There are less than six more hours until the non-waiver trade deadline, and frankly, we've already invested way too much time worrying about what's going to happen with young Mr. Halladay and who we may receive in return for him.Seriously, we spent a good chunk of yesterday afternoon considering the relative merits of Yonder Alonso, a Reds prospect that we'd never heard of before, and Devaris Gordon, who we'd heard of but hadn't realized was "untouchable" and "off-limits" before we spent a half-hour picking apart his short season rookie ball numbers.
This is not healthy. This is no way for a man to live.
We're really tempted just to shut everything down for the day and ignore the rest of this tomfoolery. Although if you stop by Twitter at some point this afternoon, you'll likely see us making up opinions on Justin Smoak, or whoever.
The other trade deadline
For the media tourists who are going to heave scorn onto J.P. if he doesn't make a move today, it should probably be noted that he's traditionally made more moves after the non-waiver trade deadline.
Last year, Ricciardi moved Matt Stairs (for Fabio Castro) and brought in José Bautista after July 31. He also shipped Eric Shitske through waivers and out to the Red Sox a couple of years back, and brought in Joe Inglett in September.
Our guess is that if there is no big splash of a move by 4 pm today, there will be some marginal moves in the next couple of weeks that won't particularly seem like much, but which will shore up the Jays' bench for 2010.
You know, I think I might buy into Griff's conspiracy theory that Rogers under-estimated fan backlash and told Ricciardi any deal would have to be a huge, one-sided win. Seems to fall in line with the historical "appearances are everything" angle from ownerhsip.
ReplyDeleteHalladay will remain a Jay through the season....
Wonder if we might see some other minor moves though? Like a Downs/Frasor deal?
Don't forget, it's Devaris STRANGE-Gordon
ReplyDeleteWithout even researching Strange-Gordon, I can tell you he's gonna be a bust. How many star male athletes are there with a hyphenated last name? Remember John Ford-Griffin?
ReplyDelete^^ Indisputable evidence. Agreed.
ReplyDeleteJust to play devil's advocate here....I'm a little surprised that Holland is the sticking point in the Rangers talks. I would have thought a package including Smoak/Feliz (in place of Holland)/others would have got it done from the Jays perspective?...
ReplyDelete@ SP
ReplyDeleteIt was John-Ford Griffin. His given name was hyphenated.
@ Ack
I think Feliz is rated higher in the Rangers' mind than Holland, but I could be wrong about that.
Also, don't buy into what Griff is selling. You'll go crazy.
This is precisely why I need a weekend off.
ReplyDeleteTo the wilds of Northern Ontario!
Also, re: minor moves - here's one that should be made right now:
ReplyDeleteOffer Millar to anyone willing to have him. If no takers, outright release and promote Dopirak. What's the harm? He's 25, a former top prospect in the Cubs system before falling off the map....seems to have figured it out in the Jays system & has been raking in the minors for 2 years now. Just bring him up and see what they have there. Who knows? Maybe they have a cheap, productive DH in-house for 2010.
People are always saying moves like Millar/Mencherson/Dellucci are low-risk - how is this any different?
Oh yeah, the "clubhouse presence" angle....right. Because that's important on a team that isn't in the race.
Thanks for ruining my theory Tao! And I just remembered Maurice Jones-Drew. I'm reeling here. Hopefully Darrius Heyward-Bey doesn't become a star.
ReplyDeleteRelease Millar and Free Ruiz/Coats/Castro!
ReplyDeleteSomeone said(Jamie maybe?) that the Mariners pitchers, Rowland-Smith, was the first player with a hyphenated last name to ever play in MLB. At least that's what I thought I heard, and I was shocked to hear it. But of course, I may have heard wrong. So yeah, dude should ditch one of his names(I'm thinking he should ditch Gordon)
ReplyDelete