Major League Baseball: 2012-2013 Offseason and Spring Training

[Villain]

The AL East isn't that strong. It is, but not really. You guys should be able to contend.

I agree. The AL East ain't what it used to be. Boston looks to be in the cellar and the Yankees aren't getting any younger. I would absolutely love to see the Blue Jays and the Rays duking it out for the division next year (I'm not a long-term believer in the Orioles - yet).

There's still a lot that can happen between now and Spring - and then of course between Spring and Fall. The Yankees are trying to stay under the Luxury Tax threshold so I don't expect them to really improve, at least on paper, this winter.

 

[Patrick]

This just proved that the Baseball Writers are idiots.

 

[Blitz24]

This just proved that the Baseball Writers are idiots.

Which isn't a complete surprise. I think Los Angeles not making the playoffs may have hurt Trout.

 

[Patrick]

Which isn't a complete surprise. I think Los Angeles not making the playoffs may have hurt Trout.

We had a better record, played in a tougher division, and if the White Sox didn't choke theTigers wouldn't even be in the playoffs.

 

[Blitz24]

We had a better record, played in a tougher division, and if the White Sox didn't choke theTigers wouldn't even be in the playoffs.

But that's the issue, you didn't win the division. I'm not saying that Trout didn't deserve the award but that could have been some of the views of the writers. I would have picked Trout over Cabrera personally.

 

[Patrick]

I know that was part of it, but we all know because he got the Triple Crown.

 

[Villain]

I don't think that there is an angle I can agree with that states that Cabrera deserved it more than Trout.

 

[Omnis]

These moves by Jeff Loria have "Sell" written all over them. I hope so. Everyone hates him.

 

[Prosthetic]

MVPosey

 

[Joel]

As if that trade wasn't enough.

http://blogs.thescore.com/mlb/2012/11/16/the-melkman-cometh-blue-jays-reportedly-sign-melky-cabrera/

Jays sign Melky Cabrera. Are we actually relevant again?

 

[Prosthetic]

As if that trade wasn't enough.

http://blogs.thescore.com/mlb/2012/11/16/the-melkman-cometh-blue-jays-reportedly-sign-melky-cabrera/

Jays sign Melky Cabrera. Are we actually relevant again?

Mark it down... Cabrera is going to hit 20 HRs this year.

 

[cgr-10]

As if that trade wasn't enough.

http://blogs.thescore.com/mlb/2012/11/16/the-melkman-cometh-blue-jays-reportedly-sign-melky-cabrera/

Jays sign Melky Cabrera. Are we actually relevant again?

I hear people saying things along the lines of 'when he's not drugged up he'll be completely useless' but we may aswell give it a shot; got nothing much to lose to be honest. There's Gose and Davis already in the side but neither of them are ridiculously talented.

Jays really are making a run for the AL East then.

 

[Villain]

Melky Cabrera will do just fine. He's in his prime and he should be a steal at that contract. It's not like there is intense media scrutiny - it's a different country!

 

[Joel]

No matter how you slice it, he's an upgrade over Rajai Davis. There's finally no real hole in the Jays lineup. The only thing I could see is packaging Lind + a catcher for a 1st base upgrade over Lind, to keep Encarnacion as the DH most of the time. Unless there's some free agent 1B that I don't know about who could sign in Toronto.

 

[Omnis]

So, Marlins aiming for the #1 pick in the 2014 draft?

And 2015, 2016......

Some jerkoff let Loria watch Moneyball on Starz the other night.

 

[Blitz24]

Some jerkoff let Loria watch Moneyball on Starz the other night.

Are you sure it wasn't "Major League"?

 

[Prosthetic]

Are you sure it wasn't "Major League"?

No, that's Lew Wolff... Destroying the A's on purpose so he can move the team and monopolize the Bay Area.

 

[Blitz24]

No, that's Lew Wolff... Destroying the A's on purpose so he can move the team and monopolize the Bay Area.

Well, another example at failing!

 

[Villain]

No, that's Lew Wolff... Destroying the A's on purpose so he can move the team and monopolize the Bay Area.

Or Frank McCourt. Good guys won that battle!

 

[Barra333]

The Blue Jays-Marlins trade is finally official
MLB.com article

 

[Joey D]

Looks like the Tiger's are finally going to get rid of Ryan Raburn and his horrendous batting average. Our line-up is looking better and better.

 

[JohnBM01]

What team(s) do you think could become the most improved next season? In other words... a poor team in 2012 playing much better in 2013. Who do you think could be most improved? Or is it still too early to really gauge what teams could make the biggest improvement?

 

[BobK]

I'll get back to you on that around June or so.

 

[Omnis]

Biggest improvement per dollar? Marlins. They can't do worse than last place.

Biggest improvement? Jays.

 

[Joel]

I'm so excited to be a Jays fan for the first time in my life. I just can't get over how unreal that trade was. Buerhle, Johnson, AND Reyes? Amazing. Then signing Cabrera, just awesome. Rumours are Anthopolous isn't done, Arencibia, Buck, or D'Arnaud could be moved (or a package involving one of the 3), for a starter or a 1B/DH. Ideally move Arencibia+ for a starter, start the season with Encarnacion at 1B, and D'arnaud DHing and working his way into the lineup at catcher (with Buck getting most starts behind the plate).

 

[cgr-10]

I'm so excited to be a Jays fan for the first time in my life. I just can't get over how unreal that trade was. Buerhle, Johnson, AND Reyes? Amazing. Then signing Cabrera, just awesome. Rumours are Anthopolous isn't done, Arencibia, Buck, or D'Arnaud could be moved (or a package involving one of the 3), for a starter or a 1B/DH. Ideally move Arencibia+ for a starter, start the season with Encarnacion at 1B, and D'arnaud DHing and working his way into the lineup at catcher (with Buck getting most starts behind the plate).

Well we could have contended last season if not for all the injuries etc. These signings make sure that even if a couple of things do go wrong, we can still field a winning side which we just couldn't do up to now. If everything goes our way, who knows, we have the potential to contend for the AL East; we're pretty far off being favourites but you can't say we aren't in with a shot. You're right, it is exciting to be a Jays fan!

 

[Omnis]

The Marlins have guaranteed themselves a free-agent-free club until Loria sells the team though. After what they did to Reyes and Buerhle, nobody will ever sign here again unless we're the only team willing to pay them. And we're not willing to pay anybody.

 

[Joel]

It's just disgusting, a total bait and switch. I wonder if he tried to trade that home run sculpture too.

At least Reyes and Buerhle already have winter homes in Florida

 

[Villain]

Players sign in Florida because there is no state income tax (which is why Carlos Lee vetoed trades to the Dodgers and Yankees). Getting traded to a team in another state means a headache. Getting traded to a team in another nation means a complete reevaluation of personal finances.

At least the Blue Jays are doing right by their fans and fielding a competitive team. It's insane how all three free agent "splashes" by the Marlins have been traded already (don't forget Heath Bell as well).

 

[Joel]

Yeah, it's about time. People always used "we're a small market, we can't spend with the Yankees". As an excuse for the team being mediocre.

The reality is Toronto is the 5th largest city in North America, and the team is owned by Rogers, a massive telecommunications company. It's nice to see them spend some money on the team. If the team does well next year out of the gate, attendance will skyrocket. This is a fanbase that watched the team win 2 world series, then watched the team slink into mediocrity for 20 years.