Despite a strong finish to the 2010 campaign, first baseman Lyle Overbay is unsure if he has a future with the Blue Jays, writes Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. With changes around the corner in Toronto, Overbay says that he's less-than-thrilled about the prospect of being part of a rebuilding effort.
"The situation has got to be right," the 33-year-old said. "Obviously, it's not going to be a long-term deal. So, if they take a step back, I just don't see myself coming into that. It's not going to help them and it's not going to help me, because I'm not going to be part of the winning part of it."
The Blue Jays have options to turn to if they decide not to retain Overbay, though they all come with question marks. Designated hitter Adam Lind was auditioned at first base this year but GM Alex Anthopoulos admitted that the available sample size (eleven games) was not enough to judge his fielding. Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion are other possible candidates but Bastian writes that Toronto will look out-of-house for a new first baseman in 2011 if they don't hang on to Overbay.
The market is prepared to welcome Overbay. I say he is a candidate to surprise some people on a new team next year. Say for example, a team who falls out of the Adam Dunn race signs Overbay and gets a lot from him. Maybe the Cubs.
I’ve enjoyed your time with us OB, but it’s time to part ways.
Good. The Jays should go sign Victor Martinez or Adam Dunn now (yikes to that defensive 1B platoon with Lind!)
I’d love to see them sign Dunn and just turn into the ultimate all-or-nothing team at the plate, haha. Retain Encarnacion, sign Cust to DH, put Lind back in the field, and just watch the home runs and Ks pile up! 🙂
Please, please dont suggest a trade of the Yunigma if were talking about “all of nothing”.
Why would you sign either and why would either come here?
I’m sure V-Mart still wants to be a catcher and I’d prefer to keep the 1st rounder.
Not a chance Dunn comes back here… ever.
I thought Dunn’s beef with the Jays had all to do with Riccardi rather than anything about the team.
Riccardi is still here? News to me. Why would I sign either? Uhh because this team needs an injection of OBP?
Riccardi is still here? News to me. Why would I sign either? Uhh because this team needs an injection of OBP?
So long Overpay good luck in getting another big contract that you’ll never live up to.
Farewell Overpaid. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Overbay’s first year here he was hitting everything, but as he got older he really couldn’t catch up to those fastballs anymore and pounded everything else into the dirt. Good luck to him though !
Lyle Overbay is not a good major league player. I am aware that avg, RBI and runs are not the accepted measures anymore but really, he is a first baseman who has a high of 22 HR in his 5 years in Toronto and a low of 10, he hasn’t had more than 74 runs or 69 RBI in the last 4 seasons. I mean this is a guy that has been hitting in the middle of the order for the Jays pretty much since he got there and he can’t do better than 69 RBI?? I am aware that some of that comes from the people in front of him not getting on but seriously. And for you lovers of the newer metrics (of which I am one) here are his OBS’s from the last 4 seasons: .706, .777, .838, .762. One decent year in the last 4 whilst collecting $24 000 000.
I am not a Blue Jay fan by any means but really, you have to be able to do better than this for easily half the price.
i think overbay could latch on with an NL team and be a nice buy low candidate. you have to remember he was in the toughest division in the AL. not sure on what all NL teams need a 1B… maybe a fielder trade leads to another stint in milwaukee? or how about the rangers? nice small hitters park, they don’t have a for sure 1B option for next year do they? maybe he could DH on some days