Mat Latos in a Blue Jay uniform?

by bjewitt16 on Dec 19, 2011 10:45 AM EST

I've heard from a few sources that Toronto finished second in the Mat Latos sweepstakes. Which I guess makes us the 'first loser'. I know AA is a silent assassin but I was still wondering if anyone had heard anything regarding any players that were involved or how much truth there is to that rumour. I suppose it could just be another 'Alex is in on everything' media note.

It's always interesting to hear after the fact, trades that were close to being consummated. One of my favourites - or least favourite depending how you look at it - was Alex Rios to the Giants for Tim Lincecum but San Fran wanted to send Matt Cain instead. Either way, that would've been a steal for TO. Rios' BBR WAR avg since 2009 has been -0.6 while Lincecum and Cain have been at 14.3 and 13.1 respectively.

In the end, I know that Cincinnati gave up a great deal for Latos - and some people wouldn't want to give up that much - but that's not the point of this Post. Just a forum to discuss anything you've heard about a potential Latos deal or any other old deals you've heard about that never came to fruition.

Your thoughts?

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I don't San Fran actually offered either Cain or Lincecum

They were thinking about Cain, but it was never a case of Toronto refusing the offer and insisting on Lincecum.

I remember reading in SI (yes, the paper version way back when) that Riccardi offered Rios to KC for Mike Sweeney (who was nearing the end, this would have been around 2003 before Rios really broke out). But KC declined.

by MjwW on Dec 19, 2011 11:31 AM EST reply actions

I wish I knew what really happened to Rios

he genuinely looked like a star. nearly 11 WAR in two seasons at 26 and 27?

I tweet.

by benk on Dec 19, 2011 11:38 AM EST up reply actions

Rios just didn’t seem to have the necessary tools between the ears. Nothing to substantiate that other than watching him. He just seemed like a guy who could have and should have been better than he was.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

by Jevant on Dec 19, 2011 11:51 AM EST up reply actions

but he was already excellent

I tweet.

by benk on Dec 19, 2011 11:59 AM EST up reply actions

I think a large part of it

Is that the league adjusted to him, exploited loopholes in his approach or swing, and he’s just never been able to make adjustments.

by MjwW on Dec 19, 2011 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

His swing is really complicated, if one part of it is out of whack, he's in trouble

Like you said, the league likely knows this and adjusted to him. With his swing, it’s hard to adjust.

Hic sunt fortuna dracones
There is only 1 "n" in Hutchison

by JaysfanDL on Dec 19, 2011 12:11 PM EST up reply actions

In the words of Ricciardi re: Adam Dunn

Maybe Rios, “doesn’t have a passion to play the game that much.”

by bjewitt16 on Dec 19, 2011 12:03 PM EST up reply actions

To me, Rios epitomizes the moniker “Million dollar talent, ten cent head”. That’s probably not fair, but that’s the impression he sometimes gave

by MjwW on Dec 19, 2011 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

Just further proof that as much analysis and stuff as u can do

still doesn’t always cut it. Players spark up out of nowhere (Bautista) and players fall off the face of the planet (Wells).

by Mike Andrew on Dec 19, 2011 3:21 PM EST up reply actions

the way i remember it

is that the giants wanted to do cain for rios, and the jays wanted to do lincecum for rios, and neither side budged. i’ll see if i can dig up some links.

by Jono411 on Dec 19, 2011 12:29 PM EST up reply actions

or maybe it was the other way?

http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-12-05/sports/17273088_1_tim-lincecum-alex-rios-matt-cain

this is the mlbtraderumors post about it. doesn’t really say much: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/rios-for-cain-o.html

by Jono411 on Dec 19, 2011 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

That is how I remember it as well

Stupid stubborn Ricciardi. If it were AA, we would have received both Lincecum and Cain, and Sabean would have been so enthralled with AA’s charm he would’ve sent off his first-born as well.

by bjewitt16 on Dec 19, 2011 12:39 PM EST up reply actions

I'll try to dig up links

But I remember looking into a couple months ago and it seems to me that San Fran was never willing to pull the trigger. Full disclosure: I was not following the Jays closely at all in this period, so I have no first hand recollections

by MjwW on Dec 19, 2011 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

Haha, if that mlbtraderumors report is true...

… it’s a good thing we didn’t do the deal and involve Diaz, or Bautista may have still been riding the pine in Pittsburgh. ;)

by bjewitt16 on Dec 19, 2011 12:50 PM EST reply actions

Huh, yeah

Second order consequences…

by MjwW on Dec 19, 2011 1:17 PM EST up reply actions

you have insider access?

ve heard from a few sources that Toronto finished second in the Mat Latos sweepstakes.

+1 is only good if you actually rec the post

by Bowling_Guy25 on Dec 19, 2011 4:26 PM EST reply actions

I think by sources he/she means reporters

though they aren’t the same

His 2011 wRC+ is 26

by Pikachu on Dec 20, 2011 12:39 PM EST up reply actions

right

it should be “read somewhere” Not “heard from few sources” because that implies you heard directly….

they actually answered below, reply fail

+1 is only good if you actually rec the post

by Bowling_Guy25 on Dec 20, 2011 12:51 PM EST up reply actions

No, I can safely say I 'heard' this news.

Being in the tv industry you tend to hear a few things. Whether they’re always true or not is another story. I’m not sure why this is in question anyway. The idea of this post was not to ascertain whether I made this story up but rather to see if anyone had ideas or suggestions of who would possibly be involved in a Latos deal from the Jays – and hopefully spark discussion on which prospects would be too much for said player – and to discuss other trades the Jays may have been close on in the past.

by bjewitt16 on Dec 20, 2011 9:53 PM EST up reply actions

because you cant just claim things

without proving it, i mean come on who is going to believe someone on a blog who has never explained how they have access or anything,. nobody.

it was a genuine question, and I’m still curious to who you heard it from, just because people are in the tv industry doesn’t mean they aren’t just talking about what they read last night.

So i want to know if you heard it from someone with power, or just water cooler talk.

I feel like you are getting offended because i am questioning your credibility, my goal is not to call you out, I’m really just curious if we have someone who can get inside knowledge, that would be awesome.

+1 is only good if you actually rec the post

by Bowling_Guy25 on Dec 20, 2011 10:54 PM EST up reply actions

Fair enough

I was getting offended but I see your position now. I apologize for that. I will give myself a timeout.
I am certainly not going to ‘reveal any sources’ as it were, but as I mentioned below, I am ‘one of those guys you see on tv’ (if you live in Ottawa, lol) and I do work with and talk to a lot of those other guys you may see on Sportsnet.
I think that’s why I get offended sometimes on here, because I hear things from what I consider credible sources (if you consider Sportsnet credible) and there seem to be a few people on here who dismiss it like I know nothing.
Being in Ottawa, I am unfortunately unable to attend any of the AA press conferences and have my own questions answered. As I posted below though, it would be great to have another affiliated baseball team in Ottawa, particularly within the Jays organization, so I could have greater access.

by bjewitt16 on Dec 21, 2011 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

Double A or possibly Triple A makes sense

I went to a game at JetForm Park (as it then was) around 1999 for a Lynx/Pawtucket game. Nice park. I was a kid, and got to go down on the field and race the mascot or something blindfolded. Probably looked like a complete fool, but got a 6 pack of Pepsi. The other cool thing was that there was this leather lunged guy near us riding the ump hard, and at one point the ump pulled off his mask, turned and yelled something to the guy. I thought he was going to toss him. I’d definitely go up for a weekend in the Summer to watch if they got a Blue Jay affiliate.

by MjwW on Dec 21, 2011 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

I don't think you need to be an insider to hear or read certain things...

…but since you ask, I have done play by play for the AAA Ottawa Lynx – covering several games against the Syracuse Chiefs – and Independent League Rapidz and Fat Cats for the past 5 years on MiLB for Internet broadcasts, as well as Rogers TV. So yes, I do have ‘insider access’.
On a lighter note, I certainly am hoping for another affiliated franchise to make it’s way to the great city of Ottawa. I enjoy calling games involving players with the potential to one day become major leaguers. Anyone else echo my sentiments of having another MiLB team in Canada?

by bjewitt16 on Dec 20, 2011 11:35 AM EST reply actions