Earlier today, the Blue Jays shipped catcher Yorvit Torrealba to the Brewers for cash considerations or a player to be named later. More out of the American League East..
- Derek Jeter says that suggestions that he wants to play elsewhere are "comical," and that he obviously wants to end career with the Yankees, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch (via Twitter). Yesterday, Jeter seemed to imply that he would be open to playing for another club once his contract expires. The shortstop is under contract for 2013 with an $8MM player option for '14.
- Most members of the Red Sox braintrust are keeping a close eye on whether the team will have a top-ten pick in this year's draft, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com. Outside of the obvious benefits of having a higher pick, top ten selections are protected, giving the Red Sox flexibility in the event that they wanted to pursue a free agent such as Josh Hamilton. In the case of Hamilton, multiple sources say that Boston is unlikely to join the fray for the 31-year-old, which is in line with what has been previously reported.
- Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star isn't quite sure if Alex Anthopoulos is the General Manager to take the Blue Jays to the next level. However, Griffin believes that Anthopoulos is ready to do more traditional things this winter like signing short-term veteran free agents and packaging prospects to land one solid major league talent.
I was looking earlier today at that possibility for the RS. That would certainly be a boost for the sox, especially because the top 10 is where the real talent lies. If you are going to miss the postseason that is the way, because then you get that extra nice draft pick. Hamilton would definetely be a better value than they paid for Crawford. Nava has really fallen apart, so it might be nice to add an outfielder. They need some more pitching and a 1B though.
Hamilton would be a huge mistake for the Sox. Hope they don’t go down that road.
I kinda remember during the last CBA that compensation picks didn’t count as part of the number of protected picks, has that changed?
only the first 10 picks of the draft are protected. so if you lose a draft pick but are within th 10 worst teams then it comes out of your 2nd round allotment.
Ok, basically same rules as before only it’s the top 10 picks now instead of top 15. Speier’s article was implying that since the Pirates get the 9th pick as compensation that whoever is the 10th worst team (getting the 11th pick) won’t have a protected first round pick.
You still get a pick next year when any of your first three rounds go unsigned. Supplemental picks (sandwich rounds) no longer exist.
In fact, you can get another compensation pick for an unsigned compensation pick. In other words, if Pirates do not sign their 9th pick, they will receive another compensation pick in 2013.
Couldn’t agree more about Alex Anthopoulos not being ready for prime time. This year’s Blue Jays fiasco is 100% on him, he and his horrendous manager have made one disastrous decision after the other, and the Escobar embarrassment is the icing on the cake. Jays need to fully clean house and move forward.
Right. Shame on Anthopoulos and Farrell for getting all these players injured and underperforming.
*rolls eyes*
While we’re at it, let’s also blame them for Morrow, Encarnacion, and, excluding tonight, Villanueva.
Is he talking about the same Farrell that was rumored the sox want back to replace Bobby V. The one where the Jays asked for Buch.
Yes, cause AA is the one that plays the game and is unlucky enough to get injured ever so often. I would not judge AA on this year’s performance as the Blue Jays fielded a very incoherent and inconsistent team for most of the year due to
injuries. However, if they come out next year and record another garbage of a season AA should be held responsible as he has had enough time to turn things around.
Here’s the scenario: Last 3 games of the season vs. Yankees. Baltimore needs Sox to win 2 of 3 to knock Yanks out of playoffs. But, the wins will give the Sox the 11th (unprotected) pick in the draft. What do you do????
Pretty sure the Yankees will do no worse than the wild card. Their magic number to clinch a playoff spot is only 7. I’d be surprised if they don’t get at the very least 1 of the 2 WC spots.
If the red sox get a top ten pick that will really help them. For one thing they will get a high level player. For another thing they can sign a high level free agent without sacrificing a draft pick. Maybe Ediwn Jackson
If Boston fails to get a top 10 pick? it will show how bad some teams really are.. they have had rookies in the lineup, except for Pedroia and Loney with occasionally Salty for weeks and the rotation has had *SP* (loose term) people like Cook and Matsuzaka in it.
They have gotten a decent idea on Lavarnway and iglesias for next year. Lava’s defense is better than was advertised, his bat will be fine. The one aspect of his game never questioned and last 2 games even iglesias has hit and his glove/range is amazing. whether or not he or Ciriaco will be the SS next year is still a good one however.
Wouldn’t worry about a top 10, but hope they can get around #8-9.
I wouldn’t focus on just one pick. Boston’s 2nd round pick can yield them a Tier One High School prospect. Losing Ortiz can yield another.
In short, Boston has the potential the get three Tier One High School prospects from the 2013 draft. Surely, one of them will turn into an impact player. Remember, David Price was about the 30th best high school prospect. Will Middlebrooks was about 25th best.
There won’t be anymore Middlebrooks/Rizzo/Lavarnway/Ceccini’s falling to Boston in rounds 4-6 anymore. The new CBA isn’t going to leave them the money to sign them to overslot budgets required.
Now, players of that type will have to be taken in rounds 1-1S and actually given the bonus (slot) they deserve, rather than falling due to signability/college commitment.
But, that type of player will likely be available in the second round since supplemental picks no longer exist. Remember, qualified free agents now only net you one draft pick (1st or 2nd OR best round available).
Those types are gambles now. Middlebrooks with his strong college commit, Cecchini and his contractual demand/injury. Rizzo and his FB career and money seeking.
Teams will be wary of taking those types without have more than 1 1st, or 2nd round pick, even if they get the pick back the next season for failure to sign them.
Even in 2011, Jackie Bradley fell to them because he had a wrist injury. His money was over 1m in 1S. Can’t count on those types again. Brandon Jacobs in round 10. It’s just entirely different.
I guess it will come down to the aggressiveness of the GM and the current state of his farm system. The worst case scenario for those GMs is a compensation pick in the following year. In most cases, a “protected” compensation pick.
Toronto sports reporters are very funny. They are the strongest advocates of building through the draft until they actually have a GM on their hands who is building through the draft.
Anyone touting Blue Jays had a nucleus that could be turned into a front runner with a couple of bold moves is unbalanced. This includes you Gregg Zaun.
This GM has turned the 29th best farm system into the 2nd best farm system within three drafts and a few shrewd trades.
Myself, I am willing to wait to see how this eventually impacts the team. The idea of trading these top prospects for one year of Matt Garza is madness.
And I am wondering if Dick Griffin is the right beat writer to cover the Jays when they win the WS in a couple of years.
Only because he knows he can get a good seat anytime!
I would of shipped escobar out by now, had adienny play everyday, let johnson go this offseason, unless hes still cheap. sign maybe ortiz to a DH role, Edwin at first, trade Lind and Arencibia (if you really have to) for a great caliber starting pitcher. Have Sierra play DH and back up outfield to Davis in LF everyday if we don’t upgrade. Gose on the bench as an OF and Rasmus and Bautista and Lawrie still there. Mathis shouldn’t of been resigned. Arencibia and D’Arnaud could handle next season. I’d try to resign Carlos V. but doubt that will happen now.
I’m not sure what starter we could acquire…but someone who can pitch 180+ innings a year, have good strikeouts to walks ratio and who gets a lot of ground ball outs. Not sure what will be out there in the offseason but hope Jays go for that first thing…
I really should have stopped after you thought Lind and Arencibia could get you a great caliber starting pitcher, but I had to address the Mathis thing. I agree Mathis should not have been given two years, but it is absolutely pointless if you had JP and d’Arnaud as your catchers. They are both starters and you are not going to let one’s value rot away on the bench. Mathis is not a terrible backup. Sierra is not someone you start at DH more so even start next year and Rajai is much better as a 4th outfielder/late inning roleplayer…not to mention the fact you want him to start over Gose. Besides signing Carlos V and maybe Ortiz, nothing you suggested makes the team any better than it already is.
Hmm… Sounds like you want Derek Lowe.