Jays to Sign John MacDonald?

by Tom Dakers on Nov 24, 2009 10:14 PM EST in Toronto Blue Jays News

MLB Trade Rumors have a couple of Jay rumors.

First they have a link to a Twitter from Ed Price of MLB Fanhouse saying the Jays are about to sign John McDonald for $1.5 million for the 2010 season. A move I really don't understand. As Trade Rumors points out his .258/.271/.384 line from last year includes career highs in slugging average and OPS. I guess if we aren't competing this season we might as well overpay for a defense only 35 year old SS. That's rebuilding for you. If you are looking for signs that we are tanking this season, that one is a 10 foot neon flashing sign.

Also Jordan Bastian has a piece up saying the Jays are going to make an offer to free agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba. Now that one I can understand a little better, he wouldn't be my first choice at catcher, but gets on base a better than Rod Barajas and is 3 years younger. I would rather them try to trade for Ryan Doumit but Torrealba isn't bad.

Jeff Blair from the Globe and Mail has tweeted (twitted? twonked? I'd learn the proper term if I cared at all) that a 'baseball guy' told him that there is a 90% chance that Lyle Overbay gets traded at the winter meetings. No suggestion to whom he'd be traded to or what we are looking to get back.

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Well I was hoping for more from AA than Mac and Yorvit hopefully mac is a backup

only.

by ClintB on Nov 24, 2009 10:43 PM EST reply actions

But why $1.5 mil on a backup?

It just doesn’t make sense to me.

by Tom Dakers on Nov 24, 2009 10:47 PM EST up reply actions

Makes a certain amount of sense. In MacDonald, you’ve got either a starting SS, or a utilityman who can play 4-5 different positions if needed. While you could likely find cheaper options, $1mil isn’t going to squeeze the budget, he’s a fan favourite, and he’s been a class act his entire time in Toronto. Chances are that you’re going to spend in that range going out and getting a similar guy off the market, without the fan boost.

So I’d characterize it as a combination of a legitimate salary offer and a marketing expense.

by dexfarkin on Nov 25, 2009 11:08 AM EST up reply actions

Last year, McDonald was an expensive carry, due obviously to his light bat. But, if the Jays move Overbay, it makes keeping around less of an issue, due to the added roster space. And if the Jays need defensive help in late innings which could be an issue with EE, he might be helpful. If the Jays sign him, I am not so upset about Cito trying him out in the outfield a bit more. Plus, he does seem to be working on his batting skills. Add all that up and there is merit to keeping him around. It is nice to have a great glove when you need it.

by aagoodfella on Nov 25, 2009 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, especially for a team not expected to do much next year, MacDonald is a good stopgap for a lot of areas. The Jays aren’t sacrificing anything in my opinion by having him either on the bench or starting at SS if there isn’t a legitimate long term prospect there. I suppose I don’t get the issue about the $1.5m signing either. The only time I’m worried about money is when it potentially blocks the club from flexibility down the road to take advantage of opportunities. That’s why I wouldn’t resign Scutaro longer term, because I see him being a $4m+ bench player by the end of 2011. But the, what, maybe 600K extra that the Jays paid to MacDonald isn’t going to have any kind of effect on the Jays payroll this year.

by dexfarkin on Nov 25, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions

J-Mac is a god

good to see him back. I dont think i could handle losing him and Roy in the same off-season.

Onions Baby Onions

by ohmybosh on Nov 24, 2009 10:58 PM EST reply actions

Why?

We can’t have Ruiz or Dopriak at SS. Clearly, AA’s not serious about signing Scoots SO we need to guarantee at least a roster spot to someone with a glove.

PREDICTION: JMac’s bat will surprise. I think the pipsqueek will show surprising power in his few at bats next year. Don’t be surprised if JMac gets lot of late game action as a defensive replacement at 3rd. – you heard it here first.

by Mylegacy on Nov 24, 2009 11:31 PM EST reply actions

His bat can only surprise in one way....

by Tom Dakers on Nov 24, 2009 11:36 PM EST up reply actions

heard that

by aagoodfella on Nov 25, 2009 12:46 AM EST up reply actions

I cannot say I am saddened by the signing of Johnny Mac. However, I think it is premature to ink him until some of the other unknowns are resolved. He is not at the very top of the priority list.

by aagoodfella on Nov 25, 2009 12:47 AM EST reply actions

Overbay, probably a good pickup

with Overbay in a contract year, he is more likely, IMHO, to have a good season. Could be a good pickup for someone. I will miss his “cruise missile” taters.

by aagoodfella on Nov 25, 2009 12:49 AM EST reply actions

SB Nation also saying that Giants are interested in YT. This speaks favourably of him. However, his stats are padded by games in Colorado. I have a hard time getting real excited for him over Barajas. Doumit seems more interesting.

by aagoodfella on Nov 25, 2009 12:52 AM EST reply actions

The more things change...

…the more they stay the same.

If next year is a rebuilding year, spend 1.5 on Johnny Mac in scouting/development/anywhere other than a 35-year-old-no-bat SS.

Moves that are suggested like these really make me wonder if AA and company is going to be any different from the old boss.

by Jevant on Nov 25, 2009 9:33 AM EST reply actions

Spending $1.5 mil on jmac is hardly the end of the world

He is all you can ask for in a backup SS… he can bunt well, he plays some of the best D in the league, and he can probably hit around .250… which isnt terrible.

Onions Baby Onions

by ohmybosh on Nov 25, 2009 11:03 AM EST up reply actions

The main thing I don't like about resigning J-Mac

is that he is likely to get way too much playing time, assuming we don’t resign Marco. I could easily see the Jays picking up a reasonably promising young SS in a trade — not a can’t-miss guy but someone with everyday potential — but then have him stuck behind J-Mac, a great guy and solid defender but one of the worst hitters in the league, though last year was his best offensive season. I hope that doesn’t happen but I just can’t see Cito sitting Mac for an unproven, non-blue-chip prospect.

"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 25, 2009 11:08 AM EST reply actions