he’s complained so much about his treatment that he would have to swallow his pride or walk away. As a type B, the team that signs him won’t have to give anything up, so someone will most likely bite. Even if he accepted, which he might, he probably won’t cost too much more, and might be better, than whoever they will sign.

If the Jays still have any faith in Thigpen and are going to let him back up, then I would not offer to Zaun. But my guess is they will not offer to Zaun and then sign a lousy hitting backup C to about $1.5 million less (if that much less) than Zaun would get in arbitration, then pocket the money. It’s not my money, so it’s certainly a defensible move from a business standpoint, but the Jays haven’t given any indication that they will actually be using the money to help the team. That being the case, I’d rather they go with the move with the possibility for a good-sized payoff, and the only way that happens is through the compensation pick.