For all my fellow analysts and would be general managers, required reading:
https://bluejaysnation.com/2018/01/16/theres-something-about-the-jays-offseason-moves-i-dont-think-were-talking-about-enough/
You don't sign or trade for 1 or 2 big guns unless and until the rest of the team is solid, just on the verge. 1 or 2 big guns very, very seldom turn a mediocre team into a contender.
The days when Steinbrenner simply bought all the talent are long gone... and the talent is much more expensive today. You guys may think spend the money and buy your way in to 2018, but smart executives always think long run. They expect to still be running a successful team in 2025!
As I said before, my admiration for Shatkins has grown progressively. I think their strategy is to go with what they have at least into early May and see if the team is on the verge of contending. If they think it is, they will spend and/or trade. They have a good inventory of major league talent with which to trade.
They and Rogers are not fools! They know that in Toronto and Canada, a winning team is a very solid, valuable franchise. They are not ego-driven multi billionaires who just want to have a toy! And I am sure someone there right now is thinking about how attractive the Blue Jays would be to a syndicate... like the Marlins, the Dodgers, etc...
For me, the fun part about baseball has always been how frequently the totally unexpected happens... so I always expect the unexpected... when all those well planned strategies are turned on their heads... a major, multi player transaction that totally changes the character of a team... the kind of moves that Pat Gillick pulled off so successfully more than once. :biggrin:
Perry