It's a minor league deal, he only gets the 1.25M if he makes the team out of spring training. Pretty good deal and low risk for the JaysBackup catcher resolved. Saltalamaccia signed to a one year deal for 1.25 million with 250,000 in incentives.
Just need that Lefty out of the Pen now and looking set.
Is this anything to get (even a little) excited about? Never heard of the guy but to be honest I'm not as knowledgeable of NL players.Toronto signs former L. A. Dodgers lefty reliever J. P. Howell, pending a physical.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/howeljp01.shtml
Maybe a little. He's a lefty reliever, and we need that after losing Cecil. Last season his ERA was mediocre (4.09), but the three seasons before then it was below 3.00.Is this anything to get (even a little) excited about? Never heard of the guy but to be honest I'm not as knowledgeable of NL players.
Not sure where you've been on this....but it's old news that everyone on the boat was drunk and cocaine in their system...lol.Jose Fernandez boating accident also appears to be alcohol related
Smoak was awful as a hitter in the 2nd half of last season. Every other AB was a whiff. But I like Carrera and Pillar both are decent enough hitters for the bottom of the lineup. Upton is a waste didn't understand that deal at all.As of today the Jays lineup would look like with JBats
2B Devon Travis
3B Josh Donaldson
RF Jose Bautista
DH Kendrys Morales
SS Troy Tulowitzki
C Russell Martin
1B Justin Smoak/Steve Pearce
LF Melvin Upton/Ezequiel Carrera
CF Kevin Pillar
The bottom third of the lineup looks pretty ugly,imho.
I would have rather kept Navarro. He can hit and is decent behind the plate. Great rapport with Estrada as well. Not sure how much it would have cost to keep him but I gotta figure no more than $3-$4M per year.It's a minor league deal, he only gets the 1.25M if he makes the team out of spring training. Pretty good deal and low risk for the Jays
He's got some pop in the bat . is a switch hitter that's stronger on left side, and is ok defensively.
Had an ugly 2016 though. Memories of JP Arencibia come to mind.
A bounce-back candidate for sure. Between him and Russell they may hit 40 homers combined this year.
He's past his prime but a serviceable left arm out of the bullpen. Something we desperately need. If he can revert back to his pre 2015 form it's a very good signing.Toronto signs former L. A. Dodgers lefty reliever J. P. Howell, pending a physical.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/howeljp01.shtml
I'd be thrilled (as would the Blue Jays, I suspect) if he exhibits his 2015 form.He's past his prime but a serviceable left arm out of the bullpen. Something we desperately need. If he can revert back to his pre 2015 form it's a very good signing.
Other than his era his numbers were similar. So it may well have been bad luck, bad defense or even a few off days where he was asked to suck up up in a lopsided game.I'd be thrilled (as would the Blue Jays, I suspect) if he exhibits his 2015 form.
Navarro wants to be the #1 guy. That's why he is chasing around the league.I would have rather kept Navarro. He can hit and is decent behind the plate. Great rapport with Estrada as well. Not sure how much it would have cost to keep him but I gotta figure no more than $3-$4M per year.
Except he's not good enough to be a #1 catcher. He has more value as a platoon or a part-timer IMONavarro wants to be the #1 guy. That's why he is chasing around the league.
That's what happens when you wait.Anyway there was very little out there so it's worth a shot.
Resigning Jose Baustista. Without him the outfield alignment would be some motley combination of Pillar/Upton/Carerra/Pompey with a sidecar of Pearce.... which in Charles Barkley terms is "turrible".Question. Have the Jays made any significant improvements?
Jbats was with the team last year. He is with the team again. It is hard to construe that as an improvement.Resigning Jose Baustista. Without him the outfield alignment would be some motley combination of Pillar/Upton/Carerra/Pompey with a sidecar of Pearce.... which in Charles Barkley terms is "turrible".
In spite of his Chris Collabello-like outfield skills, Bats makes the lineup more difficult to pitch to this year.
Maybe starting pitching is better as they don't have to carry Dicky. Hopefully Liriano will prove an upgrade.Jbats was with the team last year. He is with the team again. It is hard to construe that as an improvement.
Is the outfield improved?
Is starting pitching improved? (That would be tough.)
Is starting pitching depth improved?
Is power improved?
Is team defense improved?
Is team speed improved?
Is the bench improved?
Is the relief pitching improved?
No to most with a couples of maybes. Losing EE means the power will be down.Jbats was with the team last year. He is with the team again. It is hard to construe that as an improvement.
Is the outfield improved?
Is starting pitching improved? (That would be tough.)
Is starting pitching depth improved?
Is power improved?
Is team defense improved?
Is team speed improved?
Is the bench improved?
Is the relief pitching improved?
