JB did not have the season he was hoping for, or one the fans were hoping for. Only he knows what he is going to do, but, IMO, there is not a lot left in the tank. Been a fan of his for years, but you could see the decline start last year and this year there was considerable more. Personally, I hope he retires as a player, I am sure if he wants the Jays will find a job for him with the Jays. As a fan just want him to retire before his decline gets too bad and the crappy moments begin to overshadow the great moments.
The 2017 Blue Jay season thread
- Thread starter Phil C. McNasty
- Start date
For sure he's done in Toronto.
You can eliminate any National League team, Texas, Baltimore. I can't see any big market teams wanting him like NY or Boston. It would have to be a team like Minnesota, Tamp Bay, Oakland, something like that, but I don't even see that happening.
He could play 1B.
The issue with JB is how much is age and how much an injury / -ies that could improve. He slipped from being superstar good to being a minus WAR very, very quickly.
Jose is a very intelligent guy and I would bet he has been good with his money. I think he should retire - rather than risk going out like Willie Mays (the greatest cf who ever lived - but whose last season was an embarrassment). I also think he should stay in baseball one way or another - either with the Jays or some other way.
Although I agree with this principle in general, I seem to recall Bautista rose from mediocrity starting in September of '09 and then hit 54 HRs the next year and 43 the year after and had about 7 years of very good production. But it started in September of '09.
Unless the jays have some good prospects or are willing to go after some free agents, who else do they have to play in the outfield? Jose's stats this year are comparable and perhaps even better than what Pillar brings to the table.
Defensively Jose is starting to lose it when attempting to catch a ball, but his arm is much above average.
i guess we will see who shows up in the spring ready to fight for a job in the outfield.
His average is bad, but average can be misleading...
And now Brett Anderson has blisters issues. Can this season get any worse??
Surely this has to be a record year for injuries:
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/254300966/blue-jays-brett-anderson-exits-with-blister/
Surely this has to be a record year for injuries:
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/254300966/blue-jays-brett-anderson-exits-with-blister/
As a big JB fan, it's sad to see his once great hitting skills decline so quickly to his current levels. He still leads the team in BB and Runs which not only speaks to his great eye but diminishing skills as well as the lack of replacement talent in Toronto.
He will rightfully be considered one of the Jay's greats pushing AA and management to buld a winner around him. He played a big part in bringing Toronto into the ALCS in 2015-16 after 22 years of futility.
And credit him with one of the greatest 3 run HR in Jays history off Dyson.
He will rightfully be considered one of the Jay's greats pushing AA and management to buld a winner around him. He played a big part in bringing Toronto into the ALCS in 2015-16 after 22 years of futility.
And credit him with one of the greatest 3 run HR in Jays history off Dyson.
I don't even think he'll be around in spring. They will 100% opt out of his contract. Guys like Anthony Alfred will get a real shot at the job. I don't even think Shapiro/Atkins wanted to bring him back last year, but were kind of in the hot seat with having to deal with both JB and EE as free agents. I think JB is going to have a very hard time finding a job this next season. Especially since the new trend is to go with younger, faster, cheaper talent. If your a home run hitter that's not hitting that many home runs anymore.....your in trouble.
Now that he has been around for a while , are you still wondering?
IMO, after watching him play a few more games from when you posted this, NO! He is neither ready offensively or defensively. I would rather see Goins at short than Urena. There is talent there but it needs development. The Twins know he has a problem with the ML breaking ball and he is getting a steady diet of them. Defensively he needs work!
Biagini didn't even make it past the second inning.
He's not consistent enough to be a starter
He's not consistent enough to be a starter
Why does he continue to pitch from the stretch as a starter?
reminds me when I pitched in pee wee
In my first game a batter got on first and I continued to windup and everyone was yelling to pitch from the stretch
I did not know WTF they were saying so the coach called time out and showed what the stretch was
I had a mean curve ball then Denny McClain from the Tigers (last pitcher to win 30 when the Tigers won the WS) came to our dinner so I discussed the curve with him and he said I was doing it wrong and it would wreck my elbow
My elbow still feels pain so he was right. Turns out McClain was controlled by the Mafia and got caught and was suspended the next year and never got back into form as steroids had wrecked his arm
Hell of a guy to take advice from
FYI:
This is the latest edition in MLBTR’s Three Needs series...
After reaching the ALCS in the previous two seasons, the 2017 Blue Jays stumbled out of the gate to a brutal 2-11 start and simply never got on track. The team did have some good stretches and was still hanging around the wild card race in late August, so it could be tempting to write the season off as a by-product of some brutal injury luck, as several Jays regulars spent significant time on the disabled list. It could also be argued, however, that the injuries simply exposed some underlying issues with the roster that would’ve prevented Toronto from contending even at full strength.
A rebuild isn’t in the cards given the talent (and big contracts) still on hand, so the Jays are planning for a big rebound in 2018. Here are a few of the areas that need to be addressed in order for the Jays to return to contention…
1. Make the lineup less one-dimensional. The Jays ranked at or near the bottom of the league in just about every major offensive category except for home runs and walks, and this lack of versatility led to the third-worst offensive fWAR (9.0) of any club in baseball. Justin Smoak’s breakout year was countered by Jose Bautista and Kendrys Morales having sub-replacement level seasons, plus the light-hitting duo of Ryan Goins and Darwin Barney getting the bulk of playing time at the middle infield spots thanks to Troy Tulowitzki and Devon Travis missing much of the year. Lengthy DL stints for Josh Donaldson, Russell Martin and Steve Pearce also didn’t help matters.
A general lack of speed and positional versatility is baked into the Toronto roster given the presence of so many veteran players. If the Jays are looking to add contact hitting, defense and perhaps more stolen bases into the mix, two positions that stand out are right field (which we’ll address in the next point) and second base. The Jays simply don’t know what they have in Travis due to his already-extensive injury history, so getting a more reliable middle infield option is necessary. Shortstop is another question mark thanks to Tulowitzki’s own continued injury problems, though he’s probably untradeable because of his big contract. An everyday middle infielder that could play second base but handle short in a pinch would be ideal for the Jays, as it would give them flexibility in the increasingly-likely event that Tulowitzki or Travis will again hit the DL.
The Jays could also consider trading a veteran simply in order to create room for more versatile players, even if it wouldn’t free up any payroll space. The Jays would have to eat money to move Tulowitzki, Morales or maybe even Pearce, but they could cut down on that financial outlay by taking on another “bad” contract in return. Dealing one of those big contracts to add a somewhat pricey corner outfielder, starting pitcher or reliever in need of a change of scenery would allow Toronto to address a need while technically not really creating another roster hole, given how little the in-house veterans contributed in 2017.
A bigger-picture move would be to deal Donaldson or Smoak, though such a trade doesn’t seem likely since the Jays will be counting on those two as cornerstones of next year’s lineup. The Jays will certainly talk to Donaldson this winter about an extension as he enters his last year under contract, and even if talks don’t go anywhere, it seems much more plausible that Toronto shops Donaldson at next July’s deadline (if at all) rather than move him this winter.
2. Add a new right fielder. Bautista’s tenure with the club is all but certain to end, leaving a big hole in right field. Teoscar Hernandez, acquired at the deadline for Francisco Liriano, is the most obvious in-house candidate, though he may also not be ready for an everyday role on a contending team. Ezequiel Carrera, Anthony Alford, Dwight Smith and perhaps Dalton Pompey are other internal options if the Jays wanted to cobble together a platoon, but right field stands out as a clear opportunity to add a reliable everyday player to the lineup.
While the Jays will have some money to spend, signing the likes of a J.D. Martinez or another top-tier free agent bat doesn’t fit with the team’s usual M.O. A trade could also be somewhat difficult; barring the type of bad-contract swap scenario I mentioned earlier, the Jays don’t have much in the way of MLB-ready prospects to offer in deals. This could be a situation where Toronto uses the money freed up by Bautista’s departure to acquire an outfielder from a team primarily looking to move salary rather than add prospects.
3. Add at least one, preferably two starting pitchers. The Jays head into 2018 with a rotation headlined by Marcus Stroman, J.A. Happ and (theoretically) Aaron Sanchez, provided that Sanchez can solve the blister and finger issues that limited him to just 36 innings. Sanchez’s injuries have already been enough of a lingering concern that he can’t be entirely counted on until the spring, making it all the more important that the club reinforces its pitching staff.
One spot could be filled by a familiar face, as there is mutual interest in a reunion with impending free agent Marco Estrada. That will be a boon if Estrada returns to his 2015-16 form, though even the inconsistent 2017 version of Estrada has still delivered 176 2/3 IP and 2.7 fWAR.
It seems like any pitching additions will have to come via signings or trades, as Toronto is lacking in MLB-ready starters at the Triple-A level. Joe Biagini could be a candidate for a fifth starter’s role after a full Spring Training of preparing to be a full-time starting pitcher, though his up-and-down performance as a starter this year hints that his ultimate future could be in the pen. The Blue Jays won’t be shopping at the high end of the free agent pitching market, but a mid-range signing akin to their deal with Happ two winters ago could fit. The Jays have already been mentioned as one of the teams potentially targeting Alex Cobb this offseason.
This is the latest edition in MLBTR’s Three Needs series...
After reaching the ALCS in the previous two seasons, the 2017 Blue Jays stumbled out of the gate to a brutal 2-11 start and simply never got on track. The team did have some good stretches and was still hanging around the wild card race in late August, so it could be tempting to write the season off as a by-product of some brutal injury luck, as several Jays regulars spent significant time on the disabled list. It could also be argued, however, that the injuries simply exposed some underlying issues with the roster that would’ve prevented Toronto from contending even at full strength.
A rebuild isn’t in the cards given the talent (and big contracts) still on hand, so the Jays are planning for a big rebound in 2018. Here are a few of the areas that need to be addressed in order for the Jays to return to contention…
1. Make the lineup less one-dimensional. The Jays ranked at or near the bottom of the league in just about every major offensive category except for home runs and walks, and this lack of versatility led to the third-worst offensive fWAR (9.0) of any club in baseball. Justin Smoak’s breakout year was countered by Jose Bautista and Kendrys Morales having sub-replacement level seasons, plus the light-hitting duo of Ryan Goins and Darwin Barney getting the bulk of playing time at the middle infield spots thanks to Troy Tulowitzki and Devon Travis missing much of the year. Lengthy DL stints for Josh Donaldson, Russell Martin and Steve Pearce also didn’t help matters.
A general lack of speed and positional versatility is baked into the Toronto roster given the presence of so many veteran players. If the Jays are looking to add contact hitting, defense and perhaps more stolen bases into the mix, two positions that stand out are right field (which we’ll address in the next point) and second base. The Jays simply don’t know what they have in Travis due to his already-extensive injury history, so getting a more reliable middle infield option is necessary. Shortstop is another question mark thanks to Tulowitzki’s own continued injury problems, though he’s probably untradeable because of his big contract. An everyday middle infielder that could play second base but handle short in a pinch would be ideal for the Jays, as it would give them flexibility in the increasingly-likely event that Tulowitzki or Travis will again hit the DL.
The Jays could also consider trading a veteran simply in order to create room for more versatile players, even if it wouldn’t free up any payroll space. The Jays would have to eat money to move Tulowitzki, Morales or maybe even Pearce, but they could cut down on that financial outlay by taking on another “bad” contract in return. Dealing one of those big contracts to add a somewhat pricey corner outfielder, starting pitcher or reliever in need of a change of scenery would allow Toronto to address a need while technically not really creating another roster hole, given how little the in-house veterans contributed in 2017.
A bigger-picture move would be to deal Donaldson or Smoak, though such a trade doesn’t seem likely since the Jays will be counting on those two as cornerstones of next year’s lineup. The Jays will certainly talk to Donaldson this winter about an extension as he enters his last year under contract, and even if talks don’t go anywhere, it seems much more plausible that Toronto shops Donaldson at next July’s deadline (if at all) rather than move him this winter.
2. Add a new right fielder. Bautista’s tenure with the club is all but certain to end, leaving a big hole in right field. Teoscar Hernandez, acquired at the deadline for Francisco Liriano, is the most obvious in-house candidate, though he may also not be ready for an everyday role on a contending team. Ezequiel Carrera, Anthony Alford, Dwight Smith and perhaps Dalton Pompey are other internal options if the Jays wanted to cobble together a platoon, but right field stands out as a clear opportunity to add a reliable everyday player to the lineup.
While the Jays will have some money to spend, signing the likes of a J.D. Martinez or another top-tier free agent bat doesn’t fit with the team’s usual M.O. A trade could also be somewhat difficult; barring the type of bad-contract swap scenario I mentioned earlier, the Jays don’t have much in the way of MLB-ready prospects to offer in deals. This could be a situation where Toronto uses the money freed up by Bautista’s departure to acquire an outfielder from a team primarily looking to move salary rather than add prospects.
3. Add at least one, preferably two starting pitchers. The Jays head into 2018 with a rotation headlined by Marcus Stroman, J.A. Happ and (theoretically) Aaron Sanchez, provided that Sanchez can solve the blister and finger issues that limited him to just 36 innings. Sanchez’s injuries have already been enough of a lingering concern that he can’t be entirely counted on until the spring, making it all the more important that the club reinforces its pitching staff.
One spot could be filled by a familiar face, as there is mutual interest in a reunion with impending free agent Marco Estrada. That will be a boon if Estrada returns to his 2015-16 form, though even the inconsistent 2017 version of Estrada has still delivered 176 2/3 IP and 2.7 fWAR.
It seems like any pitching additions will have to come via signings or trades, as Toronto is lacking in MLB-ready starters at the Triple-A level. Joe Biagini could be a candidate for a fifth starter’s role after a full Spring Training of preparing to be a full-time starting pitcher, though his up-and-down performance as a starter this year hints that his ultimate future could be in the pen. The Blue Jays won’t be shopping at the high end of the free agent pitching market, but a mid-range signing akin to their deal with Happ two winters ago could fit. The Jays have already been mentioned as one of the teams potentially targeting Alex Cobb this offseason.
^^^^^^^^
Good article but..... he ain't the Jays president or GM and they are the decision makers, so time will tell what the Jays are going to do!
I don't know what they are going to do re JB, I just hope he is allowed to leave with respect and dignity!
Good article but..... he ain't the Jays president or GM and they are the decision makers, so time will tell what the Jays are going to do!
I don't know what they are going to do re JB, I just hope he is allowed to leave with respect and dignity!
