Friday links

MLB has a breakdown of the longest hit home runs for each team since 2015.

For the Jays it was (unsurprisingly) Josh Donaldson with two that travelled 481 feet. The first was one April 23, 2015, vs. BAL and the second was Sept. 17, 2017, at MIN (Watch them: HR No. 1; HR No. 2)

Both of these were spanked. The first, with a 112.5-mph exit velocity, Donaldson launched into the second deck at the Rogers Centre. He hit the second even harder, at 113.5 mph, reaching the upper tank at Minnesota’s Target Field.

And here is the full Blue Jays leaderboard (Dwight Smith Jr brings up the rear with a barely legal 331ft effort).

The longest in MLB? Trevor Story of the Rockies on Sept. 5, 2018, vs. SF. It went 505 feet (Watch it)

There isn’t much happening on the trade front for the Jays. so lets look back at the 10 biggest trades in Jays history. No surprises as to who is in first place....

In another blast from the past, was Fred McGriff the most underrated Blue Jay ever?

Roy Halladay was most definitely not underrated. Here is why his obscene innings totals cap his Hall of Fame case.

Here are 30 intriguing Rule 5 prospects- one for each team. Forrest Wall is our one to watch.

In ex Jays news:

Rob Refsnyder has signed a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks. Refsnyder was granted free agency after a 2018 season that saw him post a .283/.357/.402 slash line over 208 PA at the Triple-A level in the Rays’ organization, while also appearing in 40 Major League games for the Rays and hitting .167/.314/.274 over 103 PA. He is the very definition of a AAAA player.

The Mets are casting their beady eyes over Yan Gomes; not surprising with Travis d’Arnaud recovering from Tommy John surgery (the latest in his long line of injuries). Gomes would bring not just solid defense and game-calling but also a revived bat that saw him hit .266/.313/.449 with 16 homers in 2018, following three seasons of below-average offensive production. Gomes is also an attractive option due to a reasonable contract; $7MM in 2019, then a $9MM club option for 2020 ($1MM buyout) and an $11MM club option for 2021 (with another $1MM buyout).

J.A. Happ has even more teams sizing him up now. The Angels, Astros, and Brewers are new teams who are now on the list of clubs (the Blue Jays, Reds, Twins, White Sox, and Yankees) that are interested in the crafty lefty.

And a happy birthday to our recently fired hitting coach Brook Jacoby. Here’s hoping your job hunting is going well...