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

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Puckstuff said:
Thanks for that. I was quoting your comment "This is the highest payroll in team history" like that is an achievement or something when it should be going up, especially when their revenues are going up every year and the entire fiat economy is growing.

The annual financial conversation about Rogers has been beaten to death. I wasn’t even calling them cheap per say, I just can’t give them an A when they have an average net profit margin of 12.3 % and are a 14.5 billion dollar a year company.
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Furthering my point that your post literally added zero value and was pointless.
 
Bjindaho said:
www.mlbtraderumors.com

Sandy Leon Opts Out Of Minor League Deal With Guardians

Veteran catcher Sandy León has triggered an opt-out clause in his minor-league deal with the Guardians after being informed he would …
www.mlbtraderumors.com www.mlbtraderumors.com

Cleveland with a 0 bWAR catcher and a guy with 39 games above A ball...
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Also if I’m not mistaken, the Guardians made one major league signing this offseason and it was Luke Maile for $800K.
 
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Can't wait for the new season to start! IMO, this Jays team has the potential to win the WS and on paper, it's the best team they've fielded since 1993 from start to finish and top to bottom
 
Canada4Gold said:
Baseball Trade Values is the best.

Kirk and our entire farm system except Moreno and Martinez is roughly equal value to Reynolds :laugh:
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Reynolds would actually be worth it, though. Springer is a major injury risk and we're still just two years away from losing our entire outfield to free agency (and we STILL haven't paid Vladdy). This is in stark contrast to Ramirez where we've got replacement options up the wazoo, and 2B isn't nearly so bad as people make it seem.
I still wouldn't trade Moreno though since he's potentially the same type of player, but at catcher where we're also still weak. Martinez...I'd rather not, but he hasn't really proved he can do much at a high level except hit home runs. Given our financial situation, I'd rather hold onto him. Still have plenty to offer in Kirk and Groshans though (again, I like Kirk, but he's SO SLOW).
Hoverhand said:
I've been banging this drum all spring but Lukes slashing .337/.387/.533 against righties in AAA last year has had me quite intrigued. Palacios hasn't really had a season that impressive despite being only a year younger.
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Yeah, but Palacios didn't look at bad at the major league level, and his defense was...okay. He's otherwise hitting much the same way Lukes is this spring, home runs and all. As far as first call-ups go, he's fine.
I don't know anything about Lukes' defense though. He seems to hit well enough, but so does Palacios at times. Defense? I dunno. We really need someone who can play center field. Got more than enough left fielders already.
 
TGB said:
Yeah, but Palacios didn't look at bad at the major league level, and his defense was...okay. He's otherwise hitting much the same way Lukes is this spring, home runs and all. As far as first call-ups go, he's fine.
I don't know anything about Lukes' defense though. He seems to hit well enough, but so does Palacios at times. Defense? I dunno. We really need someone who can play center field. Got more than enough left fielders already.
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Palacios hasn't had a season with above an .800 OPS since 2016 where he split 50 games across rookie ball and both levels of A ball. His very brief stint in the majors saw an OPS below .500 with more than quarter of his PAs ending in a strikeout. He also has reverse splits, routinely hitting better against lefties than righties.

The Jays are clearly looking to have lefty production off the bench and Lukes, despite a down year in 2019, slashed very well against rightes in AA and then crushed them during 2021 in AAA. He's spent roughly half of his minor league career in CF, at this point he just has way more going for him than Palacios (Fowler too and arguably Tapia as well)

Will any of this translate? Who knows. I just hope he gets a shot with the team because he could be a very valuable piece.
 
Hoverhand said:
Palacios hasn't had a season with above an .800 OPS since 2016 where he split 50 games across rookie ball and both levels of A ball. His very brief stint in the majors saw an OPS below .500 with more than quarter of his PAs ending in a strikeout. He also has reverse splits, routinely hitting better against lefties than righties.

The Jays are clearly looking to have lefty production off the bench and Lukes, despite a down year in 2019, slashed very well against rightes in AA and then crushed them during 2021 in AAA. He's spent roughly half of his minor league career in CF, at this point he just has way more going for him than Palacios (Fowler too and arguably Tapia as well)

Will any of this translate? Who knows. I just hope he gets a shot with the team because he could be a very valuable piece.
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Can't really judge a MLB level player on their A ball performance. The only way we can accept those stats are valid is if we assume the player is incapable of learning/getting better. As I'm sure you're aware, players break out all the time especially with regards to power numbers. And, as you note, Palacios had a very short debut. Lots of players can look like crap in that short a time frame. Hell, Gurriel has looked absolutely dreadful for months at a time, and Jansen...erm...
By all accounts, he hasn't really done anything yet to absolutely quash all chances of ever playing in the majors. Going on spring performance (last I checked), so far they're pretty even.

So, I asked about defense. That's the real tie-breaker for me. Good defense in the minors is pretty much good in the majors...assuming some coach wasn't hyping a player. Offense? Well, until they're mashing in the majors, they're ALL toss-ups.
 
theaub said:


As much as I'd prefer someone else, I also subscribe to AA's theory of never having a lame duck manager so I'm OK with this.
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I think it's forgotten we probably missed the playoffs because of him. His overuse of fringe players, the strange (to be nice) bullpen usage, and the insane lineup decisions cost us multiple games. It's not even like most of them were defendable either because they were so outrageous everyone on this board and twitter questioned them before they happened. I like the guy, and the players seem to love him, but he needs to stop with the questionable decisions where everyone with eyes sees its gonna blow up and it inevitably does. I truly think there's very little difference between a good and average manager, but a bad one really stands out.

I guess it's much better than having a La Russa or Showalter though.
 
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Kikuchi starting
 
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blogs.fangraphs.com

2022 Positional Power Rankings: Left Field

After wrapping up the infield positions yesterday, we turn our attention to the outfield, starting in left.
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21. Blue Jays
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Name[/TH]
[TH]PA[/TH]
[TH]AVG[/TH]
[TH]OBP[/TH]
[TH]SLG[/TH]
[TH]wOBA[/TH]
[TH]Bat[/TH]
[TH]BsR[/TH]
[TH]Fld[/TH]
[TH]WAR[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lourdes Gurriel Jr.[/TD]
[TD]539[/TD]
[TD].271[/TD]
[TD].315[/TD]
[TD].477[/TD]
[TD].336[/TD]
[TD]6.2[/TD]
[TD]-1.3[/TD]
[TD]-0.6[/TD]
[TD]1.7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Raimel Tapia[/TD]
[TD]112[/TD]
[TD].270[/TD]
[TD].321[/TD]
[TD].392[/TD]
[TD].309[/TD]
[TD]-1.2[/TD]
[TD]0.3[/TD]
[TD]-0.2[/TD]
[TD]0.2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dexter Fowler[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD].217[/TD]
[TD].311[/TD]
[TD].362[/TD]
[TD].297[/TD]
[TD]-0.7[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[TD]-0.3[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Josh Palacios[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD].224[/TD]
[TD].298[/TD]
[TD].343[/TD]
[TD].283[/TD]
[TD]-0.5[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Total[/TD]
[TD]700[/TD]
[TD].268[/TD]
[TD].315[/TD]
[TD].455[/TD]
[TD].328[/TD]
[TD]3.8[/TD]
[TD]-1.1[/TD]
[TD]-1.1[/TD]
[TD]1.8[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

A converted shortstop, Gurriel showed much improvement in left field last season — he was six runs above average by DRS, and had 12 outfield assists — while putting together an outstanding stretch at the plate that was sandwiched between a slow start and a poor finish.

After posting a 134 wRC+ in the shortened 2020 season, Gurriel regressed some with a 107 wRC+, 21 homers, and 28 doubles in 541 plate appearances. But throw out his first 125 plate appearances (27 wRC+) and an 0-for-16 to end the season, and Gurriel had a .315/.363/.538 slash line with 19 homers in 400 plate appearances.
Tapia, who is expected to spend time at all three outfield spots, could end up taking the most at-bats away from Gurriel, though he wasn’t acquired to compete with Gurriel for the left field job. A left-handed batter, he’s a perfect complement to their trio of right-handed hitting outfielders — Gurriel, George Springer, and Teoscar Hernandez — and should allow the Jays to rotate them in and out of the designated hitter spot in order to get them proper rest throughout the season.
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2022 Positional Power Rankings: Center Field

Whether you’re looking for established super stars, exciting young prospects, or defensive stalwarts, center field has you covered.
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6. Blue Jays
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Name[/TH]
[TH]PA[/TH]
[TH]AVG[/TH]
[TH]OBP[/TH]
[TH]SLG[/TH]
[TH]wOBA[/TH]
[TH]Bat[/TH]
[TH]BsR[/TH]
[TH]Fld[/TH]
[TH]WAR[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]George Springer[/TD]
[TD]560[/TD]
[TD].262[/TD]
[TD].349[/TD]
[TD].506[/TD]
[TD].363[/TD]
[TD]19.3[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[TD]-2.0[/TD]
[TD]3.8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Raimel Tapia[/TD]
[TD]98[/TD]
[TD].270[/TD]
[TD].321[/TD]
[TD].392[/TD]
[TD].309[/TD]
[TD]-1.0[/TD]
[TD]0.2[/TD]
[TD]-0.1[/TD]
[TD]0.3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Teoscar Hernández[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD].262[/TD]
[TD].320[/TD]
[TD].496[/TD]
[TD].346[/TD]
[TD]0.4[/TD]
[TD]0.0[/TD]
[TD]-0.2[/TD]
[TD]0.1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Josh Palacios[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD].224[/TD]
[TD].298[/TD]
[TD].343[/TD]
[TD].283[/TD]
[TD]-0.5[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[TD]0.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dexter Fowler[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD].217[/TD]
[TD].311[/TD]
[TD].362[/TD]
[TD].297[/TD]
[TD]-0.1[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[TD]-0.1[/TD]
[TD]0.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Total[/TD]
[TD]700[/TD]
[TD].262[/TD]
[TD].343[/TD]
[TD].484[/TD]
[TD].353[/TD]
[TD]18.1[/TD]
[TD]0.2[/TD]
[TD]-2.4[/TD]
[TD]4.2[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Toronto’s attempt to put a Springer in its step (sorry) last season never quite worked, mostly because Springer couldn’t stay on his feet. An oblique strain, a right quad strain, and a left knee sprain limited him to 78 games in 2021, almost half of which came as the designated hitter, resulting in way too much Randal Grichuk in center, where he posted a meager 84 wRC+ as a below-average defender. For a team that missed out on the postseason by a single win, Springer’s absence may have been the difference.

The good news is that when Springer was active, he looked like his usual self, putting up numbers and peripherals in line with his stellar Houston years, and his projections reflect that. The bad news is that human beings still age in just one direction, and at 32, he’s no Springer chicken. (Again, sorry.) There’s also the question of how much longer he can handle center. The defensive metrics aren’t calling for immediate regime change, but with 30 further and further in the distance and lots of innings on turf in the future, his glove and body may soon need the less taxing responsibility of holding down right or left.

The main backup here if Springer goes down again is no longer Grichuk but Raimel Tapia, whose offensive game is oriented toward grounders and slap-hitting instead of gripping and ripping. Still, he’s a better fit for what Toronto needs in a reserve outfielder as a speedy defense-first player, and a better long-term option in center than Teoscar Hernández, who is already challenged enough in right.
Click to expand...

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2022 Positional Power Rankings: Right Field

Right field has its share of young talent, led by the name at the top of the rankings.
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17. Blue Jays
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Name[/TH]
[TH]PA[/TH]
[TH]AVG[/TH]
[TH]OBP[/TH]
[TH]SLG[/TH]
[TH]wOBA[/TH]
[TH]Bat[/TH]
[TH]BsR[/TH]
[TH]Fld[/TH]
[TH]WAR[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Teoscar Hernández[/TD]
[TD]406[/TD]
[TD].262[/TD]
[TD].320[/TD]
[TD].496[/TD]
[TD].346[/TD]
[TD]8.1[/TD]
[TD]0.0[/TD]
[TD]-3.1[/TD]
[TD]1.5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Raimel Tapia[/TD]
[TD]210[/TD]
[TD].270[/TD]
[TD].321[/TD]
[TD].392[/TD]
[TD].309[/TD]
[TD]-2.2[/TD]
[TD]0.5[/TD]
[TD]-0.3[/TD]
[TD]0.3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cavan Biggio[/TD]
[TD]63[/TD]
[TD].226[/TD]
[TD].338[/TD]
[TD].401[/TD]
[TD].323[/TD]
[TD]0.1[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[TD]-0.1[/TD]
[TD]0.1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Josh Palacios[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD].223[/TD]
[TD].297[/TD]
[TD].343[/TD]
[TD].282[/TD]
[TD]-0.5[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dexter Fowler[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD].215[/TD]
[TD].309[/TD]
[TD].359[/TD]
[TD].295[/TD]
[TD]-0.2[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[TD]-0.1[/TD]
[TD]-0.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Total[/TD]
[TD]700[/TD]
[TD].260[/TD]
[TD].322[/TD]
[TD].452[/TD]
[TD].331[/TD]
[TD]5.4[/TD]
[TD]0.5[/TD]
[TD]-3.5[/TD]
[TD]1.9[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Hernández showed that his 2020 breakout was no fluke, hitting .296/.346/.524 (132 wRC+) while setting career bests with 32 homers, 12 steals, and 3.9 WAR. He didn’t hit the ball quite as hard as he did during the pandemic-shortened season, but his exit velo, barrel and hard-hit rates, and x-stats all placed right in the 87th to 91st percentile. He also cut his strikeout rate from 30.4% to 24.9% even while maintaining his very, um, expansive notion of the strike zone. He’s down here in the rankings thanks to his 6.1% walk rate and the fact that he’s nothing special as a fielder, but he’s not a bad bet to beat that projection and maintain his place as one of the game’s top 10 right fielders.

Tapia, acquired from the Rockies last week in exchange for Randal Grichuk, is a contact-oriented speedster without much power; last year’s .273/.327/.372 (76 wRC+) was all too representative of his time in Colorado. With a single-digit walk rate, he lives and dies by his BABIP; even his .392 mark from 2020 only led to a 97 wRC+, his career high. Still, he has uses off the bench. Biggio is coming off an injury-marred year during which he hit for just an 84 wRC+ with -0.1 WAR, down from the 117 wRC+ and 3.8 WAR he produced in 159 games in 2019-20. He’ll likely get most of his playing time at second base, but has played 29 games in right over the past two seasons.
Click to expand...
 
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It's quite telling that we only keep extending Montoyo for 1 year beyond the current year. We clearly don't want to lock in long term on him.
 


I dont like questioning the Dodgers but i like this trade for the White Sox more. But watch the Braves Kimbrel come back with the Dodgers. Also Kimbrel and Freeman reunited on the Dodgers, has to hurt for Braves fans.
 
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