Several executives appeared on MLB Network Radio with Jim Bowden today including Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins and Rays president of baseball operation Matt Silverman. Atkins spoke on a number of subjects (tweets 1, 2, 3, 4) including the roles of prospects Aaron Sanchez and Roberto Osuna. Both have succeeded in the bullpen, and the Jays “want to stay flexible. We don’t want to paint ourselves into a corner, just increase depth.” It’s been speculated that one or both pitchers could be converted back to the rotation – possibly in the minors.
Here’s more from the radio show and around the division:
- Atkins has met with Edwin Encarnacion and plans to meet with Jose Bautista next week to discuss contract extensions. No offers have been made. Both sluggers are in the final year of their respective contracts. Encarnacion, 33, will earn $10MM in 2016 while Bautista, 35, will take home $14MM. Despite being on the wrong side of 30, they are in line for large raises.
- Atkins also addressed rumors regarding R.A. Dickey. We’re “not actively shopping him,” per Atkins. As is the policy with most players, the club will listen to offers. Given that the rotation isn’t exactly a strong suit for the Blue Jays, I figure the club would have to be on the verge of signing a free agent like Wei-Yin Chen or Yovani Gallardo if they’re seriously considering a Dickey swap.
- Moving onto the Rays, the club is hopeful a vote next week could free them up to look at stadium sites in Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg (tweet). Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times has more specific details of the proposal if you’re interested. Relocation negotiations with St. Petersburg have long clouded the Rays economic future.
- Silverman confirmed that the Rays have talked frequently with the Cubs (tweet). “We know we line up really well with them given our depth and strengths.” Earlier this winter, we heard rumors of Chicago interest in starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi. The Rays were said to be interested in infielder Javier Baez.
- While Tampa Bay will entertain offers for their relievers, “they are a big part of our club.” Last season, the Rays maximized the performances of pitchers like Erasmo Ramirez and Nate Karns by turning to the bullpen early in their starts. The club could look to leverage their relievers in a similar way this season. As such, Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger may stay put.
- The health of Orioles prospect Dylan Bundy will be one of the top stories in their upcoming minicamp, writes Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun. Bundy has spent most of the last three seasons on the disabled list after making two relief appearances in 2012. As such, he’s out of options but hasn’t had an opportunity to develop over the last three campaigns. In many ways, he resembles a Rule 5 pick.
- Should the Orioles consider forfeiting their 14th overall pick to sign Justin Upton or Gallardo, wonders Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. He takes a look at 14th picks back through 1990. The finding: there are some big hits and misses (this is true of all picks in the middle of the first round). In the case of signing Upton, it’s a lot easier to justify discarding a long term draft asset. Kubatko would want Gallardo to ink a three-year deal in order to part with the pick.
- The Yankees have two spots left on the 40-man roster and a couple ways to fill them, writes Ryan Hatch of NJ.com. As he notes, a splashy trade is possible. However, I agree that it’s more likely the club targets another backup infielder to provide depth up the middle or a pitcher to compete for a middle relief role.
Would love to see both Eddie and Jose back to finish their careers, hopefully they know they will big have to take a cut if they both want to stay. It would be good to see Chen in the rotation, trade dicky for some prospects and get rid of Thole. We shall see.
The Jays’ rotation may not be overly strong, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a surplus of arms. I don’t think moving R.A is only viable if they add another FA arm (which would just further glut their rotation long-term), Stroman, Estrada, Happ, one of Sanchez/Osuna and one of Hutchison/Chavez would be a decent enough rotation with that Blue Jays offense to back them. If they can get a prospect for R.A and then add another back-end piece for the bullpen with the money saved, that’s not a bad idea.
While I appreciate Dickey’s ability to go 200+ inning a year while providing a league average ERA (which is actually quite valuable), I’m also a bit afraid that he’s about to ‘lose it’ at any moment now.
Yes he is a knuckleballer, but I can help but to notice that he’s 41 yrs-old.
If the Blue Jays played in Safeco field, O.Co Coliseum, or Petco Park, my opinion of things would be different, but it’s the Roger’s Centre. And his HR rates have been pretty bad as of late too.
Furthermore, it will likely force the Blue Jays to move Thole, which helps open up another roster spot.
Swap him now, while he still has some trade value; that’s the way I see things.
Considering Dickey is at best a 4/5 pitcher, I don’t see any team giving up any significant prospect back (maybe a prospect in the 20-30 range, or maybe multiple prospects outside of the top 30).
@ JT19
So 200+ inning at a league average ERA makes you a 4/5 pitcher at best?
Lol what?
At the very least, Dickey is a passable #3 for a playoff team, or a very strong #3 for a non-playoff team.
As a pitcher Dickey is perfectly fine. The problem is that he needs a specialized catcher, which takes up the extra roster spot.
200 innings is a lot to hand over to unproven arms. I wouldn’t feel comfortable if they did that.
A shame about Dylan Bundy
Bundy got Talent to be 1 one starter hope can break thru his injures and be that guy we saw three years 20 inns stuck out I think 12 of batters he face orioles needs sumbody to stand up be that 1 starter
If the O’s sign Davis, they may not sign Gallardo due to draft pick compensation. Losing the 14th overall may not be all that palatable. But if Davis leaves, signing Upton and diving up the 14th pick and getting a mid-30s pick back would be easier to do, which means they would be giving up a 2nd rounder to sign Gallardo, also easier. It may make sense for the O’s brass to tell Boras that he has until January 15 (or some other arbitrary date in the next week or so) to sign or they will move on and BE FIRM ABOUT IT.
From what I gather with the new system, if you gain picks from outgoing players, those picks will be in line to be forfeited, unlike before so in the end, if they sign Gallardo they will keep their second round pick but lose one of their comp picks
I would like to see the Jays sign Davis and let Encarnacion walk next offseason
I love Crush Davis, but Baltimore needs pitching. Yes he hits for amazing power and produces runs, but they have good options in house to play first. I’m betting on a rebound with Trumbo as I’m thinking BAL is too. If we learned anything from last season, pitching wins you ball games. KC is the greatest example of that. NYY are catching onto it as well as they have basically made games 6 inning games now having Chapman, Miller, and Betances. BAL offense is good having Jones, Machado, Trumbo, Wieters, and a more experience Schoop. Add Gallardo and Bastardo and trade Matusz to acquire a good outfielder to solidify the outfield.
very well said… they sure don’t make it easy for Buck.. but he seems to find a way..I think
O’s will somehow make the post season in 2016 , With Davis there is a better chance..
I personally don’t understand why the Orioles are spending money when they have close to zero chance of contending. They have no rotation as in no one’s good. They don’t have much of a line up besides Jones / Machado and Davis who might leave. It’s not like they’re boat loaded with prospects that can help at the MLB level either. Why not call it a day and start rebuilding? Buc does a great job running the team but the front office just seems like a wreak. Rebuild the farm that ranks close to last in all farm rankings and start over. They’re the ones who needed to sign Alex Anthopoulos.
Orioles are one of two teams to have winning records in AL Easta and pounded tgeYankees and Jays last week of the season. Orioele team era was about same as Yankees and Orioles pen was much better. Red Soxpicked up David Price and lost a good solid starter in Miley. Yankees best hree player are their oldest. The team with best recor1d in AL East since 2012 is the Orioles. Toronto won because of Price last year and lost Buehrle and replaced him with JA Happ. Whether Chris Davis realizes he has to swalow his pride like Arod did in 2007 and come back to Baltimore. If not Cespedes will be in Baltimore. Not a weak bat in thatlineup..Schoop hit 15 hrs in 300 at bats. Wieters gets a full season and Chris tillman will rebound. There is no clear leader in AL East.
1) The addition of David Price far outweighs whatever they might have lost in Miley (who they picked up a solid reliever for in return).
2) Who do you consider the Yankees three best players that they are the oldest? Imo the Yankees three best players could arguably be Chapman, Miller, Betances. Chapman is definetly up there, I would have to put Miller up there too and I could see an argument being made for another player (Tex, Tanaka maybe) in place of Betances.
3)A-Rod didn’t swallow his pride. Swallowing his pride would’ve been to not opt-out or sign for cheaper, but instead signed for another long, expensive contract. If that’s what you consider swallowing his pride, I’m sure Davis will have no problem doing so.
I agree there is no clear leader, but the Orioles have arguably the weakest team on paper (for what its worth) without Chris Davis. With Davis that lineup becomes a better (probably up there with the Jays as being the best on paper) and the rotation is still uninspiring. While their pen does look good, I would only rate their pen as being the fourth best (on paper) in the division (in no particular order the Sox, Yankees and Rays, if they keep McGee, would be ahead). This team has an aging core that, outside of Machado and maybe Britton, could easily regress. They also have fee prospects to replenish the system so they are looking at a Phillies style rebuild. They should at least try to make the playoffs this year, but if they don’t they should just tear it all down.
Pounded the Jays farm team the last week of the season you meant to say.. They sat all the regulars after taking the first game in Baltimore to clinch the division.
Mitch August your comment is an insult to people who think. Baltimore’s rotation is dead last in the AL east and that lineup w/o machado is not very good. Jones isn’t getting any younger and weiters had a very poor last 2 seasons. The farm system also has next to nothing in it… And as for comparison to NYY’s bullpen, their pen on paper could be one of the greatest ever. Come on man!