Comments on: Jays Deal With Braves: Escobar for Gonzalez http://jaysjournal.com/2010/07/14/jays-deal-with-braves-escobar-for-gonzalez/ A Toronto Blue Jays Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:16:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Picks of the Pen (7/19): New and Improved? We Think So | Call to the Pen http://jaysjournal.com/2010/07/14/jays-deal-with-braves-escobar-for-gonzalez/comment-page-1/#comment-1805 Picks of the Pen (7/19): New and Improved? We Think So | Call to the Pen Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:53:01 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=1776#comment-1805 [...] The big news in the past few days was the Braves trade of Yunel Escobar and Jo Jo Reyes to the Jays for Alex Gonzalez and two minor leaguers. I think this was a fantastic trade for Toronto as Escobar has a load of talent. CttP’s own Mat Germain gives his reaction over at Jays Journal. [...] [...] The big news in the past few days was the Braves trade of Yunel Escobar and Jo Jo Reyes to the Jays for Alex Gonzalez and two minor leaguers. I think this was a fantastic trade for Toronto as Escobar has a load of talent. CttP’s own Mat Germain gives his reaction over at Jays Journal. [...]

]]> By: Mat Germain http://jaysjournal.com/2010/07/14/jays-deal-with-braves-escobar-for-gonzalez/comment-page-1/#comment-1795 Mat Germain Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:03:29 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=1776#comment-1795 Totally agree with you on all counts except one Matt. I don't think we can write off Adeiny after just a few months. There are just too many people who still believe including the most important ones: Jays management. The lineup looks great, but you forgot one thing: it's extremely cheap....so do you think adding 1 or 2 FAs is possible? How about trading for a prime time player like Prince Fielder? Before anyone says it wouldn't make sense because the Jays have Wallace, remember that Adam Lind doesn't want to hit cleanup, is under contract cheap through 2014, and is exactly the kind of return the Brew Crew would want - along with a SP + prospect - to deal Prince who they can't afford. Lind also plays some 1B now (or practices it anyhow), while the Jays can use Fielder primarily as a DH, where he belongs. If AA could bring a hitter like Fielder on board and sign him long term, it would dramatically alter the balance of power in the AL East. Yet, even with the salary space to sign him and the goods to deal, nobody mentions the Jays as candidates. Maybe it's their perceived anti-Boras stance. Still, one can dream....right? Lineup with Fielder: Fred Lewis, LF Yunel Escobar, SS Vernon Wells, CF Prince Fielder, DH Aaron Hill, 2B Jose Bautista, 3B Travis Snider, RF Brett Wallace, 1B JP Arencibia, C When all of your hitters can hit 30+ HRs except the 1st two, and the 1st two can get on base....you know you have a potent offense. Not saying it will happen as above, but the Jays will be active in pursuing at least 1 FA with all of that money in the tank. Totally agree with you on all counts except one Matt. I don’t think we can write off Adeiny after just a few months. There are just too many people who still believe including the most important ones: Jays management. The lineup looks great, but you forgot one thing: it’s extremely cheap….so do you think adding 1 or 2 FAs is possible? How about trading for a prime time player like Prince Fielder? Before anyone says it wouldn’t make sense because the Jays have Wallace, remember that Adam Lind doesn’t want to hit cleanup, is under contract cheap through 2014, and is exactly the kind of return the Brew Crew would want – along with a SP + prospect – to deal Prince who they can’t afford. Lind also plays some 1B now (or practices it anyhow), while the Jays can use Fielder primarily as a DH, where he belongs.

If AA could bring a hitter like Fielder on board and sign him long term, it would dramatically alter the balance of power in the AL East. Yet, even with the salary space to sign him and the goods to deal, nobody mentions the Jays as candidates. Maybe it’s their perceived anti-Boras stance.

Still, one can dream….right?

Lineup with Fielder:

Fred Lewis, LF
Yunel Escobar, SS
Vernon Wells, CF
Prince Fielder, DH
Aaron Hill, 2B
Jose Bautista, 3B
Travis Snider, RF
Brett Wallace, 1B
JP Arencibia, C

When all of your hitters can hit 30+ HRs except the 1st two, and the 1st two can get on base….you know you have a potent offense. Not saying it will happen as above, but the Jays will be active in pursuing at least 1 FA with all of that money in the tank.

]]> By: Matt P http://jaysjournal.com/2010/07/14/jays-deal-with-braves-escobar-for-gonzalez/comment-page-1/#comment-1794 Matt P Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:59:12 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=1776#comment-1794 To be clear, i never was against the pick-up. In fact the reason why i posted the interview was because i was so shocked about his unilateral negative views (he pretty much said: he's good, was NL mvp candidate butttt i just dont like him). Alex did his research and made sure this guy was a quality guy. We need his OBP and average, but ive been hearing conflicting reports on his Defense. This trade has nothing to do with Hechavaria, who i would BARELY label as SS of the future. Escobar will be here for a while and we have finally found our answer to SS. So, our 2012 (contention year) lineup looks like: C: Arencibia (BA says his defense is too suspect, though) 1B: Brett Wallace (9 HR's behind J.P., has slowed considerably) 2B: Hill (no brainer, no alternative) 3B: Jose Bautista (Look for Adeiny and Yunel to split these two pos') SS: Escobar (if you ask me, Adeiny wont crack the majors) LF: Lewis (lacking in prospects...maybe a FA) CF: Wells (will his contract EVER END?) RF: Snider (look out.....just look out) DH: Lind (hiccup this year, whatever) SP: Romero, Drabek, Marcum, Cecil, Morrow (i absolutely love our pitching....so much depth) To be clear, i never was against the pick-up. In fact the reason why i posted the interview was because i was so shocked about his unilateral negative views (he pretty much said: he’s good, was NL mvp candidate butttt i just dont like him).

Alex did his research and made sure this guy was a quality guy. We need his OBP and average, but ive been hearing conflicting reports on his Defense.

This trade has nothing to do with Hechavaria, who i would BARELY label as SS of the future. Escobar will be here for a while and we have finally found our answer to SS. So, our 2012 (contention year) lineup looks like:

C: Arencibia (BA says his defense is too suspect, though)
1B: Brett Wallace (9 HR’s behind J.P., has slowed considerably)
2B: Hill (no brainer, no alternative)
3B: Jose Bautista (Look for Adeiny and Yunel to split these two pos’)
SS: Escobar (if you ask me, Adeiny wont crack the majors)
LF: Lewis (lacking in prospects…maybe a FA)
CF: Wells (will his contract EVER END?)
RF: Snider (look out…..just look out)
DH: Lind (hiccup this year, whatever)

SP: Romero, Drabek, Marcum, Cecil, Morrow (i absolutely love our pitching….so much depth)

]]> By: Mat Germain http://jaysjournal.com/2010/07/14/jays-deal-with-braves-escobar-for-gonzalez/comment-page-1/#comment-1793 Mat Germain Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:31:08 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=1776#comment-1793 Matt Eddy and Nathan Rode have a great article breaking down the prospects in this trade. They echo my sentiments that the Jays received a huge upside guy in Reyes and that they do have experience in turning such talent around, such as Ricky Romero. Their take is much more accurate than Keith's. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/trade-central/2010/2610369.html Matt Eddy and Nathan Rode have a great article breaking down the prospects in this trade. They echo my sentiments that the Jays received a huge upside guy in Reyes and that they do have experience in turning such talent around, such as Ricky Romero. Their take is much more accurate than Keith’s.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/trade-central/2010/2610369.html

]]> By: Mat Germain http://jaysjournal.com/2010/07/14/jays-deal-with-braves-escobar-for-gonzalez/comment-page-1/#comment-1792 Mat Germain Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:20:01 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=1776#comment-1792 Keith Law is absolutely wrong. Yunel Escobar increased his power in his 2nd and 3rd season and sis not have a typical "sophmore slump", which tells us how well he adjusts to pitching and speaks of his hitting acumen. Listen, it's obvious that Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox never liked Yunel's easy going nature and reserved personality. He will be an above average short stop for the Jays and could develop more power if he uses the approach the Jays have preached at the plate because he has great hand-eye coordination and makes great contact. The truth of it all is that for $1.35 million dollars, Tyler Pastornicky, and Tim Collins, (the sum of what the Jays paid for acquiring Alex Gonzalez as a FA this season) the Jays got a great SS for 3 years of Arbitration (1st year should be cheap considering his "decline" this season)and a potential #4 or #5 starter. That, no matter how you slice it and regardless of Alex's worth on the field this year and next. The Jays did not plan on competing this year and didn't have long term plans with Alex from the moment he signed, so this is a no brainer in my books. If Yunel does well this season, I could see the Jays sign him to a 4 year deal to buy out his 1st year of FA. That's how much I know the Jays love Yunel. Keith Law is looking at it all wrong, in my opinion. Keith Law is absolutely wrong. Yunel Escobar increased his power in his 2nd and 3rd season and sis not have a typical “sophmore slump”, which tells us how well he adjusts to pitching and speaks of his hitting acumen.

Listen, it’s obvious that Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox never liked Yunel’s easy going nature and reserved personality. He will be an above average short stop for the Jays and could develop more power if he uses the approach the Jays have preached at the plate because he has great hand-eye coordination and makes great contact.

The truth of it all is that for $1.35 million dollars, Tyler Pastornicky, and Tim Collins, (the sum of what the Jays paid for acquiring Alex Gonzalez as a FA this season) the Jays got a great SS for 3 years of Arbitration (1st year should be cheap considering his “decline” this season)and a potential #4 or #5 starter. That, no matter how you slice it and regardless of Alex’s worth on the field this year and next. The Jays did not plan on competing this year and didn’t have long term plans with Alex from the moment he signed, so this is a no brainer in my books.

If Yunel does well this season, I could see the Jays sign him to a 4 year deal to buy out his 1st year of FA. That’s how much I know the Jays love Yunel. Keith Law is looking at it all wrong, in my opinion.

]]> By: Matt P http://jaysjournal.com/2010/07/14/jays-deal-with-braves-escobar-for-gonzalez/comment-page-1/#comment-1791 Matt P Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:46:08 +0000 http://jaysjournal.com/?p=1776#comment-1791 Keith Law just ripped Yunel Escobar and AA for investing 3 years in a player on his way "down" http://www.fan590.com/ondemand/media.jsp?content=20100714_180917_8656 Keith Law just ripped Yunel Escobar and AA for investing 3 years in a player on his way “down”

http://www.fan590.com/ondemand/media.jsp?content=20100714_180917_8656

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