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Thursday Bantering: Jays Bits

Rumors, awards, non-tenders and other stuf

By Tom Dakers
MLB: SEP 20 Blue Jays at Phillies Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

There isn’t much for news or rumors today.

There is a rumor that the Blue Jays have been talking to the Phillies about Jean Segura. I am putting that into the Blue Jays kick the tires on anyone who could be up for trade.

Segura played third and second last year, after being a shortstop for his career before that. He had been pretty much a league average shortstop defensively, but he had a very good 9.4 UZR/150 this season. Generally shortstops moved to second look better with the glove.

He’s hit well in his career. From 2016 to 2018 he hit .308/.353/.449 in 422 games. This season wasn’t as good, hitting .266/.347/.422. He has 183 stolen bases in his career, but then only 2 this year.

He turns 31 in March and has two years, both at $14,859,000. And there is an option year at $17 million. I’m thinking that, if they traded for him, they would expect the Phillies to take some of that money.

They could look at him as a very good utility player, or could be thinking that his glove is a big up grade at second or third.

I wouldn’t be excited about getting him, but depending on what we shipped to the Phillies I’d be ok with it.

There were a few interesting players non-tendered. You can see the whole list here. I used to be interesting in Kyle Schwarber but he isn’t someone I’d like the Jays to chase after now. Delino DeShields is a good glove CF and would be a good 4th outfielder type, and could pinch run, but I don’t know home much of an upgrade from Jonathan Davis.

The one player I’d like to see them look at is Carlos Rodon. When he came up, we all thought that he was going to be a very good starting pitcher. His career has been damaged by injuries, but there is still potential there.

Our old friend Ryan Tepera is on the list. I’d be ok with a minor league contract.

Minor Leaguer has updated the Roster Route Map:

The Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers of America (insert annual joke about there being a Canadian chapter of the BBWAA) have released the results of their annual award voting.

  • Teoscar Hernandez was named most improved player and player of the year.
  • Hyun Jin Ryu is pitcher of the year (they should rename this the Halladay award).
  • Jordan Romano gets the rookie of the year.
  • Anthony Alford and Mike Wilner get the John Cerutti award for ‘displaying goodwill, cooperation and character;’.

It is worth noting that both the ‘good-guy’ award winners are no longer with the team.

In the past the Tip O’Neill award award has gone to a major league player, but it is kind of cool that they widened the net this year.

Romak hit .282/.399/.546 with 32 home runs in 139 games for SK Wyverns. The team didn’t have a good season going 51-92 this year.

Congratulations Jamie.

Speaking of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, they are having their annual Holiday Auction. There are many things I’d love to own, but I only bid on a couple of them (don’t bid against me).

There are many signed balls, bats, jerseys, some very nice artwork and much more. If you were looking for a Christmas present for your favorite site managers, there is no end of good choices.

Over in the Sun, Rob Longley tells us that Vladimir Guerrero isn’t a lock for third base, but there is this quote:

“It’s just because of his arms and his hands,” Atkins said when asked how Guerrero can be successful at his original position. “If he’s coming in at the overall body (composition) and weight and agility he was in Double A, it’s realistic to think of him being an impact player at third base.

Gregor Chisholm, in the Star, writes about the first five years of the Shapiro/Atkins reign. And he also goes through the 70 (!) trades they have made and takes a closer look at the ‘top 25’ .

He lists 10 as wins, 9 as losses, 3 as draws and 3 as TBD.

A couple I might argue:

  • Pearce for Espinal is listed as a loss, but, to me it is TBD, Pearce was great in the World Series, but Espinal might be a handy player to have in the long run.
  • He had Merryweather for Donaldson a win. We were trading only a couple of months of an injured Josh, but it was just a weird and poorly done trade.
  • Stroman for Kay and Woods Richardson is listed as TBD, but I count that as a win.

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