Blue Jays Discussion: Off-Season VI: It's no longer the off-season, but the thread isn't done yet

[canucksfan]

Seemed to have a rough spring

 

[canucksfan]

 

[AlienWorkShop]

Best comments on Twitter so far;
-Reese puts the “white” in White Sox
-Reese getting traded to the “White Sox” is the ultimate troll job by Atkins. Literally any other team would have been fine
-Reese’s socks are always that color

Poor guy

haha, like semen

 

[phillipmike]

 

[Bjindaho]

Why?

If we moved Reese now because we don't want 3C, WTF would we want 3C with a different 3rd catcher?

When Moreno is ready, maybe it makes sense. But not today.

 

[Blitzkrug]

Have too many catchers as is, let's trade a catcher for a catcher

...Not sure i understand that one.

 

[dredeye]

At this point I don’t like this trade. Hoping on his pedigree maybe. Either an odd trade for me. With Moreno likely headed to AAA he’s not even likely to get reps down there

 

[canucksfan]

The thing is, Collins sucks at catching so if they trade Kirk, Collins isn't a good option to replace him.

 

[TGB]

I don't have an issue with Vladdy in the 2 spot. If he's going to keep hitting grounders with runners in scoring position, I'd rather he hit them when there are fewer runners on and he has a chance to get on base. The rest of the team hit it deep today, so it's better for Springer and the rest to occupy the 3, 4, 5, etc. spots anyway.

At least until Vladdy remembers how to elevate the ball. You could see him getting more and more frustrated as the game went along and he kept whiffing. The last strike out it looked like he wasn't even trying. Got one late, but still. Guy has to calm it down.

Have too many catchers as is, let's trade a catcher for a catcher

...Not sure i understand that one.

Options. Collins has one. Reese didn't.

Makes enough sense. Reese's much vaunted defense hasn't really manifested, at least it's no better than Jansen's, and his offense seems to come down to pure luck at times. And clearly the Jays really did not want to carry three catchers, or at least not one that HAS to say with the team lest he gets claimed. Which he would, then the Jays have no spare catcher. Looks like they really want that spare left hand spot to be filled by one that can hit. Bird, I guess, but I'd rather see Lukes or the like in there. Bird could just be benefitting from hitting rusty pitching while Lukes has more versatility. You might be able to convince some NL team caught without a bonafide DH to take a flyer on him for a low depth prospect or something.

The thing is, Collins sucks at catching so if they trade Kirk, Collins isn't a good option to replace him.

But Moreno is. It's not about replacing Kirk. It's about replacing Moreno for the Bisons.

 

[Discoverer]

I'm not nearly as high on McGuire as some people, so I don't hate it. I wouldn't have hated three catchers to start the year, but this was the next best thing (though I was hoping a reliever would have come back).

I would guess this means Moreno is their catching depth now if there's an injury (with Heineman backing him up in Buffalo), Bird makes the opening day roster, and Collins takes Bird's 1B/DH spot in Buffalo and is pretty much done with catching. Given his minor league track record with the bat, it's not the worst gamble to take even if it's a longshot to pay off.

 

[SDig14]

I mean, this kid went 10th overall based purely on his bat. Most scouting reports said elite plate discipline while having power to all areas of the field. Everyone knew he looked to be at best average as a catcher if he worked really hard but most likely a 1B longer term.

Maybe the Jays plan to option him and play him at 1B at AAA to not take away reps from Moreno and just work with him to get his hitting back on track. Wouldn't shock me if his offense has stagnated while trying to improve his defense.

Reese was going to be DFA'd at some point when rosters were cut down in a month, or traded for nothing, so I guess they thought Collins had enough intrigue still to take the gamble.

 

[AllDay28]

maybe the Jays traded Reese cause they got tired of the annoying as f*** jerk off jokes.

 

[Morgs]

I don't get it at all.

Your biggest organization strength is arguably at catcher, so you trade a major league catcher with elite defensive metrics for a "catcher" who hasn't hit at the major league level and definitely can't catch? They must really see something in the bat because based on those numbers he's going to have to find a new position, and a 90 wRC+ is not good enough for anything but catcher and it's not like 1B is open.

Seems like we took all the risk, and I'm failing to see the reward in the scenario?

 

[Bjindaho]

I don't get it at all.

Your biggest organization strength is arguably at catcher, so you trade a major league catcher with elite defensive metrics for a "catcher" who hasn't hit at the major league level and definitely can't catch? They must really see something in the bat because based on those numbers he's going to have to find a new position, and a 90 wRC+ is not good enough for anything but catcher and it's not like 1B is open.

Seems like we took all the risk, and I'm failing to see the reward in the scenario?

He was Chicago's 7th best prospect 2 years ago with no defensive value at all.

 

[dredeye]

I don't get it at all.

Your biggest organization strength is arguably at catcher, so you trade a major league catcher with elite defensive metrics for a "catcher" who hasn't hit at the major league level and definitely can't catch? They must really see something in the bat because based on those numbers he's going to have to find a new position, and a 90 wRC+ is not good enough for anything but catcher and it's not like 1B is open.

Seems like we took all the risk, and I'm failing to see the reward in the scenario?

and against a team that will be in contention this year. So we improved a team we could be facing in the post season

 

[Morgs]

He was Chicago's 7th best prospect 2 years ago with no defensive value at all.

And? Now he's a 27 year old that had a 90 wRC+ in his first full season with no path to the majors at his position, and no path at 1B either, especially if the bat doesn't improve at the major league level.

Him being a post-hype prospect does nothing for us short or long-term and we gave up a basically elite defensively backup catcher because we didn't want to run 3 catchers? So instead we'll run him as Moreno's backup? Or maybe we'll run 3 catchers at the major league level! I'd have preferred a lottery ticket or a AAA depth relief arm. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Eyedea]

I'm not nearly as high on McGuire as some people, so I don't hate it. I wouldn't have hated three catchers to start the year, but this was the next best thing (though I was hoping a reliever would have come back).

I would guess this means Moreno is their catching depth now if there's an injury (with Heineman backing him up in Buffalo), Bird makes the opening day roster, and Collins takes Bird's 1B/DH spot in Buffalo and is pretty much done with catching. Given his minor league track record with the bat, it's not the worst gamble to take even if it's a longshot to pay off.

Yeah pretty safe to assume Collins isn’t catching anymore. 4 are already listed on the Bisons roster. It’s a Bird replacement and having some hope the bat will come around again now that he can focus more on hitting vs defensive responsibilities.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Bjindaho]

And? Now he's a 27 year old that had a 90 wRC+ in his first full season with no path to the majors at his position, and no path at 1B either, especially if the bat doesn't improve at the major league level.

Him being a post-hype prospect does nothing for us short or long-term and we gave up a basically elite defensively backup catcher because we didn't want to run 3 catchers? So instead we'll run him as Moreno's backup? Or maybe we'll run 3 catchers at the major league level! I'd have preferred a lottery ticket or a AAA depth relief arm. Hope I'm wrong.

He's a power hitter who put up a 90 wRC+ in 230PA where he didn't really hit for power. A little more normal power numbers and he's 100 or better.

Also, Reese's 78 was boosted by some insane luck.

 

[Morgs]

He's a power hitter who put up a 90 wRC+ in 230PA where he didn't really hit for power. A little more normal power numbers and he's 100 or better.

Also, Reese's 78 was boosted by some insane luck.

I don't care about Reese's bat. He provides ridiculous value at defense, and if we needed to trade Kirk for an upgrade I didn't mind Reese playing twice a week or taking 1/5 starters.

I also don't really care about Reese, I just don't understand why we went for this guy.

 

[Eyedea]

For the high K rate he’s surprisingly well disciplined. Similar to Biggio he rarely chases pitches outside the zone. Makes decently hard contact, high fly ball rate. Profile fits well if he can just figure out how to smack fastballs.

 

[Nineteen67]

 

[McFly2544]

Seems to me it was the best available offer for Reese so they pulled the trigger as opposed to losing him for nothing on waivers

 

[Bjindaho]

I don't care about Reese's bat. He provides ridiculous value at defense, and if we needed to trade Kirk for an upgrade I didn't mind Reese playing twice a week or taking 1/5 starters.

I also don't really care about Reese, I just don't understand why we went for this guy.

We traded our 3rd best C for a bat that someone in the system likes.

Atkins said we weren't rolling 3C.

 

[The Nemesis]

maybe the Jays traded Reese cause they got tired of the annoying as f*** jerk off jokes.

No need to blow your load over it. Lots of people find the reference to be handy and stimulating.

People just want to make a little excitement for themselves.