What would YOU do?

by bunner on Aug 22, 2008 3:41 PM EDT

With the comments from Richard Griffin on what he'd do if he were GM of the Jays, wonder what people in the Jays community would do if they were GM?

I have 2 schools of thought on this one, but will post the most fun one...I'd have to put together a strong business plan to Teddy Rogers for the extra cash, but with NYY falling, Boston not as dominant as in the past and TB being new to winning (who knows what they'll do next year), the AL East is at it's most vulnerable right now!

1. Let AJ Burnett walk, he's a nice to have as a # 2 but with Marcum/McGowan behing Doc we're still pretty strong, hoping Purcey can improve in his 2nd year leaves only 1 hole.

2. The BIGGEST move would be to make a deal with the devil (Scott Boras) and sign Mark Teixeira to a 5 year deal $19-$22M, he'll give us the much needed power that's been lacking from this lineup.

3. Fill the biggest hole in the lineup at SS with either FA Orlando Cabrera or Rafael Furcal, either is a productive top of the order bat with sound Defense at SS

4. Fill the last spot in the rotation with FA SP Oliver Perez, Derek Lowe or Randy Wolf, someone that can eat innings and keep their team in the game.

5. Sign minor league FA 3B Dallas McPherson, give him a chance at meaningful DH ABs and he'll be a fill in for when Rolen goes on the DL.

6. Lose Zaun, keep Barajas as the everyday C and get a quality defensive minded backup.

7. Trade Lyle Overbay, he's got a nice bat but no power for a 1B and with Teixeira he's easily expendable. Get some bench depth and some youth

This leaves the Jays with a lineup like:

SS Cabrera or Furcal

RF Alex Rios

CF Vernon Wells

1B Mark Teixeira

LF Adam Lind

3B Scott Rolen

2B Aaron Hill

DH Dallas McPherson

C Rod Barajas

Bench: keep Stairs, Scutaro, Inglett, back up catcher, maybe keep Wilkerson

Rotation: Doc, McGowan, Marcum, Oliver Perez, David Purcey

Bullpen: Janssen, League, Downs, Carlson, Tallett, Ryan

With a team like this the city would have some high hopes and deservedly so, this is a team that could make a run at a pennant and for sure the wildcard. I do realize it's a pipe dream and it's highly unrealistic to beleive that Ted Rogers would spend an additional $30M+ on the team but it was all for fun!

What would YOU DO?????

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If I'm trading Overbay

I’m moving Lind to 1B, bringing up Snider to play left, and signing Manny or Delgado as DH.

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

by Torgen on Aug 22, 2008 6:28 PM EDT reply actions

Not Bad

I agree with most of what you are saying, but I think the 1b situation is a little more complicated. First, I don’t think there will be much of a market for Overbay. Also, I doubt Tex would want to play in Toronto vs a larger market. As far SS goes, I’d lean towards OCab over Furcal…the last thing Toronto needs is another high injury risk.

Touch em all Joe...

by FisherCat on Aug 23, 2008 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

I think Overbay

has some value to a mid-market or big-market team who have a good lineup, I think. Texas, for example, or a big-market team that loses out on Teixiera. He’s only owed money for 2 more seasons and he’s produced reasonably enough that a team could take a chance on him recovering his power without it being too big a deal if he doesn’t. The Jays shouldn’t expect to get too big a return for him, though. Teixiera is going to be near impossible to get, I think – the Yankees are sure to get involved with Giambi coming off the books and a huge hole at 1st base, and they are tough to outbid. Other teams will also surely get involved.

I think I prefer Furcal to Cabrera, but I can understand the injury concerns and you could argue either way. When healthy, Furcal offers a lot more offensively. (.273/.321/.398 Lifetime line for the OC versus .287/.352/.412 for Furcal) Furcal is also 4 years younger, which is pretty significant, especially for a SS. Cabrera has been a lot healthier this season, but he’s had a pretty bad year at the plate (.685 OPS). He’s basically been about 50/50 to have a good year at the plate (OPS+ in the 90s) or a bad year (OPS+ in the 70s) for his career. Furcal has more upside and is much more of a top-of-the lineup hitter, which the Jays definitely need.

"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 Aug 23, 2008 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

No fit for him in Texas

We have Chris Davis already plugged in at first and Justin Smoak set to rise quickly in the minors. Plus, he wouldn’t really be much of a fit at DH, as we already have plenty of guys that could play there.

But I agree, there should be a pretty decent market for him.

"Well, the Dallas Mavericks got beat by the New Orleans Hornets last night ending their season. Word is that someone on the team is dating Jessica Simpson." - Jay Leno

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by MayurP on Aug 25, 2008 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions

thanks

I wasn’t sure about how ready Smoak was and somehow forgot about Davis!

"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 Aug 26, 2008 6:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Overbay Market

I see the Overbay market being :
Seattle (I think he’s from Washington and they don’t have a 1B)
Baltimore
Cleveland
San Fran

by bunner on Aug 26, 2008 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm not sure what I'd do.....

I’d want a DH, one that could spell our outfielders now and then. I’d like Snider to be the guy but I don’t think the Jays will bring him up unless there is an injury till at least Sept next year. I’d like a SS or 2B and have Hill play the other spot, taking it for granted that Hill will return. If I had to have Inglett at 2B and Hill at short, as long as I got a good DH, I would be ok with that. Would give Scott Campell a good look in the spring as well.

I’d keep Barajas, but plan for one of the prospects to play 40% of the time or so and to take over by the next season. I’d like to keep AJ but not at the cost of more years. I’d like to think Doc, Marcum, McGowan, Litsch and one of Cecil/Romero/Romero/Purcey could work as a rotation. If AJ came back I’d look to trade one of McGowan or Litsch if I could get a young power bat that could take Lyle’s spot if he has a year like this next year.

Other than that I’d hope Rios finds his power again. Hope Wells shows power too and stays healthy….ain’t much more you can do with either of those two….they can’t be traded. And Lind does something like he is doing this year.

The bullpen is where I’d like to make trades from….if Janssen can come back and Accardo I think we’d have some extra arms.

Beyond that…..I’d try to trade for a 3B prospect because I’m sure Rolen will miss some of next season and I’d slit my wrist if I had to watch Scoot play third for an extended period again.

by Tom Dakers on Aug 25, 2008 11:56 PM EDT reply actions

In all seriousness

My post was more of a dream situation…

In reality I’d first like to see JP fired, whoever replaces him would need to fill SS/leadoff hitter (I don’t think Hill can cover SS – and, not even 100% on if Hill will be ready to start the season from what they say about his injury it’s not good) and add some depth for 3B and C.

Then depending on what Burnett does he’ll also have to fill the rotation out. If possible deal some bullpen arms for some more depth but I don’t see the bullpen arms getting the Jays anything of significance in return.

by bunner on Aug 26, 2008 9:06 AM EDT reply actions