Won't You Please Let Me Go: Arbitration for Eligible Jays?

by hugo on Dec 12, 2009 1:38 PM EST in Analysis Comment 18 comments

Following up on Tom's post, I figured I'd take a break from my too-long hiatus to put up my views on the arbitration-eligible Jays.

I don't see the point in offering Shawn Camp arbitration. He pitched well for the team last year but there are cheaper alternatives that have more upside. And he's not even a FA after 2010, as far as I know, so there's not really a reason to keep him around for the draft pick (assuming you think he could get there) either.

Jeremy Accardo, I would offer a contract. Obviously Cito doesn't like him, but he has talent and would be a mainstay in a number of MLB bullpens. I would try to trade him. If they can't get anything useful back, I'd see if he can make the big-league bullpen out of spring, which I think he can. If he doesn't make the team, I'd release him then out of fairness to Jeremy or trade him for whatever is out there. Cito might be what we call testa dura, but he does change his mind about players sometimes and an improved attitude (and, more importantly, improved control) on Jeremy's part could give him a new lease on his Jays career.

Jose Bautista has to be non-tendered, in my view. Even if the Jays want to keep him, I think they can non-tender him and retain him for less money. $4 million is way too much for a utility player (which is what he better be) on a non-contending team. I don't see a lot of teams knocking down the door to snatch him up and if someone wants to give him a starting job, more power to him.

Raul Chavez, I'm not sure it matters one way or the other but he did a nice job last season. I'm not a fan of what I consider to be over-catching, but the pitchers didn't seem to mind.

Casey Janssen and Dustin McGowan, I think you absolutely have to offer deals. Neither is going to cost much more than the minimum and while there are huge long-term concerns for both (McGowan if he'll ever pitch again, Janssen if he'll ever be as good as he was), they do both have proven major league success and when you have the chance to get that for close to the minimum, you take it.

Shaun Marcum, Jason Frasor, and Brandon League to me are no-brainers, as is Brian Tallet. Tallet is right on the bubble of being a Type B free agent in 2010, is a useful lefty out of the pen, and shouldn't be too expensive.

Today's title from the incredible song "Age of Consent" by New Order, one of my favorite winter bands.
Stay warm.

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Who is Hugo?

Do we have a new writer?

Who ever he is, I agree with all his recomendations.

Johnnie Morton: The Man. The Myth. The Legend.

by craig in calgary on Dec 12, 2009 1:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

for making me look up “testa dura”

by Rhinos on Dec 12, 2009 1:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I keep Camp. He is useful and when he is on, very good.

by aagoodfella on Dec 12, 2009 2:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i agree...really good long man

by ayjackson on Dec 12, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ryan Church is available

If we’re going on the cheap, a Jbau-Church platoon in right wouldn’t be bad.

by ayjackson on Dec 12, 2009 2:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

half-bad:

three words – TWO THREE FIVE

by aagoodfella on Dec 12, 2009 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hate to sound pretentious or anything, but as good as New Order is, they’re nothing compared to Joy Division.

That being said, I’m totally bummed about Dustin McGowan. I thought he was great before he got injured. Damn shame.

by Civilizedworm on Dec 12, 2009 5:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't disagree

I love Joy Division, but also think New Order did a few amazing things Joy Division never would have.

"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 Dec 12, 2009 11:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

When do we find out who will be tendered?

by aagoodfella on Dec 12, 2009 5:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not sure if Tallet is a no-brainer. I think he will be tendered, but I'm not sure I would if I were GM.

Personally, I think it would be time to try Purcey try as a long man. It’s not working out as a starter, and I’m sure he’d do as well as Tallet, and be a little cheaper. If he does really well, you maybe transition him back as a starter, if you choose to do so.

Pen:

Downs
Frasor
Accardo
League
Carlson
Purcey/Richmond/Janssen

by REMO on Dec 12, 2009 6:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

nix on that. Tallet is nice to have as a potential starter, especially with all the questions (injury and youth) surround the Jays starters next year. Heck, Purcey is one of the biggest question marks of all.

by aagoodfella on Dec 12, 2009 6:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but if he doesn't work out, you have Richmond/Janssen and others.

Just not a big Tallet fan (as a player) is all. But in either case, meh, I guess.

by REMO on Dec 12, 2009 7:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the Tallet thing

is that I think he has a good chance of making himself a Type B free agent by the end of the season and getting the Jays a free compensatory round pick, which is, in my view, worth the extra $700 K or so he will cost. And it’s not like he’ll hurt you this season, while the Jays might have others who can do the job, he’s done a nice job for the team

"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 Dec 12, 2009 11:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I do not think Richmond or Janssen showed they were equal to Tallet last season

by aagoodfella on Dec 12, 2009 11:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, dunno...

Richmond:
ERA 5.52
IP 138
WHIP 1.49
K/BB 1.98
BB/9 3.83

Tallet:
ERA 5.32
IP 160
WHIP 1.50
K/BB: 1.67
BB/9: 4.03

I won’t put anything on Janssen, since he was just coming off an injury. We’ll see how he does next year.

Also, I expect Richmond to bounce back from last year. His ERA was 3.69 before the AS break, then 8.44 after the break. It’s quite possible his arm was tired (like Romero’s) in his first full season on an MLB team.

I just see more upside in having Richmond and Janssen on the team, both in the short and long term, notwithstanding the likely scenario that Tallet could become a Type B free agent. Obviously AA (and hugo) saw it differently that I did.

by REMO on Dec 13, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs