Delgado

[the_big_E]

Where will he end up now that it wont be back with the Jays? I need to discuss as my NBA interest is minimal and of course no hockey.

One thing he shouldnt do is go to the Mets, they have had a rotten time with free agents in the past few years...so the money wont be spent on Delgado, will the Jays pursue anyone? I think I remember reading the Jays were interested in Matt Clement, I think that would be a good pick -up for them. Like Lilly, he's overshadowed by Wood, Prior, and this year Zambrano...and does anyone know if Lilly is coming back?

 

[Ranger68]

They're gonna go hard after Clement - 50/50 chance to do the deal, I'd say.
Lilly's coming back.

I think Delgado's going to Baltimore or Seattle, now - although the Yanks are always a possibility.

 

[MojoRisin']

Sounds like Delgado and his agent are really pissed at the Blue Jays, after hearing the comments that "the BJ's butchered negotioations over the summer and that they feel J.P. never wanted Carlos on the team from the moment he took over the Blue Jays". Its all about the money. He had to go for that reason only. I like the guy. A superstar player that actually wanted to be in TO and loved the city. I wish him well and hope he ends up in Seattle. Now who to get? Bring back Olerud, the Yankees let him go. He be serviceable and inexpensive and will fill the 1st base role quite well. Get pitching!

 

[the_big_E]

The Jays will have NO power now...

 

[Ranger68]

Getting Olerud doesn't address the lack of power.
Plus, without having really analyzed the numbers, it looks like Olerud may be toast.
Delgado's power can't be replaced.

 

[shack]

I'm guessing Delgado would have stayed for around $12 mil. That's a saving of $6.5mil plus the amount they're saving with the increase of the Cdn. dollar (approx $8-10mil). That's easily another $15mil more they had to work with over last year and still keep him. Let's see what they do now that they have so much more dough to work with. It better be good or I (and many others I'm sure) are gonna be pretty pissed that they let a classy, faithful and exciting ballplayer go. It's also hard to replace the team leadership he provided.

 

[VincenzoTurismo]

Getting Olerud doesn't address the lack of power.
Plus, without having really analyzed the numbers, it looks like Olerud may be toast.
Delgado's power can't be replaced.

Sure it can, if they get Carlos Beltran, but then again he'll cost slightly more than Delgado. I've heard the Jays are pursuing Corey Koskies bat, which is great because he can hit and he is Canadian. We haven't had a Canadian bat in our line-up since Rob Ducey and Rob Butler but they don't even really count because they can't hit if their lives depended on it. They only had like 5 homers each during entire major league career.

I even heard the Jays are interested in getting back Billy Koch as a closer.

Ciao,

VT

 

[Ranger68]

Beltran is not the level of power hitter that Delgado is.
Time will tell, but the historical numbers are unequicoval.

Make no mistake, though, Delgado has *chosen* to leave. It's up to him. I'm sure the Jays made a reasonable offer, and am also sure that it's nowhere near what he's going to make elsewhere. Nevertheless, the choice to leave for more money is *his*.

If Koch comes back, I'm gonna hurl.

 

[new2game]

Reasonable????

.

I'm sure the Jays made a reasonable offer, *.


Delgado's agent says he was offered 1/3 of his previous salary...don't sound very reasonable to me....
]

 

[the_big_E]

Jays will not get Beltran, period. I doubt he has any interest in the sad sack Jays and he plays the same position as Beltran...I agree with Ranger, if they get Koch back, my oh my!...Delgado is 34 (I think) and his past 2 years havent been that great for him to warrant a big contract, so I have no problem with him going but as its been said, his power will be tough to replace...I hope they get Clement, he'd be a solid pick-up IMO...and whats the deal with Yankees giving Jaret Wright $7mil? OVERPAID for him!

 

[the_big_E]

uggh, plays the same position as Vernon Wells

 

[MojoRisin']

The Jays will have NO power now...

Vernon Wells. his numbers will get better and better. THis is his team now and i think he'll rise to the challenge.

Ranger im not saying Olerud will replace Delgados numbers alone and there is no way the Jays can with one person. OR they would have offered him the money. If Olerud hangs around i think he'd do well with the Jays. They do need some more power but no one player the Jays can afford will replace Delgados numbers.

 

[Ranger68]

I agree, and that was the point. Delgado's power can't be replaced by one player.
Olerud?
Meh. I'll look at the numbers in detail, but I'm pretty sure his recent history hasn't been pretty.

 

[MojoRisin']

yeah and what i was saying is that i didnt mean that Olerud could replace Delgado, just that he may fit in nicely and will not eat up alot of cash. So now that we have that straight....who else can they bring in if not Olerud. I heard someone talking about offering Mo Vaughn a minor league contract and seeing if he's got any pop left in the bat. As a DH of course. not the fleetest of foot at the best of times. It'll will be interesting or not!

 

[the_big_E]

big Mo has no knees left!

 

[Ranger68]

Mo?!
LOL
No Mo! No Mo!

As for Olerud, his numbers have dropped off rather steeply in the last two seasons - including his OBP, historically his most attractive number. The slugging is down 116 points from 2002, and on-base down 44. For a 36 year-old firstbaseman of his ilk, I wouldn't bet on much of a recurrence - most of the players most similar to him finished up around that age, including Will Clark and Don Mattingly.

This is a rebuilding team. It behooves them to spend wisely, perhaps frugally, and let the youngsters play. I wouldn't be signing a 36 year-old first-sacker with two declining years under his belt. I can't imagine how not signing him hurts the team.

I think Catalanotto's going to get a good look at first, or maybe even another young outfielder makes the transition - Pond or Gross come to mind.

 

[the_big_E]

D-Backs signed Glaus
White Sox signed Dye
Dodgers signed Kent

This will create the domino effect now, perhaps...

 

[dickfocus]

Die hard blue jay fan here and i find it disgraceful the way JP Riccardi has used the Delgado salary as an excuse ever since he was hired, dont get too excited folks no ones coming here Beltran not a chance Clement better offers out there from better teams if anything we will get second tier fillers like Olerud who was waived thru out the league last year and Koch who hasnt done anything for 4yrs now bottom line we have no first baseman now a Third baseman who is avg at best and a bullpen that JP has remade 2yrs in a row now with nothing but garbage no legit stopper, theres 3 players on this team worth seeing Vernon Wells Roy Halladay and Orlando Hudson and the rest is shakey at best if Ted Rogers doesnt want to spend any money on the on field product than get rid of the team cause i wont be going anymore not the way they have treated the players and there fan base in the last 3 yrs or so.

 

[Ranger68]

Koskie's on-board. Is Hinske going to shift to first?
I'd still like to see Clement, although the rhetoric from the Jays camp seems to be indicating that he's going elsewhere, which really is no big surprise.

The end of Ricciard's five-year program is approaching. I always think it's a bad idea to give yourself just enough rope to hang yourself.

 

[the_big_E]

Damn, they could have Carlos Lee for Hinske! bah!