1/4/13

In Search For An Outfielder – Toronto Blue Jays


In Search For An Outfielder –  Toronto Blue Jays

So far, we have identified the following outfielders as possible targets for the Mets:

                Atlanta – Reed Johnson
                Arizona – A.J. Pollock
Baltimore – Nolan Reimold
                Boston – Jerry Sands
                Chicago Cubs – Brett Jackson
Chicago White Sox - Dayan Viciedo
Cincinnati – Chris Heisey
                Cleveland – Thomas Neal -
                Colorado – Dexter Fowler
Detroit – none
Houston – J.D. Martinez
Kansas City – none
Los Angeles Angels – Mark Trumbo
Los Angeles Dodgers – Alex Castellanos
Miami Marlins – Gorkys Hernandez
Milwaukee Brewers – Khris Davis
Minnesota Twins – None
Oakland Athletics – Grant Green
New York Yankees – None
Philadelphia Phillies - none
Pittsburgh – Jose Tabata
Seattle – Casper Wells
San Diego – James Darnell
San Francisco – Gary Brown                             
St. Louis Cardinals – Shane Robinson
Tampa Bay Rays – Brandon Guyer
Texas Rangers – David Murphy
               
We now move on to the Toronto Blue Jays, who currently have eight (8) outfielders on their 40-man (additionally, they list Edwin Encarnacion as their DH):

                Jose Bautista – righty –  (also 3B) - $14mil thru 2015 – 332-AB, 27-HR, 65-RBI
                Emilio Bonifacio – switch – ARB2 – (MIA) – 244-AB, .258
                Melky Cabrera – switch – $8mil thru 2014 – (SF) – 459-AB, .346
                Russ Canzier – righty – pre-ARB -
                Rajai Davis – righty –  $2.5mil-2013, FA-2014 – 447-AB, .257
                Anthony Gose – lefty – pre-ARB – 166-AB, .223
                Colby Rasmus – lefty – ARB2 – 565-AB, .223
                Moises Sierra – righty – pre-ARB – 147-AB, .224

Lots of problems here. The Miami trade was sort of like cleaning out the attic of your dead grandmother’s house. You find a lot of nice antiques to hang on your wall but now you have to decide what the get rid of.

What makes things tougher for them is the fact that their top two youngers, Rasmus and Gose, had horrible seasons last year (and do the Mets no good since they are both lefty).
Only thing I would think that is etched in stone is Cabrera and Bautista.     
         
Toronto has to make some moves here and, if I were the Mets, I would make some inquiries on both Bonifacio and Davis, but my target would be:

Mets target:  Rajai Davis – 31-yr old speedster… 46-SB in 2012… .257/.309/.378/.687 in 447-AB… now plays mostly LF… 8 errors/9 assists in 114 games in left

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Mack, I looked at Toronto long and hard when the Dickey talks were going on. I concluded the same thing you did, with both Boni and Rajai being the most desirable Toronto had to offer. I was crushed when Alderson didn't expand the trade to obtain one of them. I leaned toward Boni because he's a switch hitter, which could be of value at the top of the order.

Either could be a great leadoff hitter, with speed to burn, and play a very respectable CF. Boni has a bit more patience (higher career OBP) while Rajai has a bit more pop. (higher SLG) I can't imagine why Alderson would go back to the well with Alex A after having walked away without them previously. Unless, of course, Alex wanted too much and Sandy is waiting until his asking price is acceptable. That could happen.

Mack Ade said...

I'm telling ya...

Sandy's not done...

Anonymous said...

Well, you know it. And I know it. I only hope that Sandy knows it too.