Toronto Blue Jays

[Axeman33]

I don't think they had a choice - Melky seems to be gone, and quality OF don't grow on trees.

He'll add another three pitchers to the bullpen, don't worry. Including a closer

Maybe, but they are taking a gamble on a guy who has had issues staying healthy.

[metaldude26]

Sanchez and Cecil will be closers if the Jays don’t get one from outside. A kid who can throw 100m/hr can be one of the best closers in the league. However, I think a cool experiment would be Dickey as a reliever/closer. He does well for about 5 innings, and then everything falls apart anyways. Just make sure he pitches 3-4innings. Imagine trying to hit a knuckleball after facing Stroman or Sanchez (if they make him a SP). But at Dickeys pay rate, they’ll never try it, and it could seriously piss him off lol.

I can't see it. Dickey's best asset is being able to chew innings at a perfectly mediocre rate. If you can surround that with good defence you can get to 10 wins with this guy as a fifth starter who hopefully isn't taxing your bullpen too hard, too often. More importantly, I just don't see how his stuff translates to the bullpen. This isn't a guy who can be improved by using him in concentrated doses so that he can put everything into a small amount of pitches without worrying about being taxed for later innings. His stuff doesn't work that way.

[2014olympicgold]

Interesting idea, but too risky.
Too many passed balls, even with Thole, to use Dickey as the closer.
Too easy to steal bases on a knuckler too.
And like you said... Dickey would never go for it. He already has a rep for being a bit of a baby.

Sanchez is in the rotation for sure, with Happ traded, unless AA has some other moves still coming. Dickey, Buhrle, Stroman, Sanchez and ???

The stealing bases thing is a good point. It’s also not like Thole is a great guy at picking off players. Plus you’d have to (now) remove Martin from the game to put in Thole if Dickey closed/relieved.

Isn’t Hutchinson still a Jay? He’s only 23 and looked good last yr. If AA does bring in a SP, Sanchez would be a solid closer, but I think the jays will give him a chance to try and start. Just like what they did with Stroman last season.

[2014olympicgold]

Oh yeah, forgot about Hutchison!

How could you forget about the Bull-Dog! You had me worried that the Jays let him go or something

[Dobber]

Gibbons said today on the FAN that Sanchez 99% will be in the rotation to start.

AA will get a closer from outside the organization, though he may have to get a setup man and turn him into a closer

[2014olympicgold]

There goes my theory. And Toronto isn’t in the Miller running anymore. Maybe get a setup guy and change him into a closer or Cecil. Other than that the jays have no one I’d trust.

[metaldude26]

Gibbons said today on the FAN that Sanchez 99% will be in the rotation to start.

AA will get a closer from outside the organization, though he may have to get a setup man and turn him into a closer

I just hope they shop at the bottom of the barrel. Never, ever, pay for bullpen help.

[2014olympicgold]

They need someone reliable, not old, and not looking for payday. None of this Colon BS. They need a closer, or a relief guy who wants to prove he can close

[Dobber]

There goes my theory. And Toronto isn’t in the Miller running anymore. Maybe get a setup guy and change him into a closer or Cecil. Other than that the jays have no one I’d trust.

I love Cecil as a setup guy. I hope that's where he stays and they get a top closer to follow him. That would shorten games up immensely and add 20 wins to this team

[Dobber]

I'm just happy the reign of terror, otherwise known as Sergio Santos, is finally over. Man, what a trainwreck of a pitcher.

I kinda take exception to this. Yes, it's true, but not really fair. He threw what, four pitches, and then was out for the season and came back a shell of what he was? What if he rested that day and his arm was spared? For all we know, he'd be the next Mariano Rivera

[dodospice]

Closer is the most overrated position in baseball. As much as I'd love to have a Kimbrel, Chapman, Holland, Street, etc. If you don't have one there's no point in acquiring one, I believe I saw somewheres, that the introduction of closers hasn't increased the teams chances of closing out a game in the 9th inning. Guys like to know their roles, and I get that but a "closer" by committee team would work.

[2014olympicgold]

A solid closer pretty much eliminates the last inning in a way. With the jays, they pile up runs via homeruns and doubles, which aren’t easy to come by. So if they were down by 1 at home going into the 9^th, a solid closer would go 3up3down and give the jays a very easy chance to win. Or if they were up by 1, the solid closer would keep it that way. Closer by committee may work with a small ball team/even hitting team, but with the jays and top end loaded, if you give up 9^th inning runs and go into the bottom of the 9^th hitting and you have a bad string of hitters, it’s tough.

I hope you get what I’m saying.

- - - Updated - - -

A solid closer pretty much eliminates the last inning in a way. With the jays, they pile up runs via homeruns and doubles, which aren’t easy to come by. So if they were down by 1 at home going into the 9^th, a solid closer would go 3up3down and give the jays a very easy chance to win. Or if they were up by 1, the solid closer would keep it that way. Closer by committee may work with a small ball team/even hitting team, but with the jays and top end loaded, if you give up 9^th inning runs and go into the bottom of the 9^th hitting and you have a bad string of hitters, it’s tough.

I hope you get what I’m saying.

[Big Ev]

Boston got a whole lot better this off-season. At least the Rays and yankees didn't. Jays are the third best team right now IMO

[Zorro]

What did the Orioles do that was so special?? I know they lost one of their heavy hitters to Seattle..

[bigbabybuda]

I fully expect Hector Olivera to be our starting 2nd baseman come opening day. His glove is a little limited but the bat is great. We are not considered to be one of the front runners for his service which means we have a chance. They have to be thinking about this him I would think.