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Edwin Jackson looks like he will hook on with the Marlins, making his wonderfully satisfying if unpredictable career last another year.
Plus I talk about what the Cardinals might find as a bargain on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
The Blue Jays believe Aaron Sanchez can be a dominant MLB starter. However, in 2016 Sanchez needs to focus solely on being a dominant reliever.
When the Blue Jays were dispatched from the MLB playoffs in October, Toronto fans flocked by default to the side of the National League Champion New York Mets. They were the last hope of preventing those hated Royals from claiming a title they deserved but no one wanted to see. It helped that there was some Blue Jays influence on the Mets roster.
Not only did Travis d’Arnaud pass through in two separate trades for Cy Young pitchers, but the Blue Jays saw their contribution to New York’s stable of young stud pitchers smolder his way into the hearts of the masses with his flowing locks and blazing fastball. Noah Syndergaard was the expendable arm in the eyes of Alex Anthopoulos, and as Blue Jays fans watched him keep the Mets in the series, the question asked was “So when will Aaron Sanchez be this good?”
With the Blue Jays facing a decision about his future in Toronto, could Edwin Encarnacion be heading for a decline in performance?
The Toronto Blue Jays are on the clock. Their slugging 1B/DH, Edwin Encarnacion has set a deadline for negotiating his future with the club. Currently, he is set to make $10M in 2016, at the end of which he will become a free agent. That is, unless the club can manage to work out a reasonable extension for him before the season starts.
But, where do you set his value? Over the last 4 seasons, he’s been a 4 WAR a year player.Fangraphs.com puts the value of those seasons at $120.5M, or an AAV of $30.15M. The club has been getting a major discount on him for years. We can call it yet another brilliant move on the part of former GM, Alex Anthopoulos. But, it might all come to a crashing halt if the club doesn’t pony up.
The Toronto Blue Jays’ AAA club, the Buffalo Bisons, have the potential to field a very exciting outfield in 2016.
The 2015 edition of the Buffalo Bisons outfield consisted of top prospect Dalton Pompey and a handful of MiLB vets like Melky Mesa, Ezequiel Carrera, Alex Hassan, Caleb Gindl, Brad Glenn, Chris Dickerson, and Chris Heisey.
Caleb Gindl made the most appearances for the Herd with 85 GP, but battled hamstring issues all season which caused him to visit the 7-day DL in May and August. Caleb remains a free-agent, which means there is a chance he could make a return to Buffalo in 2016.
At the time this article was written, Melky Mesa was listed as the only OF on the Buffalo Bisons roster. With the Toronto Blue Jays having a surplus of OF options on the 25-man roster, a trickle down effect is inevitable before the end of Spring Training.
With the Hall of Fame voting being announced Wednesday, I pick my annual Hall of Fame ballot with a little reasoning in between.
This years ballot includes (first time in bold, % of last years vote): Garret Anderson, Brad Ausmus, Jeff Bagwell (55.7%), Barry Bonds (36.8%), Luis Castillo, Roger Clemens (37.5%), David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds, Nomar Garciaparra (5.5%), Troy Glaus, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark Grudzielanek, Mike Hampton, Trevor Hoffman, Jason Kendall, Jeff Kent (14%), Mike Lowell, Edgar Martinez (27%), Fred McGriff (12.9%), Mark McGwire (10%), Mike Mussina (24.6%), Mike Piazza (69.9%), Tim Raines (55%), Curt Schilling (39.2%), Gary Sheffield (11.7%), Lee Smith (30.2%), Sammy Sosa (6.6%), Mike Sweeney, Alan Trammell (25.1%), Billy Wagner,Larry Walker (11.8%), Randy Winn
To be elected, a player must be on 75% of all ballots (338 votes) from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Voters were cut from 600 to 450 this year, eliminating writers who have not been involved in the game in the last ten years. Each voter can make 0-10 selections.
Last year, the BBWAA elected four members to the Hall in Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, and Craig Biggio. The first time four had been elected in the same year since 1955.
My votes are for (in no particular order)…
It must an anxiety-filled time for Tim Raines.
We would imagine he has some butterflies in his stomach. Maybe his heart is beating just a bit more than it normally does. He must be doing a lot of thinking at his home in Arizona. Must be stressful.
The former Expos’ great wonders if National Baseball Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson will call him in the next couple of days and tell him he’s been inducted into the fabled shrine in Cooperstown, N.Y. Wouldn’t that be something if that call was made.
It will be interesting to see the results of the voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Raines is in the picture because we see some hope as expressed in a tracking system by several people, who are keeping tabs on public revelations by some of the voters.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Not that much has happened since we last checked into these numbers over the last 3 weeks. The biggest jump on the board was the Giants going to favorites of the NL West after the Johnny Cueto signing.
The Dodgers have since countered and are making this race for the NL West that much better again. It wasn’t long ago that the Los Angeles NL franchise were the favorites to win the entire World Series.
I think it is almost a dead heat right now between San Francisco and LA – and could come down to the transactions that are done in the next 8 months.
New York did pick up Aroldis Chapman but are still only listed as the 3rd favorite in the Division. New York has the best Bullpen, the Jays the best offense – and Boston might be the best overall club in the AL East.
If you believe the Yankees will continue to spend $ like Washington is printing it everyday should they contend this coming season, that +200 for the Division is a good odd. (more…)
Perhaps the Back to the Future Prediction was off by just one year. The Cubs , who are immensely loaded with young offensive superstars added another to the mix with the Jason Heyward signing. Add that to a revamped Bullpen, strong Starters signed last year in Jon Lester and Jason Hammel, coupled with John Lackey this year, and this team is the clear cut #1 ranked team. Oh yeah..They even have depth to make another trade should they need to.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part-Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
(1) Chicago Cubs: Big additions of Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist and John Lackey. Tonnes of young superstars only ging to get better.
(2) NY Mets: Starting Pitching best in the Majors. Offensive depth better in offseason. Need David Wright to stay healthy. NL East easiest bottom 3 teams in the bigs.
(3) Kansas City Royals: Easiest Division in the Majors. Back to Back AL Pennants and defending World Series Champs. Look for some more mid year deals. (more…)
Photo: Julian H. Gonzalez Detroit Free Press
It is time for The Sunday Request.
@sullybaseball Can I make a Sunday request this early? Do a podcast on Lou Whitaker’s career/HOF result. Singular, result. One year & done.
— Nazywam się bagno (@swampudlian) December 30, 2015
It is odd that Lou Whitaker, who matches up with so many great second basemen, was a one and done candidate.
His Cooperstown case should have earned at least a healthy debate.
That and other Hall of Fame topics on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
(Flagship Show of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance) Click The Image and Give it a listen
BBBA Broadcast Partner. Hall Of Very Good Podcast - Shawn Anderson And Lou Olsen Host A Weekly Show That Is Very Good: Click The Image
Jays From The Couch Founder Shaun Doyle Hosts A Weekly Jays Podcast Where They Dissect Canada's Only Franchise: Click Image
BBBA Founder Daniel Shoptaw And Tara Wellman Host A Cardinals Centric Podcast. Click The Image For the Latest Weeks Show
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baseballrulesinblackandwhite.blogspot.com I am very interested in becoming a member of BBBA
As a Met fan I would LOVE to see this happen. Makes WS younger and cheaper. Only thing is can we kee
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I'm pretty sure we can't write in players but I'd encourage everyone to look at the numbers Ryan Dul
I'd have to rate Warren Spahn ahead of Seaver, Maddux, Clemens. Spahn: winningest LHP in MLB history
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