be talked into (paid off) to go places they didn’t originally want to go. But then I think the Padres are doing a good job running up to price for him. I’m not sure we want to get too deep into a bidding war.

by Tom Dakers on Oct 20, 2008 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

the Red Sox seem to have great young players at every position who nearly always succeed (even if dealt) and tons of money, and the Yankees can spend to replace their prospects and stand to get a million extra draft picks this season, so those two teams can afford it arguably, but not the Jays. I really think trading Snider and Cecil for Peavy would be a mistake, particularly when they could probably just resign A.J. for about the same money, and keep their best pitching and hitting prospects

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 20, 2008 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs