The Blue Jays have “legitimate interest” in free agent hurler Jake Odorizzi, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. The Toronto organization has already held a sit-down with his agents regarding that interest (among other matters, no doubt).
Such a connection hardly puts the Blue Jays in the driver’s seat on Odorizzi, but it’s a notable market marker at this early stage. If nothing else, the interest of teams such as this makes it likelier that he’ll decline the qualifying offer he’s presently considering from the Twins.
From the perspective of the Toronto organization, it’s good evidence that the team won’t be limited to sifting through the clearance segment of the market. There’s little doubt, based upon recent public comments from the baseball ops leadership, that value concepts will remain paramount. But that can be found at different price points, and it seems the club is in fact willing to begin opening its wallet — at least to a point.
Odorizzi is durable and won’t reach his 30th birthday until just before the start of the 2020 season. He showed career-best strikeout numbers last year — 10.1 K/9 on a 12.7% swinging-strike rate — while being tasked with a limited but still notable innings load (159 frames over thirty starts). It’s not much of a stretch to imagine Odorizzi serving as a quality piece of the Toronto rotation over the life of a hypothetical deal.
Losing amateur talent resources owing to the qualifying offer represents something of a deterrent, but it obviously shouldn’t and won’t rule out a move for Odorizzi. Former MLBTR scribe Ben Nicholson-Smith recently explored the subject of Toronto pitching targets, in particular. And our own in-house Jays watcher, Mark Polishuk, did so earlier today in the course of his breakdown of the team’s offseason.
Bring him back Brewers!
Would a be good fit with Milwaukee.
He’d be an even better fit with the cubs. And they have the money to spend.
Why not accept the QO and negotiate an extension? Is Toronto going to pay more than the Q.O? Maybe in years, but I bet he can do better staying put.
All about the garantee
What’s a garantee?
That and pay Canadian taxes
Toronto is actually middle of the pack when it comes to taxes.
Yeah at that kind of income there is not much difference in marginal tax rates. That’s a lazy excuse.
Canadian taxes are roughly the same. The benefit to American players up here though is they don’t have to pay ridiculous healthcare costs for themselves & their family, and they paychecks in USD mean every one of the dollars they earn is worth between $1.20-$1.25 up here.
Yeah my Sunday baseball team has legitimate interest in him also but who knows if we’ll get him. Smh
I hope they stay away from all QO players, unless they can somehow manage to lure Cole, Strasburg, or Rendon. I don’t feel like anyone else will be worth the high second round pick and the slot money that goes with it.
Was considering this earlier. Outside Arenado, who’s been an outstanding R2 pick the past decade? Phillies rolled the dice on Gowdy which has been an unmitigated disaster.
In fact, I stand corrected. Bellinger
Too early to say but Bichette not like I’m defending the statement but there are few guys turn out to be huge players like Arenado
I almost feel that the slot money you’d lose from that pick is more of a deterrent than the pick itself. Using it to go overslot in the first round and then going underslot with the second round pick could lead to some serious homeruns in the draft. This might be more of a factor for teams picking later in the first round though with more of a reward potential.
Early but Mets Pete Alonso
These aren’t Arenado level of outstanding (very few are, though), but: Andrelton Simmons (2010), Josh Bell (2011) and Pete Alonso (2016). Too early to tell what Alex Verdugo (2014) and Scott Kingery (2015) will be. Also as someone else said, Bo Bichette (2016), who I think will have a very good career.
Agreed 100%. You give up picks by shooting for the moon. JDGoat nailed it. Go big or just forget it.
I can’t see that cheap skate organization paying for anything.
The Jays were in the top 10 in payroll 5 years this decade.
They’ll end up giving up a better draft pick thatn what they got for Stroman lmao.
Holy hyperbole. The chances of that being true are probably like 5%
5% seems a little too high I’d say…
They’ll end up giving up a better draft pick thatn what they got for Stroman
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You have no idea of who they got for Stroman, do you?
No doubt. Preferred Julian Merryweather over a pick as well.
This front office is so incompetent. They have one of the best foundations in baseball to start with. Great farm, minimal payroll. But are wanting to over pay for Odorizzi.. Just sign Keuchel, keep your draft pick and pool money, and get a guy who may not be great “analytically”, but gets the job done, and has a career era of a respectable 3.76. Mark Buehrle wasn’t flashy, but went out there every 5th day and got the job done and gave you quality innings. Keuchel would cost less than Ordorizzi, and you continue to add pitching in the draft. But no. Let’s overpay for an overrated pitcher who has draft pick compensation next to him.
Yet if the jays stay out you’d complain. Be happy that they are getting involved with the free agent market. Enjoy that they are aggressive so far even if it is rumours they’re out there being aggressive. Better than nothing
Better than nothing? Lol you sound like someone that gives a standing O for a Joe Blanton signing. His point is legitimate, they aren’t in contention or 1 pitcher away, they gave a way a pitcher just as good or better for so-so prospects. Signing non-QO players is the route to take.
An 18 yo pitcher who could very well be a top 100 prospect in a few years and another pitcher who some scouts say #3 is his floor in the rotation. They need veteran pitchers to fill out the rotation and maybe he isn’t the answer but it shows that they are aggressive. They don’t get Jake. They are aggressive for Gibson or Roark. Being aggressive with a pitch with Q/O attached shows that they are willing to spend on pitchers maybe not Jake but could spend for others without a draft pick attached. I’m saying be happy they’re aggressive this offseason
Except the 2021 pitching free agent class doesn’t look that good. Might have to grab one this year instead.
I for one would be ecstatic to see a Joe Blanton signing. I want to feel like I’m still in 2010 or something.
Talk is cheap. Let’s see who puts their signature on an actual contract. Remember it was LaCava who inked Happ to his 3/$36mn deal and Estrada to his 2/$26mn deal in November 2015 before Atkins was hired… Atkins brought us Jaime Garcia at 1/$10mn, plus Clayton Richard and Clay Buchholz both at 1/$3mn… 28 different starters in the last two seasons… in the GTA!
Atkins avoided arbitration with JoshD (AA took him to arbitration and won) making him the richest arb. player in history at that point until Arenado broke the record. Atkins also made a better deal to EE, who is currently unemployed and would be under contract for another year at $20m had his agent not screwed him over.
Didn’t matter who the GM was after 2015; once Shapiro was on board, re-signing Happ & Estrada were the top priorities. Would’ve happened by Atkins anyway.
Agreed. There’s so many options that make more sense. Hamels, Roark, Ryu, Keuchel, Gibson etc. Odorizzi might very well be the last player I’d want them to sign this offseason. He is the type of guy they should be going after next year, when the pick will likely be lower and he’d be contributing to a contender.
Parting with a top 45 Draft Pick & roughly $1.8M in Draft Pool Funds for a mid rotation starter when there’s a dearth of available FA options?
Odorizzi should accept the Qualifying Offer. He’s a 5 Innings & to the showers guy. Fly Ball Pitcher won’t fit Yankees, Phillies, White Sox. Only real clear fit is the Angels if he’s leaving Minnesota. Maybe Milwaukee gets involved if his market isn’t hot. But $17.8M is a good price for Odorizzi who can test next years market and land probably the same 3 Yrs $45M deal he’d be looking for this offseason.
If I’m the Jays, I’m not giving up my 2nd round pick (which will be in the 40s) and $500,000 in international spending money for Odorizzi. If it were Cole, Strasburg (neither of which are happening) or Wheeler, then sure. Not for Odorizzi.
Agree all the way. He may be a very solid pitcher, but Keuchel can arguably give you the same production next year. And has no qualifying offer attached to him. I’m not giving up the 2nd round pick and the 500k either.. Keuchel would sign for much less as well compared to Odorizzi.. it’s not worth it.
In my opinion he’s a must add for us.
Guy can eat innings and get quality starts. We’ve been killing for a consistent guy, he would be a nice change.
How can you say he eats innings. Odorizzi will not save a team’s bullpen, however, as he ranked 80th in baseball at 5.3 innings per start (minimum 100 innings).
Tor gives up BY FAR the best selection if they sign a FA w/ a QO. Puzzling move by the Tor FO.
I’d like to see a story about illegitimate interest, like the interest is forbidden somehow.
When you play in a division with Boston and New York, aim higher than Odorizzi when faced with a loss of a pick and international money. Otherwise just go after the arms without a QO attached.
In his career, Ryu has not just been a product of his home park; his road numbers are solid and he does not have QO attached. Why he continues to be overlooked is baffling. If the Jays aren’t interested in one of the big guys like Cole or Strasburg, go get Ryu.
It'[s baffling how you haven’t noticed how little Ryu has pitched.
He’s a fixture on the DL.
Interesting. His 182.2 innings would have led the Blue Jays by over 28 innings. And 23 more innings than Odorizzi last year. I guess you decided to neglect the 2019 season. Baffling!
1 season makes a trend! Forget about the previous 4!
Then forget Zach Wheeler by your logic. Also wouldn’t trust Odorizzi to hold up when he barely gets through 5 innings every start.
I suspect the reason why the Jays may take a pass on Ryu is that he’s entering his age-33 season and they’d prefer someone with less durability issues who can be productive for at least the next 3 yrs.
I’d expect any team that needs a pitcher would have legitimate interest. So really all 30 teams. You would then take out teams that dont ever spend money Marlins pirates Reds Rays, A’s dbacks the remaining teams would and should have interest. The cubs have just as much interest as the blue jays
Well, it’s a moot point now. Odorizzi just accepted the Twins QO.