Comments on: Blue Jays Sign Jon Rauch

By: keith

keith — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:24:08 +0000

Oops forgot Camp….That makes things interesting. We are at 7 without any of the others like Roenicke, Mills, Ray, Litsch/Zep.
A little competition is a good thing:)

By: Blue Jays Sign Jon Rauch – Toronto Update

Blue Jays Sign Jon Rauch – Toronto Update — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:42:01 +0000

[...] More info Filed Under: Blue Jays [...]

By: Keith

Keith — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 02:19:05 +0000

Agreed we will hopefully get the advantage of using the bullpen “pieces” to their individual strengths. I think it will work work out as follows:
Roach as closer
Dotel/Fraser – late inning and situational vs RHB
Purcey – Late inning and situational vs LHB
Jansen – mid inning
Villenauva – long man, may also be used vs LHB as his splits are favourable.

I’d like to see Roenicke win the last spot, but he will really have to step forward in the spring and throw strikes to do so. I’m not putting Zep in here because I’m hoping he is the 5th starter.

I can also see AA stockpiling a Litsch, Carlson, Mills and Ray as potential trade pieces.

By: Mat Germain

Mat Germain — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:53:46 +0000

I’d like to add the fact that Rauch qualified as a Type B FA this off season. If all goes well and the Jays use their option for 2012, he could net them a sandwich pick as a minimum. If he starts closing, he could very well qualify as a Type A, which would be golden for AA and the Jays staff.

I like this veteran addition. Even if the Jays do fall off at some point in the year, they could still use him as very valuable trade bait – particularly since the acquiring team would gain the option the Jays have on him in 2012, making him more than a rental player.

I fail to see any risk here and see nothing but upside.

If given the choice, would you rather have Scott Downs, Brian Tallet, and Kevin Gregg? Or, would you rather have Octavio Dotel, Jon Rauch, and Carlos Villanueva? Downs is the best out of the bunch, but the upgrade from Tallet to V is substantial enough to equalize it. All-in-all, I think the Jays will do better in the pen in 2010 not due to more talent existing there, but more so because John Farrell will use their skills more effectively.

Great Stuff!