Jays Exercise Barajas' Option

by hugo on Oct 31, 2008 8:46 PM EDT in News Comment 13 comments

The Blue Jays exercised Catcher Rod Barajas' option today. Pursuant to the option, Barajas will be paid $2.5 million for his services next season.

$2.5 milion isn't a lot, but Barajas is 33 and though his power was helpful at times last season, his .249/.294/.410 overall line wasnt very good. When Rod was hot, his power was an asset but when he was cold, he was ice cold.

I've made no secret of my fears that Barajas is not up to the job of starting catcher next season. Arencibia is close, but he's not MLB ready yet, and Jeroloman likely is not offensively ready yet either.

In past season, the Jays have played coy on the catcher market and then signed a veteran once the music stopped, all the other teams already had their starting catcher role filled, and the vet had no leverage. It has sort of worked in the past, and I wouldn't be suprised to see the Jays do the same thing again. I hope it's not Varitek, personally.

In other news, the Mets exercised Carlos Delgado's (actually a mutual I think) $12 option. So if anyone was thinking we could get Delgado to fill the DH spot, it will take a trade now.

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Ryan plus for Delgado?

And hopefully Overbay part of the plus, so we don’t have to move him without leverage? That would actually free up a few mil in salary to help us get a DH.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Oct 31, 2008 9:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Although the possibility of actually DHing Delgado and keeping Overbay

would give up a little leverage, I guess, but I don’t know where else we’d trade Lyle to.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Oct 31, 2008 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's too much hopeful thinking to get Delgado

Thought the Mets are short a corner outfielder or two as well as needing a closer.

by Tom Dakers on Nov 1, 2008 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would do that if I were J.P.

"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 Nov 1, 2008 6:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But would you do it if you were Omar?

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Nov 1, 2008 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think so

Delgado is a risk and the Mets would get two seasons of Ryan and Lyle rather than one of Carlos. And unlike the Jays, the Mets could always sign Manny or Dunn if they wanted a big bat to replace Delgado.

"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 Nov 1, 2008 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we move Ryan and Overbay for Delgado

it frees up a few million we could spend on Manny.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Nov 2, 2008 3:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

true

it also frees up a spot in the lineup for a corner outfielder or first baseman, unless we plan on using Snider every day. But my guess is we’d spend the extra money on a pitcher, not Manny, if we got Delgado.

"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 Nov 2, 2008 7:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But long-term

when Marcum comes back next year, that takes up the rotation slot that the free agent pitcher would be taking up. Unless we’re assuming that Purcey, Litsch, or McGowan will lose his spot and Cecil and Romero will never earn one, or that the pitcher will be a one-year deal.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Nov 2, 2008 8:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

young starting pitchers are pretty tradeable

so if that were to happen that we had too many quality starters upon Marcum’s return, we could always move one. But it’s not unforseeable that there will be another injury.

"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 Nov 2, 2008 10:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course we'd rather trade the vet and save the money

if the performance would be the same. I don’t have a huge problem with the idea of signing Pedro to a one year incentive-laden deal, and if he flames out it gives Cecil/Romero a few more months to develop.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Nov 2, 2008 10:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs