Anyone interested in what the Jays are doing? They're acquired Troy Tulowitzski, David Price, Mark Lowe, and now even Ben Revere! They must be running out of prospects to deal.

 

I suppose they're trying to catch the Yankees, but they're also chasing the Twins. Honestly... the four game series (Monday to Thursday) against the Jays is going to be very pivotal for both teams. Who will come out on top?

 

In my opinion... making this many trades isn't a good idea. They're going to be stuck in the cellar after 2016 without any prospects left. (though, hey, I know nothing about the Jays' farm system. I'll stop talking.)

Tulo is around for several years. They just traded for one of the best 3B in the league, who will be there for years. They just signed the best catcher in FA, who will be around for years. I think you are underestimating them......

The Jays also haven't seen the postseason in 22 years.  Now the WS, the postseason.  Could these trades lead them there? Sure.  Could it back fire, they miss the playoffs and have a barren farm system in the not too distant future?  Absolutely.  It looks good for the Jays now, but this is something to watch and look back on than to rate now.  

Not too often that the Yankees or Red Sox aren't the class of the AL East. The Blue Jays see their window of actually competing for a playoff spot, even the division, and going for it. How can you not applaud that as a fan?

 

 

The interesting part is that depending on who you talk with, they were able to keep their top prospect in house (Daniel Norris was eliminated from most midseason prospect lists, just to temper this), Anthony Alford/Max Pentecost/Sean Reid-Foley. Hoffman was in that group, but not certainly at the top of it, and Norris would have topped it if considered (though he and Pompey would be 1/1a). Their system took a hit to the depth, but there's still a TON of upside players in the Blue Jays system, even after going big in this deadline.

If it tanks, there's a good chance they can get back a ton if they deal Donaldson and Tulo in a couple years, too.

 

Just like Detroit dealing for Price last yr didn't really hurt them as many assumed it would.  They dealt him now, and got back about what they paid.

 

Anyone interested in what the Jays are doing? They're acquired Troy Tulowitzski, David Price, Mark Lowe, and now even Ben Revere! They must be running out of prospects to deal.

 

 

and Hawkins

If it tanks, there's a good chance they can get back a ton if they deal Donaldson and Tulo in a couple years, too.

 

Just like Detroit dealing for Price last yr didn't really hurt them as many assumed it would.  They dealt him now, and got back about what they paid.

Like betting on red or green at the roulette wheel? Except when zero/black comes up.

People overrate how much this damages a farm system.  Right now if you have money then the best way to utilize prospects is by trading some of them for very good real baseball players.  We have said that the Tigers would face a steep decline practically since the beginning of BYTO almost a decade ago.  And the Jays have more young talent and they still have a better farm system than the Tigers ever had.

Like betting on red or green at the roulette wheel? Except when zero/black comes up.

More like going all in with top pair and a nut flush draw, knowing you have your opponent covered and if he draws out on you, he's likely to give it back within a few hands.

If it tanks, there's a good chance they can get back a ton if they deal Donaldson and Tulo in a couple years, too.

 

Just like Detroit dealing for Price last yr didn't really hurt them as many assumed it would. They dealt him now, and got back about what they paid.

Isn't there a clause in Tulo's contract where he could only be trade once?

You are also assuming some of these players do not get old. Also Price and others are rentals, so Toronto gave up quite a bit for about a 2-3 year window. Good shot given the rest of the division, but could backfire in a few years. And yes Batista and others only have a few years left.

 

You are also assuming some of these players do not get old. Also Price and others are rentals, so Toronto gave up quite a bit for about a 2-3 year window. Good shot given the rest of the division, but could backfire in a few years. And yes Batista and others only have a few years left.

That's the lovely thing about spending money and trading prospects.  They still have many prospects, they are still drafting and signings prospects and teams will continue to trade veterans for those prospects.

 

Did they really give up that much though?  I am adding up the top prospects leaving the Jays and it doesn't add up to a lot.  They gave up some MiLB depth but I wouldn't be losing sleep if the Twins traded several of Cederoth, Chargois, Duffey or even ABW.  Norris, Hoffman, Tirado and Barreto are really good but they picked up 3 elite players for them.  That is an outstanding return even if ONE is a rental.

 

They picked up an elite SS for 2 interesting (top 100ish) but not elite prospects.

They picked up an elite 3B for a good MLB'er and a rising top 25 prospect.

They picked up an elite SP rental for one elite prospect.

They picked up a solid CF'er for 2 RP'ing prospects

They picked up a setup man for guys outside their top 20

 

Isn't there a clause in Tulo's contract where he could only be trade once?

I believe you are correct.

 

So they would have to work around that, which may or may not be doable. Most no trade contracts can be worked around, but usually require money.

More like going all in with top pair and a nut flush draw,

 

This is English, correct?

 

Well then, fine. I must go do some research.

 

You are also assuming some of these players do not get old. Also Price and others are rentals, so Toronto gave up quite a bit for about a 2-3 year window. Good shot given the rest of the division, but could backfire in a few years. And yes Batista and others only have a few years left.

 

Price is a FA after this season, sure. So is the 42 year-old Hawkins and retread Lowe, both of whom are there for one season due to injury and maturity of their high-end bullpen options that can easily take over in 2016.

Revere has his first arby season this year and isn't eligible for free agency until 2018.

Tulowitzki is signed through 2021

 

Like I mentioned before, they traded value, certainly, but their system is certainly not barren after all this. Heck, I'd still put it as a top half system in baseball even after all of these deals (then again, I'm a huge fan of both Alford and Reid-Foley).

 

Toronto very likely made one of the most impressive "all-in" moves in recent baseball history.

 

It cost Oakland a power hitter in his prime and a top 5 prospect in all of baseball to go all in last year. Toronto gave nothing like that up in their move.

Edited August 2, 201511 yr by biggentleben

More than anything, moves by Toronto and Kansas City this trade deadline showed what an astute front office can do when they see the whole depth of their window and make moves to maximize performance in that window, knowing there could be rebuilding to come. That's really the model that small/mid-market teams should follow.