Blue Jays advantages in dead Bruce-for-Saunders Trade

Domonic Brown could represent in-house depth

While Saunders hasn’t gone anywhere, that didn’t stop the Blue Jays from signing an All Star outfielder…. At a fraction of the price.

Just days after the trade fell through, the Blue Jays signed former Phillies top prospect Domonic Brown to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. While nothing flashy, it presents an intriguing piece of depth for the Blue Jays. Brown is projected to perform about on par with Saunders in 2016 with an Average of .243, OBP of .297 and an OPS of .704.

It’s nothing special, he is expected to rebound quite significantly after an injury-riddled 2015 and an unproductive 2014. His projected batting line puts him right in line with Bruce and Saunders’ projections. Given that he’s younger than Bruce and Saunders by a year and the once-elite potential he possessed,  Brown could have an edge in the ability to revitalize his career.

Besides, the heart of Toronto’s order is stacked with stars who did not find their stride until they were on the doorstep of 30.

By inviting him to spring training the Jays can see how Brown stacks up to Saunders and Pompey. If he can hang tight enough he may even work is way onto the 25 man roster. Fellow boom-or-bust outfielder Junior Lake will be in the conversation as well.

If Brown can demonstrate being productive, the Blue Jays are looking at having more depth at outfield than room, opening up the option for more trading down the line. While a long shot, Brown represents the kind of big name addition that Bruce does but without the money and the fan fare. Don’t take the lack of fan fare to mean this isn’t a worthwhile addition, in fact, the dead Bruce/Saunders deal may have netted one of Toronto’s most important pick ups to date.

Next: The numbers: Bigger expense than reward?

Bruce was unneeded expense

While adding a flashy name like Bruce always sounds appealing, the ugly reality is that with big names come bigger contracts. And while we don’t know for sure if the Reds or Angels would have sent income compensation (it was reported they would not), the fact of the matter is that Bruce is still owed a decent chunk of change.

He will earn 12.5 million this year with a 13 million/1 million buyout coming in 2017. With Saunders making just 2.9 million, and Brown even less than that, the Blue Jays would have needed to invest a serious chunk of change in Bruce. With the talks of resigning Bautista and Encarnacion already underway and in a state of constant media chaos (at least in Bautista’s case), investing that much money in a marginally better outfielder seems wasteful and frivolous.

By saving nearly 10 million by not acquiring Bruce, the Blue Jays free a significant amount of financial flexibility. Whether they use it to invest in Joey or Edwing or not, the Jays benefited financially by not making the deal.

With a lot of depth still on the free agent market, names like Kyle Lohse, Alfredo Simon, Aaron Harang, and Joe Nathan are on the list of Pitching talents still without homes. This late in the off season, many of them could come cheap, and cheap upside arms in the pen is something that wouldn’t hurt the 2016 Jays by any means.

Furthermore if the Blue Jays are concerned about Saunders’ health, Marlon Byrd and Austin Jackson are intriguing free agent options in the outfield while the trade and waiver wire will pick up as 25-man rosters are former.

Next: Don't forget: The offseason still isn't over

Still time to make a deal

While the Jays/Angels/Reds trade fell through, it does not mean that the Jays are done shopping Saunders or seeking an outfield bat. While he might not have been what the Angels were looking for, multiple teams could still benefit from having outfield experience.

The White Sox, Indians, and Orioles, to name a few. While it is unlikely that the Jays and Orioles will actively shop with one another, the Jays do have strong ties with the Indians. The Jays have been linked to trades with Cleveland since before Shapiro took control. While that hasn’t resulted in anything since, it does not mean that the coals are not still burning. Similarly, the White Sox could also seek out the Jays to help with their own outfield.

Furthermore, the Jays have the ability to deal from a position of strength, one they did not have a week ago. The additions of Brown and Rafael Soriano present legitimate upside players at little cost. While there is currently nothing between the teams right now, there is a lot of time to go before Opening Day. The death of this trade has created real depth for the Blue Jays. Not too many dead trades turn into signing to former All Stars for cheap.

Next: Blue Jays set to soar with the real Tulowitzki

Trade was a bad fit for the Blue Jays

Arguing about dollars and cents with Bautista and Encarnacion is not the time to bring on an ailing former star with a high price tag of his own. The Blue Jays dealt away Ben Rever to acquire bull en ace Drew Storen because they had the depth to do so. That trade fit the teams budgetary requirements and strengthened a problem, while slightly weakening a strength. That deal was a good trade off. The Bruce for Saunders deal was bizarre.

It contradicted what the Jays wanted to do as a team, and did not fill any holes. While fans have since fantasized about seeing Bruce’s bat in Rogers Centre, it’s not something they needed to see. The Blue Jays can already hit ball. One extra impact bat won’t change that, especially when Saunders represents one of the Jays best chances at an impactful leadoff batter. Eliminating him from the equation only makes a weakness weaker and a strength slightly stronger. The risk/reward for the trade was all wrong, and seemed like an oversight from a team that has insisted on making good investments.

In the week since this deal failed, the Blue Jays have become a much stronger team on both the Major and Minor League level. While no deal was done, the Jays still managed to come out winners.