Jays Notes: MiLB FAs, Jurrjens-for-Lawrie, Huston Street, Pastornicky

Baseball’s America’s minor league transactions guru Matt Eddy released a comprehensive list of minor league free agents on Friday, with 27 players from the Jays organization making the list. Practically all of the players are replaceable, but a few I wouldn’t mind seeing return would be Yohan Pino, Clint Everts, Jesse Carlson, and Ricardo Nanita. The 537-player list features quite a few former members of the Jays organization, including a notable one, Gustavo Chacin.

Here are few other Jays-related tidbits with links:

• Cuban center fielder Yoenis Cespedes is getting closer to being cleared for free agency. Don’t know who he is? Check out his 20-minute YouTube video here, and Kevin Goldstein’s must-read breakdown of it here. Even though the Jays have Colby Rasmus, Anthony Gose, and Jake Marisnick roaming CF in their organization, you can never have too much “depth at premium positions”.
• ESPN’s Buster Olney is reporting on Twitter that the Jays are taking a “very aggressive approach in looking for a closer”, and that it “wouldn’t be a shock” if they landed one of the best available.
• According to FOXSports, the Brewers were in discussion with the Braves about a Jair Jurrjens-for-Brett Lawrie swap last offseason, before Alex Anthopoulos got to Brewers GM Doug Melvin instead.
• MLB Trade Rumors listed that the Rockies are looking to move former Rookie of the Year closer Huston Street and lists the Jays as a possible match.
• Somebody asked ESPN’s Keith Law on Twitter if Tyler Pastornicky, former Jays prospect sent to Atlanta in the Yunel Escobar deal, is good enough to play SS next season for the Braves. Law said yes, and it will be interesting to see if Pastornicky makes it to the big leagues after his .314/.359/.414 showing in 117 minor league games this past season.
• Somewhat entertaining, a few commenters over at Royals Review talk about how they’d love to get their hands on Ricky Romero, with one saying they’d take Gio Gonzalez over Romero any day of the week…
• A story from Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic on Willie Bloomquist had an interesting quote from his agent, Scott Boras, regarding newly-signed John McDonald.
• Congratulations to Howard Starkman, Blue Jays vice president of special projects, for receiving his service award today after being with the Jays organization for 35 years!

-JM

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