Blue Jays Morning Brew: GM’s Job Security, Prospects & More

There’s been a collection of odds and ends surrounding the Blue Jays over the past few days. Let’s get to some of them.

John Lott explores the ‘plate blocking’ rule (Or, rule 7.13) and how it has led to frustration and confusion amongst catchers. The rule was designed to eliminate injuries like the gruesome catastrophe Buster Posey suffered. It has done that. Catchers are much safer these days, but as Lott points out, there have been many instances where the practical application of the rule has led to mass confusion. Josh Thole offers his opinion about how catchers are taught growing up and how they have to adjust. Certainly there is a learning curve. Fans may be of two minds. It helps guys not get hurt, it may make for more interesting plays at home, but it also gets rid of the ultra exciting collision at home.

Next: Will Carlos Delgado be Elected to Hall of Fame?

Over at BlueJaysFans.ca, we get a breakdown of the financials, or more specifically, the salaries of players in 2015. We know of the team high $22M Jose Reyes is making. But, some surprises might be overall cost of the bullpen. The most expensive piece of the ‘pen is Brett Cecil at $2M unless you include Marco Estrada‘s $4.2M. And, the happy thought of the day is this: the Blue Jays will be paying Ricky Romero $7.750M while Russell Martin makes $7M. In fact, as a Blue Jay, Romero has made nearly $30M.

Speaking of Ricky Romero, Bill Baer of NBC Sports Hardball Talk tells us that Romero is ready to come into Spring Training healthy and hoping to help the Blue Jays compete. He had surgery on his right knee last season, but should be good to go this spring. He’s not likely to win a spot in the big league rotation as was posed to Gregor Chisholm at MLB.com, but it is reasonable to expect that he could help out in Buffalo. Blue Jays fans are hoping for the best, but expecting much less at this point from the 30 year old lefty. 

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

At Sportsnet.ca, Jeff Blair recently listed 20 people to keep your eye on in 2015. In that list that runs the gamut of sports names, we find Blue Jays GM, Alex Anthopoulos. The reason he is on this list is that, according to Blair, “the Toronto Blue Jays’ general manager has acknowledged privately that his job is on the line”. It would be nice to know to whom this was admitted and in what context. But, there are many who feel that his job indeed is not secure.

With Paul Beeston riding out his time in Toronto, a new president could likely come in and replace AA with a GM of his choosing. Although, I explored the issue of AA’s job security at the beginning of last season HERE. I based my argument on the fact that Anthopoulos represents a breed of GM that is defined in an interesting piece at Grantland as the Duracell GM Generation. The point being that today’s GM brings a solid, analytical approach. Any new GM would not be all that different from AA anyway. It’s interesting. And, definitely worth following as the season progresses.

Switching gears, we turn our attention to the Canadian Baseball Network where Jay Blue (Blue Jays From Away) takes a look at MiLB’s list of organizational all stars at each position. This list points out the actual performance of minor leaguers (not their scouting or prediction of future value). A name that Jay throws out that may be a bit of an unknown to Blue Jays fans is Dan Jansen who had a good season for Bluefield. At second base Tim Locastro shone in Vancouver. For a full recap of those chosen, I recommend reading Jay’s piece. 

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Also at the Canadian Baseball Network, Andrew Hendriks tells us that Dalton Pompey was in the Kitchener-Waterloo area to open up the new Playball Academy Canada. It is the area’s first baseball specific training facility and contains 6 batting cages, 3 bullpens, a gym and a full infield. Yes, th einfield is turf. It is good to see Pompey reach out and help and encourage others in his neck of the woods.

Finally, I’ll leave you with this little bit of news to get you excited…or not, depending on how much stock you put in it. Nick Gafardo of the Boston Globe had a “major league source” tell him that the Blue Jays are among teams who have…are you ready?…”had discussion or shown interest” in free agent starter, James Shields. I’m not going to go deeply into this one. I’ve already stated the case for signing Shields. But, if you are so inclined, check out Cafardo’s piece and scroll WAY down.