Blue Jays Discussion: Off-Season V: Baseball's back and so are blockbusters (Jays send 4 prospects to A's for 3B Matt Chapman)

[Morgs]

As much as the continued interest in Jose Ramirez is hilarious and insane, I hope we start hearing about bullpen option links.

That, at this point, is the biggest need over an upgrade at 2B

I mean, I think it'd be nice to get an upgrade in the pen, but who do you replace/start in the minors?

Romano
Cimber
Merryweather
Richards
Mayza
Boruki
Garcia

Depth:
Vasquez
Phelps
Biagini

 

[phillipmike]

5 breakout pitchers to watch in 2022

The breakout players of 2021 included pitchers such as Julio Urías, Carlos Rodón, Logan Webb, Freddy Peralta and Trevor Rogers. Who will be the next wave in 2022? MLB.com picked out a group of young pitchers to keep an eye on. All of them have the potential to have a

www.mlb.com

Alek Manoah, RHP, Blue Jays
Key stat: 10.2 K/9 IP in 2021
Manoah flashed his upside last season in an impressive rookie campaign -- but he has the potential to become a true ace. He entered 2021 ranked behind highly regarded prospects Nate Pearson and Simeon Woods Richardson within the Blue Jays' organization, though it was Manoah who ultimately made the biggest impact. Following an impressive showing in Spring Training, the 23-year-old Manoah went 3-0 with a 0.50 ERA and 27 strikeouts in three starts at Triple-A Buffalo. He then got his chance in The Show -- and he never looked back.

Manoah struck out seven over six scoreless innings in a dazzling MLB debut at Yankee Stadium, and he went on to post a 3.22 ERA and 127 strikeouts over 111 2/3 innings. In doing so, Manoah became just the fourth pitcher aged 23 or younger to average at least 10 strikeouts per nine innings in his debut season. The others: Mark Prior (2002), Kerry Wood (1998) and Dwight Gooden (1984). Not bad company for Manoah, who is primed to take another leap in 2022.
-- Paul Casella

 

[Da Cool Rula]

I mean, I think it'd be nice to get an upgrade in the pen, but who do you replace/start in the minors?

Romano
Cimber
Merryweather
Richards
Mayza
Boruki
Garcia

Depth:
Vasquez
Phelps
Biagini

Solid pen. If anything I think the only thing we need is more of a guaranteed closer. Potentially though Romano and hopefully pre injury Merryweather are above average.

 

[Tony Romo]

I was thinking this morning that a year and a half ago we had 8 top 100 prospects: Pearson, Martin, Groshans, Manoah, Kirk, Moreno, Martinez, and SWR. 6 of those 8 are still in the organization. We traded 2 for Berrios and extended him. We drafted Hoglund and revived Smith from the depths of busthood and traded them for Chapman. Signed Springer, signed Gausman, signed Kikuchi. We signed Ray and Semien to 1 years deals that essentially turned them into free draft picks to replace the 2 guys traded from above.

So we started with 8 top 100 prospects, added Springer, Gausman, Chapman, Berrios, and Kikuchi and lost just 2 of those 8 prospects and added 2 high picks to replace them. Essentially breaking even. That seems unbelievable.

Sounds like the dodgers way

 

[Da Cool Rula]

Can someone post the spring training TV schedule again or the link where i can find?

Thank you

 

[phillipmike]

Very affordable

 

[phillipmike]

Can someone post the spring training TV schedule again or the link where i can find?

Thank you

 

[Morgs]

Solid pen. If anything I think the only thing we need is more of a guaranteed closer. Potentially though Romano and hopefully pre injury Merryweather are above average.

Yep. There's 7 above average relievers (or better) for my money, and if they're planning on running 6 starters (as Montoyo said) the pen shouldn't be taxed as much and it'd be hard to have 8 guys in there while still having a bench. Not to mention Stripling is more than good enough for a multi-inning role if necessary, and Pearson may be a reliever sooner than later.

If you grab a Jansen, sure that'd be great. I just don't see a glaring need for anything bullpen wise besides depth in case injuries hit or one of your guys struggle.

 

[Bjindaho]

I believe he's referring, not that Biggio and Espinal are better, but is what they have to give up worth or needed for 2 years of JRam.

Might we be better served to fill other more needed holes and strengthen our depth?

The difference between Biggio and Ramirez if JRam had average D would be 1.4 for JRam (assuming JRam has a B Lowe season)

JRam hasn't played 2B in 4 years, was terrible at it then and would have weeks to adjust so adjusting to a 137 wRC+ but crap D, you are at Freddie Freeman (0.7 better).

JRam is the best 3B in baseball, but part of that includes being the 3rd best defensive 3B in baseball on top of mashing.

The Kemp/Trivino was an alternative where we go after a high end reliever and get a guy who could DH and be backup for 2B and CF with a speed/batted ball profile that is different from what we feature.

 

[Discoverer]

Very affordable

I would have been happy with that for the Jays. I liked him in his brief time here and think he was a pretty good fit for one of the last roster spots.

Having said that, there was basically no path to regular playing time here (barring injuries) so from his perspective it wouldn't have made much sense.

 

[phillipmike]

 

[Da Cool Rula]

Thx

 

[Discoverer]

The difference between Biggio and Ramirez if JRam had average D would be 1.4 for JRam (assuming JRam has a B Lowe season)

JRam hasn't played 2B in 4 years, was terrible at it then and would have weeks to adjust so adjusting to a 137 wRC+ but crap D, you are at Freddie Freeman (0.7 better).

JRam is the best 3B in baseball, but part of that includes being the 3rd best defensive 3B in baseball on top of mashing.

The Kemp/Trivino was an alternative where we go after a high end reliever and get a guy who could DH and be backup for 2B and CF with a speed/batted ball profile that is different from what we feature.

He was "terrible" at 2B in 2018 based on 142 innings. That's pretty much meaningless, especially considering he had nearly 1000 innings in previous seasons and was excellent. I think it would be far more reasonable to expect him to be roughly the equivalent to Biggio defensively, if not better. Add to that a projected 142 wRC+ compared to Biggio's 117 from his first 162 games and there's absolutely no comparison between the two.

And, of course, this is all assuming a bounceback season from Biggio and a normal season from Ramirez.

Once you factor in the acquisition cost, I can completely understand not wanting to make that move. I would be on the fence myself. But to suggest Ramirez isn't that much better than Biggio? Uh...

 

[Discoverer]

I can't decide if I'm more excited about Chapman or this.

 

[phillipmike]

I can't decide if I'm more excited about Chapman or this.

 

[inthe6ix]

lefties dwindling away off the board

 

[phillipmike]

Athletics Top Prospects

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com

Former Jays prospects rank on Oakland;

7. Gunnar Hoglund
15. Kevin Smith
22. Zach Logue

Have Montas, Manaea and possible Kemp to trade. System is loaded.

 

[Contenderorpretender]

Are these posts for real?

We got a 2 time platinum glove winner at 3rd who should see his hitting get better and can hopefully get a guy who's been a perennial mvp candidate. Not sure if that's a better option than biggio and espinal.

 

[Bjindaho]

He was "terrible" at 2B in 2018 based on 142 innings. That's pretty much meaningless, especially considering he had nearly 1000 innings in previous seasons and was excellent. I think it would be far more reasonable to expect him to be roughly the equivalent to Biggio defensively, if not better. Add to that a projected 142 wRC+ compared to Biggio's 117 from his first 162 games and there's absolutely no comparison between the two.

And, of course, this is all assuming a bounceback season from Biggio and a normal season from Ramirez.

Once you factor in the acquisition cost, I can completely understand not wanting to make that move. I would be on the fence myself. But to suggest Ramirez isn't that much better than Biggio? Uh...

Sorry, my post was without looking at splits. I thought the platoon was based on something tangible (it isn't, both guys hit lefties and righties).

If both guys were high 130s versus split, it made sense. Upon verification, it doesn't.

That being said, JRam won't be as good as Biggio with 2-3 weeks to transition.

He's absolutely an upgrade, but the assets are better to either keep or spend elsewhere (especially once the season begins and we see the difference between paper and production).

 

[Starry Knight]

Would getting a LHH probably help the lineup? Sure. But it's not like the Jays really struggled that much against right-handed pitching last season.

Most of the Jays hitters are good enough that it doesn't matter that you be sending 8 straight right-handed hitters up to bat.

 

[barilko05]

Thanks you Cubbies, You've saved us from ourselves. Good luck with this going forward

 

[Bjindaho]

Would getting a LHH probably help the lineup? Sure. But it's not like the Jays really struggled that much against right-handed pitching last season.

Most of the Jays hitters are good enough that it doesn't matter that you be sending 8 straight right-handed hitters up to bat.

A LHH for the sake of makes no sense. A LHH that actually is worth giving AB to does.

 

[Ale Brew]

A LHH for the sake of makes no sense. A LHH that actually is worth giving AB to does.

Agreed, and that’s essentially what Ross said when asked.

 

[phillipmike]

 

[Bjindaho]

Agreed, and that’s essentially what Ross said when asked.

Yes.

Votto had a 165 wRC+ against RH last year. Because Cincy gave no one a reason to not lefty specialist against him, he faced a ton of them.

OTOH, Teo had a 203 (sweet Jesus!) WRC+ against lefties

The lowest guy that would be in a top 6 with Votto would be Chapman.