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ryan008 · 10-26-2011, 04:35 PM

Blue Jays Offseason Report - Jays Very Active in Free Agency & Trades

March 1st, 2012

The Toronto Blue Jays just wrapped up their first offseason with GM Ryan Stewart at the helm and the Jays had a very good offseason even making what some people have described as the biggest move of the entire offseason. The Jays agreed to a contract with former Mariners Ace SP Felix Hernandez to bolster their pitching staff. The 25 yearold was not offered a contract by the Mariners and was snapped up by the Jays on a 5 year deal worth $105,000,000. GM Ryan Stewart "Hernandez is exactally the type of player that we want to bring in, he is young and still ahs the best years of his career ahead of him. We think he will be a force in the American League East and will help to lead a very young pitching staff here in Toronto. We are very excited to bring him to Toronto and can't wait to see just what he can do here"

Rule V Draft

The Blue Jays did not select or lose anyone in the 2012 Rule V Draft.

Free Agent Signings

The Blue Jays made a huge splash in the free agent market inking 25 yearold SP Felix Hernandez to a 5 year contract. The 6'3" 222 lb righty was 12-10 with a 3.08 ERA with 67 BB and had 190 K's for a very bad Seattle Mariners team in 2011, he is a former American League Cy Young Award Winner and is a two time American League Allstar. He agreed to a 5 year deal worth a total of $105,000,000 which includes a 5th year that is a player option. Hernandez ranked as a Type A free agent meaning the Blue Jays will have to surrender their 1st round draft pick to the Mariners as compensation, a price GM Ryan Stewart was more than willing to pay "We weighed this decision heavily as we put a high value on our draft picks. We decided that the chances of hitting a player with Hernandez's talent where we are to select in the draft was unlikely so it made this the right move. We can't wait to see what he can do as a Blue Jay"

The Blue Jays also made a trio of other more minor moves during the offseason this year aiming to shoreup their bullpen and to add a back up catcher. The Jays inked MR Bobby Jenks to a 2 year deal worth $5,600,000. The 31 yearold was 4-4 with 2 SV and had a 5.65 ERA with 38 BB and 90 strikeouts in 87.2 innings pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season. He will get a chance to compete for the closers role during spring training but he is more likely to wind up in a set up role for the Jays. He was a Type B free agent meaning that the Jays will not lose a draft pick to sign him.

The Blue Jays added another vetran arm to the bullpen agreeing to a 1 year deal with $2,870,000 with former Oriole's MR Michael Gonzalez. The 33 yearold lefty was 7-1 with 12 Saves and had a 3.04 ERA with 36 BB and 89 K for the Orioles last season. He was brought in as a situational lefty and to give Jays Manager John farrell another lefty option down in the bullpen.

GM Ryan Stewart's last free agent aquisition was to ink veteran C Miguel Olivo to a 1 year $1,760,000 contract extension. The 33 yearold right handed batter hit .241 with 12 HR and drove in 46 RB for the Mariners last season. He is very good defensively and is capable enough with the bat he can spell C J.P. Arencibia a few times a month to give the Jays starting catcher a break. He was also considered a Type B free agent and the Blue Jays will not forfit a draft pick to aquire his services.

Trades

GM Ryan Stewart made a pair of trades this offseason aimed at addressing two of the teams biggest needs at second base and in centerfield. With the departure of 2B Aaron Hill as a free agent and with no one in the system ready to assume the role of everyday second base at the MLB level the Jays went out and aquired 2B Kelly Johnson and minor leage SP Yo****sune Matsumoto from the Atlanta Braves for SP Marc Rzepczynski and a pair of prospects in 1B K.C. Hobson and CF Anthony Gose.

Players to Atlanta

SP Marc Rzepczynski is a 26 yearold lefty who spent the majority of last season as a reliever for the Jays. He was 5-3 with a 5.40 ERA with 35 BB and 45 Ks which included 7 starts. He has the potential to be a back end of the rotation arm but has slipped down the Jays depth chart with the return of SP Dustin McGowan and the signing of SP Felix Hernandez.

1B K.C. Hobson had a very good season for the Jays at Lansing of the Midwestern League hitting .335 with 17 HR and 85 RBI. The 21 yearold was named the Blue Jays R. Howard Webster Award Winner for Lansing and was a Midwestern league Allstar. He was quickly moving up the Blue Jays prospect depth charts before he was dealt and should be an everyday first baseman at the MLB level.

CF Anthony Gose is a 21 yearold left handed batter who heading into the 2011 season was considered one of the Jays top prospects. He had a bit of a rough season in 2011 for the Dunedin Blue Jays in the Florida State League hitting just .249 with 8 HR and 48 RBI. He was still considered a top prospect and should be an everyday player at the MLB level.

Players to Toronto

2B Kelly Johnson is a 31 yearold left handed batter who hit .305 with 32 HR and drove in 103 RBI for the Braves. He is in the last year of his contract that pays him $10,500,000 and will become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this season. Defensively he is very steady and should add a very good left handed bat to what could be a potent Jays lineup.

SP Yo****sune Matsumoto is a 17 yearold 6'6" 230 lb righty who was signed by the Braves as an International Free Agent out of Japan in 2011. He features a 96-98 MPH fastball as well as a hard slider and is working on a curveball. He went 1-1 with 8 SV andposted a 5.21 ERA in Rookie League with Missoula in 2011. The Jays see him as a starter and will have him start in Bluefield when the Rookie League Season start up in June. He has the potential to be a middle of the rotation arm but is a long way from being MLB ready.

The Blue Jays second deal of the offseason saw them send SP Brandon Morrow and minor league SP Joel Carreno to the St. Louis Carndinals in exchange for CF Colby Rasmus and CL Eduardo Sanchez. GM Ryan Stewart on the deal "We felt that ceterfield was a position that we needed to upgrade both defensively and offensively. We had Rajai Davis for most of the season last year and he put up respectiable numbers but just not what we were expecting from a starting centerfielder. Rasmus is a young player who still has some talent to grow into and we think he will fit in well with what we are trying to accomplish here"

Players to St. Louis

SP Brandon Morrow is a 27 yearold righty with a big arm. His fastball reaches 95-97 MPH and he also has good secondary stuff. He wa 6-6 with a 3.23 ERA with 70 BB and 118 K's for the Jays last season but did miss some time due to injuries. He was not a player that the Jays wanted to part with but they could not make this deal without him included.

SP Joel Carreno is a 25 yearold righty with an 89-90 MPH fastball. He was 6-7 with a 3.65 ERA with 24 BB and 63 K's as the New Hampshire Fishercats #3 starter this year. Carreno relies heavily on his control as he can't blow hitters away with his stuff and he scouts as a back end of the rotation arm.

Players to Toronto

CF Colby Rasmus is a 25 yearold left handed batter who hit .284 with 22 HR and drove in 73 RBI for the Cardinals last season. He is another young controlable player (contract for 2012 is $6,500,000 on auto renew) who the Jays believe still has some potential to grow into. Defensively he is very sound as he took home the Gold Glove Award in centerfield in 2011.

CL Eduardo Sanchez is a 24 yearold righty who features a hard 95-97 MPH fastball as well as a late breaking slider. He was 5-4 with 20 Saves and posted a 4.93 ERA with 18 BB and 36 strikesouts in 38.1 innings for AAA Memphis. He will get a shot to crack the Jays bullpen this season and will be headed to Spring Training with the Jays.

International Free Agents

There was only a single notable free agnet that entered the Major League Free Agent pool this offseason. 29 yearold SP Rafael Soto out of the Dominican Republic. He features a 95-97 MPH fastball and has a very good curve, slider and changeup. the 6'5" 213 pounder looks like he would be a good #2 or #3 starter at the MLB level but is not going to come cheep. Rumour is he is looking for a 5 year deal in teh neighbourhood of $100,000,000.

Blue Jay International Free Agent Signings

The Jays scouting staff continued to be dillagent in their scouting of International leagues and it paid off with the Jays signing a trio of players to minor league contracts.

MR Gonzago Balderas (17, LHP, V: 89-90 MPH) - Puerto Rico
3B Ricardo Soto (18, LHB) - Dominican Republic
MR Jose Garcia (17, RHP, V: 92-94 MPH - Venezuela

2011 Major League Free Agent Signings

CF Carlos Beltran - 3 years $45,100,000 (Atlanta Braves)
CL Joe Nathan - 3 years $34,400,000 (New York Yankees)
2B Rickie Weeks - 5 years $91,400,000 (Cleveland Indians)
CL Heath Bell - 3 years $35,700,000 (Seattle Mariners)
SP Johan Santana - 2 years $27,500,000 (Kansas City Royals)
SP Felix Hernandez - 5 years $105,000,000 (Toronto Blue Jays)
2B Chase Utley - 2 years $50,200,000 (San Diego Padres)
SP C.C. Sabathia - 5 years $97,800,000 (Seattle Mriners)
SS Hanly Ramirez - 6 yers $116,000,000 (Minnesota Twins)
1B Prince Fielder - 6 years $106,700,000 (Colorado Rockies)
1B Adrian Gonzalez - 5 years $87,000,000 (Milwaukee Brewers)
CF Curtis Granderson - 2 years $29,800,000 (New York Mets)
SP C.J. Wilson - 4 years $55,000,000 (Kansas City Royals)
CL Jon Rauch - 3 years $34,200,000 (milwaukee Brewers)*
1B Mark Texiera - 6 years $102,700,000 (Seattle Mariners)
SP Rafael Soto - 6 years $68,400,000 (New York Yankees)
1B Justin Morneau - 5 years 89,000,000 (Chicago White Sox)
RF Josh Willingham - 4 years $68,700,000 (New York Yankees)
SP Zack Grenike - 4 years $75,200,000 (Atlanta Braves)
SS Jason Bartlett - 4 years $40,600,000 (Seattle Mariners)
RF Magglio Ordonez - 2 years $23,200,000 (San Francisco Giants)
CF Shane Victorino - 4 years $37,200,000 (New York Yankees)
CL Jonathan Papelbon - 3 years $38,400,000 (Colorado Rockies)
MR Houston Street - 3 years $23,700,000 (Washington Nationals)
CL Jonathan Broxton - 1 year $14,700,000 (Cleveland Indians)
1B Paul Konerko - 2 years $32,000,000 (New York Yankees)
2B Aaron Hill - 5 year $76,800,000 (Chicago White Sox)*
CF Scott Podsednik - 3 years $11,000,000 (New York Yankees)*
1B Nick Johnson - 1 year $10,620,000 (New York Yankees)

*The Blue Jays will receive compensation selections in the Supplemental 1st round
** The Blue Jays will forfit their 1st round pick 21st overall to the Seattle Mariners for the signing of SP Felix Hernandez.

Up Next: Spring Training 2012

10-26-2011, 04:35 PM	#19
ryan008 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: St. Catharines, Ontario Posts: 2,355	Blue Jays Offseason Report - Jays Very Active in Free Agency & Trades March 1st, 2012 The Toronto Blue Jays just wrapped up their first offseason with GM Ryan Stewart at the helm and the Jays had a very good offseason even making what some people have described as the biggest move of the entire offseason. The Jays agreed to a contract with former Mariners Ace SP Felix Hernandez to bolster their pitching staff. The 25 yearold was not offered a contract by the Mariners and was snapped up by the Jays on a 5 year deal worth $105,000,000. GM Ryan Stewart "Hernandez is exactally the type of player that we want to bring in, he is young and still ahs the best years of his career ahead of him. We think he will be a force in the American League East and will help to lead a very young pitching staff here in Toronto. We are very excited to bring him to Toronto and can't wait to see just what he can do here" Rule V Draft The Blue Jays did not select or lose anyone in the 2012 Rule V Draft. Free Agent Signings The Blue Jays made a huge splash in the free agent market inking 25 yearold SP Felix Hernandez to a 5 year contract. The 6'3" 222 lb righty was 12-10 with a 3.08 ERA with 67 BB and had 190 K's for a very bad Seattle Mariners team in 2011, he is a former American League Cy Young Award Winner and is a two time American League Allstar. He agreed to a 5 year deal worth a total of $105,000,000 which includes a 5th year that is a player option. Hernandez ranked as a Type A free agent meaning the Blue Jays will have to surrender their 1st round draft pick to the Mariners as compensation, a price GM Ryan Stewart was more than willing to pay "We weighed this decision heavily as we put a high value on our draft picks. We decided that the chances of hitting a player with Hernandez's talent where we are to select in the draft was unlikely so it made this the right move. We can't wait to see what he can do as a Blue Jay" The Blue Jays also made a trio of other more minor moves during the offseason this year aiming to shoreup their bullpen and to add a back up catcher. The Jays inked MR Bobby Jenks to a 2 year deal worth $5,600,000. The 31 yearold was 4-4 with 2 SV and had a 5.65 ERA with 38 BB and 90 strikeouts in 87.2 innings pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season. He will get a chance to compete for the closers role during spring training but he is more likely to wind up in a set up role for the Jays. He was a Type B free agent meaning that the Jays will not lose a draft pick to sign him. The Blue Jays added another vetran arm to the bullpen agreeing to a 1 year deal with $2,870,000 with former Oriole's MR Michael Gonzalez. The 33 yearold lefty was 7-1 with 12 Saves and had a 3.04 ERA with 36 BB and 89 K for the Orioles last season. He was brought in as a situational lefty and to give Jays Manager John farrell another lefty option down in the bullpen. GM Ryan Stewart's last free agent aquisition was to ink veteran C Miguel Olivo to a 1 year $1,760,000 contract extension. The 33 yearold right handed batter hit .241 with 12 HR and drove in 46 RB for the Mariners last season. He is very good defensively and is capable enough with the bat he can spell C J.P. Arencibia a few times a month to give the Jays starting catcher a break. He was also considered a Type B free agent and the Blue Jays will not forfit a draft pick to aquire his services. Trades GM Ryan Stewart made a pair of trades this offseason aimed at addressing two of the teams biggest needs at second base and in centerfield. With the departure of 2B Aaron Hill as a free agent and with no one in the system ready to assume the role of everyday second base at the MLB level the Jays went out and aquired 2B Kelly Johnson and minor leage SP Yosune Matsumoto from the Atlanta Braves for SP Marc Rzepczynski and a pair of prospects in 1B K.C. Hobson and CF Anthony Gose. Players to Atlanta SP Marc Rzepczynski is a 26 yearold lefty who spent the majority of last season as a reliever for the Jays. He was 5-3 with a 5.40 ERA with 35 BB and 45 Ks which included 7 starts. He has the potential to be a back end of the rotation arm but has slipped down the Jays depth chart with the return of SP Dustin McGowan and the signing of SP Felix Hernandez. 1B K.C. Hobson had a very good season for the Jays at Lansing of the Midwestern League hitting .335 with 17 HR and 85 RBI. The 21 yearold was named the Blue Jays R. Howard Webster Award Winner for Lansing and was a Midwestern league Allstar. He was quickly moving up the Blue Jays prospect depth charts before he was dealt and should be an everyday first baseman at the MLB level. CF Anthony Gose is a 21 yearold left handed batter who heading into the 2011 season was considered one of the Jays top prospects. He had a bit of a rough season in 2011 for the Dunedin Blue Jays in the Florida State League hitting just .249 with 8 HR and 48 RBI. He was still considered a top prospect and should be an everyday player at the MLB level. Players to Toronto 2B Kelly Johnson is a 31 yearold left handed batter who hit .305 with 32 HR and drove in 103 RBI for the Braves. He is in the last year of his contract that pays him $10,500,000 and will become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this season. Defensively he is very steady and should add a very good left handed bat to what could be a potent Jays lineup. SP Yosune Matsumoto is a 17 yearold 6'6" 230 lb righty who was signed by the Braves as an International Free Agent out of Japan in 2011. He features a 96-98 MPH fastball as well as a hard slider and is working on a curveball. He went 1-1 with 8 SV andposted a 5.21 ERA in Rookie League with Missoula in 2011. The Jays see him as a starter and will have him start in Bluefield when the Rookie League Season start up in June. He has the potential to be a middle of the rotation arm but is a long way from being MLB ready. The Blue Jays second deal of the offseason saw them send SP Brandon Morrow and minor league SP Joel Carreno to the St. Louis Carndinals in exchange for CF Colby Rasmus and CL Eduardo Sanchez. GM Ryan Stewart on the deal "We felt that ceterfield was a position that we needed to upgrade both defensively and offensively. We had Rajai Davis for most of the season last year and he put up respectiable numbers but just not what we were expecting from a starting centerfielder. Rasmus is a young player who still has some talent to grow into and we think he will fit in well with what we are trying to accomplish here" Players to St. Louis SP Brandon Morrow is a 27 yearold righty with a big arm. His fastball reaches 95-97 MPH and he also has good secondary stuff. He wa 6-6 with a 3.23 ERA with 70 BB and 118 K's for the Jays last season but did miss some time due to injuries. He was not a player that the Jays wanted to part with but they could not make this deal without him included. SP Joel Carreno is a 25 yearold righty with an 89-90 MPH fastball. He was 6-7 with a 3.65 ERA with 24 BB and 63 K's as the New Hampshire Fishercats #3 starter this year. Carreno relies heavily on his control as he can't blow hitters away with his stuff and he scouts as a back end of the rotation arm. Players to Toronto CF Colby Rasmus is a 25 yearold left handed batter who hit .284 with 22 HR and drove in 73 RBI for the Cardinals last season. He is another young controlable player (contract for 2012 is $6,500,000 on auto renew) who the Jays believe still has some potential to grow into. Defensively he is very sound as he took home the Gold Glove Award in centerfield in 2011. CL Eduardo Sanchez is a 24 yearold righty who features a hard 95-97 MPH fastball as well as a late breaking slider. He was 5-4 with 20 Saves and posted a 4.93 ERA with 18 BB and 36 strikesouts in 38.1 innings for AAA Memphis. He will get a shot to crack the Jays bullpen this season and will be headed to Spring Training with the Jays. International Free Agents There was only a single notable free agnet that entered the Major League Free Agent pool this offseason. 29 yearold SP Rafael Soto out of the Dominican Republic. He features a 95-97 MPH fastball and has a very good curve, slider and changeup. the 6'5" 213 pounder looks like he would be a good #2 or #3 starter at the MLB level but is not going to come cheep. Rumour is he is looking for a 5 year deal in teh neighbourhood of $100,000,000. Blue Jay International Free Agent Signings The Jays scouting staff continued to be dillagent in their scouting of International leagues and it paid off with the Jays signing a trio of players to minor league contracts. MR Gonzago Balderas (17, LHP, V: 89-90 MPH) - Puerto Rico 3B Ricardo Soto (18, LHB) - Dominican Republic MR Jose Garcia (17, RHP, V: 92-94 MPH - Venezuela 2011 Major League Free Agent Signings CF Carlos Beltran - 3 years $45,100,000 (Atlanta Braves) CL Joe Nathan - 3 years $34,400,000 (New York Yankees) 2B Rickie Weeks - 5 years $91,400,000 (Cleveland Indians) CL Heath Bell - 3 years $35,700,000 (Seattle Mariners) SP Johan Santana - 2 years $27,500,000 (Kansas City Royals) SP Felix Hernandez - 5 years $105,000,000 (Toronto Blue Jays) 2B Chase Utley - 2 years $50,200,000 (San Diego Padres) SP C.C. Sabathia - 5 years $97,800,000 (Seattle Mriners) SS Hanly Ramirez - 6 yers $116,000,000 (Minnesota Twins) 1B Prince Fielder - 6 years $106,700,000 (Colorado Rockies) 1B Adrian Gonzalez - 5 years $87,000,000 (Milwaukee Brewers) CF Curtis Granderson - 2 years $29,800,000 (New York Mets) SP C.J. Wilson - 4 years $55,000,000 (Kansas City Royals) CL Jon Rauch - 3 years $34,200,000 (milwaukee Brewers)* 1B Mark Texiera - 6 years $102,700,000 (Seattle Mariners) SP Rafael Soto - 6 years $68,400,000 (New York Yankees) 1B Justin Morneau - 5 years 89,000,000 (Chicago White Sox) RF Josh Willingham - 4 years $68,700,000 (New York Yankees) SP Zack Grenike - 4 years $75,200,000 (Atlanta Braves) SS Jason Bartlett - 4 years $40,600,000 (Seattle Mariners) RF Magglio Ordonez - 2 years $23,200,000 (San Francisco Giants) CF Shane Victorino - 4 years $37,200,000 (New York Yankees) CL Jonathan Papelbon - 3 years $38,400,000 (Colorado Rockies) MR Houston Street - 3 years $23,700,000 (Washington Nationals) CL Jonathan Broxton - 1 year $14,700,000 (Cleveland Indians) 1B Paul Konerko - 2 years $32,000,000 (New York Yankees) 2B Aaron Hill - 5 year $76,800,000 (Chicago White Sox)* CF Scott Podsednik - 3 years $11,000,000 (New York Yankees)* 1B Nick Johnson - 1 year $10,620,000 (New York Yankees) The Blue Jays will receive compensation selections in the Supplemental 1st round * The Blue Jays will forfit their 1st round pick 21st overall to the Seattle Mariners for the signing of SP Felix Hernandez. Up Next: Spring Training 2012