Monday bantering

Unfortunately there was no (g)love for Justin Smoak yesterday as the 2018 Gold Glove winners were announced.

Justin lost out to a very worthy winner in Matt Olson of the A’s. Olson wins his first Gold Glove Award in his first full Major League season, and third season overall. He led all Major League first basemen with 14 defensive runs saved, adding excellent defense at first base to an already powerful bat at the plate (53 homers in 232 career games).

Better luck next year Justin!

Elswhere MLB has a piece on the best free agent fit for each team. Apparently the best fit for the Jays is Matt Harvey?!

The Blue Jays’ rotation was the primary culprit for their disappointing season, but it’s unlikely that they’ll pay what it takes to land a top starter this winter. Harvey enjoyed a bit of a renaissance in Cincinnati and has shown an ability to be an impact starter at the front of a rotation, making him a good risk/reward candidate.

Harvey went 7-7 in 24 starts for the Reds with an ERA of 4.50. He gave up 132 hits in 128 innings while striking out 111. He did hold opponents to a .264 avg though.

While Harvey is still only 29, he has already had Tommy John surgery, thoracic outlet syndrome and a stress fracture in the scapula. And we had enough injured pitchers last year, so we really don’t need one more.

If we do sign a veteran pitcher then i would rather we sign Charlie Morton and his 3.15 ERA with 10.8 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, 0.99 HR/9 and a 47.1% ground-ball rate.

The same article above also suggests the Cardinals sign Josh Donaldson, the Nationals sign J.A. Happ and Marco Estrada should go to....the OrioLOLes!?!

On this day in Blue Jays history

1976 - an expansion draft was held for both the Seattle Mariners and the Blue Jays, expansion clubs that would begin play in 1977.

The Jays took Bob Bailor of the Baltimore Orioles as their first selection. He went on to hit .310 in his first season with the Jays. Toronto also selected Jerry Garvin, Jim Clancy, Gary Woods, Rick Carty and Butch Edge in the 1st round.

Round 3 saw the Jays pick up catcher Ernie Whitt and Round 4 saw the addition of Garth Iorg. Not too shabby those guys...

1993 - the Jays also released Jack Morris, after he staggered to a 7-12 record with a 6.19 ERA in 27 starts and didn't make the postseason due to injury. Just a year earlier he had lead the league with a 21-6 record.