It shouldn’t have been shocking news. Every team in baseball has a payroll limit, just as the resources of every business are finite.

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But then tonight’s Game 5 happened, and it centered on Mike Napoli — the catcher who everybody knows that the Jays acquired this offseason but shipped to Texas before he ever put on a Toronto uniform.

After Adrian Beltre tied the game on an epic, knee-down solo home run off Chris Carpenter, Napoli stepped into a two-out, runners on the corners situation. Just getting under a pitch, Napoli flew out again to center field to end the inning, narrowly missing out on a go-ahead three-run home run. Carpenter escaped the jam with the game still tied, and proceeded to shout expletives at Napoli as the inning ended.

The very next inning, Napoli threw out Allen Craig trying to steal before he clobbered the game’s decisive hit in the eighth, a two-run double to the gap in right center. Then, as Albert Pujols struck out swinging, Napoli fired a perfect throw to the right side of second base to retire Craig trying to steal again. Plus, after Lance Berkman swung well in front of the final pitch of the game, Napoli chased down the ball that had skipped away from him to record the final out of the game. Is it Wednesday yet? Game 6 is definitely going to be interesting.

There was, however, another interesting baseball game tonight, as Canada defeated Mexico 5-3 in the semi-final of the Pan American Games. They’ll now play the U.S. in tomorrow’s gold medal game, and there are some Blue Jays roots on the team worth mentioning.

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Win Some

Some fans will disagree with me, but I’m ecstatic that the Jays did not add Eric Chavez to their bench for the 2011 season. If he had been added, he would have either taken a bench spot away from a younger – better – healthier option, or would have taken Brett Lawrie‘s spot in AAA at the hot corner, which would have either pushed him down to AA or to another position. Either one is a bad option at this point and the Jays are better off with him in New York. (more…)

What am I talking about here?

The perfect example of what I’m talking about can be read about at Halos Heaven, as only one example of many that illustrates how things may have changed for Alex Anthopoulos and the Blue Jays. Written by Rev Halofan, here is the link and title:

“Mike Napoli a Ranger in Blue Jay Backstabbing” (more…)

image courtesy of www.hardballtalk.nbcsports.com

We’ve barely had a chance to digest the Vernon Wells  trade to the Angels and one of the major returns from that deal, 1B/C/DH Mike Napoli, has been dealtas he will join his old AL West rivals in the Texas Rangers. He’ll try to make sure that they beat his old squad, one that he made no qualms about having issues with due to playing time, and will surely do well in their already potent lineup. The Jays, in return for Napoli, will get 31 year old RHP reliever Frank Francisco and an undisclosed amount of cash (reportedly less than $1 million).

I have to admit that I was surprised by this deal when I first heard of it. However, after digesting it a little, I see some of the positives that this creates for the Jays. I was still a huge fan of Napoli’s versus LHP and thought he would complement Adam Lind very well at 1B as a result. Still, his trade value was most likely the highest it will be this off season as most people seem to believe his numbers of 2010 may level off and/or go down in 2011 and beyond. He wasn’t a viable option behind the plate for the Jays who want to see what J. P. Arencibiacan do there along with Jose Molina, and Edwin Encarnacion should provide enough power in sharing time with Lind at 1B and DH. (more…)

image courtesy of fantasysportshero.com

Shock and awe, that’s my take on this deal. Everyone’s opinion on the subject of the contract owed to aging CF Vernon Wells, a total of $86 million through 2014, seemed to believe that it was Mission Impossible to move such a massive deal. Well, we’re learning very quickly to never count Alex Anthopoulos out of any possibility, as he has made the impossible happen by reportedly dealing Wells to the Angels in return for a player the Rays were said to be chasing full tilt, C/1B/DH Mike Napoli, as well as OF Juan Rivera. If there are other players included in the deal, they have yet to be announced.The Jays are taking on the $5.25 million owed to Rivera in 2011, and will have to come to terms with Napoli who is in his 3rd year of arbitration eligibility. Napoli will be eligible to arbitration for the last time in 2012, and is thus controllable through that season. Assuming he gets the amount he asked forwhen exchanging numbers with the Angels, $6,100,000, Napoli will cost the Jays $16,900,000 less than Vernon Wells would have in 2011. Subtract the amount owed to Rivera, listed above, and the Jays wind up with $11,650,000 in salaries saved. (more…)