Big Big News!!

by Tom Dakers on Aug 29, 2008 12:38 AM EDT in Toronto Blue Jays News

Matt Stairs has been designated for assignment. Apparently the Jays are trying to work out a trade for him. Matt has been hitting .250 this year with 11 home runs and 44 RBI. After a terrific season last year, this season has been a huge let down. I was hoping he would be traded at the deadline but is good to move him on. Hopefully he can hook on with a contending team and have a good finish to the season.

But the real surprising part of all this is that Travis Snider is going to replace him on the active roster. JP has been saying that Snider wouldn't be called up in September when the rosters expand and I was sure he didn't want to start the arbitration clock on him, but here he is. I couldn't be happier, will be great to get a look at him. I hope Cito puts him in the lineup every day so we can get a good idea of what he can do.

Snider was hitting .344 with 2 homers and 17 RBI in 18 games since being promoted to Triple A Syracuse. Cito says he will play left and right field and some DH.

I suppose we should have known something was up when Stairs wasn't in the lineup tonight, but I just figure he wanted to give him a day off considering how poorly he's been hitting. It really is a great move, Stairs wasn't going to be a part of the team in the future and we aren't going anywhere this year so let's take a look at our future.

Update, update....

According to this Stairs is going to the Phillies and we will receive a prospect in return.

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great move finally

especially if phillies prospect has any value.

basically, we have to finish 22-7 at the very least to make the playoffs—-that includes beating bosox at almost every head to head matchup and have twins or chisox implode…i’d give that a 1.5 % chance of happening…and only way that could happen is if snider comes in and hits 350 with 10hrs (plus wells, rios and lind contribute like crazy too)
and if snider doesnt kill the ball, we def don’t make the playoffs—-so might as well put him in the lineup—-can’t hurt us, can only help us

the sick thing is that we are one decent dh away from playoff next year

by norm depalma on Aug 29, 2008 1:34 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah.....I think this season is over as far as the playoffs...

But watching Snider will be interesting. I think if you look on the Texas page on SBN they had a list of the odds of teams making the playoffs. They had the Yankees at 1.5% so the Jays would be slightly less. So your guess is pretty close. I’m not expecting Snider to be the second coming of Barry Bonds or even Adam Lind but we can get a feel for whether he will be ready to help next year.

Would put us in a really strange spot if he does look good. Do we try to sign a DH in the off season? I know I keep coming back to this but JP (or whoever the GM turns out to be) is in a tough spot. Can’t trade Wells, Rios, Overbay or Rolen. Who would take them? And with those guys in place, it would be pretty tough to add an impact bat. It is going to be interesting.

by Tom Dakers on Aug 29, 2008 2:14 AM EDT up reply actions

i think we'd be good with a youngish dh/of with decent stats

someone suited for rogers centre—-who can hit 270-280 with 20 homers, 30 doubles and can go from first home on a double…that kind of guy would go for about 10 mil, nowadays, no? someone around 32-35 yrs old.
on the other hand a delgado type would garner 15-20 million/yr (and maybe need 3 yrs)…and such an older guy would be too risky for us—injuries and all

as for existing players, i’d keep rios and wells —-their offensive upside is great and they are excellent fielders…overbay is overpaid obviously, but has upside and possibly can be taught to stop swinging for the fences and swinging on every first pitch. and he’s also an excellent fielder.

rolen is seemingly shot—-but noone will take him till his shoulder heals—-which sadly is prob never…but it doesnt say anywhere we have to play a guy just because we pay a guy

by norm depalma on Aug 29, 2008 4:31 AM EDT reply actions

someone like kotsay or casey blake--depending on their health

i’m not sure how healthy they are or whether they are considered injury risks…but i like their numbers, and kotsay as a lefty hitter and still a good fielder would be my top choice…dont think he’d cost too much

abreu or burrell would be great too, but prob too expensive (and burrell supposedly a head case, no?)

of course texeira would be top choice, but im sure we’re priced out of that discussion

overall, few great choices out there—-building from within would be best

by norm depalma on Aug 29, 2008 4:51 AM EDT reply actions

But if Snider does well....

we wouldn’t have a spot for any other bat…like tex or delgado or who ever because we’d be filled at all three outfield spot and DH and first. So I can’t see spending 10 mil for someone that would end up a 4th outfielder or back up. Do wish we had someone in AAA that could fill in for Rolen for the 60 games he’ll miss next year. Maybe we’ll get a young 3B prospect from Philly?

Guess we’ll have to take it one step at a time, let’s see how Snider does for the month. Nice part is if it works out that he can handle a role next year, we get a bunch younger and a bunch cheaper. Taking it for granted that AJ leaves, Thomas’ contract is off the books, Stairs, Eck and one of the catcher’s contracts are off the books there ought to be a fair bit of money around to go after a middle infielder or whatever we might need.

by Tom Dakers on Aug 29, 2008 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

whoa!

excited to see Snider and interested to see what we get from the Philies!

"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 29, 2008 8:18 AM EDT reply actions

off-topic, but we need to move eckstein too

I think it is ridiculous that he is just wasting on the bench and not really fair to him – he was brought in as an everyday player, played almost exactly to his career numbers and expectations, and all of a sudden he is just cold on the bench?

He should have similar value to Stairs, he’s not owed anything next season and he isn’t having a down year, he just hasn’t gotten to play. Let’s just get what we can for him, and if we really need a pinch-runner and millionth utility guy to replace him, we can call one up with September call-ups.

"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 29, 2008 10:21 AM EDT reply actions