Some news from Blue Jay land this week.
Brandon Morrow signed a three year contract extension worth $20 million yesterday. The deal comes with a team option for a fourth year at $10 million. I like this deal for the Jays. We've all seen Morrow's upside, but I'm of the opinion that the Jays do not yet know what it is they have in Morrow. His Jekyll and Hyde antics over the last season left us wanting more after one start, and wondering where he went after the next. With some consistency, Morrow could be great. Without it, he's still a .500 pitcher. 6.66 million for a .500 pitcher in today's salary structure is far from unreasonable. (See AJ Burnett)
Yesterday the Blue Jays also signed 44 year old free agent utility infielder Omar Vizquel to a one year minor league contract with an invite to spring training. I like this signing as well, and see it as very low risk. If Vizquel breaks camp with the team (which presumably he will) his role will be very similar to the role John MacDonald held with the team before his departure for Arizona. A defensive replacement who will get a start here and there to give one of the everyday players a day off.
That brings us to today's signing. Anthopoulos continued to rebuild the bull pen today when he signed free agent closer Francisco Cordero to a one year deal worth $4.5 million. Cordero was 5-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 37 saves for Cincinnati last season, and it is reported that he will be the set up man for new closer Sergio Santos. Again, I am a fan of this acquisition. Cordero brings a veteran presence to help along Santos get situated in his role. I also like the Jays newly revamped pen that much more with Cordero in it.
The signing of Cordero today comes after there were early reports last night that a deal was in place between the Rangers and the Blue Jays that would send reliever Koji Uehara to Toronto. However, the buzz died almost completely about two hours after the rumors first surfaced. Tonight it was reported from multiple outlets on twitter that the deal had been called off as a result of Uehara exercising his limited no trade clause he had to six MLB teams. Toronto was one of them.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Well, Who Saw That Coming?
Well, at the start of this offseason I made my predictions as to where I thought both Prince Fielder, and Albert Pujols would end up. At the time I was of the opinion that Pujols would stay in St. Louis, Fielder would be a Cub, and that the Angels could potentially be a dark horse in the running for either player, but it was unlikely.
Wow was I wrong.
St. Louis tried without success to convince Albert to stay, and when he didn't they grabbed Carlos Beltran to both fill the hole in their lineup, and allow Berkman to move full time to first base. The Cubs went completely in the other direction and acquired top prospect (and a player I followed with great interest last year) Anthony Rizzo to be their first basemen of the future.
I based my opinions on the time around which MLB franchises had both the funds, and the position availability to pursue either of the stud first basemen. It seemed to me that the market was shallow for teams that fit this criteria. As it turned out, both players went to teams that appeared to already have their first base situation well at hand.
This afternoon the Detroit Tigers proved that AA isn't the only quiet predator in the American League, when they seemingly came out of no where and inked Prince Fielder to a nine year, $214 million. Seriously?? Detroit?? Did anybody see that coming?
Sure, we all heard last week that Victor Martinez had torn his ACL, and was likely to miss the entire 2012 season. So we expected that the Tigers would respond and try to sign someone to fill the gap left by VMart's absence. However, I assumed that with Martinez being under contract through the 2014 season that the Tigers would be more likely to consider the likes of Carlos Pena on a one year deal. NOT Fielder for nine.
Nine years! Nine years? Did anyone at this point in the off-season actually believe that Boras was going to get the long term deal he was lusting after for Fielder? Honestly, anybody? I sure didn't. I assumed that with Washington and Texas appearing to be the only teams left interested, Boras would have to lower the bar and shoot for the same, or maybe even a little more money on a shorter term. A six year deal with an opt out after three years perhaps. Allowing Prince to hit the market again at 30 if he so chose, when presumably the Mets and Dodgers would each have stable ownership, and a bank account again. I thought that best case scenario Fielder would get one of the few teams still interested to go to seven to get the deal done. Not nine. Wow.
This opens up another topic of interest for discussion next year. Who is the odd man out in Detroit? What do you do with three first basemen? We assume that Martinez isn't going to catch again, especially after having a repaired ACL. Brendon Inge's contract is up at the end of this season, but surely the tigers aren't going to let Cabrera go back to third? Would they? Could he possibly play a corner outfield spot? Do they try to trade one of them?
Time will tell I suppose. For now we can all admire the best 3-4 combination in baseball as they lead the Tigers to another post season berth, and probably the world series. This Tigers team was looking pretty damn good in a weak division. It was very plausible looking at this division yesterday that the Tigers were going to take the Central by ten games. Now, who knows. But you can bet we'll all be watching with interest.
One final thought: How high is Cabrera's average going to be with Fielder protecting him in the line up? .340? This is going to be something to see.
Wow was I wrong.
St. Louis tried without success to convince Albert to stay, and when he didn't they grabbed Carlos Beltran to both fill the hole in their lineup, and allow Berkman to move full time to first base. The Cubs went completely in the other direction and acquired top prospect (and a player I followed with great interest last year) Anthony Rizzo to be their first basemen of the future.
I based my opinions on the time around which MLB franchises had both the funds, and the position availability to pursue either of the stud first basemen. It seemed to me that the market was shallow for teams that fit this criteria. As it turned out, both players went to teams that appeared to already have their first base situation well at hand.
This afternoon the Detroit Tigers proved that AA isn't the only quiet predator in the American League, when they seemingly came out of no where and inked Prince Fielder to a nine year, $214 million. Seriously?? Detroit?? Did anybody see that coming?
Sure, we all heard last week that Victor Martinez had torn his ACL, and was likely to miss the entire 2012 season. So we expected that the Tigers would respond and try to sign someone to fill the gap left by VMart's absence. However, I assumed that with Martinez being under contract through the 2014 season that the Tigers would be more likely to consider the likes of Carlos Pena on a one year deal. NOT Fielder for nine.
Nine years! Nine years? Did anyone at this point in the off-season actually believe that Boras was going to get the long term deal he was lusting after for Fielder? Honestly, anybody? I sure didn't. I assumed that with Washington and Texas appearing to be the only teams left interested, Boras would have to lower the bar and shoot for the same, or maybe even a little more money on a shorter term. A six year deal with an opt out after three years perhaps. Allowing Prince to hit the market again at 30 if he so chose, when presumably the Mets and Dodgers would each have stable ownership, and a bank account again. I thought that best case scenario Fielder would get one of the few teams still interested to go to seven to get the deal done. Not nine. Wow.
This opens up another topic of interest for discussion next year. Who is the odd man out in Detroit? What do you do with three first basemen? We assume that Martinez isn't going to catch again, especially after having a repaired ACL. Brendon Inge's contract is up at the end of this season, but surely the tigers aren't going to let Cabrera go back to third? Would they? Could he possibly play a corner outfield spot? Do they try to trade one of them?
Time will tell I suppose. For now we can all admire the best 3-4 combination in baseball as they lead the Tigers to another post season berth, and probably the world series. This Tigers team was looking pretty damn good in a weak division. It was very plausible looking at this division yesterday that the Tigers were going to take the Central by ten games. Now, who knows. But you can bet we'll all be watching with interest.
One final thought: How high is Cabrera's average going to be with Fielder protecting him in the line up? .340? This is going to be something to see.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Aramis Ramirez to the Milwaukee Brewers
Third Basemen Aramis Ramirez has signed a three year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The deal is said to be worth between $34 and $37 million.
The deal is said to be worth between $34 and $37 million.
Jays Acquire Ben Francisco From Philadelphia
The Toronto Blue Jays have traded minor league left handed pitcher Frank Gailey to his home town Philadelphia Phillies for outfielder Ben Francisco.
Francisco batted .244 with 6 HR's and 34 RBI's in 100 games for the Phillies in 2011.
To make room on the roster, the Jays have designated relief pitcher Jesse Chavez for assignment.
Gailey spent time in both New Hampshire and Dunedin over the course of the 2011 season.
For the Blue Jays, this gives them another outfielder in an already crowded outfield. They now have Francisco, Davis, Thames, Snider, Rasmus, Bautista, and technically Mike McCoy available for the outfield in 2012.
I think there is another deal coming, and if I'm a betting man, I think we've seen the last of Travis Snider in a Jays uniform.
If I'm really going to speculate, I think he's headed to Oakland for a certain left handed starter. But that's just me.
But, I'm wrong more often than I'm right.
Francisco batted .244 with 6 HR's and 34 RBI's in 100 games for the Phillies in 2011.
To make room on the roster, the Jays have designated relief pitcher Jesse Chavez for assignment.
Gailey spent time in both New Hampshire and Dunedin over the course of the 2011 season.
For the Blue Jays, this gives them another outfielder in an already crowded outfield. They now have Francisco, Davis, Thames, Snider, Rasmus, Bautista, and technically Mike McCoy available for the outfield in 2012.
I think there is another deal coming, and if I'm a betting man, I think we've seen the last of Travis Snider in a Jays uniform.
If I'm really going to speculate, I think he's headed to Oakland for a certain left handed starter. But that's just me.
But, I'm wrong more often than I'm right.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson Sign With The Angels
A month ago, I wrote that I thought Pujols would stay with the Cardinals, and Prince would go to the Cubs. It appears I'm going to be wrong on both counts.
The team I said "might" be a factor, turned out to be more than just a factor. Today the LA Angels of Anaheim signed Albert Pujols to a ten year, $254 million contract. A quarter of a billion dollars over the next ten years... Pujols current career earnings are at $104 million. So assuming that he retires at the end of this deal at 41, he will finish his career having earned a whopping $358 million. A ten year deal with a no trade clause... What is the baseball world coming to? What makes the whole situation seem even more insane, is that the Florida Marlins reportedly offered him $275 million for ten years, without a no trade.
But the Angels weren't done yet. They also signed free agent pitcher CJ Wilson to a five year, $75 million contract.
No word on who Prince will sign with yet, but it appears the Cubs won't be his landing spot. The Cubs have said that they won't be able to afford him.
The team I said "might" be a factor, turned out to be more than just a factor. Today the LA Angels of Anaheim signed Albert Pujols to a ten year, $254 million contract. A quarter of a billion dollars over the next ten years... Pujols current career earnings are at $104 million. So assuming that he retires at the end of this deal at 41, he will finish his career having earned a whopping $358 million. A ten year deal with a no trade clause... What is the baseball world coming to? What makes the whole situation seem even more insane, is that the Florida Marlins reportedly offered him $275 million for ten years, without a no trade.
But the Angels weren't done yet. They also signed free agent pitcher CJ Wilson to a five year, $75 million contract.
No word on who Prince will sign with yet, but it appears the Cubs won't be his landing spot. The Cubs have said that they won't be able to afford him.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
A Day Late, A Buck Short
Well, one day later here are my thoughts on the Nestor Molina for Sergio Santos trade.
To keep it short, I like it. Anyone who is upset about losing Molina to bring in Santos should consider this: Nestor Molina is probably less than you would have had to give up to bring in Huston Street or Andrew Bailey (and frankly, I'd rather have him than either of those two), and the Jays would have had to pay out way too much cash to lure the likes of Madson, Cordero, or K-Rod into coming here.
At the start of this off-season I was a little frightened when Alex announced it as his mission to bring in a closer. I was afraid that we might overpay for a Pappelbon, Madson, or Bell. But then again, I was also under the impression that the Blue Jays had money to spend. Which, according to Alex Anthopoulos yesterday, they do not. *cough* bullcrap *cough*.
Then when the rumours started to come out that Toronto was interested in trading for Andrew Bailey or Huston Street, I got really worried. After Bailey's injury last year, and Street, even though he wasn't terrible, putting up a season where he posted career highs in both ERA and WHIP. I'm not convinced that either one of those guys would be a better option than trying Casey Janssen or Jesse Litsch in the ninth, and I shudder to think what we would have had to give up to bring them here.
I am not in favour of paying top dollar for a closer. I'd much rather a bat to hit behind Bautista. Yes I am aware of how many blown saves Toronto had last year. However I'm also aware of how many of those games they still won, and that some of those blown saves came in pairs. (two in the same game). Was it frustrating that they did blow so many saves? Of course it was. But I still think that signing a closer to a multi-year deal is risky business. There are not that many that you can point a finger at and declare them effective for four seasons or more in a row. There are some, sure. But do you think Pappelbon, Madson, Bailey, or Street is going to be as dominant for four more seasons moving forward? I'm not so sure.
Santos' return to Toronto gives the Jays a reliever with quality stuff to fill the ninth inning role. This season he saved 30 games in 36 tries, and struck out 92 batters in 62.1 innings, while pitching to a WHIP of 1.105 in his first season as a closer.
What makes him even more appealing is his contract. At age 28, Santos will make $1 million in 2012, $2.75 million in 2013, and $3.75 million in 2014. Then he has options for 2015, 2016, and 2017 at $6 million, $8 million, and 8.75 million. Each option carries only a $750k buyout. So, Santo's is only guaranteed $7.5 million paid out over the next 3 seasons. Heath Bell and Jonathan Pappelbon have already signed deals paying them more than this for just next year. No, I'm not saying that Santos is in the same class as Bell and Pappelbon. Just saying he's a lot cheaper, and very well could be in the same class.
Santos' came to the Blue Jays once before as a short stop prospect with Troy Glaus in the deal that sent Orlando Hudson and Miguel Batista to Arizona.
Nestor Molina spent most of this season in Dunedin (A), and then made four starts in New Hampshire (AA) where he was absolutely lights out, to finish out the year. At the two levels combined, he posted a record of 12 wins and 3 losses, with a 2.21 ERA, a 0.997 WHIP, and struck out 148 over 130.1 innings. He looks like he could be great. He could very well come back to bite Toronto in the butt.
Before you get too upset though, try googling former Jays first round draft pick Steve Karsay, or 1991 first overall pick Brien Taylor, and check out the numbers they posted in high A ball in 1992. Very similar to Molina, and neither went on to any notable achievements at the Major League level. In fact, Taylor never even made it. Karsay's career spanned 11 seasons, where he posted a losing record, with a career ERA of 4.01, and a WHIP of 1.38. It just goes to show that you never really know what you have when it comes to prospects.
As for the money comments from Alex Anthopoulos yesterday. Are they true? Your guess is as good as mine. What he said about the payroll rising as revenues rise makes sense, however I tend to lean towards the belief that he just said this to deter the media from continuing to report that the Jays are interested in Fielder.
Given what Anthopoulos has done so far since he's been sitting in the big boy chair though, it does appear that he is working within a budget. They sure haven't spent much. Considering that their payroll keeps decreasing, while television ratings and to a lesser extent, attendance are on the rise.
Time will tell.
To keep it short, I like it. Anyone who is upset about losing Molina to bring in Santos should consider this: Nestor Molina is probably less than you would have had to give up to bring in Huston Street or Andrew Bailey (and frankly, I'd rather have him than either of those two), and the Jays would have had to pay out way too much cash to lure the likes of Madson, Cordero, or K-Rod into coming here.
At the start of this off-season I was a little frightened when Alex announced it as his mission to bring in a closer. I was afraid that we might overpay for a Pappelbon, Madson, or Bell. But then again, I was also under the impression that the Blue Jays had money to spend. Which, according to Alex Anthopoulos yesterday, they do not. *cough* bullcrap *cough*.
Then when the rumours started to come out that Toronto was interested in trading for Andrew Bailey or Huston Street, I got really worried. After Bailey's injury last year, and Street, even though he wasn't terrible, putting up a season where he posted career highs in both ERA and WHIP. I'm not convinced that either one of those guys would be a better option than trying Casey Janssen or Jesse Litsch in the ninth, and I shudder to think what we would have had to give up to bring them here.
I am not in favour of paying top dollar for a closer. I'd much rather a bat to hit behind Bautista. Yes I am aware of how many blown saves Toronto had last year. However I'm also aware of how many of those games they still won, and that some of those blown saves came in pairs. (two in the same game). Was it frustrating that they did blow so many saves? Of course it was. But I still think that signing a closer to a multi-year deal is risky business. There are not that many that you can point a finger at and declare them effective for four seasons or more in a row. There are some, sure. But do you think Pappelbon, Madson, Bailey, or Street is going to be as dominant for four more seasons moving forward? I'm not so sure.
Santos' return to Toronto gives the Jays a reliever with quality stuff to fill the ninth inning role. This season he saved 30 games in 36 tries, and struck out 92 batters in 62.1 innings, while pitching to a WHIP of 1.105 in his first season as a closer.
What makes him even more appealing is his contract. At age 28, Santos will make $1 million in 2012, $2.75 million in 2013, and $3.75 million in 2014. Then he has options for 2015, 2016, and 2017 at $6 million, $8 million, and 8.75 million. Each option carries only a $750k buyout. So, Santo's is only guaranteed $7.5 million paid out over the next 3 seasons. Heath Bell and Jonathan Pappelbon have already signed deals paying them more than this for just next year. No, I'm not saying that Santos is in the same class as Bell and Pappelbon. Just saying he's a lot cheaper, and very well could be in the same class.
Santos' came to the Blue Jays once before as a short stop prospect with Troy Glaus in the deal that sent Orlando Hudson and Miguel Batista to Arizona.
Nestor Molina spent most of this season in Dunedin (A), and then made four starts in New Hampshire (AA) where he was absolutely lights out, to finish out the year. At the two levels combined, he posted a record of 12 wins and 3 losses, with a 2.21 ERA, a 0.997 WHIP, and struck out 148 over 130.1 innings. He looks like he could be great. He could very well come back to bite Toronto in the butt.
Before you get too upset though, try googling former Jays first round draft pick Steve Karsay, or 1991 first overall pick Brien Taylor, and check out the numbers they posted in high A ball in 1992. Very similar to Molina, and neither went on to any notable achievements at the Major League level. In fact, Taylor never even made it. Karsay's career spanned 11 seasons, where he posted a losing record, with a career ERA of 4.01, and a WHIP of 1.38. It just goes to show that you never really know what you have when it comes to prospects.
As for the money comments from Alex Anthopoulos yesterday. Are they true? Your guess is as good as mine. What he said about the payroll rising as revenues rise makes sense, however I tend to lean towards the belief that he just said this to deter the media from continuing to report that the Jays are interested in Fielder.
Given what Anthopoulos has done so far since he's been sitting in the big boy chair though, it does appear that he is working within a budget. They sure haven't spent much. Considering that their payroll keeps decreasing, while television ratings and to a lesser extent, attendance are on the rise.
Time will tell.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
It's That Time of Year Again!
Once again, the most wonderful time of the year is upon us. No, not the holidays. It's Winter Meetings time again! The winter meetings generally are when the off-season moves really start to happen in the baseball world, and I think that Jays fans should expect to hear at least some news coming out of these meetings.
Anthopoulos has a wish list. His wish list doesn't match mine necessarily, but he does have one. As far as we know he will be heading to Dallas shopping for a second basemen, some bull pen help, and if all goes well a starting pitcher as well. Alex got one item checked off of his list yesterday when the Blue Jays found their replacement for Jose Molina and acquired their new back up catcher in Jeff Mathis.
Mathis comes to the Jays from the Angels by way of a trade sending pitcher Brad Mills the other way. I'm not really sure how I feel about this deal. On one hand, Mathis is a good defensive catcher, and has a reputation of being an asset in helping develop young pitchers. On the other hand, Mills is a left handed starter who has had a fair amount of success at the triple A level, and I'm not sure he won't develop into a fair, or even a good starter at the major league level. Time will tell. On the surface, I would have preferred to have picked up a back up catcher from the free agent market rather than trade to bring one in. I'm not really thrilled about sending Mills packing just a few months after shipping out Zach Stewart and Marc Rzepcynski. I just don't think that giving up an arm for a back up catcher (for one year none the less) is a great idea.
Anthopoulos has stated numerous times this off season that the Blue Jays intend to try to add through trades, and not by signing free agents. He has also said that the Jays will not pursuing any big name free agents. So I wouldn't expect to hear of any big free agent acquisitions coming our way. Once again Jays fans will have to wait, and find out what we have to give up to fill the holes we need filled.
My prediciton: Travis Snider is not a Blue Jay this time next week.
A lot of GM's view Snider the way that Anthopoulos viewed Colby Rasmus. High ceiling of talent that hasn't been realized yet. So there is interest there, and I can't help but get the feeling that the Blue Jays would rather move forward with Thames in LF over Snider. But hey, that's just me.
Personally, I would like to see Adam Lind in LF, making room for our new first basemen: Prince Fielder. However, we all know that isn't going to happen.
Happy Winter Meetings everyone!
Anthopoulos has a wish list. His wish list doesn't match mine necessarily, but he does have one. As far as we know he will be heading to Dallas shopping for a second basemen, some bull pen help, and if all goes well a starting pitcher as well. Alex got one item checked off of his list yesterday when the Blue Jays found their replacement for Jose Molina and acquired their new back up catcher in Jeff Mathis.
Mathis comes to the Jays from the Angels by way of a trade sending pitcher Brad Mills the other way. I'm not really sure how I feel about this deal. On one hand, Mathis is a good defensive catcher, and has a reputation of being an asset in helping develop young pitchers. On the other hand, Mills is a left handed starter who has had a fair amount of success at the triple A level, and I'm not sure he won't develop into a fair, or even a good starter at the major league level. Time will tell. On the surface, I would have preferred to have picked up a back up catcher from the free agent market rather than trade to bring one in. I'm not really thrilled about sending Mills packing just a few months after shipping out Zach Stewart and Marc Rzepcynski. I just don't think that giving up an arm for a back up catcher (for one year none the less) is a great idea.
Anthopoulos has stated numerous times this off season that the Blue Jays intend to try to add through trades, and not by signing free agents. He has also said that the Jays will not pursuing any big name free agents. So I wouldn't expect to hear of any big free agent acquisitions coming our way. Once again Jays fans will have to wait, and find out what we have to give up to fill the holes we need filled.
My prediciton: Travis Snider is not a Blue Jay this time next week.
A lot of GM's view Snider the way that Anthopoulos viewed Colby Rasmus. High ceiling of talent that hasn't been realized yet. So there is interest there, and I can't help but get the feeling that the Blue Jays would rather move forward with Thames in LF over Snider. But hey, that's just me.
Personally, I would like to see Adam Lind in LF, making room for our new first basemen: Prince Fielder. However, we all know that isn't going to happen.
Happy Winter Meetings everyone!
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