Late Night Jays Meetings

As expected, catcher Rod Barajas declined the Jays' offer of free agency and the club will receive a draft pick from whichever team signs him.

The latest Doc rumour and the reason that I believe the Angels have a good chance in the Halladay sweepstakes is a the supposed package of catcher Jeff Mathis, pitcher Joe Saunders and outfielder Peter Bourjos. The outfielder is a natural centre fielder that could fit in with the Jays as a right fielder with Travis Snider in left. Saunders may not be the best choice as a mid-rotation starter but he can eat 180 innings and win 12-15 games while the young guys develop.

Mathis is a good defender who could start for a year until the offensive half of the catching duo, J.P. Arencibia develops hopefully by 2011. If the Jays got a fourth guy from the Angels in the deal as a prospect it would only be because Halladay would be given a window of opportunity to sign a long-term extension. What would be required is four years above and beyond his $15.75 million in 2010. Halladay needs to make for five years more cash than A.J. Burnett and less than CC Sabathia. If push comes to shove, Halladay would rather stay in the American League because he hates hitting.

Comments

[metsstem]

Jays should ask Mets for some players that have actually performed in the majors. Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, Daniel Murphy and Angel Pagan would fit Jays way better.

[Joachim T]

No offence Richard but that is a terrible package for Halladay.
A mid-rotation pitcher who is already close to or at his potential, a backup catcher who can't hit (and his defense isn't even superb to make up for his bat), and a speedy (small-ish), good defense prospect who is not projected to have much power or a great average.
No thanks!

[Rick Pierce]

Saunders is a poor choice. If that is the best deal they can get for Doc, then keep him this year and let him go for nothing, because that is what you are getting. Nothing.

[other mark]

I disagree with Joachim. Saunder's is a good arm. You're not going to get much better in a package deal like this. Mathis isn't all start material, but at this point they are looking short term; they are trying to buy time for Arrencibia who could be all star material. As for the outfield, this covers another need and allows you to move Lind to first base. Package a young arm and Overbay and see if you can inject some power in the lineup and you've covered most of your needs for 2010, with some flexibility in 2011.

[Braden]

The pick the Jays receive for Barajas does not come from the signing team. It's a supplemental pick as Rod was a Type B free agent.

[dave talarico]

Griffin really is only a journalist and not much of an evaluator...thinking a trade of saunders, mathis and bourjos is a good one is ridiculous...mathis has a long swing, prone to many strikeouts and is below average defensively and anthopolous is on the record admitting he does not mind arrencibia, and saunders is average on a good day and griffin thinks bourgos is a good pick up? gimme a break..if people want real analysis and see Keith Law at espn. he is a baseball analyst and writer....

[Joachim T]

other Mark, I don't think its a good deal whatsoever and if that is the best deal they can do, I'd hold onto Halladay and get 2 picks for him instead.
Any of the 2nd tier free agent catchers out there (like Olivo or Yorvit) is better than Mathis so you are down to Saunders and Bourjos.
Saunders is nicely entrenched as a #3 starter.
Depending on who you believe, Bourjos projects to be a good 4th OF or maybe be a below average CF (4th OFs are a dime a dozen and so interchangeable year to year).

So you are basically trading Halladay for a #3 starter. No thanks.

[D. Dockett]

No so keen Mathis, Saunders could contribute and you're way off about Bourjos and his OF skills (its his best quality). According to Tony reagins, abe flores and the rest of the Angels organization he is their future CF behind Torii Hunter. I would grab him up.