Toronto Blue Jays Morning Brew: Samardzija Suitors, Posting System Changes, Other News and Rumors

Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Blue Jays News and Rumors

I love when other people write about the Toronto Blue Jays so I don’t have to… here are the latest news and rumors about the team.

Kyle Franzoni was putting in work for us yesterday here at Jays Journal and has a tonne of updates from Day 1 of the GM Meetings in Orlando.

Ben Nicholson-Smith at Sportsnet also was providing live updates from the GM Meetings yesterday. BNS also provides a list of off-season needs for every American League club.

Sportsnet also did a media roundtable with Nicholson-Smith, Shi Davidi, Mike Wilner and Arden Zwelling all answering questions about the Blue Jays.

Barry M. Bloom writes at MLB.com that Major League Baseball is awaiting approval from Japanese baseball to accept proposed changes to the posting system. MLB cancelled the agreement last year and without an agreement in place Japanese players can only become full free agents after nine years of service. Bloom states many owners are in favour of ending the posting system entirely, which keeps a more level playing field for mid- and small-market teams but would also keep the best Japanese players out of the best baseball league during their prime years.

However Andrew Stoeten at DJF picks up an update from Ken Davidoff of the New York Post on Twitter that there is “cautious optimism” an agreement will get done with Japan and what it means for the Blue Jays. MLBTR says an announcement could as early as Tuesday after Davidoff tweeted an “announcement is likely very soon.”

Buster Olney at ESPN tweets that trade talks are still ongoing between the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks regarding pitcher Jeff Samardzija. Rumors had the Cubs asking for top prospect Archie Bradley and 22-year-old lefty Tyler Skaggs at the non-waiver trade deadline but that price could be a tad steep. The Toronto Blue Jays are still considered potential suitors by Olney but says that Cubs are at a point with Arizona that they need to make a decision on the Shark.

There was good news on Blue Jays left fielder Melky Cabrera, which came courtesy of Shi Davidi at Sportsnet. GM Alex Anthopoulos says he “looks great” are optimistic he’ll be fully ready for Spring Training. Davidi also writes that Moises Sierra is taking ground balls at first base with his Dominican Winter League team as the Jays are hoping to make him as versatile player as possible with no minor league options remaining in 2014.

Steve Buffery at the Toronto Sun writes that the Blue Jays will increase payroll in hopes of adding at least one starting pitcher this off-season but Anthopoulos wouldn’t confirm if that number would go as high as $150 million, which is what many expect the team to have to spend if they plan to compete in 2014.

Gregor Chisholm at BlueJays.com writes about the nine players that will be without options for next seasons and how it could impact Anthopoulos’ strategy going forward.

Bernie Pleskoff from MLBPipeline.com gives his analysis of the Blue Jays top prospect Aaron Sanchez in an interview and says the big righty is more than deserving of his number 20 prospect ranking on MLB.com. Pleskoff projects him as a number two or maybe even a number one at the Major League level. Pleskoff also states that Sanchez’s command has been much better of late (even calls it “excellent”) in the Arizona Fall League after struggling his first couple of starts.