Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos says that the Toronto Blue Jays are likely done signing free-agents or making moves. In today’s post, I am going to grade each of the important acquisitions and make a prediction to the how the Blue Jays will finish in the AL East next season.
1. Blue Jays trade pitching prospect Nestor Molina to the Chicago White Sox for Sergio Santos
- The Jays did something surprising with this trade, trading a young fireball pitcher for something they actually needed, a closer. Santos racked up 30 saves, had impressive strikeout numbers and had a WHIP just over 1.10. The Blue Jays bullpen of Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch blew too many games; acquiring Santos was a much needed move, but it did come at a cost with a stud prospect in Molina.
Grade: B+ Giving up Molina hurts, but Santos is what they needed.
2. Blue Jays trade Brad Mills to the Los Angeles Angels for Jeff Mathis
- With Jose Molina gone too the Rays, the team needed a strong defensive backup catcher to work with the young and wild pitching staff. Mills wasn’t likely to be in the Jays future plans, so giving him up did not hurt the team.
Grade: B Not a flashy move, but certainly not a bad one.
3. Blue Jays sign Kelly Johnson to a 1 year 6.35 million dollar contract.
- Johnson had a sub-par season with the Diamondbacks and Blue Jays. This is more of a stopgap signing until prospects in the minors are ready. Johnson can hit 20 home runs but he also can be an easy out. This signing gives the Jays a second baseman but the cost is high.
Grade: B- A needed move, but high cost and potential risk for regression.
4. Blue Jays trade for Jason Frasor from the White Sox, sign Darren Oliver (2 yr/$7 million) and sign Aaron Laffey.
- These moves were all made to improve a bullpen which severely struggled after the trade that acquired Colby Rasmus. Frasor, who is the Blue Jays all time leader in appearances, is a solid seventh/eighth inning guy who can fill at the closer spot barring injury. Oliver had been solid for the last five years, and works generally as a specialist. Laffey had an up and down year but has the potential to start or pitch in relief.
Grade: B+ Much needed signings to improve the bullpen.
5. Blue Jays lose bid to Yu Darvish, don’t sign big name free agent
- The Blue Jays had a flashy start to the off-season, and became the favourites to sign super free agent Yu Darvish. That plan didn’t work and the organization received a lot of criticism for not bigging in a big named free agent. Prince Fielder, who is still a free agent, will likely not join the Blue Jays due to his contract length demand. The Blue Jays roster, with some tweaks, is pretty similar to last years 81-81 team; It seems unlikely that they will improve with the moves that the Yankees made and the strength of the Rays and Red Sox pitcing staffs.
Grade: F If you don’t spend money you aren’t going to make much of it.
Thanks for reading,
Liam
Tags: Baseball, MLB, Sports, TorontoBlueJays
