[Griever20]

Your 2012 Toronto Blue Jays:

Starting Pitching

RHSP Henderson Alvarez III(21, 2.5*) 1-3 3.53 40K 10GS 63.2IP 0.8WAR // 1-3 3.53 40K 10GS 63.2IP 0.8WAR (career)
The kid made his MLB debut last season and is one of the few leftovers that decided to say with the team. A control artist whose stuff does not blow anyone away, our scouting department is not too thrilled about him but as a groundball pitcher with good control… he will do.

RHSP Carlos Carrasco(25, 3/4*) 8-9 4.62 85K 21GS 1.1WAR (CLE) // 10-15 4.93 134K 33GS 124.2IP 1.3WAR(career)
One of the free agents that decided to stay around, Carrasco will be our opening day starter and important piece on a 1-year deal. He will be arbitration eligible for a $2.4M estimate that we should definitely pay as he has good control and a five pitch mix with some room for growth on the slider and fastball. Throwing 95-97 on the heater, he definitely is the best starter of the bunch.

RHSP Kyle Davies(28, 2.5*) 1-9 6.75 50K 12GS 0.5WAR (KCR) // 43-65 5.59 545K 151G/144GS 768IP 3.8WAR (career)
Not exactly a thrilling arm, but with some MLB experience. Davies got lit in 13 starts last season, and his career year in 2008 where he had a career low ERA of 4.06 with a career high 9 wins is years away. Average in every sense of the way in the scouting report… he is a warm body to hold the fort until our prospects make their way.

LHSP Scott Kazmir(28, 2.5*) 0-0 27.00 0K 1.2IP 1GS -0.2WAR (LAA) // 66-61 4.17 993K 180G/179GS 1022.0IP 14.7WAR (career)
Another project that we decided to acquire as a free agent, Kazmir has had great success with the Tampa Bay Rays when he was a 2x All-Star in a strech of four sub 4 ERA years. Since then, the fastball has dropped a lot of velocity and zip due to Tommy John surgery, and now, Kazmir is looking for a job to stay in the show. He got one with us.

RHSP Marcus Stroman(20, 2/3.5*) DNP // DNP (career)
An extreme groundball pitcher, the 20-year old was placed on the 40-man by the previous regime and while it may be a bit early for him, we decided to make him the fifth starter here. Control, movement and some of his pitches are still not where we want them to be, but he can go deep into games and with a good defensive alignment behing him, we hope that Stroman can survive.

Relief Pitching:

RHRP Al Alburquerque(25, 2.5*) 6-1 0SV 1.87 67K 43.1IP 41G 1.3WAR (DET) // *) 6-1 0SV 1.87 67K 43.1IP 41G 1.3WAR (career)
Signed to the minimum with only limited service time, Alburquerque was a key pickup in the trading frenzy as he provides us with a controllable arm that has some MLB experience and success. The stuff is elite due to his nearly unhittable slider and sinker, but his control tends to let him down from time to time. Acquired from DET in 2012 offseason.

RHRP Jesse Chavez(28, 2/2.5*) 0-0 0SV 10.57 8K 7.2IP 4G -0.3WAR (KCR) // 6-10 0SV 5.36 116K 143G 152.2IP -1.1WAR (career)
The righty was signed on a $700k deal this offseason for depth, but in the situation that we are, depth becomes opening day roster member. Chavez has had little success in the majors and the potential he had never materialized with his secondary pitches not developing and his movement being below expectations… but he is a warm body.

LHRP Bobby Cramer(32, 2.5*) 0-1 0SV 1.08 6K 8.1IP 5G 0.1WAR (OAK) // 2-2 2.53 19K 9G/4GS 32IP 0.0WAR (career)
Got to hand it to Cramer, he really held out though years of minor league ball to get this chance, and signing on a minor league contract that quickly became a 26-man roster spot… he got it. Technically more a starter than a reliever, we wanted him as a lefty in the pen, and there is some upside on the curveball and changeup,

RHRP Yoslan Herrera(30, 2.5*) DNP // 1-1 9.82 10K 18.1IP 5GS 0.1WAR (career)
Herrera is a mystery that our scouting department found somewhere. He has not pitched since 2008 where he had five starts with the Pirates and that is where the lead was buried. Our scouts say his movement will be ‘good enough’ for us… don’t want to know what that means.

LHRP Luis Perez(27, 2.5*) 3-3 0SV 5.12 54K 65IP 37G/4GS -0.2WAR // 3-3 0SV 5.12 54K 65IP 37G/4GS -0.2WAR (career)
Perez survived and stayed through the purge, and should give us another solid arm out of the pen. A bit better than most of the other scrubs we have in the pen, he is a tad above average and can get the ball on the ground.

RHRP Joakim Soria(27, 3.5*) 5-5 28SV 4.03 60K 60.1IP 60G 0.5WAR (KCR) // 13-15 160SV 2.40 341K 298G 315.1IP 5.8WAR (Career)
We have a closer! Soria took the chance on us and got a lot of money paid by MLB… just to then realize that he is arbitration eligible and will get an estimated $2.7M next year… We take it gladly. Featuring a deep arsenal of a fastball, slider, curveball, changeup and cutter, the 2x All-Star can close games and really help us bring home those precious wins…

RHRP Arodys Vizcaino(21, 2.5/3*) 1-1 0SV 4.67 17K 17.1IP 17G 0.1WAR (ATL) // 1-1 0SV 4.67 17K 17.1IP 17G 0.1WAR (career)
Vizcaino was available as a minor league free agent and got the job quickly as he was looking to find a home, and we like the upside he can provide. A four pitch arsenal with a strong changeup that has room for growth, his control can be lackluster as he walked 4.7 batters per nine innings. We are taking a chance here, but the kid is young and not that bad.

RHRP Blake Wood(26, 2.5*) 5-3 1SV 3.75 62K 69.2IP 55G 0.6WAR (KCR) // 6-6 1SV 4.30 93K 119.1IP 106G 0.5WAR (career)
Wood was another free agent pickup that we managed to seal here and that was willing to stay. At age 26, he has two solid years of major league experience with solid ERA’s and why nobody else picked him up is beyond me. Throwing 91-93, there is nothing too special in him, but he gets the job done.

Catcher

C Travis d’Arnaud(23, 2.5*, R) .311/.371/.542 21HR 78RBI 114G 4.7WAR (AA) // DNP (career)
d’Arnaud will be rushed through the minors in order to cover the backup catcher spot. Not a great defensive catcher, the 23-year old can hit some, and had a good year in AA… but if we somehow find a better defensive catcher… his days may be limited.

C Devin Mesoraco(23, 2.5/3.5*, R) .180/.226/.360 2HR 6RBI 18G 0.0WAR (CIN) // .180/.226/.360 2HR 6RBI 18G 5R 9H 0.0WAR (career)
Mesoraco will be our starting catcher and get a LOT of time behind the plate, based on two things. a.) he will develop into a way better hitter than d’Arnaud as he should be come a home run threat, and Devin is the better defender. Acquired from CIN in 2012 offseason.

Infield

1B David Cooper(25, 2.5*, L) .211/.284/.394 2HR 12RBI 27G 0.1WAR // .211/.284/.394 2HR 12RBI 27G 9R 15H 0.1WAR (career)
After a monster of a AAA season, batting .364-9-96 .974OPS in 120 games, Cooper moved up to play 1B against left-handed hitters with the big show. He won’t hit a ton of home runs, but the ability to make contact and avoid strikeouts is solid.

1B Eric Thames(25, 2.5/3*) .262/.313/.456 12HR 37RBI 95G 1.9WAR // .262/.313/.456 12HR 37RBI 95G 58R 95G 1.9WAR (career)
Similar to Cooper, Thames is coming off a strong 2011 in AAA with a .352 batting average, but also had a good cup of coffee in the majors. He will get every chance to shine this season, and scouts think there is some untapped potential… at age 25, this may not lead to much tho. Will be a everyday player at DH or 1B.

2B Eduardo Escobar(23, 2/3*) .286/.286/.286 0HR 0RBI 9G 0.0WAR (CWS) // .286/.286/.286 0HR 0RBI 9G 0R 2G 0.0WAR (career)
At age 23, Escobar would need another year in AAA to hone his swing and his ability to go to the gaps with line drives for doubles… but we don’t have the time. His defence is not super impressive and he lacks a standout offensive trait, but he should be good enough for us.

IF Adeiny Hechavarria(22, 2*) .389/.431/.537 2HR 11RBI 25G 1.1WAR (AAA) // DNP (career)
A good defender that has some speed and some singles in his bat, Hechavarria got the backup job as we were looking for a controllable infielder that can play all three infield positions left of first base. He won’t become a star but will help us stay afloat.

3B Scott Sizemore(27, 2.5*) .245/.342/.399 11HR 56RBI 93G 2.1WAR (OAK) // .239/.329/.382 14HR 70RBI 69R 122H 158G 2.3WAR (career)
The one player where we decided to take a chance on a below average defender. Sizemore was available as a free agent and his main skills are taking a walk, and if there is contract between ball and bat, hitting a double. He brings two years of MLB experience to the plate and should help us on offense.

SS Ryan Goins(24, 1.5/2*, L) .286/.343/.408 3HR 52RBI 101G 2.5WAR (A) // DNP (career)
Can play 2B and short with great defence. We don’t talk about the rest. PLEASE! Just kiddin. His bat is work in progress and barely MLB ready, but we lack a good shortstop and the next best guy is more a center fielder than a shortstop so…

Outfield

LF/RF Ben Francisco(30, 2*, R) .244/.340/.364 6HR 34RBI 100G/63GS 1.1WAR (PHI) // .260/.332/.430 45HR 174RBI 181R 349H 460G 6.5WAR (career)
The veteran has hit some solid slashlines for Cleveland and Philadelphia, but his performance has been trending down in the last years. He is a decent corner outfielder that is signed on small money and will be mainly playing DH against lefties or riding the pine.

LF Jordan Danks(25, 2.5*, L) .257/.344/.425 14HR 65RBI 133G 18/22SB 3.2WAR (AAA) // DNP (career)
The Chicago White Sox didn’t want him and we wanted him. His bad, as with so many players here, is nothing special, but he still is expected to get on base for a decent clip and our scouting tagged a good 70 on his left field defence. Solid MLB player which we will have under control for six years.

LF/RF Travis Snider(24, 2.5*, L) .225/.269/.348 3HR 30RBI 49G -0.1WAR // .248/.307/.423 28HR 104RBI 102R 198H 232G 2.3WAR (career)
Snider has been up and down between AAA Las Vegas and the big show for the last four years now, but this is his chance to become our regular right fielder. At age 24, his bat still has some room for power and we hope to catch a bit of his AAA success from 2011 where he hit .327 down there… or his 2010 form with 14 home runs in 82 games in MLB.

CF Jake Marisnick(21, 2/2.5*, R) .320/.392/.496 14HR 77RBI 37/45SB 118G 5.5WAR (A) // DNP (career)
Marisnick had a big year in single A and has the ability to steal a lot of bases and we are willing to bet the family farm that he will win a Gold Glove in the outfield one day. He will not make a killing with the bat anytime soon tho, but center field is his for the year.

CF Anthony Gose(24, 2*, L) .253/.349/.415 16HR 59RBI 70/85SB 137G 4.2WAR (AA) // (career)
This is a tricky one. The numbers say… Gose destroyed AA with home runs and stolen bases. Our scouts and trainers say… fooled you! They say he will never hit double digit home runs again, his bat will top at .250 batting average and they dislike his personality and describe him as unmotivated… which is why he will be the backup outfielder.