Will the Jay Fill Their Lineup Holes at Winter Meetings?

by Tom Dakers on Dec 6, 2009 1:02 PM EST in Toronto Blue Jays Analysis

The Winter Meetings start tomorrow in Indianapolis. The Jays have 3 large holes to fill and the most talked about trade piece in the game. Their needs, not that they are a secret:

Catcher: they have decided they don't want to go with JP Arencibia and Raul Chavez. I know JP didn't have a very good year last year in Vegas but I'm not against the idea of throwing him against the wall and seeing if he sticks. Let's face it, last year Rod Barajas got on base at a .258 clip, it's not like the bar is all that high. I'd bet a buck 50 that Mr. Cibia would would match Rod's .403 slugging average from last year. But it looks like they want to pickup someone else, which is fine too.
Outfield: the idea of a Lind, Wells, Snider outfield doesn't sit well with those of us that like to see balls caught. The team is talking about a right fielder, I'd hope they get someone that could leadoff as we don't seem to have a leadoff hitter on the roster. I still like the idea of a CFer and move Wells over. We'll see I guess.
Starting Pitcher: Without Doc we'd have roughly 15 young good arms but it would be good to have someone at the top of the rotation that could eat up innings.

Will all these things happen this week. Oh, I'd doubt it. My read on things is that the Roy Halladay deal will happen before anything else, unless some deal comes up for Lyle Overbay. Can we fill all three holes trading Halladay? I doubt it somehow. The closest would likely be if we got Hughes, Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero, which would be an amazing trade, but I think we'd still need a catcher for this coming year. I'd expect they'd want Montero to have a season in Triple-A before moving up to the bigs. Apparently the Yankees do want Roy.

I think the only way we get a package like that is if we get the Red Sox and the bidding against each other. Best chance of that happening is this week while they all are in a hotel together.

Anyway. what do you think will happen this week?

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Unfortunately...

Looks like Roy will likely end up in Boston or NY…I read something the other day that he is adament about keeping his spring training home in FLA so that would put the Angels and Dodgers out of the running. I guess the Phillies could still be in the mix.

Personally this week I think we’ll hear a lot of rumours about Roy and the groundwork will be laid for a deal but nothing will be done for another week or 2 after the meetings. Boston and NY have been reluctant in the past (Johan Santana) to part with prime prospects and pay for a contract extension so I’m not sure they will get into a major bidding war against eachother. The Jays may have to take a package of Montero and Joba or Jackson and Hughes but likely not Hughes and Montero from the Yanks. From Boston I think the Jays should focus on Clay Buchholz and Ryan Westmoreland (OF prospect) plus another middle-road prospect like Lars Anderson or someone like that.

I do think this week we will see Lyle Overbay get moved and the Jays focus on signing a DH and RF free agent.

by bunner on Dec 6, 2009 1:33 PM EST reply actions

that spring training stuff is BS.

Roy said he would like to pitch for NY, Bos, Philly, and the Angels.

If there was a package from the Angels that include…
C- Napoli, dudes got some mean pop in his bat but the D is very shaky.
OF- Chris Pettit, who can hit and help in 2010 or Peter Bourjos, who is fast but is still a year or two away. (they could put Rivera in the package but who knows)
SP- Saunders, who is a contact pitcher and is not afraid to pitch in NY or Bos.
or Santana, who has the stuff to be an ace, but can suprise you with some real crappy starts.
or Weaver, who can potentially replace Halladay as you ace, but he is represented by Boras.

and then a prospect Reckling or Walden or Richards.

Knowing that trading in the division is the last thing the might want to do, what angel players would you ask for in return for Roy?

They want power. We want respect...

by SenorChuckles on Dec 6, 2009 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

Any package for Roy from the Angels has to include Bourjos. Fast, good batting line, nd he’s supposed to be a plus defender. Basically, we get a possible GG CF who can bat lead off, steal 40+ bases a year and and get on base over a third of the time. Looking at him, I think maybe a year away at most. He’s kind of streaky at the plate right now, and should likely start in Las Vegas, but I could see him making his way up quickly.

by dexfarkin on Dec 6, 2009 3:06 PM EST up reply actions

what about the pitchers?

I like all three but Santana is by far my favorite. I can deal with losing Weave or Saundo.

They want power. We want respect...

by SenorChuckles on Dec 6, 2009 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

I agree that Santana is likely my favourite, but something about his delivery makes me twitchy. I’m almost inclined to go with Saunders as the can’t fail option. He’s a guy who’s going to get outs, soak innings, and moving into the AL East isn’t going to be that big a deal. If Marcum’s back up to snuff, Marcum/Saunders/Romaro is a pretty good front three for your rotation, and when you’re ready to make a push, you bring in an ace and have a killer rotation. I’m not as put off on Weaver by him being a Boras client, I just don’t think the Angels would be willing to shift him, or if they did, it would be him and some scrubs, and you absolutely have to get some quality position players or prospects back with pitching from Halladay.

by dexfarkin on Dec 6, 2009 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah I dont really know if Weave is untouchable, but...

it would make sense due to the Tex/Boras BS last winter. I would deal Weave only if it meant that Reckling would not be included in the package. But to whoever you guys trade Halladay to I hope you guys get a great players in return.

They want power. We want respect...

by SenorChuckles on Dec 6, 2009 10:43 PM EST up reply actions

I think the highest price would be on Weaver, who is a good pitcher, but I’m not giving up Halladay just to get back ‘might be kinda Halladay’.

by dexfarkin on Dec 6, 2009 11:11 PM EST up reply actions

hes no Halladay

but it would be the closest thing to an ace, for now.

They want power. We want respect...

by SenorChuckles on Dec 6, 2009 11:15 PM EST up reply actions

I'd like...

to get Brandon Wood and Joe Saunders in any Halladay deal. Wood could be the SS of the future and the 3B of today for the Jays and like other said Saunders is the safest bet to be a good pitcher in the AL East and I agree plus he still has the upside to be great.

by bunner on Dec 7, 2009 10:40 AM EST up reply actions

funny, I read something that Roy is NOT adamant about FL training. So who knowsÉ

Halladay lives in Oldsmar, Fla., near the Blue Jays’ facility, and could block trades to teams that train in Arizona (he hasn’t said he would, however).

http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/other_mlb/view/20091205few_teams_in_the_hunt_for_blue_jays_ace_roy_halladay/srvc=home&position=recent

by aagoodfella on Dec 6, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

Whereabouts Unknown

I am not convinced that Roy winding up in NYY or BoSox is a given. I think Angels are also hot-to-trot for Roy.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-shaikin-baseball6-2009dec06,0,5771877.story

At the moment, I would rank likelihood as follows:

(1) NYY
(2) LAA
(3) Bosox
(4) tie Phillies — Dodgers
(6) distant 6th Cards

It is really hard to tell for sure though as an outsider looking in.

I think there is a strong chance that Roy will be gone by end of winter meetings or soon thereafter (if only agreement in principal) and the Jays should get a good deal for him, else I would have to label them completely inept. There is enough interest among these six to get it done.

by aagoodfella on Dec 6, 2009 2:48 PM EST reply actions

I have to think there are some surprise darkhorses out there

maybe Colorado or even Tampa.

by ayjackson on Dec 6, 2009 9:15 PM EST up reply actions

Tampa doesnt have the money to sign him to an extension,

but Roy is from Colorado, this could be interesting.

They want power. We want respect...

by SenorChuckles on Dec 6, 2009 10:45 PM EST up reply actions

that's why it would be a surprise

they could find the salary room (Crawford trade)

by ayjackson on Dec 6, 2009 10:48 PM EST up reply actions

you might be on to something.

3 team trade (pipe dream)

Angels- Crawford
Jays-Napoli, Bourjos, and Niemann+ prospect
Rays-Halladay

They want power. We want respect...

by SenorChuckles on Dec 6, 2009 11:08 PM EST up reply actions

I don't see the Cards as a player

for one they don’t have the prospects to really impress the Jays and for two they are already in a financial bind trying to keep Holliday and working on an extension for Pujols so adding $20M to Halladay won’t be in the cards (pun intended).

I’d say the Yanks, Sox, Angels, Phillies, Dodgers and Rockies have the best shot

Darkhorse could be the Mariners they seem to want to spend and have a great pitchers park and with the Angels already losing Figgins and possibly Lackey the AL West could be up for grabs.

by bunner on Dec 7, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions