Priorities in place for winter meetings
Starting Sunday, 30 major-league general managers will gather at Disney’s posh Swan and Dolphin Hotels near Orlando, Fla., for five days of face-to-face meetings, hoping to stare each other down and emerge as winners in shaping future 40-man rosters via trades and free agency.
The Blue Jays’ effort will be led by smooth-talking president Mark Shapiro and improving GM Ross Atkins. The Jays know what they need to do for 2018, and they are aware of what they have to offer. “We know we need to complement our infield further, our outfield further, our pitching further,” Atkins said this week. “Potentially even our catching situation in some way. We certainly have prioritized our needs, internally, but how that comes to fruition will, from this point, not only depend on our priorities (but) what the acquisition costs are and what opportunities present themselves.”
The Jays entered last off-season talking about getting younger and more athletic after bowing out to the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 ALCS. But the starting nine position players that saw the most Blue Jays action in 2017 included just two players younger than 30, while the team total of 53 stolen bases demonstrated the lead-footedness of the roster. But Atkins begged to differ when asked about the Jays’ lumbering, middle-aged image.
“We did become younger and athletic,” Atkins said.
“Our (minor-league) system went from, objectively, 24th to ninth.”
That Triple-A team, according to the GM, could include the likes of outfielders Anthony Alford, Dalton Pompey, Dwight Smith — “We’ll see with Teoscar Hernandez,” Atkins said — infielders Richard Urena, Lourdes Gurriel and Rowdy Tellez, catchers Dan Jansen and Reese McGuire, and left-handers Ryan Borucki and Tom Pannone.
The potential gems of the system are a little further away: infielders Vladimir Guerrero, Bo Bichette and Logan Warmoth, and right-hander Nate Pearson.
“That’s younger and more athletic,” Atkins said. “We just can’t do that in free agency, so we’re not going to trade away those pieces in an attempt to become younger and more athletic unless we’re trading for a younger and controllable player instead of trading for a one-year rental.”
It’s a revelation to examine the Jays’ farm system and count the number of talented young players that can be viewed as trade inventory.
The flurry of trades by former GM Alex Anthopoulos in July, 2015, robbed the upper levels of depth, but there was always the feeling that when the younger prospects developed the farm system would be re-stocked. That has happened.
In terms of what the Jays have to offer in trade — some obvious, some jarring — here are five pieces that could be available in the right deal.
Josh Donaldson: There is a good reason that the Jays have not begun nuts-and-bolts negotiations with Donaldson on an extension, even though they have let him know they want him. The club does not want to set the salary bar for a 2018-19 freeagent class that could be unprecedented in depth and talent.
The losers of the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes and/or teams that have interest in a power-hitting, charismatic third baseman will not be turned away if they want to talk to Atkins. That list could include the Yankees, Cardinals, Giants, Phillies, Mets, Angels and Braves.
Steve Pearce: With one year remaining on his contract, the 34year-old outfielder has value to the Jays, but if another team wants him, he can be had. He had two walk-off grand slams in 2017, but there I some doubt over whether his is an everyday left fielder.
Kevin Pillar: Always on the cusp of earning his first Gold Glove, Pillar’s offence has yet to catch up to his glove. But any team that values defence in centre and can surround him with solid bats can make an offer.
J.A. Happ: The Jays would have to believe that Aaron Sanchez is ready to log 180-plus innings again and that Joe Biagini is ready to contribute to a winning rotation. Happ has one year left before free agency and has real value as a mid-rotation starter with a contending team.
Who will not be traded? Marcus Stroman is young and at the top of the rotation. Sanchez is too risky health-wise for other teams. Marco Estrada committed to the Jays with a good-faith, mid-season extension. But there is a minor-league cavalry of strong-armed starters that will be arriving soon. One can go.
Bo Bichette: There is always one seemingly untouchable minorleague stud that becomes touchable in the right trade. Between Bichette and Guerrero, it’s the shortstop who thrust himself into the mix of top 100 prospects with a stunning 2017 season that can be had. It would have to be as the marquee piece for a young, controllable, almost ready for prime-time player.