74 Responses to “It’s Not A Rebuild, It’s A Remodel”

1. 1.
   September 26th, 2009 at 1:35 am
   

   Hi Mike,

   I’m with you when you say Harold Baines does not deserve Hall of Fame consideration. Baines 22 years and 2866 hits (an average of only 130 hits a year) hardly wow your socks off. The peculiar thing about Baines career is the time missed because of baseballs labour issues. In 1981 the White Sox lost 56 games to the strike. In 1985 one game was lost to the strike. In 1994 and 1995 a total of 70 games were lost due to labour stoppage. That’s a total of 127 games. Assuming Baines had averaged one hit per game, that would have given him a career total of 2993 hits. He surely would have hung around to get the extra 7 hits to reach 3000. Even in that case I still do not consider him HOF material. That would have been 3000 hits and not one that was important. For what it’s worth, Baines did play in 2830 games, so he did average one hit per game.

   - Jim in Ohio
2. 2.
   September 26th, 2009 at 2:16 am
   

   i seem to recall suggesting some of these ideas…though i think zambrano is more realistic and cost efficient than felix…id suggest dangling romero as trade bait..he throws a violent slider that will most certainly blow out his arm soon…much like felix…sell high..also, feilder is gonna cost a hell of a lot more than that..i would suggest making romero/stewart/arencibia/janssen as those to trade to acquire all of the above…finally, reyes would also solve a lot of issues for the jays, and is allegedly on the trade market

   MW: Reyes is a heck of a player, it’s true, but he’s damaged goods – and a leg injury for a speed guy is a big red flag. He also gives you that leadoff guy with the .340-.350 on-base percentage, which is less than ideal. I don’t see how Zambrano would be more cost-efficient than Felix – he’s set to make just over $54 million over the next three seasons, and he’s older than and not as good as Hernandez. I really think I’m overpaying for Fielder, seeing as it’s only for one year.

   - jp
3. 3.
   September 26th, 2009 at 2:36 am
   

   I agree with you on almost everything (Felix, Fielder, Figgins, Hardy and a new manager in particular) but man.. Snider was considered a top #5 prospect going into this year. I feel like you’re dealing him low right now – I know you don’t get Felix without Snider but I really like what Snider could become. Then again, he could still be a bust. Your suggestions seem far too frantic for a JP offseason!

   MW: They’re definitely too frantic for a JP off-season, maybe for anyone’s off-season, but that’s what I’d do. I don’t think you’re selling low on Snider at all, and I still think he winds up being great, but I’m all for trading potential for established greatness.

   - Renegade
4. 4.
   September 26th, 2009 at 2:37 am
   

   For the offseason, this is how I would do it:

   Starting by trading Ricky Romero straight up for JJ Hardy. I’m pretty sure the Brewers would go for this.

   Next I would go strong at the Angels to acquire Mike Napoli. A package involving Cecil, Brad Mills and one of the outfield prospects the Jays have in the lower minors (Thames/Chavez/Sierra). This immediately turns the team’s worst hitter from this season (Barajas) into one of their best.

   I think you stick with E5 at third and take the chance that he can break out into a legitimate middle-of-the-order hitter. Additionally, I’m fine with a Overbay/Ruiz platoon at first (though I think signing Delgado to DH, Moving Lind to first, and trading Overbay isn’t a terrible idea either). Snider becomes the full-time RF regardless.

   Then sign Matt Holliday to play LF (phenomenally better defender than Bay, and younger) followed by all of John Lackey, Erik Bedard, and Rich Harden. Holliday would probably need around 17MM per and Lackey at around 16MM. Bedard gets a 1-year contract with a 4MM base with incentives for starts/innings pitched. I think the biggst thing for Harden will be getting a multi-year contract; 20MM/3 with incentives pushing it up to 30MM based on starts would make him happy I think.

   I think the offensive improvements from Napoli, Holliday, Snider playing all year (and hopefully breaking out), and Wells hitting like himself, along with Hardy maintaining a status quo at shortstop makes the offense very good overall (assuming Lind can maintain and Hill’s likely power dropoff isn’t too substantial).

   A rotation of Halladay, Lackey, Bedard, Harden, Marcum would immediately become the best in baseball, as each could reasonably be excepted to put up an ERA under 3.30. Of course, this rotation could just as easily turn into a MASH unit, but there would still be a number of pitchers ready to come up from AAA and fill in at any point in the season.

   A quick estimate of the team payroll would be around 120MM, assuming the free agent deals aren’t backloaded or whatever. I realize this all hinges heavily on the health of the rotation, but I think the upside is worth the gamble, considering the downside is Richmond, Rzepcynski, and McGowan starting instead.

   LONG POST but uuuh, what do you think?

   MW: First, I’d never trade Romero straight up for Hardy. I don’t see how you see Hardy as a mantaining of the status quo at shortstop – he’s a bottom of the line-up guy from whom you hope for a little pop. I like the idea of Napoli – I like him a lot – but I’m not as sold on Holliday, especially given the money he’ll command. I think the line-up you’ve put together has far too many ifs in it.

   - Pete
5. 5.
   September 26th, 2009 at 2:47 am
   

   Mike, Mike, Mike. You are grossly underestimating what it would take to get king felix from the mariners. simply based on what other teams are going to be able to offer, the deal for him would have to include at least one legit big league player who is established and under control…ie Lind, a big time near major league ready or finding his way in the majors prospect…Snider…and your top pitching prospect..which in my opinion is not fully established but might be Rzep or Cecil..but dont be surprised if they asked for romero. thats right, it might take lind, snider and romero to get king felix here.

   MW: Zod, Zod, Zod, you’re grossly overestimating what it would take to get King Felix. Cecil and Snider as the centrepieces of a package that includes one more top prospect should be enough, but there might need to be another top prospect, with which I have no problem parting.

   - General Zod
6. 6.
   September 26th, 2009 at 3:32 am
   

   Mike,

   love this post, your plan is complicated but i like it, just one thing, do you think you can have that trade for king Felix without throwing in snider? i hesitate to use the phrase untouchable cause honestly its quite stupid, but he is going to be a future all star someday and it would be terrible to see him go, do you think throwing in Arencibia would work? he did have a rough year last year but wasn’t it just that? he did have decent power numbers, maybe a few more B prospects?

   Also do you think the brewers would take that deal? it seems kind of light for one of the best young sluggers in the game, even if it is for only one year.

   MW: I think Snider is going to be an all-star too, but the deal doesn’t get made without including him. See above. And with the Fielder deal, the thing is, it’s only for one year of him.

   - Randy
7. 7.
   September 26th, 2009 at 3:33 am
   

   That seems much more than the plan you mentioned before. I think that the other plan was good enough espicially that you’re giving up snider, rezp, cecil thats way too much

   - nik
8. 8.
   September 26th, 2009 at 3:56 am
   

   now that is a middle of the order with some professional hitting at the top also…pretty studly rotation as well with Doc and King…and you done it cost-effectively…yes we give up alot of our farm, but we’re pretty deep…and the marketplace is hungry for a winner…this vaults us in contention…a long term contract to Bay does worry me though based on his age and past inconsistency, but no doubt it’ll cause a buzz here…this would harken back to the 91 makeover.

   MW: Yes!

   - paul s
9. 9.
   September 26th, 2009 at 5:18 am
   

   Hi Mike.

   Thanks for the insightful analysis. It’s always interesting to read a well thought out opinion from someone with your depth of baseball knowledge.

   Quick question for you: Would you ever consider moving Hill to short stop and get Hudson, or another switch hitter with speed to play second?

   Nate

   MW: I would consider it, but I’d prefer not to.

   - Nate
10. 10.
    September 26th, 2009 at 5:51 am
    

    to put into perspective how great Roy Halladay is… if he were a General Manager he’d be Pat Gillick.

    MW: Well, Gillick’s probably the best ever.

    - Dave
11. 11.
    September 26th, 2009 at 7:14 am
    

    Mike…..To paraphrase your Fan590 colleague, Mike Hogan, “WOW”!!…Those changes you propose are interesting, but they will hinge on some 1980′s tunes. Either Cyndi Lauper’s “Money Changes Everything” or Simply Red’s “Money $ Too Tight (To Mention). Hopefully it’s not Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing.”…Hope you and your family enjoy your holiday together.

    - chris m.
12. 12.
    September 26th, 2009 at 7:59 am
    

    Hey Mike. You sound like George Costanza in all those trades you made. I’m surprised you didn’t grab Lincecum and McCann while you were at it. Snider and Romero are the only prospects the Jays have that might be worth something, but to add Richmond Cecil Purcey Overbay and the others proves to me that you are way too close to the fire. Every team in the majors has marginal prospects and junk they want to rid themselves of. I see your boy JP once again has opened his big mouth about the impossible task of competing in the AL East. That must be great for season ticket sales. Funny, he wasn’t saying this when he interviewed for the job 8 years ago. Somebody remind him that since he got here the Yankees have yet to win a World Series, but won 4 out of 5 before just before he got here. The good news is as of October 5, he will be gone. One last thing, as far as Tampa not being able to duplicate last year, most sports people know how hard it is to repeat after an unexpected rise to the top. This isn’t an AL east thing, this is the way it goes in all sports, NFL NHL and NBA. What are the chances of Arizona going back to the Super Bowl? I, as did many others, expected a drop off in performance this year. But to finish above .500 with the seasons Burrell, Upton, and Kazmir had, and the season ending injury to Pena, gives them hope for next year. With a rotation of Davis, Price, Shields and Garza, and the trading of Kazmir for 2 prospects, they will contend next year for at the very least a wild card, because I have faith in the direction their gm is taking them.

    MW: I wish I knew what George was going to give up to get Griffey and Bonds (there was another one in there too, no?), but I don’t agree with you. Purcey and Cecil are FAR from marginal prospects, and Richmond and Overbay are the filler with the added advantage of being local and filling holes that the Mariners have now. Guys like Mills, Janssen, Farquhar, Gonzalez and Jackson are the types of players that get these deals done. Are you really bringing up the fact that the Yankees haven’t won a World Series since 2000 and NOT bringing up the fact that they’ve been in the playoffs every year but one since 1995?

    - dave
13. 13.
    September 26th, 2009 at 8:01 am
    

    Hi, Mike:

    Two comments/questions:

    1) Not sure I like the idea of Prince Fielder. Yes, he can really hit, but what about defense? I haven’t watched him enough to form an opinion, but I think you’d be giving up quite a bit of “d” in comparion to Lyle.

    2) I don’t see any provision for a salary increase for the Doctor (except for Fielder’s 10.5 M, which, if he leaves after one year, would have to be replaced at some level) Are you saying that you’re going to let Doc walk after 2010, or would you have to have another payroll bump to re-sign him?

    MW: 1 – I’ll take the 25 extra homers and not worry as much about the defense. But Prince is a lot like his dad with the glove – not great range, but terrific, soft hands. 2 – You’re right, but hopefully a playoff appearance in 2010 leads to greater revenue, which leads to another $10 million or so for the payroll to give Halladay, Fielder and Hill their raises.

    - Norm
14. 14.
    September 26th, 2009 at 10:03 am
    

    Mike,

    I like your ideas about rebuilding the franchise- or remodelling as you say. Of course, there’s a better chance Vernon Wells becomes the AL MVP before any of that happens_ in other words, impossible. Speaking of ‘ole Vernon, I have a question. Who do you think hits the curve ball better; Vernon or Pedro Serrano?

    Anyway, the real point of my comment is to simply state that no matter what the Jays do in the off season personnel-wise, they need to take a massive inward look and consider how they treat their fans. I wrote to you earlier in the year telling a story of how Yankees security were allowed to tell paying fans in the seats that we could not heckle the Yankees. Do you think the bleecher creatures at Yankee stadium heckle anyone? Obviously. Also, I heard last night that someone had a sign saying “fire JP” and security came to the seat and removed the sign. I didn’t know that the Jays had relocated to North Korea, and that JP Ricciardi was the Supreme Leader of our society. I mean seriously, who makes these decisions at the dome? beeston? JP? I honestly want to know who sits down in the boardroom and says “OK, from now on, no heckling the Yankees, and no signs that talk bad about our GM?”

    Not to mention that their in-game entertainment is probably the worst in pro sports. Same sound effects since 1989, the worst mascot in pro sports, terribley annoying in-seat announcers, and overtly-unfriendly security staff. I was absolutely ecstatic when I heard they set the record for lowest attendance ever>>>they deserve it. After years of a steady but certain decline on-the field, it seems all the off-the-field stuff has followed suit. I am embarassed today to be a fan of this once great franchise.

    MW: You shouldn’t be, but I understand. I think the in-stadium experience needs to change vastly, and when they put me in charge, that’s another thing with which I’d deal. I agree with almost everything you’ve put here.

    - Chris
15. 15.
    September 26th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
    

    Wow…

    Semantics, but I think in that rotation, based purely on ability it would be Halladay, Hernandez, Harden, Marcum, Romero. You might also want to consider Ben Sheets if you can’t get Harden.

    I don’t know if I’d trade Snider unless I already knew I could extend Hernandez. Doesn’t this also leave you tight on money to extend Halladay?

    MW: See above, and Sheets is a good idea, depending on how his elbow is doing.

    - Colin
16. 16.
    September 26th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
    

    Hi Mike,
    I cannot disagree with your rebuilding plan all that much.The only thing I would do differently would be to shy away from the really big dollar players and go for more in the $5 million range.I would not pay big bucks for a pitcher unless it was short term.Pitchers unless you are Doc tend to be inconsistant and a mid range team cannot afford to pay for a non producer like the Yanks do.

    MW: I don’t consider Felix Hernandez to be a potential non-producer.

    - Paul
17. 17.
    September 26th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
    

    Speaking of the rumour mill, what do you make of this note from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale:

    “The hottest rumor among baseball scouts is that Pat Gillick will be returning to Toronto to become president of the club, but not GM.”

    Do you know if there’s any fuel behind that

    MW: I said last year that Gillick was the guy who the Jays should bring in to be president and was told that he wasn’t interested, that he didn’t want to move back to Toronto from Seattle and that he didn’t want to be involved day-to-day anymore. If his mind has changed, I’m all for it.

    - Kevin A.
18. 18.
    September 26th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
    

    Hey Mike,

    That’s quite an overhaul. I am scared that giving up on Snider could come back to haunt your senario but I guess you have to give up something good to get a King.

    Realistically, I see the Bay and Fielder move happening before Hernandez.

    Good food for thought though.

    - Cameron
19. 19.
    September 26th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
    

    why not get lackey instead of felix and at same time you won’t lose all those prospects?

    MW: Because Lackey’s not Felix, he’s injury prone, and you don’t have to convince Hernandez to agree to come home.

    - nik
20. 20.
    September 26th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
    

    While I like the quality of the players you are suggesting to be brought in, I do not think it is realistic they will bring any of them in with the packages you suggest. The only package which is realistic is the trade for Hernandez. However, I doubt the Jays give up that much but the Mariners actually might accept. Why would MIL want any of the players you suggested is beyond me. The Brewers need impact talent in order to part with Fielder and none of the players you picked to go provide that. The Jays do not have enough quality depth in the farm system to make two trades like that. Getting Figgins would be nice, but a lot of other teams will be after him as well. Bay might come here, but only if he sees the team has a strong chance for 90+ wins. Teahen is nothing special.

    MW: I disagree with you, obviously, about Janssen, Purcey/Rzepczynski and let’s say Reider Gonzalez. That’s plenty of quality talent and, as illustrated, it leaves a lot in the system. Teahen is nothing special, for sure, except on defense, but as a cheap 7-hole hitting right-fielder when you’re getting 30+ homers out of first base, left field and DH and 20-25 homers out of second base, shortstop and centre field, I’ll take him.

    - avi
21. 21.
    September 26th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
    

    Regarding your suggestions….it is great to dream, isn’t it? I especially like your suggestion about a new manager.

    •Bob Nightengale of USA Today says that the “hottest rumor among baseball scouts is that Pat Gillick will be returning to Toronto to become president of the club, but not GM.”

    Have you heard this? Do you give it any credence?

    MW: See above.

    - Al
22. 22.
    September 26th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
    

    Greatest game ever last night. Well worth the illness I conjured up and the price of admission. Got a chance to sit in left field and watch the great Ichiro work and stretch. And then stretch little more. Then he creepily stretched some more.

    Congrats to Halladay on an absolute gem of a game. The whole reason I was sick was to go down and see that game, regardless of the outcome. Halladay is THE greatest Blue Jay ever and deserves the crowd that the Dallas Cowboys got on Sunday last week.

    However, by the end of the game, I actually was a little ill. When we got to the park, we stopped at the Muddy York Market and got the BBQ Chicken nachos. Oh so good. Well worth the price. Then this little old man sat down beside me with a footlong hot dog covered in delicious fried veggies. Then some mroe people had footlong dogs near me, and I could smell them. A short trip later around the 3rd, I had my hotdog. Veggies and condiments galore. Unbelievably, I struggled to finish said hot dog. So now my cojured illness became real. A well bloated gut, some bad breath and an incredible game.

    Worth it.

    One question, why trade Snider? I know Prince Fielder is incredible, but I feel that Snider has tremendous upside and that the Jays should hang on to him until he proves otherwise. I would empty out the Vegas bullpen though, considering what is in New Hampshire.

    Once again, thanks for everything.

    MW: I’m not trading Snider because of any sort of lack of faith in him, not at all. I’m trading him because that’s what you have to give up to get a guy like Felix Hernandez.

    - T.J.
23. 23.
    September 26th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
    

    Wow, that’s quite a bit of speculation, but I really really appreciate the insight and thinking behind all of that.

    Most of all, I really, really, really appreciate you giving the Jays fans a place to chat and to talk about the team online. Your feedback has been absoultely fantastic. I know this is a stepping stone to a great career but hopefully you can hang here for a while.

    Frankly, it’s all a crap shoot with the Jays. Rogers has to hire a president. They have to agree to raise payroll. And then they’ll have to compete with all of the other teams to get the big bats that the Jays so much need.

    I think the Jays will remain mostly together as a core next year with only a couple of new acquisitions. If Doc goes, the team will have a lot of new players. Certainly the Jays have a few options for trading, but I don’t see JP making those kinds of trades.

    But if any of your scenarios come true, it will be a wild ride.

    - Tim
24. 24.
    September 26th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
    

    Random thought; what is the availablity/value of Frank Catalanotto as a lefty off the bench? He can play a little left as well as 1st. Plus he is a career near .300 hitter.

    MW: I’ll always love the Cat – it would be him or Ruiz for that spot on the bench, and I prefer Ruiz’ pop at this stage of Catalanotto’s career.

    - T.J.
25. 25.
    September 26th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
    

    Mike,

    I dont know if I like your Felix for Snider et al deal.. too much to give up for a guy you may not even be able to sign.

    Would you do Lind for Felix, straight up?

    Thanks.

    MW: Probably, but there’s no way the Mariners would.

    - Jamie T
26. 26.
    September 26th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
    

    MW: Of course, I would want my team to go out there every night with the best possible chance to win each game. That means bringing in a new manager.

    I would want to get the best team I could out there for the manager, so the GM has got to go. In fact that is the only thing that will prevent me signing my yearly check to the Evil Empire. If Ricciardi’s still around at the end of October, I do not renew my season tix. No ifs and or buts. And I won’t change my mind on that.

    You’ve got Halladay as the ace of the staff. I’d love to keep him but we can’t afford him. He should be dealt to a team with a reasonable chance of contending and chances are that won’t be us in 2010. However you have dealt an awful lot of good pitching prospects (the one area that Ricciardi did well)) and I don’t know if I’d deal that much of the farm away. Otherwise a reasonable line-up.

    MW: I have no problem with dealing that much of the farm away, I’m always happy to deal potential for proven success. Out of all those guys I dealt pus the Jays’ next ten best prospects, how many will work out? A third? The luck factor is in holding on to the right ones, and you never know if you’re going to do that. Of course, all these moves happening mean I’m the GM!

    - isabella reyes
27. 27.
    September 26th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
    

    Mike,

    How in the name of God can you compare Wells’ terrible season with Carter’s season in San Diego??? Carter drove in 115 runs and hit 24 homeruns – if Wells had produced like that no one would be complaining… Carter had an even more pathetic batting average to be sure, but he’d probably just have laughed if you brought up his low OBP – he certainly wasn’t paid to walk…

    MW: I don’t know what any sort of higher power has to do with it, but you’re someone who believes that hitters have a lot more control of their RBIs than I do, and someone who believes that hitters have an ability to choose when they get their hits. I’m not. It should be noted that Carter came to the plate with 542 runners on base that year – 113 more than the average major-leaguer with (corrected to the amount of plate appearances) – that’s a TON more opportunity. I don’t understand the turning up of the nose at walks. “He wasn’t being paid to walk” – so, he was being paid to make a lot of outs? He certainly did that, leading the league in outs made in 1990. It’s undeniable, though, that Carter hit much better with runners in scoring position that year than Wells did. I just don’t think that’s an actual skill, and neither do, you know, the facts.

    - Ken
28. 28.
    September 26th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
    

    hi mike

    Gotta love the one more year chant for roy while you were interviewing him after the game.. BOOYAAAAA he will be back

    - bob P
29. 29.
    September 26th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
    

    What are the chances of getting Prince Fielder?

    MW: If he’s available, the Jays definitely have the horses to go get him.

    - Sheppard Strip
30. 30.
    September 26th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
    

    Hey Mike,
    I’ve heard recently that Dan Uggla might be on the trading block. Do you think he would be a good option for the Jays, and maybe move him to third? The Marlins might be interested in some of the Jays’ young arms in a deal, and his 30+ HR power in each year of his career would be a welcome addition to Toronto.
    Thanks Mike

    MW: If Uggla is on the block, he’s a guy I might target if I could investigate how he’d look elsewhere on the diamond.

    - John
31. 31.
    September 26th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
    

    where is rrr?

    MW: On the bench, of course.

    - nik
32. 32.
    September 26th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
    

    Mike,

    I think your trades are very unrealistic. Fielder is rumoured to go for Matt Cain – and the Giants would be expected to add to that (according to execs, and there have been several reports of this type of trade in the media). Jays can’t compete with that unless Snider and/or Cecil are both there. And that’s to stop them from hanging up.

    But, you move those guys and you don’t have the prospects to get Felix. If Doc was worth 3-4 prospects, than imagine what a 23 year old ace who isn’t even in his prime is worth. A lot more than Snider/Richmond/Overbay.

    Speaking of which – imagine if someone offered the players you suggested in the Felix deal for Halladay – Richmond, Overbay & Snider – would you do the deal? Absolutely not. You’d laugh it off. Same with the Fielder deal. There’s no incentive for those teams to make the deals. For the Jays, it’s a no doubter…

    Those are players the Jays should look to acquire – no doubt. But you’re not making a legit offer. These are playstation trades.

    The best idea you had here was Cameron, he’d be great for the OF defense.

    The trade ideas are more what I’ve come to expect from your callers.

    MW: I didn’t offer Richmond, Overbay and Snider – that would, in fact, be a Playstation trade. I offered those three plus Cecil and one of Farquhar (a terrific prospect), Gonzalez, Jackson and Mills. And yes, an offer of Cecil and Snider alone for Halladay would make me sit up and take notice. For Fielder, we’re taking into account that it’s one year of Prince for two years of Cain, as opposed to three years of Janssen, six years of Purcey/Zep and whoever the other pitcher is. But you’re right, that might be a little light – so change Purcey/Zep to Romero.

    - Mark
33. 33.
    September 26th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
    

    What are the odds that the Jays get Delgado on maybe 1 year 5 mil contract? Would you sign him to that?

    MW: What would he do?

    - Evan
34. 34.
    September 26th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
    

    Hey Mike,

    As long as we’re going crazy how about we expand that KC deal a little bit.

    Jays give up Ricky Romero, Jeremy Accardo, Brad Mills and Brian Jeroloman for Joakim Soria and Mark Teahan. Your $120 million team doesn’t have the greatest bullpen. Adding Soria and dropping guys like Downs, Frasor and League one spot down the depth chart sure makes it look better.

    MW: But I just traded Romero to the Brewers!

    - Big D
35. 35.
    September 26th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
    

    I agree with you 100% Mike. The new look team would really contend for a playoff spot. The starting rotation is solid with at least seven players that can pitch well, and your lineup is pretty packed as well.

    - Daniel
36. 36.
    September 26th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
    

    Correct me if I misunderstood, but are you suggesting Pat Gillick is the greatest GM ever?

    Because… well, Ed Barrow and Branch Rickey, for starters, the two men who essentially invented the job. Before then, the modern GM’s job was done by either by the owner or the manager. Gillick’s record is obviously very impressive: he and John Schuerholz (the only other man to win a World Series with two defferent franchises in the last 40 years) are duking it out for the best of the last generation.

    Everyone knows about Branch Rickey, but Ed Barrow ran the Yankees from 1921-45, which is probably the greatest run by any GM ever. Before that, he was Boston’s field manager. He managed their 1918 World Series winner, but left for New York when owner Harry Frazee began selling off all his players. The Curse of the Bambino was also Ed Barrow’s revenge.

    MW: I don’t think you can compare people who weren’t on a level playing field. Pat Gillick didn’t have the incredible advantage of the reserve clause.

    - Daniel McIlroy
37. 37.
    September 26th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
    

    Mike, the KC player I’d want is Kila Kiaa’hue, not Teahan. Kila is, for some reason, stuck behind Butler, Shealy, and now Hosmer. He might come cheap because of that. Teahan and his weak OBP is just meh.

    MW: Ka’aihue’s numbers are indeed lovely, but then I’d have to say that name all the damn time. Also, my contention is that Teahen’s hitting will return to his pre-meh days once he doesn’t have to worry about shuffling all over the field, and he’s a terrific right fielder.

    - SP
38. 38.
    September 26th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
    

    Lets say the jays don’t spend the cash and build from what they have . How does a line up like this make u feel ?

    1)Wells = CF (use his speed)
    2)Encarnacion = 3B
    3)Lind = LF
    4)Hill = 2B
    5)Overbay = 1B
    6)Snider = RF
    7)Ruiz = DH
    8)Arencibia = C (look at Romero’s #’s before he came up)
    9)Sanchez = SS

    MW: That line-up makes me feel like I’ll be watching a fourth-place team.

    - GM = Nelson M
39. 39.
    September 26th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
    

    I like most of this for if no other reason it would cause so much buzz in the city. My only thing is with fielder. I don’t know if the jays need a guy who has hissy fits on the bench and fights teammates. He seems like too much of a spoiled little kid. Plus the pricetag would be hefty.

    MW: The buzz is a huge component of the massive overhaul, for sure.

    - jay
40. 40.
    September 26th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
    

    Hey Mike

    Wow, that quite a radical plan, its the type of stuff that rarely occurs at the MLB level, sounds more like something out of a dice league. But its exactly the type of attitude management most adopt if they hope to compete (although i wouldn’t trade Snider, Lind or Hill at this point). I was chirping about JP just last week on the blog how he doesn’t have the stones to pull off something like this. In 9 years JP hasn’t made a gutsy set of moves like this, and i don’t see him trying this off season. Actually, i don’t even think he has the authority to make decisions like this anymore.

    The Jays need to go one of two ways….Load up for next year while they still have Doc and take a run…..or deal Doc and anyone else with value, go young and pump money into the damn draft. Sitting on the fence will just lead to another 15 mediocre years and the possible demise of this once great franchise.

    - rick
41. 41.
    September 26th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
    

    Mike, I think Hardy could maintain a status quo at shortstop if he can return to his .355 wOBA of last year, which is identical to Scutaro’s this year.

    MW: The issue with Hardy, though, is that even at his best, he did a lot of his heavy lifting against left-handed pitching, and was just a passable hitter against righties.

    - Pete
42. 42.
    September 26th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
    

    Build from what u got = Pitching

    1)Halladay
    2)Romero
    3)Marcum
    4)Cecil
    5)Rzepczynski
    McGowan and Litsch would be in there at some point.

    Frasor be the closer and Downs, League and Accardo in the waiting if he can’t get it done .Tallet,Roenicke,Camp to fill out the rest . Thanks had fun doing this and it’s based on if the jays don’t spend .

    MW: Glad you had fun but remember – if the Jays don’t spend, Halladay is gone.

    - GM = Nelson M
43. 43.
    September 26th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
    

    Hey Mike

    There has been a lot of talk regarding the Jays possibly turning into the Expos and possibly folding, which you seem to dismiss rather quickly. Although i hope it doesn’t happen, i wish i was as certain as you re: the teams stability.

    If the Jays did fold, it wouldn’t happen overnight. It takes years of crappy baseball to have that kind of effect on a city, but the way things are going presently, it seems the club could be heading in that direction.

    Look at the numbers…..In the early 90′s, the Jays averaged almost 50000 fans/game when they were a contender and putting a good product on the field. In 1995, the strike ends and the Jays are unloading players seemingly in a reloading phase, and the average attendance drops to 39000. The next 5 years the club continues to struggle and the fan support continues to dwindle, averaging 31000/game dropping to a horrendous 21000/game in 2000. Ever since then, the team still doesn’t make the moves to put a contender on the field and the attendance has never gone back above 30000/game. In 2009, management puts a lemon on the field and at the end of the season the fans have seen enough, averaging 15000/game.

    Again, this is why JP has to go. Fans can’t expect the Jays to compete with the Yanks or the Sox on a yearly basis, but a meaningful game in september every third or fourth season shouldn’t be too much to ask. The deck my be stacked against him, but JP has clearly shown an inability to get the team into contention so its time to cut him loose.

    Its a dark time to be a Jays fan. Since Ted Rogers passed away, ownership doesn’t seem too committed to the club and send out mixed messages to the fans. We have to practically beg Beeston to be the president on an interim basis, and they can’t seem to find a suitable replacement. Whether or not JP had a 5 year plan, he has shown that even with a decade to work with he can do no better than the previous regime, whose results were mediocre. 15 years of non contention. Although i like Cito, he is a horrible manager and for fans that know the game, Cito has clearly shown them why he was unemployed for the last decade+. His in-game management is ridiculous, and his use (or non-use) of the youngsters slows their development. Drive by the dome, and the clubs marketing department has former players who crashed and burned plastered on the exterior of the park. And now, in the off season, the fans can look forward to seeing the greatest player in the history of the franchise get dealt to another team.

    If this keeps up, i can see the black tarps covering the 500 level in a few years because nobody shows up anyway, fans continue to stay away and after another decade of mis-management the team folds.

    This is why its important for ownership to act fast and get his thing turned around. Should be an interesting off season….

    MW: It’s important to remember a few things, and these are the reasons I so readily dismiss all those Expos arguments. First of all, I don’t know why you’re using 30,000 as your attendance benchmark. Not even half the teams in the majors average 30,000 fans per game. Beyond that – this will be the first season in the last SEVEN in which attendance in Toronto has failed to increase. The per-game average for 2009 was 23,162. The closest the Expos came to that in their final 21 seasons in Montreal was 1987 – when they drew 22,844. In that wondrous 1994 season, the ‘Spos drew 22,390 per game. The Expos averaged under 13,000 fans per year for SEVEN years before they moved to Washington, and that included two years under 10,000 and one more under 8,000. The Blue Jays last homestand – while they float directionless in perhaps their worst season ever – saw them average a crowd of 20,288 per game. I don’t get the whole “mixed messages since Ted Rogers died” thing, either.

    - rick
44. 44.
    September 26th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
    

    MW: Of course, all these moves happening mean I’m the GM!

    Of course! I forgot about that!

    When will we know if the payroll will increase/decrease?

    MW: Probably when the new prez comes in.

    - isabella reyes
45. 45.
    September 26th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
    

    A new manager is essential with or without a new group of players. Cito simply is a BAD manager – his grasp of the situational nature of baseball and the importance of EVERY run is very poor. Mike, you or I could have managed those championship teams. Watch the managers on winning teams and see how they contribute big time to winning.

    MW: I’ll never agree with the “anyone could have won with the Blue Jays in ’92 and ’93″ contention. Look around, and see how often the best teams don’t win. But Cito has been managing with that same formula since 1989, without even thinking about changing course when his situation and personnel change. This team absolutely needs a new skipper.

    - Errol Fraser
46. 46.
    September 26th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
    

    The Fielder deal would never happen. Once Snider is dealt you’re left with a bunch of possible 5th starter types, which is partly why this team fell apart this year.

    Some of these posters are right Mike – I believe you do overvalue the talent in the Jays farm system. Particularly the non-pitching prospects. Overby is no prospect and Richmond/Mills is not MLB quality.

    PS giving Rios away was the best move all year. I was getting so upset about his lack of hustle … I’ll give Wells that … he still runs the ball out.

    MW: I don’t see Cecil, Romero and Rzepczynski as possible 5th starter types. Who said Overbay was a prospect? Richmond can absolutely be a bottom-of-the-rotation guy in the bigs, at least, and Mills? What are you basing that opinion on? Two starts in the bigs or a season in Vegas?

    - david
47. 47.
    September 26th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
    

    Hey why not just trade the whole farm system which is already as thin as a butt hair, for a few fellows for a season or two..

    Didn’t we already have the chance to trade for Jason Bay?..Wasn’t Snider part of that deal?..So what if the team tanks again?..Nobody left on the farm and a Chinese boatload of overpaid stiffs on the roster (see Seattle)..

    Is Seattle that dumb?..Are they really going to trade a 23yr old pitcher like Felix Hernandez for a bucket of so so prospects?..They have this guy for at least the next few years..

    Bay will probably get more money then 55 mill from the Sox..36HR and 115 RBI in todays baseball landscape gets more cash then 11 or so mill just ask Vernon Wells..

    I like Figgons and Bay in our lineup and they won’t cost us any prospects..Harden and Bay, two good Canadian kids would look great in a Jays uniform as the organization has dumped 3 Canadian prospects for a bag of principle by our temp president..

    MW: Cecil and Snider hardly constitute the beginning of a “bucket of so-so prospects”. Mention those two in trade talks and EVERY GM in baseball has his ears perk up. The Mariners have this guy for the next two years, that’s it. Bay asked the Red Sox for $14 million a year at the all-star break and they wouldn’t move off their $10 million per year offer. Vernon Wells’ contract never gets offered in today’s baseball landscape, by the way. Figgins and Bay will cost the Jays a second- and third-round draft pick.

    - ray b
48. 48.
    September 26th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
    

    Its a damn shame that I’m not the mariners GM, because I think that’s what it would take to actually get the ball rolling on the fun and games you propose.

    MW: I hate to tell some of the posters above, but Snider alone gets that ball rolling. Cecil should put it over the top.

    - Greg W
49. 49.
    September 26th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
    

    mike love the trades another prospect the jays have is rob bell have u herd anything about him

    MW: Bobby Bell was the Jays’ 18th-round pick last season out of Rice University and the righty had a fantastic season in high-A Dunedin, going 4-1, 2.43 bouncing from the bullpen to the rotation, allowing 66 hits and 22 walks in 96 1/3 innings, striking out 112 and allowing just five home runs. Expect him to start next year in New Hampshire.

    - JAYS FAN FROM THE START
50. 50.
    September 27th, 2009 at 12:17 am
    

    MW: Of course, all these moves happening mean I’m the GM!

    Thank god, finally someone with a plan!!!!!!

    Enjoyed your blog. Will you still post rumours etc. in the offseason?

    MW: I’ll be posting about once a week after the World Series.

    - sandy
51. 51.
    September 27th, 2009 at 6:18 am
    

    Wilner for GM!

    - Sean in Lethbridge
52. 52.
    September 27th, 2009 at 7:52 am
    

    MW for GM! No wait… for King of all TO baseball!
    No wait… we need him more for the radio and the blog.
    ReUp him now!

    - Rob
53. 53.
    September 27th, 2009 at 9:01 am
    

    Wow. I think this is the most irrational post you’ve ever written.

    Snider is way too good and way too young to be traded, even for Felix Hernandez. Scott Richmond has negligable trade value, and Overbay has none.

    Furthermore, the one thing the Jays don’t need is another good young pitcher. Granted, Hernandez is better than almost all of the Jays’ young arms, and you’d be trading some in the deal. But pitching is the Jays’ strength. If you want to enhance a team instead of rebuild it, you should spend your money on the team’s weaknesses, not its strengths.
    And with a better offense, the Jays pitching would have been good enough this year, even without Marcum, Litsch and McGowan.

    Jason Bay is well into the wrong side of 30. And one year of Fielder? Please. That’s what is called “selling the farm.”

    The Jays need some more “pop” in their lineup and somebody who can steal bases and be a distraction to opposing pitchers. That’s why Romero for Crawford makes sense. If the Rays wouldn’t go for it, giving up more to get Crawford still makes sense because it would fill a need – arguably the team’s only need. Throw in a high draft pick or somebody like Roenicke. It’s well worth it, and the Rays apparently want to deal Crawford or Upton.

    Snider has been improving lately, and there’s a good chance he’ll break out next year. That itself would provide more pop.

    Aside from Crawford, other moves can be made later on, when the progress of Marcum, Litsch and McGowan come into greater focus.

    Does this not make sense?

    MW: Well, it makes me wonder. First off, Felix Hernandez has a chance to be the best pitcher in baseball and has already reached an elite level. As great as Snider is going to be, he’s exactly the chip you’d have to move to get Felix, and it’s worth it. I don’t understand why trading Romero for one year (which I have amended to two) is “selling the farm” but trading Romero for one year of Crawford isn’t. I also don’t know why you and so many others are getting bogged down by Richmond and Overbay – they’re the fourth and fifth pieces in the trade, and Overbay definitely has value if you pay some of the contract in the deal.

    - Todd
54. 54.
    September 27th, 2009 at 9:02 am
    

    Hey, while we are living in dream world the Jays should trade Romero for that Tulowitzki guy! I would say their value is fairly equal.

    MW: It’s amazing, isn’t it, that J.P. Ricciardi is the only G.M. in history who has ever drafted a player who might not be as good as someone who was drafted later.

    - Matt Reinhart
55. 55.
    September 27th, 2009 at 9:19 am
    

    The problem with your plan is, is you’re rolling the dice too early for this team and if it doesn’t succeed, you decimate what little we have in the minors for the next 5 years. In addition, I still don’t think what you suggest would do anymore than give us a 3rd or 4th place finish. The Yanks and Boston will both be stronger next year and so will TB. Remember the Yanks have $43.+ million falling off their payroll next year, Boston just about $30, so even if you pump up the payroll, they still have more flexibility than we do.

    Both Boston and New York will be after Jason Bay, and I expect he’ll sign with one of them. Anyone who really thinks he’ll sign with Toronto instead is delusional.

    Remember how we won back to back. For years, we built the depth of the minor league system. We had seriously competed, or won the division 3 times before Gillick make any significant moves in the free agent market. When he did he brought in the final chips needed to put us over the top.

    What I would do is dump Bautista, Barajas, Overbay and Millar. I’d trade Halladay to either Milwaukee or LA and for either Alcides Escobar or Erick Aybar and high quality minor league prospects. I’d bring Dopirak and Arencibia up from AAA, and re-sign Chavez as a backup for one year. Ruiz would be the DH, Lind in left, Snider in right and Wells in center-until we can dump him. I’d stay the course with Encarncion and make him a Butter special project for a year. I’d let the pitching settle out over 2010, both bullpen and starters. At the end of 2010, Ryan’s salary falls off and at that time, I’d package Wells with two to three minor league pitching prospects and dump him albeit it even if we do eat a chunk of his salary.

    I’d look forward to see what a lineup of Escobar, Hill, Lind, Ruiz, Dopirak, Arencibia,Snider,Wells and Encarnacion could do in 2010. There’s 7 guys in that lineup capable of hitting 25-30 hr.’s each and driving in lots of runs-not including anything from Wells.

    What I would do instead, with the additional $30 million, is dump it into the minor league system, particularly in bonus signing budgets, so we can sign higher ceiling prospects than we have been and more of them. If that happened for two years running and the right people were drafting, we’d re-build our minor league system from the bottom 3rd to hopefully the top 3rd. Then, we have chips to play with, now the cupboard is bare.

    The time for this team to go for the gusto,will be 2011 or 2012, but certainly not 2010.

    MW: Erick Aybar? Really? I mean, that kind of takes the wind out of the sails of the whole thing for me right there. Escobar I get, at least. I also can’t believe you’d hit Arencibia 6th and Wells 8th. And again, the deals I suggest leave plenty in the system. How can you say the cupboard is bare when it includes people like Henderson Alvarez, Reider Gonzalez, Marc Rzepczynski, Brad Mills, Fabio Castro, Bobby Ray, Bobby Bell, Daniel Farquhar and Tim Collins?

    - gerry
56. 56.
    September 27th, 2009 at 9:41 am
    

    Seeing as the biggest obstacle to the Jays competing in the AL East is cash, would it not be in the Blue Jays best interest to lobby Major League Baseball to allow transfers (to borrow the term from soccer) or trades for cash? Isn’t this how soccer levels the playing field? Cash seems to be our biggest obstacle in competing against the Yankees and Red Sox. Cash is what allows them to sign the best kids out of the draft, the best fee agents and their own best players. Think what we could have fetched for Roy as a cash transfer when he was in his prime? I would peg the number at 60-70 million. Couldn’t those millions have allowed us to rebuild through the draft and free agency in a very short period of time? Imagine if we were allowed to sell him, or other players, to contenders during a pennant race? At a time where there seems to be no chance of a balanced schedule and the questionable impact of a second wild card on our fortunes, why not push for this change? Its not like its some far fetched idea. It is the economic infrastructure of the largest sport in the world, governing teams in every continent. Why there hasn’t been any discussion of this in North American sports is beyond me. Thought?

    MW: My thought is that it’s unseemly to simply sell players for cash.

    - IK
57. 57.
    September 27th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
    

    hi mike,
    you’ve thought of some pretty crazy things up there, but i like em.
    i called in the jays talk friday night and spoke about a certain daily newspaper writing about vernon wells. after his 4 rbi game with a three run jack, they decided to show a photo of him striking out instead. totally ignoring the rest of his game.
    anyway, i’m sure you remember the call. the thing is, my question and most of your answer were noticably cut out of the friday jays talk on your site here.
    did i do something wrong by calling out the media?

    MW: That’s interesting. I do remember the call and there was certainly nothing wrong with it. I’m sure it was either an editing error or a streaming error. I’ll try to find out what happened.

    - Diego
58. 58.
    September 27th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
    

    Give me a break!!! Last home game of the season and KEVIN MILLAR at first base. As a fan, I don’t want to see KM on the final day of the season! How can Cito say the fans are important and then turn around and thumb his nose at them by sitting Adam Lind and playing Millar? Come on!!!!!

    MW: Agreed. It seems the thought of Adam Lind playing left field gives Cito the willies to the extent that he’d rather see Kevin Millar at third.

    - Al
59. 59.
    September 27th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
    

    I’m pretty sure Fielder only had 3 years of service time coming into the year, so he’ll have 4 after this season. That would make him a free agent after 2011. Fielder signed a 2 year contract buying out his first 2 years of arbitration, but he still had 1 more year of arbitration left. That would mean your trading for 2 years of Fielder instead of just one. I think the Brewers would want more for him in that case.

    (All contract info from Cot’s)

    MW: You’re right – that was corrected on Sunday’s post.

    - Nick
60. 60.
    September 27th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
    

    Mike….I don’t see enough NL games to form an educated opinion, so I’ll ask you..Is there really a NOTICEABLE difference in the amount of fastballs thrown in the NL to call it a “fastball league” and the opposite for the AL with it having the monicker of being an “off-speed throwing league”? Edwin Encarnacion was talking about this, but I’ve heard about it for years and even during inter-league play, never really stopped to take notice.

    MW: It’s not that bad anymore. When the umpires were league-specific, things were a lot more different between leagues.

    - chris m.
61. 61.
    September 27th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
    

    Brian Wolfe is so terrible; plus tell me he won’t be back next year in the bullpen. Also, don’t you think the Jays need to go and get another bullpen lefty?

    MW: Brian Wolfe isn’t terrible, and no.

    - Renegade
62. 62.
    September 27th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
    

    pinch hit for ruiz instead of encar thats so questionable why all time ruiz’s spot gets taken?

    MW: I wish I could tell you.

    - nik
63. 63.
    September 27th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
    

    Let me get this straight, you are in the belief that Vernon Wells is having the same year that Joe Carter had when he was 30?

    Here are Carter’s numbers:

    .232/.290/.391 24 hr 115 rbi’s

    Here are Wells numbers:

    .262/.313/.404 15 hr 66 rbi’s (as of today)

    You do realize Vernon has about 60% of the power and run production that Joe had? No doubt that Vernon has hit 30 points better (some aided by another productive September – when the games were meaningless), but a third place hitter should be a RUN PRODUCER. I know you’re trying to defend J.P. but you should try harder then comparing a Jay legend to their current goat.

    MW: Carter had more homers, it’s true – but an OPS+ of 85 compared to Wells’ 90. Carter was, indeed, a RUN PRODUCER – it’s just that I don’t believe that he could actually make himself better in run producing situations.

    - Bobby
64. 64.
    September 27th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
    

    Good for you, Mike. What’s the point of having a mind if you can’t change it once in a while? I like your remodelling plan. Yes, we lose some good prospects, but what’s a farm system for if not to make a team better, especially since, as you say, “we have to rehabilitate the image of a franchise?” I don’t agree with the “Jays = Expos” doomsters, but the Jays need to get better fast for a lot of reasons not least of which is attendance.

    - David
65. 65.
    September 27th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
    

    Mike.
    someone has hijacked your blog…some crazy fan has inputed some hilarious trade suggestion….I suggest you offer they hijackers anything they want and make a strong comeback…..cause there is no way the Mike Wilner that i listen to would condone such thought…..If the jays do what u suggest I would petition them to go the way of les expos…..c’mon don’t give in to these thoughts please…I know u have listened to years of jays talk, and maybe u are suffering from the stockholm syndrome effect….but I am here for u man a rational jays fan who is giving into the long term plan of development…not short term fixes….trading Travis Snider is the worst idea I have heard on this blog…peace

    MW: Sorry, it’s always been me.

    - rockfreeman
66. 66.
    September 28th, 2009 at 3:22 am
    

    Michael,

    There is a good chance Halladay will be traded in the off-season.

    Do you think the White Sox might have enough to deal for him after the Peavy deal?

    I like Gordon Beckham, I know he can play SS and 3B and he reminds me of Aaron Hill. Nothin’ wrong with that.

    MW: Nothin’ indeed. From what I have heard, the Sox lost most of their upper-echelon prospects in the Peavy deal, but they can always reload in the off-season to make a run at Doc.

    - Uncle Ben
67. 67.
    September 28th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
    

    michael,
    sorry i got to this late but woweee! talk about a mlb roster overhaul. you got that one on the sweet spot no doubt. bryan colangelo clearly has nothing on you. and for some of your doubters, he was able to orchestrate a very similar renovation all in just 1 off season did he not? it can be done……
    i just love your starting rotation for next yr.
    and the thing i like the most about king felix being apart of it (aside from how great of a hurler he is) is the fact that we have him & not all the other usual suspects that quite often snag a pitcher of his talents when they occasionally become available. which in some ways is really the point isn’t it, when you’re trying to get the masses back on board with you.
    and everything else.. well played indeed & fiscally responsible as it sneaks in just under budget (at least the budget we’re hearing certain whispers of as well as presuming for argument sake.
    you’re clearly not just another pretty face up in the booth are you michael?

    MW: I try.

    - darrell
68. 68.
    September 28th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
    

    Which is a better package:

    Purcey + Janssen + Farquhar/Gonzalez, circa 2009…

    or

    Bush + Jackson + Gross, circa 2005?

    I think the Overbay package is stronger. Substituting Romero evens things out a bit, although Bush still had better numbers at the same point of his career than Romero does now. Farquhar is a nice prospect indeed, but there is probably not a huge demand for minor league relievers. Janssen has yet to re-establish himself after labrum surgery, he’ll be 28 next year with one good year of relief work to his credit and a recent history of serious arm trouble. What value does that have in a game where broken arms with good potential are a dime a dozen?

    Fun speculation, but my main impression is that from now on you ought to be more generous with your callers outlandish trade proposals. ;)

    MW: Never! And anyway, it’s been amended to Romero. The Overbay package, which isn’t necessarily better, was for three years of Overbay – that Janssen/Purcey package was for one year of Fielder.

    - quorge
69. 69.
    September 28th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
    

    Mike,

    Love your ideas, but I still don’t see hardy being an upgrade from scutaro…that’s besides the point.

    The POINT, is that nothing this great can happen with JPR running the franchise. With Godfrey out of the picture, is JP finally out of the picture? Would you submit a resume? You don;t have to answer the last one.

    The Jays need to do what the Leafs and Raptors have finally figured out: GO AND HEADHUNT A TOP TIER GM, MANAGER and STAFF. It’s a strategy they haven’t tried. How much would it cost to go and steal Dave Duncan out of St. Louis to be the pitching coach? How much would it cost to steal Ron Gardenhire as manager? To lure Gillick back or Mozliak, or Jocketty or Schuerholtz or Wren?

    Otherwise speculating on off season moves is pure fantasy. 120 mllion wil instead be spent on someone like Frank Thomas or just add it to Vernon’s contract.

    MW: The Raptors have a top tier coach and staff? I didn’t realize.

    - Nicholas Carella
70. 70.
    September 28th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
    

    mike did u know that 6 of 8 teams that make the playoffs have a payroll of 100 million or more.Bud has to look at this some day only hope.

    - JAYS FAN FROM THE START
71. 71.
    September 29th, 2009 at 10:05 am
    

    MW: I’m thinking you package “local” folk Travis Snider, Scott Richmond and Lyle Overbay (paying some of his freight) and toss in Brett Cecil and an additional prospect-type (Justin Jackson? Brad Mills? Daniel Farquhar? Reider Gonzalez?) to pry King Felix away from the Mariners.

    WOW! If JP made a deal like that everyone would be out make him mayor of Toronto. With all due respect Mike, I see that as not enough for the Mariners to move him. Someone like Doc would have to be involved and that would not help the Mariners payroll at all.

    This guy is only 23 years old reminds me of Dwight Gooden with respect to his power. He is also only one of 40 MLB pitchers to have struck out 3 batters on 9 pitches in one half ining of work. If this guy gets a slider happening with his 2 seamer fast ball – look out!

    I think Boston has a much better chance of reeling this guy in.

    Perfect – the anti-spam security word of `rant` fits right into the rest of my comments.

    No matter what the Jays do this off season, they can`t improve a lot without the number one change they need to make and that is Cito. Just knowing he will be back in 2010 tells you the Jays will be shooting for 2011 to make some moves.

    When an organization like Rogers goes public to tell all they are committed to their ball team – more than once, it usually means a deal is in the works to do just the opposite or to sell.

    I don`t know why, but my gut says Beeston sticking around for the full season and not coming up with a new president means he may be part of a group along with Gillick to buy the Jays! Or he and Gillick have a deal that Beeston sticks around this season in order for Gillick to come on board in 2010.

    All the talk of spending big dollars, free agents and trades has been around a while. The opposite has been happening already. However, in my book the existing line up is not that far away from contending as is with of course some minor tweaking and the resurgence of Wells in particular and an improved more agressive Overbay at the dish. With a genuine field boss the Jays of 09 could easily have at the very least another dozen or more games in the win column.

    I know the pundits say the manager alone can get you 5 or 6 more wins with the right moves etc. In Citos` case that should have been about triple that as to extra wins! If he had handled his pitchers, his batting line-up, his bench and managing against NL teams better, the Jays would have looked a lot better in the W-L column. No matter what, Cito did not give his team a chance to win every game.

    His comment the other day, about how he treated every player in the room the way he would like to have been treated says it all! Someone needs to tell Cito, managing an MLB team is not a popularity contest! Unfortunately for the fans Cito plays it that way only!

    Thanks Mike and keep up the good work! Nice to see you taking more time off from the blog this summer. That`s gotta be good for your mental well being.

    MW: It has helped, no doubt. I don’t think that Cito’s questionable managing has cost the team THAT many games, but yes, he has to go.

    - Bob (from Burlington)
72. 72.
    September 29th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
    

    That’s bold Mike. Texas Bold.

    - KP
73. 73.
    September 30th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
    

    “MW: The Raptors have a top tier coach and staff? I didn’t realize.”- cute Mike.

    But, what I meant was that the raptors went out and got a gm who somehow can say “THAT was a bad idea. Change of plan.” After producing a division champion, which then turned into a miserable failure, Colangelo and Co., instead of blaming market and injuries, blew up the darn thing and is trying a new plan. One that may or may not work, but one that has a clear directive. Also, it’s nice to actually see a franchise from Torornto actually get the better end of a trade from time to time. That hasn’t happened with the Jays since the Gillick days (I still remember where I was for “The Trade” and for those of you who are too young, that means the McGriff and Fernandez for Alomar and Carter). And even Gillick was able to admit defeats AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, like in the following year when he acquired Darrin “Dud” Jackson for future allstar Derek Bell and then flip him later for Fernandez to win another WS.

    Look, is Colangelo the answer in raptorland? or burke in leafland? who knows. But they are trying, being creative and have the know how and respect around the league not to be shut out of deals and can in fact instigate them. (And with all the criticism Burke gets for being a media pig, I’ve yet to see him mismanage the media the way ricciardi seems to constantly…proposed phils trade, anyone?)

    Wow. Long. Sorry. So yeah, respected GM would be nice. Or, someone ballsy like you…please put in your resume. It’s an internal hire. You’ll work for the same salary, I’m sure.

    MW: They wouldn’t dare hire me. As for Colangelo, I see what you’re saying – but why is it that with J.P. all the pundits say that general managers don’t get a second chance to rebuild, and yet Colangelo is rebuilding for a second time in three years?

    - Nicholas Carella
74. 74.
    September 30th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
    

    Re:Comment 47…

    I figure next to King Hernandez, arguably one of the best young arms in baseball, Snider, Cecil, and Richmond are so so prospects..Snider has a chance to be a great hitter but you just can’t replace an arm like his..

    The Mariners would be foolish to get rid of this guy..They have been patient for 5 season’s waiting for a year like this..He is the most dominating pitcher in the AL..No way he goes for any of the players on the Jays roster not named Hill and Lind..But it would be nice..

    Bay and Figgins cost draft picks not drafted prospects..They will get a few picks back when they let go of Scutaro..

    MW: Next to Felix Hernandez, any prospect falls short, but you’re not going to do much better on the prospect front than Cecil and Snider.

    - ray b