Blue Jays fans have been anxiously anticipating the arrival of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but they’ll have to wait a bit longer, as the 19-year-old phenom was placed on the minor league disabled list today after incurring a leg injury (link via Chris Bumbaca of MiLB.com). Guerrero went from first to second on a single, slid into the bag and immediately signaled for a trainer’s assistance before exiting the contest, though Fisher Cats manager John Schneider called the placement “cautious.” The team didn’t disclose further details on Guerrero’s injury, though all indications from the organization to this point seem to be that it’s minor.
Here’s more out of Toronto…
- While the Jays have played Teoscar Hernandez more in right field than it left, it seems that he’ll move to left field on a largely permanent basis moving forward. As MLB.com’s Gregor Chisholm writes, the team feels that Hernandez has the arm for right field but that his range and instincts are better suited for the other corner slot. Randal Grichuk will likely get another shot to take the reins in right field, where he comes with a history of strong defensive ratings (career +9.1 UZR/150). Grichuk has gotten off to a disastrous start to his Blue Jays career, hitting .115/.202/.269 in 89 plate appearances, though Statcast gives some reason to be optimistic; Grichuk’s 99.1 mph average exit velocity on balls in the air and knack for barreling the ball have translated to a .318 xwOBA that dwarfs his current .209 wOBA.
- Right-hander Sam Gaviglio has been a rare bright spot in an otherwise dreadful season for the Jays, writes Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Acquired in a forgettable spring trade in which the Jays sent only cash considerations to the Royals, Gaviglio has stepped up as one of the club’s most consistent starters and has earned a longer look in the rotation. Through 28 2/3 innings thus far, he’s pitched to a 2.51 ERA with 8.2 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 1.26 HR/9 and a 54.4 percent ground-ball rate. While it’s obviously a small sample and Gaviglio shouldn’t be expected to continue sporting a sub-3.00 ERA, fielding-independent metrics in that small sample are encouraging. Zwelling takes a look at the manner in which Gaviglio has found his early success. Of course, he also notes that the very fact that Gaviglio is poised to get any type of notable look in the rotation is a testament to the team’s struggles this season and the fact that things have hardly gone as planned. As the Jays struggle, trade chatter surrounding veterans on the club will only increase. J.A. Happ’s name has already begun to pop up on the rumor mill (FanRag’s Jon Heyman took a look at that earlier today), and if the Jays do deal from their rotation it could open the door for Gaviglio to get an even lengthier audition.
Let`s not get to impressed with this Jays future. Grichuk had a good game today but he still belongs in the minors.
Gaviglio is the real deal. He can pitch and make a good 5th starter.
Vlad belongs in the minors until his glove is ready. It would be stupidity to bring him up sooner.
The Jays executive should be trying to trade everyone they can for as many pieces as possible. This team is going no where in 2018 or `19 or `20 with the pitching they have in the system.
Who hasn’t had a good game against Baltimore?
Gaviglio may as well stay with the big club. He has earned it. Since the Jays should be rebuilding he should have a spot, if healthy, next year.
Agreed on the executives.
Idk what you have against Grichuk. He’s effectively an OF version of Mark Reynolds. And he actually plays decent defense.
I agree that Grichuk is very good defensively. He runs routes well and very good speed. His arm can be a little off though. It is not a Bautista arm.
His bat is awful. He has very good power but his hand to eye coordination definitely is not there as MLB level. Recently he changed his plate stance to a more upright position which has helped, but in the AL, this guy may bat .185 which is minor league calibre. Combine that with swings and misses and we have a AAA player.
There is a reason that Grichuk was a 4th outfielder is St Louis and was sent down so many times.
@jimmertee
“Combine that with swings and misses and we have a AAA player.”
AAA players don’t manage to post a career wRC+ above 100 (with over 1000 PA)
Grichuk is at minimum at 4th OF and is good enough to be a starting OF on most teams.
The 93 PA in 2018 doesn’t trump his 1400 PA from 2015 – 2017.
Grichuk would be a 40 HR threat if he were the OF version of Mark Reynolds. He is not. He has the tools to be much better than he is. Good defender, absolutely.
@TrimReaper
Reynolds
– career wRC+ is 105
– career ISO is .219
Grichuk
– career wRC+ is 104
– career ISO is .235
They profile very similarly.
Those aren’t production results. Those are calculations. It tells people absolutely nothing about the type of player he, and others, happen to be.
Yah, stats mean nothing moving forward. They only work for fantasy ball and have nothing to do with scouting looking forward. Not worth arguing. Grichuk has had a couple of good games but longterm he’ll be a very offensively weak defensive replacement. Anyone can hit against the current Orioles pitching. Diaz proves that.
Put those two up against a good starting rotation and there will be a lot of Ofers. All anyone has to do is execute offspeed againt Grichuk and Diaz and stop throwing them centercut heaters or floating slow stuff on the inner half. lol.
Does Vlad Jr go to the plate wearing no batting gloves either?
Sam Gaviglio looks good besides the 1.3 HR/9. He’s lucky the home runs have only been 1-2 runs.
Gotta love a change of scenery improvement for pitchers- Sam Gaviglio was trash in our (Mariners) BP he got traded for peanuts to KC. I’m happy he’s succeeding for Toronto but scratching my head saying is the same same pitcher who was on our 25 man roster haha!?
It could be Gaviglio caught lightnining in a bottle and just figured it out or it could be like a former Jay and MAriner, Casey Lawrence: one day his heater is 88MPH and then miraculously it rises to 91-92MPH range. How does that happen?
good luck getting Grichuk going. if u do more power to u. He has so much raw power but just is not consistent enough. I was really pulling for him to over CF in STL.
Doubt the Jays will be tearing it up. Why should they? Two of the teams in their division (O’s and Rays) are dumpster fires who won’t be competitive until Baron Trump is president. If they tear it apart, they’ll lose some of that great attendance.
Actually better to add in a band-aid here and there, and wait for an underrated farm system (there’s more there than Vlad) to bubble up and bring them back into contention. By that time, the Sox will have aged, or lost players in Free Agency, and they have zero prospects; not a one.
The farm is good, but they’ll definitely sell off Anyone not controlled for next year, and even some of the longer term guys if the return is right.
The best chance they’ll have is to wait until Martin and Morales’ money is off the books and start from there.
Gotta love Jays fans. Gaviglio is legit, why did they cut Goins and why didnt they try him in the cleanup spot, where is Kawasaki, fire Gibby, resign Bautista, Edwin, JD, does Doug Gilmour play baseball, hate Mike Wilner cause he treats us like we’re dummies when we ask why they didnt have Smoak bunting in the 2nd inning…etc etc etc.
So many fans, so many morons.
You referring to Wilner, JD?
Jays fans. Wilner knows what he’s talking about. The people he has to deal with are ridiculous.
Obviously knew who you were talking about. Wilner’s a Rogers puppet.
You’re honestly such an idiot
Wilner’s a smart guy, but he works for the man. He has strings attached, no question. Who is worse is Pat Tabler. I swear he doesn;t think before sound comes out of his mouth. Most of the stuff he says is total trash.
I listen to Danny and Buck. The best of the best. If it’s not them then I am tuning into the visitors telecast esecially the Yqnkees of the Red Sox. Great commentators.
Unhinged much, JD? Easy there son. It’s the weekend, sunshine is back in the city. No tears please.
Like
Surprised cards gave up on gaviglio a couple years back. He had good numbers, unless he was traded and I dont remember
Happ would be a perfect fit for Brewers.
I still think the Jay’s should lose Vlad Jr. since they had a deal in place long before he was eligible to sign
Okay Blue Jays fans, if you were the Jay’s GM, what would you do to change the Toronto Blue Jays club? Would you plan for shortterm like Dombrowski does or longterm like Cashman does?
What moves would you make and why?
You aim long term and hope for short term. I’d be peddling Happ to the Yanks or any team in-need of an arm. Every player on the MLB squad is available. Every single one.
The goal is to obtain young arms, preferably guys above high A but that’s tall order. Nonetheless pitching is the target. Secondary spots to focus on: Outfield (CF/RF), Catcher and First Base.
Jimmer, this is all contingent on Rogers allowing me a full dismantle. In reality, they do not want to lose money the way they did in the 2000’s. I haven’t checked the final hockey ratings but I bet they didn’t get the return on investment they hoped. They can’t go back to 15,000 fans at the Dome again.
That means the current GM will have no choice but to have a soft build and spend the way they have the last couple off-seasons. Organization may be overconfident in their farm system which is a mistake. With no pitching, questionable Alford, the farm is not as strong as people believe. Especially with little pitching depth.
Donaldson-gone
Tulo- keep, can’t get what you need in return. He’s a good leader and mentor to bo or sone other prospect coming up!
Travis- keep
Smoaky- keep
Martin-keep, leader/mentor for Jansen!
Grichuk-keep another year, might just be a depth guy
Pillar- keep
Hernandez- big keep and continued playing time.
Morales/Pearce- gone
Stroman/Sanchez-have faith
Happ-trade, worth something!
Estrada-not sure
Garcia/Gaviglio-starters for number 5 and depth next year
Bull pen- good enough. Were gassed after the dismal start of our starters. And bp can be changed on the fly/FA!!
I think the Jays can go on a hard rebuild. Get me in the room with the board of directors and I’ll sell it. I cannot put up with the years and years of futility that I see coming at the Cleveland Regime’s guidance.
The only way I see a soft rebuild contining is the Board is trying to sell the team and Stadium and therefore will not budge on trying to put people in the seats.
So everyone is available except for Stroman, PIllar, Gurriel Jr and Vlad jr. Let the fire sale begin.
Pillar should be dealt too. And if any team still values Stroman as a 1-2 starter, move him too. Pillar has been given every chance to evolve, and hasn’t- not to mention he probably won’t age well. Stroman is a me-first player that pitched well last year, but reminds me a lot of Ricky Romero.
I like the idea of keeping Pilar. He’ll age fine into his FA timing when the Jays can let him go. He is what he is. At the end of the year he’ll be a 15Hr .250 BA, 20 steals with elite defense. Any GM and Manager would take that in a heartbeat. We gotta have someone still play for the Jays.
Stroman is a good to very good starter, he’ll likely never be a true #1 due to emotional issues. I would move him to the closer role where I project him to be elite. Osuna will likely never see another game in a Jay;’s uniform anyway.