I don't like to get excited over rumors, but Ken Rosenthal's piece speculating about what the Yankees might do to shore up their bullpen is intriguing.
Escobar to the Yanks? I thought the Jays already had the Yankee's top prospects.
Speaking of things not to jinx, the Jays lead all of baseball in runs scored. I don't think of this team as a great offensive team, but when I look at the lineup only the catching position is overachieving right now and that's offset by Hinske's struggles, so it's better than I realized.
Speaking of things not to jinx, the Jays lead all of baseball in runs scored. I don't think of this team as a great offensive team, but when I look at the lineup only the catching position is overachieving right now and that's offset by Hinske's struggles, so it's better than I realized.
Brandon Claussen would be a useful prospect, I think.
J.P.'s collegial relationship with Brian Cashman might help get something done, if there is anything to Rosenthal's speculation. The return won't be much -- the Jays should happily accept another non-prospect like Scott Wiggins, just to be rid of Escobar.
I dunno, Coach-Escobar for two-thirds of a year is far less of a burden than Mondesi for one and a half. Claussen isn't going to happen, of course, but I think I'd want more than Wiggins redux if I were J.P.
http://espn.go.com/gammons/s/2003/0519/1556237.html
Gammons' column is up (follow the link above). Escobar to the Yanks, and Stewart to the A's is discussed. Cory Lidle is mentioned as the best available starting pitcher.
Joe Blanton (Kentucky pitcher taken in the 1st round last year - the A's rated him as the 2nd best pitcher in the draft) is a name brought up to go to the Jays for Stewart, but I suspect that the A's wouldn't give up that much unless the Jays ate Stewart's contract (and the A's still might not do that even if the Jays did throw in the money).
I suppose the Jays eating Stewart's contract is a possibility as it'd basically be trading Stewart for a 1st round pick last year. If the Jays had made the pick themselves they would have paid him a bonus in an amount similar to what they'd pay Stewart for 1/3 of the season.
Does anyone know what level of compensation would be due to the Jays if Stewart remained with the team and signed with another one in the offseason?
Gammons' column is up (follow the link above). Escobar to the Yanks, and Stewart to the A's is discussed. Cory Lidle is mentioned as the best available starting pitcher.
Joe Blanton (Kentucky pitcher taken in the 1st round last year - the A's rated him as the 2nd best pitcher in the draft) is a name brought up to go to the Jays for Stewart, but I suspect that the A's wouldn't give up that much unless the Jays ate Stewart's contract (and the A's still might not do that even if the Jays did throw in the money).
I suppose the Jays eating Stewart's contract is a possibility as it'd basically be trading Stewart for a 1st round pick last year. If the Jays had made the pick themselves they would have paid him a bonus in an amount similar to what they'd pay Stewart for 1/3 of the season.
Does anyone know what level of compensation would be due to the Jays if Stewart remained with the team and signed with another one in the offseason?
According to Gammons, superscout J.P. Ricciardi drove through a tornado Friday getting to Memphis. Was he going to Graceland? The Redbirds were in Oklahoma that night.
Pistol, if the Jays don't offer Stewart arbitration, they get no compensation. If they do offer him arbitration, and he signs elsewhere, Toronto gets the first-rounder of whatever team signs him, plus a "sandwich pick" between the first and second rounds, assuming he's in the top 30% of FA and therefore "Type A". However, the Jays risk having to pay him millions more than the budget for LF/leadoff (Cat will cost about $3 MM) even if they "win" a hearing, so I don't think it will happen. A trade to a contender near the deadline will maximize the return and free up the most cash.
Lidle will also be dealt. I wasn't predicting he would get $30 MM for four years -- that was a deliberate exaggeration, just wishing him the best possible luck. But he's a cinch to get a two (or three) year deal at $6-7 MM per annum, more than Toronto is willing to spend in 2004 on any pitcher. J.P. is holding some excellent cards this summer, and he should get a very nice price for the "best available starter" if he can pit the bidders against each other.
Maybe I'm wrong about Escobar's trade value, but I suspect he would have been long gone if there was even the slightest interest last winter. Anything more than an anonymous minor-leaguer will make me very happy. More likely, he'll be a throw-in with Lidle or Stewart to get an even better package in return.
Pistol, if the Jays don't offer Stewart arbitration, they get no compensation. If they do offer him arbitration, and he signs elsewhere, Toronto gets the first-rounder of whatever team signs him, plus a "sandwich pick" between the first and second rounds, assuming he's in the top 30% of FA and therefore "Type A". However, the Jays risk having to pay him millions more than the budget for LF/leadoff (Cat will cost about $3 MM) even if they "win" a hearing, so I don't think it will happen. A trade to a contender near the deadline will maximize the return and free up the most cash.
Lidle will also be dealt. I wasn't predicting he would get $30 MM for four years -- that was a deliberate exaggeration, just wishing him the best possible luck. But he's a cinch to get a two (or three) year deal at $6-7 MM per annum, more than Toronto is willing to spend in 2004 on any pitcher. J.P. is holding some excellent cards this summer, and he should get a very nice price for the "best available starter" if he can pit the bidders against each other.
Maybe I'm wrong about Escobar's trade value, but I suspect he would have been long gone if there was even the slightest interest last winter. Anything more than an anonymous minor-leaguer will make me very happy. More likely, he'll be a throw-in with Lidle or Stewart to get an even better package in return.
Is that correct for Type A players? The top 30% of free agents? Or is it the top 30% of all players?
I still maintain that Lidle won't get over $5 million/year in free agency. The baseball middle class is disappearing and he's part of it. If you go team by team it's hard to imagine too many teams that would add $6-7 million for a 'number 3' pitcher.
I still maintain that Lidle won't get over $5 million/year in free agency. The baseball middle class is disappearing and he's part of it. If you go team by team it's hard to imagine too many teams that would add $6-7 million for a 'number 3' pitcher.
Is that correct for Type A players? The top 30% of free agents? Or is it the top 30% of all players?
It's broken down positionally so the weak hitting middle infielders don't get screwed over by being compared to OF and 1B. I'm nearly certain that all outfielders are lumped together though. Type A players rank in the top 30% of his position only. Type B players are those that rank between the top 50% and the top 30%. Type C players are those that rank between the top 60% and the top 50%. After that, there is no compensation for the team losing the player.
It's important to know that the rankings use a formula that includes last year's stats as well. Since Stewart has played full time both seasons, allowing him to accumulate pretty good numbers, this will benefit the Jays...he and Lidle will very likely be Type A.
It's broken down positionally so the weak hitting middle infielders don't get screwed over by being compared to OF and 1B. I'm nearly certain that all outfielders are lumped together though. Type A players rank in the top 30% of his position only. Type B players are those that rank between the top 50% and the top 30%. Type C players are those that rank between the top 60% and the top 50%. After that, there is no compensation for the team losing the player.
It's important to know that the rankings use a formula that includes last year's stats as well. Since Stewart has played full time both seasons, allowing him to accumulate pretty good numbers, this will benefit the Jays...he and Lidle will very likely be Type A.
And if I wasn't clear, it's the top 30% of ALL players at that particular position, not the top 30% of Free Agents.
It's tough to say what Lidle's value will be. He's already won 7 games after winning only 8 last year. If he has 12 - 15 wins by the All-Star break (which isn't really that far-fetched), and with his reputation as a second half pitcher, his return could be pretty substantial.
As for next season, he should get between 5 and 7 million per if he puts up numbers close to the last couple of seasons. The Jays' hitting machine will give him ample run support to bolster his win total. And we all know how much GM's love a winner.
As for next season, he should get between 5 and 7 million per if he puts up numbers close to the last couple of seasons. The Jays' hitting machine will give him ample run support to bolster his win total. And we all know how much GM's love a winner.
More Escobar to the Yanks talk:
http://www.nj.com/yankees/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1053585847223270.xml
Of course the column says that Almonte is one of the Yanks top trading chips. I can't imagine the Jays would be interested in him.
John Sickels had this to say:
"Looking at the minor-league numbers, Almonte projects to hit between .230 and .260 in the major leagues, with touches of power and an erratic on-base percentage. What he's doing now is about what he should be expected to do, maybe a little better. He has no star potential that I can see, but certainly does enough to be useful as a middle infield reserve."
http://www.nj.com/yankees/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1053585847223270.xml
Of course the column says that Almonte is one of the Yanks top trading chips. I can't imagine the Jays would be interested in him.
John Sickels had this to say:
"Looking at the minor-league numbers, Almonte projects to hit between .230 and .260 in the major leagues, with touches of power and an erratic on-base percentage. What he's doing now is about what he should be expected to do, maybe a little better. He has no star potential that I can see, but certainly does enough to be useful as a middle infield reserve."