Here are a few notes out of Toronto:
- The Jays put some traded-for international spending money to use today in signing Dominican righty Hansel Rodriguez for $330K, explains Ben Badler of Baseball America. After selecting lefty Brian Moran in the Rule 5 draft, Toronto flipped his rights to the Angels in exchange for the 81st overall bonus slot, which boosted the team's total allotment just high enough to add Rodriguez without triggering any penalties.
- GM Alex Anthopoulos has extended at least one player in each of his four winters at the helm of baseball ops, notes Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca. Previous deals were mostly made with arb-eligible players, which could make Colby Rasmus, Brett Cecil, and Esmil Rogers potential candidates. But with no indications that talks have taken place, says Nicholson-Smith, that streak could come to an end this time around. "We don't mind paying a little more to be sure we get a little more information," Anthopoulos said in December. "I think we're getting to that position now."
- The shift in favor of the American dollar against the Canadian variety is beginning to have an impact on Canadian sports teams, writes Sportsnet.ca's Michael Grange. "It won't affect our plans for this year, we're already locked and loaded (with regard to payroll)," said Jays president Paul Beeston. "But it will affect our bottom line, that's for sure."
It was a terrible Cecember for all Blue Jays fans…
Hoping for better things in Smarch!
Lousy Smarch weather.
Smoak possibly playing for the Blue Jays or either Brewers/Pirates in Smarch as Kendry Morales will re-sign w/ the Mariners for a slight less amount than expected if he’s interested.
That Hansel’s so hot right now. Hansel.
All I could think of was Bugs Bunny with a quizzical look on his face, saying ‘Hansel? Hansel?’
“Anthopoulos said in Cecember. “I think we’re getting to that position now.”
Today I learned my elementary school failed me, and there is a 13th month called Cecember.
I think Cecil’s birthday is in that month
At least somebody got the reference to the great slugger, whose blossoming after leaving Toronto left the franchise with the karmic means to benefit from the delayed breakouts of Bautista and Encarnacion.
Nevermind, I’ll just edit,
Tough crowd for one letter off…. Someone feed these jays fans a transaction to devour..
So they should have extended Fielder back in Dec. ’88? Good edit.
90% sure he was referring to Brett Cecil.
source: Jays fan
Brett Cecil the great slugger?
Must be some goofy Canada thing
Seattle Mariners & the Jays better make a deal to acquire Nick Franklin, Justin Smoak, Tyler Pike, James Paxton or Erasmo Ramirez, Stefan Romero or Julio Morban , and a player to be named later to Toronto for Jose Bautista or Colby Rasmus, Brett Cecil, and Sergio Santos in order to compete in the division & one of best records in baseball wise the same way what the Seahawks did to win the division w/ best record in the NFL to win the Super Bowl. That will make the city proud. Mariners All In Strong. Smoak would then be shipped to the Brewers or Pirates for an outfielder and/or pitcher in return.
I swear you have posted this trade in several MLBTR articles now…