Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Good Luck Brad, Hello Jeff

Breaking news, just before the baseball meetings next week in Dallas. The Jays have traded Brad Mills to the Angels for Jeff Mathis according to Ken Rosenthal on Twitter.

Brad Mills didn't have a future in the AL East and he was due to be traded, a change of scenery trade. I had expected Mills to be traded to the NL where his style of pitching seemed to be a better fit. Hopefully Mills will have more success in the AL West, expect when they play the Jays of course. For those who don't remember Mills was a walk on in college and completed a degree in engineering before he agreed to turn pro. Mills went to university in Arizona and presumably will enjoy returning there for spring training.

Mathis will likely be the backup catcher in Toronto. JP Arencibia would be due to catch 130 games in 2012 leaving 30 for the backup catcher. Who will catch Brandon Morrow? Just kidding, I think those days of a personal catcher are gone.

Is this the first of many winter meeting deals?

Posted by Gerry on Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 12:06 PM EST.

Good Luck Brad, Hello Jeff | 58 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

PeteMoss - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 12:23 PM EST (#247626) #

If you took the reputation of Jose Molina... you'd get Mathis. Mega-defense catcher who can't hit. In reality Molina could hit a bit and his defense wasn't that great (ability to frame strikes not-withstanding). Not sure Mathis is an improvement over Jeroloman to be honest.

spud77 - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 12:31 PM EST (#247627) #

Wasn't Mathis the catcher who went 0-6 while allowing 6SB in a game last year? His overall defensive stats must have been much better in order to be considered a defense-first catcher, but I can't get that game out of my mind.

pooks137 - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 12:34 PM EST (#247628) #

Not sad to see Brad Mills go. Nothing against him as a player/person, but he was so far down the depth chart that I kept forgetting he was still on the team. Best of luck in LA.

My other reaction upon hearing we acquired Mathis was....Noooooo! The Jays just became the butt of chat room jokes everywhere. Hopefully Farrell doesn't fall in love with Mathis like Scioscia did.

Ultimately, nice to see AA got something for a surplus arm of Mills, and we now have a live body to play 30 games at catcher, and likely block balls better than Molina.

Flex - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 12:34 PM EST (#247629) #

In a vacuum you could say Mathis might not be an improvement on Jeroloman. But in reality Mathis is a veteran MLB catcher and Jeroloman hasn't played an inning in the majors. It's about more than physical skills. Mathis can do more for the pitching staff, even when he's not playing, than Jeroloman. And he's a good complement to a still-developing Arencibia, while leaving no doubt who's getting the majority of the playing time.

Moe - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 12:34 PM EST (#247630) #

I read earlier (after the Ianetta trade) that the Angels were going to non-tender Mathis because he is making 2-3m/year in arb. Not quite getting that trade.

Flex - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 12:39 PM EST (#247631) #

He makes $1.8 million now. I don't see a raise to $3 million.

Ron - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 12:42 PM EST (#247632) #

I'm assuming Mathis is going to be flipped to another team because I see no reason why the Jays would want him. Pitchers like Zambrano and Willis are better hitters than Mathis. His work behind the plate is average at best. If you're just going to punt the positon than you might as well go with a cheaper option like Jeroloman.

Mike Green - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 12:44 PM EST (#247633) #

lexomatic - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 12:48 PM EST (#247634) #

I see no reason for this trade. As a fan, I don't want Mathis on the team. I think he's a waste of a roster spot. Would have been better off juts releasing Mills.

Denoit - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 12:52 PM EST (#247636) #

"I'm assuming Mathis is going to be flipped to another team because I see no reason why the Jays would want him."

Except the fact they need a backup catcher? And please dont beat the Jeroloman drum. Nobody here knows what he can do in the ML. Arencibia is probably going to play 140 games this year. Mills isnt in the plans, especially with guys like Molina,Hutchison, Drabek, McGuire all possibilities to make the jump next year.
Incosequential move to get a backup with ML experience in the fold. I like it, because its one step closer to finalizing the roster for next year.

pooks137 - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 12:55 PM EST (#247637) #

I am not a fan of the backup catcher moves of the post-season period. I would rather have Molina, Jeroloman and Mills than draft pick and Mathis. Obviously, it's not a huge deal, but I think that the club would be better off for the next few years, and the value of the sandwich pick isn't enough to make up for the difference, in my view.

I'm guessing you're in the minority Mike. I agree that Mathis over Molina isn't a huge deal, but I disagree that the club would be "better off for the next few years" with Molina, Jeroloman and Mills.

None of the players involved (Molina, Jeroloman, Mills, Mathis) has/had a future with the Jays beyond this season, and most such as Jeroloman and Mills likely wouldn't have made it to spring training with 40-man roster spots needed. Jeroloman has already lost his spot and left the org once this fall. Mills is out of options, and the club already has a better LOOGY in Perez.. Mathis is just keeping a seat warm for when d'Arnaud is ready. Molina is a FA and is a the epitomy of a replaceable backup

I imagine the only one on this list next year still with the team is whomever gets picked in the sandwich round, which has much more value to the team in the long run, especially with Type B picks becoming extinct.

Mike Forbes - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 01:05 PM EST (#247638) #

Yeah, I like this move. So, what? Mills is a dime a dozen pitcher and Mathis is a dime a dozen catcher who will catch 30-35 games next year. He can hopefully help Arencibia with his technique on balls in the dirt and then move on after next year. You'd think we were the Oakland A's fanbase when you see people fretting about paying some 1.8 million to a bench player.

greenfrog - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 01:33 PM EST (#247639) #

Mathis also brings a lot of knowledge about the league's hitters and pitchers. This is an advantage that Jeroloman (as yet) lacks. Mathis will also be a good guy to have around in spring training.

BCMike - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 01:41 PM EST (#247640) #

The guy has a sub .500 OPS over the last two seasons. That has to be the definition of a useless baseball player, I don't care what intangibles he brings. If you need someone to help Arencibia with his technique hire a coach.

In an ideal season JP will catch 130 games and have 500 PA, but what if he has a stint or two on the DL? Do you really want Jeff Mathis approaching anywhere near 200 plate appearances?

Mike Forbes - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 01:45 PM EST (#247641) #

I have a feeling that if Arencibia goes down in the middle of the season or something for an extended period that D'Arnaud would get the call-up. If Mathis gets hurt, Jeroloman comes up to fill the space on the bench in which Mathis was sitting.

Mike Green - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 02:11 PM EST (#247642) #

Pooks137, just to be clear. Molina is, in my view, a far superior back-up catcher to Mathis, at this point in their careers. It's not a huge deal because we are talking about a back-up catcher instead of an everyday player. The odds that a sandwich pick turns out to have significant value is about 1 in 3, and that value will not likely accrue for 2-3 years. I want this club to be better now and in the coming year or two.

PeteMoss - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 02:12 PM EST (#247643) #

Mathis is a bit of a saber-metric hot button mainly because the Angels insisted on playing him over Napoli. If he was played like a normal back-up catcher, no one would really care about him.

Jose Molina couldn't hit a lick either (although better than Mathis these past two years) until he left the Angels and started being spot started by the Jays and Yankees.

greenfrog - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 02:20 PM EST (#247644) #

"I want this club to be better now and in the coming year or two."

Respectfully, this mindset is (at least in part) why the Jays haven't been to the postseason in 20 years. For better or worse (I think better), AA is taking a different approach.

pooks137 - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 02:23 PM EST (#247645) #

Molina is, in my view, a far superior back-up catcher to Mathis, at this point in their careers.

Fair enough. I quite liked Molina over the last 2 years, minus his lackadaisal blocking skills.

I guess I'm more in the camp of planning for the future until the current team actually proves they are a contender based on the standings, which may happen sooner than planned with the new wild card.

Ideally, I would have preferred a lefty backup catcher for an extra bat off the bench or a quasi-catcher as a backup like Doumit with versatility. I guess I have trouble judging catcher defense, and thus don't value it.

Mylegacy - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 02:24 PM EST (#247646) #

Mathis - yawn.

GOOD - the last thing we need is a back up catcher good enough to keep d'Arnaud in the minors for even one day too long. As to Molina's hitting - my recollections are of him getting lots of big hits. For a lousy bat he weren't so worse.

AND - you can never have too many Molina's. All the more reason to get Nester up as soon as possible!

Gerry - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 02:38 PM EST (#247647) #

If you want to know what the Jays think about Jeroloman in the backup role, you found out when they took him off the 40 man roster.

Craig B - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 02:46 PM EST (#247649) #

This is a terrible waste of money and Mills, if the plan is to keep Mathis. Mathis isn't a good defensive catcher (he might be OK) but it doesn't matter - he's so bad at the plate it would negate everything else. And he'll have to start once a week, minimum.

No one ever gets a pay cut in arbitration, so count on that $1.8M to rise to something in the range of $2.4M, no matter how awful he was last year (and he was awful). That's almost a quarter of my estimate of the remaining budget (once you subtract the minimum). There will be all sorts of competent catchers available as NRIs who would be better at this role than Mathis.

Craig B - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 02:52 PM EST (#247650) #

PeteMoss, that's not quite right that no one would care about Mathis if he were played like a normal backup. Mathis is far, far worse than the typical backup catcher. The Molina comparison is instructive... Molina has always attracted quite a lot of comment as a particularly bad hitter, but his career numbers to 2010 were 236/280/337 for an OPS+ of 62. Mathis for his career is 194/257/301 for an OPS+ of 50.

But the defensive difference between them is also at least ten runs a season. Mathis is truly awful.

Ron - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 02:54 PM EST (#247651) #

Except the fact they need a backup catcher? And please dont beat the Jeroloman drum. Nobody here knows what he can do in the ML. Arencibia is probably going to play 140 games this year. Mills isnt in the plans, especially with guys like Molina,Hutchison, Drabek, McGuire all possibilities to make the jump next year.
Incosequential move to get a backup with ML experience in the fold. I like it, because its one step closer to finalizing the roster for next year.

There are better options out there than Mathis (Castro, Varitek, Shoppach, Rodriguez, Kendall). If the goal is to win baseball games and hopefully make the playoffs next season, than this move is a poor one. Mills is nothing more than a decent AAA starter so I'm not going to lose any sleep over losing him but it's the fact Mathis is on the roster that hurts. I'm not opposed to bringing in a quality veteran backup catcher unfortunately Mathis doesn't fit this description.

Flex - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 03:17 PM EST (#247652) #

I can't help but think of this deal as the GM equivalent of a practice swing in the on-deck circle. Anthopoulos is just warming up for the winter meetings.

Ryan Day - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 03:53 PM EST (#247653) #

"I imagine the only one on this list next year still with the team is whomever gets picked in the sandwich round, which has much more value to the team in the long run..."

Indeed, with the compensation pick the Jays could draft the next Jeff Mathis, who was himself a compensation pick, and then an excellent prospect, before becoming a lousy backup catcher.

Perhaps Mathis was brought in as a reminder to Arencibia, D'arnaud, et al, that nothing is written in stone, that no one is assured of stardom: "This could happen to you."

BlueJayWay - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 04:26 PM EST (#247654) #

Meh. Terrible for terrible. I was already convinced Mills had no future in the AL East. And Mathis is going to be the backup catcher in 2012 I guess...or the backup for the backup.

Gerry - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 04:28 PM EST (#247655) #

There is a good chance d'Arnaud will be ready by August. The backup catcher has an expected life of four months. That might cause some of the more attractive free agents to see Toronto as a less attractive option.

Mylegacy - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 04:42 PM EST (#247656) #

OK

So we just traded Molina and his $3 million dollar salary for Mathis and his $3 million dollar salary + Syndergaard + no one is blocking d'Arnaud. I trust AA's hoard of little Elf Scouts to find us a Syndergaard like bangle for Christmas next June. This is a trade I do everyday of the week; except, I'd do it twice on Sunday. Time for a wee dram.

sweat - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 04:59 PM EST (#247657) #

Couldn't we look at Mathis as the backup to the backup catcher? He will accept arbitration, but it won't be guaranteed (1/6 the value as a buyout?). Now the Jays can keep their eyes open if something better comes along, but with no pressure and a better bargaining position.
Also, my hope is that JPA will play more often than last year. 6 games on, 1 day break. With days off here and there, Mathis might be good for 20ish games.

Thomas - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 05:55 PM EST (#247658) #

Molina and his $3 million dollar salary

Molina is making $1.8 million guaranteed.

Powder Blues - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 06:18 PM EST (#247659) #

This was likely more about giving a smart player (they often come back to your org if you're good to them) another shot elsewhere (Mills), and ensuring a 3rd string catcher if need be. There will be another backup C acquired before spring, likely in the extreme veteran/1 year deal mold.

Mathis will not get more than 25 ABs as a Jay next year. You can all exhale now.

Mike Green - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 07:17 PM EST (#247660) #

Why would you want to assume that kind of salary for a 3rd string catcher?

92-93 - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 07:46 PM EST (#247661) #

Excellent trade. For a spare part with no future in the AL East that was likely going to be taken off the 40-man anyway, AA now has 10 days to find a backup C, with the luxury of knowing that if he can't trade for/sign someone he likes he has a veteran C he can tender a contract to. I know the internet has decided Jeff Mathis is a terrible player but there's a reason why Weaver & Haren preferred to pitch to him, and a reason why Scioscia kept running him out there (and it isn't because he's a moron). Considering the Blue Jays have a C who started 75% of the games behind the plate (and that was despite playing through a thumb injury) and that their undisputed top prospect is a catcher at the AAA level who will probably be MLB ready this year I don't understand the commotion being made. There's also the strong possibility that AA convinces Mathis he isn't worth what he'll make in arbitration and that he signs him to a guaranteed deal in the range of his 2011 salary (and what Jose Molina got from TB). I know all the sabermetric geniuses have written off catchers ERA, but have a look at Haren, Weaver, Santana, and Lackey's career splits by catcher and tell me that Mathis doesn't have value as a backup C.

A few quotes from Lyle Spencer, who covers the Angels for MLB.com:

"Just want to set this straight: Since Jeff Mathis arrived, #Angels are .576 when he starts at catcher, .554 with everyone else. Nice WAR."

"Catching same staff, Mathis had CERA .88 -- almost a full run -- better than Napoli for four years. Won 59% of games he started."

"Won 12 more than Napoli in exact number starts for four years together. Nap caught Lackey, Weaver more"

Kelekin - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 09:04 PM EST (#247666) #

"Excellent trade" is something I'd never thought I'd hear with the two players involving Brad Mills and Jeff Mathis.

As far as I am concerned, when even mylegacy thinks this is a useless trade, it's a useless trade.

Mylegacy - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 10:16 PM EST (#247671) #

I don't think it's a "useless trade" - I think Mathis is a "useless hitter." Bit of a difference.

Actually, Mathis is just what we need - a guy who'll catch 20 or so games while out "full time" catcher hits his 30+ bombs and catches reasonably well. The reason we've got Mathis is in case JP gets hurt early in the year (before d'Arnaud is deemed ready) at that point we've a serious defensive catcher who won't spook the horses (er - our young pitchers).

Now lets get Darvish. Until he goes somewhere else we can continue to swoon thinking about what it would be like to get him - even though we won't - sigh!

Richard S.S. - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 10:38 PM EST (#247673) #

Perhaps A.A. has a trade available that involves d'Arnaud? After all we would still have J.P. Arencibia and Jeff Mathis at MLB, with Brian Jeroloman and Yan Gomes at Las Vegas. Brad Mills would be blocking people and he was at his highest trade value just now. I'm sorry, but we need pitchers better than he would be in the Bullpen. Besides, A.A. needed to establish a relationship with Jerry Dipoto (the new Angels G.M.). Assume nothing when A.A. is at work.

Pedro Martinez http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/12/pedro-martinez-to-announce-retirement.html will be missed.

Shane - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 10:59 PM EST (#247674) #

Perhaps A.A. has a trade available that involves d'Arnaud?

No $&%#I&%@#$ing way! Don't even joke about that.

dawgatc - Saturday, December 03 2011 @ 11:11 PM EST (#247675) #

I wouldn't be surprised if this trade was a favour to another gm which may pay off somewhere down the road.Also he seems to have a flare with game calling and perhaps the Jays value his knowledge around the clubhouse and in spring training etc.'talking with the young pitchers like an extra pitching coach.Who knows???

Sano - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 02:58 AM EST (#247681) #

Has Batter's Box had a full discussion about what we're going to do with d'Arnaud and JP? Because I really don't know what's going to happen and the way I see it, the two are on a collision course ETA August/September 2012. I suppose you park d'Arnaud at LV for this year and see what happens?

TamRa - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 04:15 AM EST (#247685) #

"Not sure Mathis is an improvement over Jeroloman to be honest."

Actually, possibly the best description you could have for Jeroloman is "Mathis 2.0" lol
(except Mathis seems much worse in the BB/K department)

I'm not one to worry about money, but I have an idea there's another shoe to drop here. I'm going to guess Alex non-tenders Mathis and resigns him for something like $800k

Mills was just the price to get in on the ground floor of that negotiation. an easily affordable price.

Either that, or he intends to flip Mathis to another team before the non-tender date.

TamRa - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 04:38 AM EST (#247686) #

"Mathis also brings a lot of knowledge about the league's hitters and pitchers. This is an advantage that Jeroloman (as yet) lacks. Mathis will also be a good guy to have around in spring training."
----------
to me this is the one bit of value the guy brings. If he does have some magical defensive skill that Soscia and the jays' staff appreciates even if we can see it, then he can impart it one hopes to JPA (and to d'Arnaud et al in ST hopefully)

That said, I'm still not completely convinced he'll be with the team by the time ST gets here.

TamRa - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 04:44 AM EST (#247687) #

"No one ever gets a pay cut in arbitration, so count on that $1.8M to rise to something in the range of $2.4M, no matter how awful he was last year (and he was awful)."

EXCEPT that there's no way the Jays go to Arbitration with him. Go ahead and write it down:

if they don't trade him elsewhere in the next week, and he doesn't agree to a contract around half of what he made last year, they will non-tender him and move on (leaving that 800 or 900k offer on the table until they sign someone else and he misses the chance.

There's no way Toronto pays him even as much as he made in 2011, let alone more. Wait and see.

TamRa - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 05:01 AM EST (#247688) #

"Now the Jays can keep their eyes open if something better comes along"

Anyone else remember the ever evolving "meet the new closer!" proceedings last year?

Same deal.

TamRa - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 05:08 AM EST (#247690) #

"Has Batter's Box had a full discussion about what we're going to do with d'Arnaud and JP? Because I really don't know what's going to happen and the way I see it, the two are on a collision course ETA August/September 2012. I suppose you park d'Arnaud at LV for this year and see what happens?"
----------------

I've been predicting the jays go ultra slow with d'Arnaud

Barring an injury, he'll spend all year at Vegas, with September in Toronto. in 2013 depending on September and Spring he'll either break camp in Vegas (much to the outrage of Jays fans) for about 2 months, then come up and work his way into a split of playing time with JP - and JP will be shopped in the off-season (after 2013)
OR
he will break camp with the jays as the back-up, and play well enough to be splitting time with JP by July, at which point Alex will pull of a spectacular deal for the stretch run involving JP (as Alex has already expressed his fetish for the mid-season deal)

I, for one, DON'T expect d'Arnaud to displace JP in 2012 (again, barring injury)

ayjackson - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 09:39 AM EST (#247691) #

I`m not buying the speculation that Mathis will be cut or flipped. We needed a backup, we found one. I doubt the Angels were out looking for fringe bullpen arms that could be a fifth starter in a pinch.

bpoz - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 10:55 AM EST (#247693) #

I always liked B rad Mills. He was just unlucky with the Jays.

In 2008, his 1st full pro year he rocketed through the minors.

In 2009, he had Romero and the other candidates beaten for the 1 open SP spot. Anyone can have a couple of bad starts, and he did at the end of ST, while Romero pitched a couple of gems after being demoted. It did not matter, opportunity was in abundance this year. Halladay, S Richmond & Romero pitched well and kept their spots. Purcey made a habit of losing his spot and Litsch got injured. Cecil, Zep & R Ray made good use of the vast opportunity available that year. Mills was injured only 14 starts in AAA and 2 against the WS champ Phillies.

In 2010, Cecil got the 1st call up from the minors to replace an injured Tallet. Mills had a better start in LV than Cecil, the good luck was Cecil's & the Jays not Mill's or Zep who had them both beat I believe but got injured in ST. The 5th spot was handed to Eveland.

In 2011, Drabek & JoJo Reyes were handed spots. Mills was sent to the minors very early in ST. He had a great AAA season. He did have an opportunity in 2010 & 2011 to capitalize on the failure of Eveland, Reyes & Drabek, but did not take advantage. I like him and actually believe in him. I wish him well, with no options left hopefully he will be given the gift opportunity that Reyes & Eveland got. An excuse... LV takes the starch out of a pitcher near the end of the year.

TamRa - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 04:41 PM EST (#247716) #

"I`m not buying the speculation that Mathis will be cut or flipped. We needed a backup, we found one. I doubt the Angels were out looking for fringe bullpen arms that could be a fifth starter in a pinch."

I'm guessing when we dealt for Olivo you didn't expect the option to be declined either. There are other examples.

The point isn't so much that we don't need Mathis - it's that we don't need to pay Mathis $2 million and we won't.

Either he will negotiate a lower deal - no more than $1 mil - before the non-tender date;

Or he will be non-tendered (with that offer still on the table for now);

Or he will be flipped.

The one thing that surely will not happen is that he'll be in a jays uniform next year making $1.8 million or more in salary.

greenfrog - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 05:42 PM EST (#247721) #

I dunno - according to Shi Davidi on twitter, the "Jays have long love[d] Mathis's glove and handling of pitchers." My guess is they'll keep him unless a better backup option emerges. I can't see how he has any flip value whatsoever.

Richard S.S. - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 07:03 PM EST (#247727) #

bpoz

I always liked Brad Mills. He was just unlucky with the Jays.

The Blue Jays rosy history under Ricciardi really came to a crash in 2006. Mainstay players were hurt necessitating a call-up from the minors for the replacements. J.P. was to remark, looking shocked, "There's nobody there. No one is ready for a callup to us". And Ricciardi's drafting plans were show to be worthless. From that point on, anyone with anything was rushed through the minors faster than was needed. Travis Snider http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/snidetr01.shtml , Brett Cecil http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=cecil-001bre and Brad Mills http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mills-001bra were a few of Ricciardi's victims.

In other news: http://tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=381952 .

bpoz - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 07:13 PM EST (#247728) #

When d'Arnaud is ready, why can't he & JPA split the catching fairly equally? This way there is less wear & tear on both & extra ABs can come from DH & maybe 1B. I honestly think that JPA will benefit offensively by being used this way. I also think catching 140 games will break him down.

Mathis & Jeroloman's eventual 2012 destination & usage provide a clue into the workings of AA's mind. They are contingency options.
Yan Gomes 2012 however has me intrigued. IMO he easily fits into NH as a C, 1B & DH. I like his hitting potential.

bpoz - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 07:29 PM EST (#247730) #

Thanks Richard SS.

Too bad about all those pitching injuries on JP's watch. It is a good thing Halladay stayed reasonably healthy.

I admire your patience Richard, so far no big splash for the 2012 season. The dominos have been falling as AA says. I think the extra wild card for 2012 is almost a sure thing because I can't see any stumbling block to prevent it. So every team has to factor something into their moves for this 2012 possibility.

ayjackson - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 10:16 PM EST (#247737) #

I'm guessing when we dealt for Olivo you didn't expect the option to be declined either.

You`d be wrong again. But I don`t see how this is similar. Mathis is not a free agent. Olivo was a play for a draft pick. Mathis only has 5 years of service time. Completely different scenario. Unless I`m missing something.

jgadfly - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 11:38 PM EST (#247739) #

RE: Teahen' s contract ... Could the Blue Jays sell Teahen's contract to a Japenese team as part of a posting fee ?

smcs - Sunday, December 04 2011 @ 11:51 PM EST (#247741) #

No. Unless the language has been overhauled in the newest CBA, the old CBA stated that major league teams can only assign contracts outside of Canada and the United States with the player's written consent.

jgadfly - Monday, December 05 2011 @ 12:59 AM EST (#247742) #

Thanks smcs for the response ... so, with Teahen's consent the Jays could negotiate something innovative (having his $5M 'sunk cost' contract as partial payment for posting fee) that would possibly allow Teahen to play fulltime in Japan this summer and return in September as need be as an experienced bat off the bench ?

Original Ryan - Monday, December 05 2011 @ 01:18 AM EST (#247743) #

I can't imagine a player agreeing to go to Japan when he already has a big guaranteed contract to play in North America. Guys go over there when it's their only shot at making big money. Even if such a move could be done, there would be no reason for Teahen to approve it.

Ryan C - Monday, December 05 2011 @ 02:18 AM EST (#247746) #

Not to mention that AA is quite big on making Toronto a place with a good atmosphere, where guys feel appreciated and will want to come and play. He's not about to start shipping guys off to Japan.

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