Calls Have Been Made -- K-Rod to the Jays for Corner IF or CF?

[Mass Haas]

As per legendary Canadian baseball writer Bob Elliott -- Blue Jays eyeing closer Francisco Rodriguez

 

The Blue Jays have been watching Milwaukee Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez.

 

While the emphasis may have shifted to a much-needed starter, with right-hander Aaron Sanchez on the disabled list (last), the Jays have made phone calls about Rodriguez, 33.

 

The right-hander is 0-2 with a 1.13 ERA is 13-for-13 in save opportunities. The Jays lead the American League in blown saves with 12.

 

Rodriguez, who has walked seven and struck out 26 in 24 innings, earns $5.5 million this year and has $6-million option for next season, which includes a $4-million buyout. So the Jays would be on the hook for roughly $6.7 million.

 

The Brewers are looking for young help at either first or third base and in center field.

 

The Jays evaluators have been dispatched with a two-pronged approach looking for both a starter and a “back-end guy.”

 

Starters available, according to scouts, include Oakland A’s lefty Scott Kazmir, 31 (3-4, 2.84 in 13 starts, who earns $13 million), Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Aaron Harang, 37 (4-8, 3.24 in 14 starts, $5 million) plus right-handers Kyle Loshe, 36 (3-8, 6.44 in 14 games) and Matt Garza, 31 (4-8, 5.07, 13 starts, $30 million after this season) of the Brewers.

 

The other relievers available besides Rodriguez are Tyler Clippard, 30 (1-3, 2.96, 10-for-12 in saves, $8.3 Million) of the A’s, as well as one of Ryan Madson, 34 (0-1, 1.93 in 34 games, $850,000) or Jason Frasor, 37 (1-0, 0.44, $1.25 Million) of the Kansas City Royals.

 

And Ben Zobrist is also on the market, although he’s not a fit for the Jays.

 

The non-waiver trade deadline is July 31.

[adambr2]

I'd give them K-Rod and Garza for nothing if they take on both remaining contracts in their entirety.

[SRB]

I don't know if 1B/3B means they're looking for a guy who can take over in 2016 as opposed to a prospect, but if not then 1B Rowdy Tellez would be a nice pickup (mentioned in the draft forum recently for being the largest post-round-10 bonus under the new draft rules). Just turned 20, hitting .291/.348/.441/.789 at A-ball this year so far.

 

The only other 1B/3B that John Sickels ranked in the Blue Jays preseason top 20 is 3B Mitch Nay, but he doesn't inspire a lot of excitement just looking at his stats (last first-round pick in 2012 though).

[brewmann04]

I would put a package together with Krod and Lohse.

[trwi7]

Don't even know why we're asking for a specific position. Just take the best prospect you can get. If that happens to be a 1B, 3B or CF, fine but don't seek out players that just play those positions.

[reillymcshane]

Don't even know why we're asking for a specific position. Just take the best prospect you can get. If that happens to be a 1B, 3B or CF, fine but don't seek out players that just play those positions.

Exactly! Just get good players. If they fill team needs, great. But just get good players. You sort things out later.

[splitterpfj]

Don't even know why we're asking for a specific position. Just take the best prospect you can get. If that happens to be a 1B, 3B or CF, fine but don't seek out players that just play those positions.

 

I agree. It makes plenty of sense to try to fill an obvious need in the system, but heck, pitcher, catcher, who cares, if it's a real prospect.

[brewmann04]

I would be curious why cf when our minor league system is loaded at Cf prospects.

[wildcat2237]

I'd give them K-Rod and Garza for nothing if they take on both remaining contracts in their entirety.

 

This is my thought. Use K-rod to dump some salary on someone. Likely Loshe or Garza.

 

Melvin and Anthropolous have a history of getting deals done, so it wouldnt shock me if something happened here.

[mlloyd10]

Pillar and Stroman for Krod and Gomez?

[danzig6767]

I'd give them K-Rod and Garza for nothing if they take on both remaining contracts in their entirety.

K-Rod isn't valuable enough to get anyone to even consider taking on Garza's contract with the way he's pitching.

[igor67]

Why worry much if at all about dumping salary? We have no true albatross contracts, undoubtedly the budget will probably shrink, but throwing away the possibility of getting a real prospect, so we can save a few million on Lohse is not going to help the team turn around. I agree that taking the best prospect they can get is a much better strategy for the Brewers, middle IF is about the only position I'd think about turning down right now.

PS If I could get them to throw in a second guy of some value I'd be willing to pay Lohse's salary at this point (which would still save a little on K-rod anyway)

[Mr Southpaw]

Reid-Foley would be my first choice, then move to Smoral plus somebody else.

 

Both are young and look to have high ceiling.

[MrTPlush]

Realistically speaking I will take Mitch Nay for K-Rod. That is probably fair value for a guy like K-Rod. Not sure we could get something more exciting than that.

 

On the bright side the rumor of looking for CF prospects should quiet the "Melvin is going to extend Gomez to some ridiculous deal into his mid-30s" talk.

 

 

I also don't think there isn't anything wrong with "looking" for certain positional prospects. It isn't like they are going to take a C prospect instead of a B prospect because of their position. If they have comparable prospects they just prefer certain positions.

[BallFour]

Rodriguez, who has walked seven and struck out 26 in 24 innings, earns $5.5 million this year and has $6-million option for next season, which includes a $4-million buyout. So the Jays would be on the hook for roughly $6.7 million.

 

I thought KRod has an option for the 2017 season for $6.0 Million and the $5.5 Million was owed next year.

 

Either way get the best prospect possible...but I think that hurts his trade value a little bit being on the hook for over 10.0 Million over 2.5 years

[jerichoholicninja]

I'd give them K-Rod and Garza for nothing if they take on both remaining contracts in their entirety.

 

This would accomplish pretty much nothing. What is the saved money going to be used for? More aging free agents? This franchise doesn't need money it needs talent. To give up someone who might actually be able to bring talent back just to not have to pay Garza seems like a backwards move to me.

[adambr2]

I'd give them K-Rod and Garza for nothing if they take on both remaining contracts in their entirety.

 

This would accomplish pretty much nothing. What is the saved money going to be used for? More aging free agents? This franchise doesn't need money it needs talent. To give up someone who might actually be able to bring talent back just to not have to pay Garza seems like a backwards move to me.

 

It could accomplish plenty. They could invest more in international free agents and rookies. It doesn't need to be a move for immediacy. I'm fine with an approach where they go with a tiny payroll for a few years, bank the profits, and use them to make a move to bulk it up when they see a window, or use it to keep future stars that they might be drafting in the next couple years, like a Marlins model.

 

Shedding dead weight payroll would be a huge part of the rebuilding process. I'm not talking about giving them Gomez or Segura. It's not like K-Rod is going to net us a major prospect anyway.

 

Anyhow, the Jays would likely not do this anyway because as others have pointed out K-Rod does not have enough value to offset all of the negative equity we have in Garza.

[splitterpfj]

This is where Lohse's performance really hurts. He's the quick and easy solution for a team that needs a SP, because there's no future commitment, you get him, you use him for the rest of the year, and he's gone. K-Rod and Lohse would have been a great fit for Toronto right now, if Kyle was pitching the way he had through the last few seasons.

 

As it is, there's no way I'd try to package a big contract with K-Rod, it will just diminish the return. If Toronto decides they want K-Rod, (they're also talking about Papelbon), then I'd get the best prospect Toronto will give up, and just do the deal.

 

As for any nonsense about the Brewers trying to lock Gomez up, never mind what you think the Brewers might want - Scott Boras will never do that at this point. He'll want his client on the open market as soon as he can be, and I don't blame him.

[TheCrew07]

I would be curious why cf when our minor league system is loaded at Cf prospects.

 

Because you never say no athleticism... I'll use the Pirates as example.

 

They have 3 outstanding athletes in the OF, all 3 were above average in CF in the minors, now they have outstanding defense which of course helps their pitchers tremendously.

 

Having multiple prospects at a single position is not a bad thing, you can keep the one you like the best and trade off the rest for a position of greater need, or if they have good enough tools you can go the Pirates route and move CFs to the corners.

 

I'd prefer to get impact pitching back, because I'm still personally chasing pitching, but on a macro level I'd say just get back the best talent you can. I don't care if that talent is in AAA, A, or even Rookie ball, just get legit talent.

[adambr2]

I agree with BPA in every trade. If we're planning to blow it up and start from scratch, which I think we should, anything and everything might be a need in the next few years, depending on what we do with our trade assets. SS might be the only position that looks secure for the long haul right now, and still, if the top prospect offered in a trade, was a SS, I'd take it every time.

 

We're not a borderline contender looking to plug a hole or two in the next couple years and get rolling. We are rebuilding and the worst thing we could do is be impatient about it.

[SRB]

I'm sure the Brewers front office would want BPA in terms of a prospect too, I'm afraid the position specification might mean they're looking for a major league piece who can fill a hole this season or next. A guy like Danny Valencia who can take over at 3B next season (or if A-Ram is traded) assuming Dominguez is not enough.

[MrTPlush]

I'm sure the Brewers front office would want BPA in terms of a prospect too, I'm afraid the position specification might mean they're looking for a major league piece who can fill a hole this season or next. A guy like Danny Valencia who can take over at 3B next season (or if A-Ram is traded) assuming Dominguez is not enough.

 

"Young" help

 

Pretty sure they aren't looking for a young MLB piece for K-Rod...as no team will give up that for an old closer. Not to mention trading our closer would not be a sign to improve for next year. OR the fact that there is no hole at 1B or CF for next year. OR the fact that any team trading for K-Rod is in it for this year and trading away a young MLB piece would not make sense.

[adambr2]

Not that I think K-Rod is worth a ton on his own, but if our big deadline deal is the acquisition of a 31 year old journeyman infielder, I'm going to be sick.

 

Not saying it's beyond any possibility but a guy like Valencia is pretty much the opposite of the direction I want to go.

 

We won't get a top 50 prospect for K-Rod, no, but it doesn't mean we can't get young talent. Some talent down at the lower levels of the minors with potential upside but years away and not a sure thing, is a reasonable target.

[adambr2]

I'm sure the Brewers front office would want BPA in terms of a prospect too, I'm afraid the position specification might mean they're looking for a major league piece who can fill a hole this season or next. A guy like Danny Valencia who can take over at 3B next season (or if A-Ram is traded) assuming Dominguez is not enough.

 

"Young" help

 

Pretty sure they aren't looking for a young MLB piece for K-Rod...as no team will give up that for an old closer. Not to mention trading our closer would not be a sign to improve for next year. OR the fact that there is no hole at 1B or CF for next year. OR the fact that any team trading for K-Rod is in it for this year and trading away a young MLB piece would not make sense.

 

Valencia isn't that guy though. He's the definition of a journeyman. Not that I would want us to go after him either way.

[brewmann04]

Please just get the best prospect available not a journeyman