[Griever20]

Your 2014 Toronto Blue Jays:

Starting Pitching

RHSP Henderson Alvarez III(23, 2.5*) 12-11 4.45 101K 32GS 192.1IP 1.3WAR // 22-29 4.07 225K 74GS 445IP 3.6WAR (career)
Alvarez came in with an ERA of 3.86 in 2012 and got inflated up to 4.45, but was a model citizen, ate a lot of innings and collected his first winning season. The control artist may not be the best clubhouse guy is striking out only 4.7 per nine and his days may be limited as we got some better pitchers underway in the minors.

RHSP Chris Archer(25, 2.5/3.5*) 8-12 4.04 159K 31GS 171.1IP 1.7WAR // 8-12 4.04 159K 31GS 171.1IP 1.7WAR (career)
Leading the majors in walks, Archer still struggles with control and to be honest, the 25-year old is probably never going to reach his ceiling. His stuff is not quiet developed to the max, his movement is not great, and he only throws in the low 90’s. Chris will get another shot this season and his 2013 was not bad, but that was in part because of our elite defense. Acquired from TBR in 2012.

LHSP Scott Kazmir(30, 2.5*) 11-11 3.06 150K 206IP 34GS 4.1WAR // 84-93 3.92 1316K 248G/247GS 1421.0IP 22.0WAR (career)
Scotty repeated his stellar 2012 with an even better 2013, netting an All-Star selection, his third of the career, and he is our anchor in the rotation despite the scouting report. His changeup has really played and the rest of his pitching is rock solid, what a great pickup. Signed to the end of 2014.

RHSP Marcus Stroman(22, 3/3.5*) 17-6 2.84 145K 30GS 177.2IP 2.6 // 24-22 3.78 270K 60GS 335.2IP 2.5WAR (career)
Our extreme groundballer has made a bit jump in 2013 and has become the ace of our staff and opening day starter for 2014. His career 2013 is partly because of our infield defense and a league leading .226 BABIP, but we really think he can become a career Blue Jays.

LHSP Daniel Norris(20, 2/3*) 12-5 5.10 112K 144.2IP 33G/25GS 1.8WAR (AAA) // DNP (career)
Carrasco out, the so-so prospect that we don’t mind rushing a bit in. Norris has (surprise) control issues and room for growth on every front, but with his 55 stamina, he should give us more than Carrasco.


Relief Pitching:

RHRP Al Alburquerque(27, 2*) 3-1 2SV 4.25 63K 53IP 54G 0.1WAR // 10-8 9SV 4.57 200K 163.1IP 175G 0.4WAR (career)
Alburquerque improved from an horrible 2012 and put up respectable numbers with a 4.53 ERA… but to be honest, if we find a better reliever, he is in big danger. He cut his walks by 0.4BB/9… to 6.2 BB/9 which isn’t exactly stellar. Trade acquisition from DET in 2012.

LHRP Bobby Cramer(34, 2.5*) 5-8 6SV 4.22 71K 98IP 77G/2GS 0.2WAR // 16-13 11SV 3.57 169K 162G/6GS 229.2IP 0.6WAR (career)
A great little acquisition in 2012, Cramer pitched great out of our pen and as a spot starter in two occasions, but he ran out of steam in 2013 and our manager used him a lot (waay to much) for 98 innings. At age 34, we have to see how much he left in the tank.

RHRP Tyler Duffey(23, 2/3.5*) 1-4 0SV 5.75 46K 67.1IP 45G -2.0WAR // 1-4 0SV 5.75 46K 67.1IP 45G -2.0WAR
The lone reason why he is here is… we don’t want to rush our relief prospects that are also rated 2*, and need some seasoning in the minors. Or have a future closer in Joe Szczygiel get burned before he is ready. Yes, the potential is still there and actually went up this winter, but at age 23, it is a long way for him. Acquired via the Rule 5 draft in 2012.

RHRP Yoslan Herrera(32, 2*) 5-5 1SV 2.62 41K 75.2IP 74G 0.8WAR // 9-13 4.51 105K 155.2IP 149G/5GS -0.6WAR (career)
Herrera was discovered on the street before our clubhouse in 2012, and rewarded out trust with a career year in 2013. His talent is limited, but he at least one more year in him before he gets into danger to be replaced by a younger kid.

LHRP Luis Perez(29, 2*) 4-0 0SV 2.08 32K 34.2IP 31G 0.9WAR (AAA) // 5-6 4SV 4.79 110K 146.2IP 120G/4GS -0.9WAR (career)
Last year, we celebrated the arrival of Mario Lujan who our scouts really liked… and got burned for a 6.61ERA. Back to Luis Perez, who still isn’t super impressive, but had a good year in AAA and in spring training. He never got an ERA under 4.50 in the majors… but at least was never as bad as Lujan.

RHRP Joakim Soria(29, 3.5*) 2-3 36SV 3.10 58K 61IP 65G 0.8WAR // 17-20 204SV 2.51 473K 435G 448.1IP 8.1WAR (Career)
Featuring a deep arsenal of a fastball, slider, curveball, changeup and cutter, the 2x All-Star has had a good season in 2013 as our closer, even though his 3.10ERA was not stellar. Signed till the end of 2015, we have a good closer and solid arm. Love the kid.

RHRP Arodys Vizcaino(23, 2.5/3*) 5-3 2SV 4.14 43K 58.2IP 63G -1.1WAR // 8-4 4SV 4.50 87K 116IP 115G -1.2WAR (career)
Vizcaino is not stellar, but keeps on improving and developing and especially our scoting department likes his potential a lot. The changeup can be devastating at times and we love his personality, but the walks (6.1 BB/9) was an issue in 2013.

RHRP Blake Wood(28, 2/2.5*) 3-1 1SV 2.11 60K 72.2IP 58G 1.4WAR // 9-7 2SV 3.87 186K 237.1IP 199G 1.8WAR (career)
Throwing 91-93, there is nothing too special in him and he struggled to get the job done in 2012, but in 2013, he was the best pitcher out of the pen. Wood was certainly helped by his groundball tendencies and the defense behind him… but that is our strategy.

Catcher

C Travis d’Arnaud(24, 2.5*, R) .238/.290/.406 7HR 21RBI 56G/34GS 0.5WAR // .230/.283/.361 9HR 30RBI 63H 21R 108G 0.7WAR (career)
d’Arnaud was good enough as a backup catcher, but long term, we would like to get someone in that has a bit better defensive ratings. His bat hasn’t played up to his minor league numbers as well… but he is a warm body that can catch and amass a bit of WAR.

C Devin Mesoraco(25, 3.5*, R) .256/.340/.487 27HR 88RBI 135G 4.9WAR // .255/.323/.464 48HR 153RBI 266H 142R 292G 8.9WAR (career)
Mesoraco followed up a good 2013 with a stellar 2014, netting him an All-Star nomination for the first time in his career. At age 25, he has many seasons left in his bat and will be a mainstay in our organisation for a long time. Acquired from CIN in 2012 offseason.

Infield

1B Adam Brzezinski(24, 2/3*, L) .237/.313/.474 11HR 35RBI 52G/47GS 0.9WAR // .237/.313/.474 11HR 35RBI 41H 30R 52G/47GS 0.9WAR (career)
We had sooo enough of Cooper that Brzezinski got the shot for the last two months and he took the opportunity and created positive war… something Cooper never managed. His power and batting eye is not even close to potential and similar to a Chris Archer, it is make or break for him on the development side in 2014. Potentially a 45/65/75/80/30 first baseman with a lot of whiff. 3rd rounder in 2012 draft.

1B Eric Thames(27, 2.5*, L) .241/.315/.373 12HR 58RBI 148G/147GS -0.4WAR // .248/.313/.405 40HR 160RBI 363H 182R 403G 1.5WAR (career)
Mr. Thames returns for another year of baseball to Toronto but this year, he will be starting the season on the bench. And hopefully, for good. The potential that was advertised never materialized in him and his 2013 numbers were even worse than his 2012 season despite another year of experience. A line drive hitter that can generate some doubles, but lacks home run power, he does not have the skills to stay around for much longer.

2B/UT Eduardo Escobar(25, 2.5*, S) .264/.330/.440 14HR 60RBI 131G/97GS 1.3WAR // .258/.326/.401 21HR 112RBI 243H 112R 298G 2.2WAR (career)
Escobar lost his regular second base job after not hitting that well and not being up to our high standards on the defensive side, just to get a second life as a backup infielder that came in and started to hit from the bench and when the starters are tired. He will stay in that role given the circumstances at second, but there is some value in him here. Acquired via trade from CWS in 2012.

2B Adeiny Hechavarria(24, 2.5*, R) .290/.309/.379 4HR 38RBI 8/11SB 124G/88GS 1.8WAR // .288/.311/.377 6HR 56RBI 155H 58R 218G/124GS 2.4WAR (career)
Hechavarria was a sparkplug late last season and ended up with his usual slashline of .290/.310/.370 that we can expect from him. I still think he could utilize his speed more, but the combination of a good contact bat, very good defense and some speed make him our everyday 2B over Escobar.

3B Anthony Rendon(23, 3.5*, R) .267/.352/.455 19HR 72RBI 156G/150GS 5.4WAR // .267/.352/.455 19HR 72RBI 151H 79R 156G/150GS 5.4WAR (career) #20 prospect
Partially due to his low adaptability, Rendon struggled early last season to get into the MLB rhythm but took of mid-season enroute to a Rookie of the Year Award. Having finished the development lab for his defensive skills twice now, his third base defense is rated at a solid 60 and his bat seems to play nicely already with some room for growth. Acquired via trade from WSH in 2012.

3B Eugenio Suárez(22, 2.5/3.5*) .339/.436/.521 16HR 57RBI 130G/126GS 31/41SB 4.6WAR // DNP (career)
At a rating of 30, Suárez’ defense at third isn’t the greatest thing since the invention of sliced bread, but his bat plays at 55/50/55/55/45 with a 55/50/70/55/50 potential, and that gives us the designated hitter that we want. He stole 31 bases last season in AAA and we decided to give him the green light for now as our leadoff hitter, hoping the .436OBP from AAA can translate. Should be a good upgrade over the Sizemore/Cooper/Thames mess we had last season. Acquired from DET in 2012.

SS Ryan Goins(26, 2*, L) .211/.254/.301 7HR 36RBI 151G 1.2WAR // .222/.259/.322 13HR 77RBI 202H 81R 305G 2.5WAR (career)
Is here for his glove and his glove only. Our 2012 1st rounder Jim Hatfield wants this job badly, but will get another year in AAA, so Goins is save for now… but to be honest, he probably won’t be our starting shortstop in 2015.

Outfield

LF/RF Nick Castellanos(22, 2.5/4*, R) .361/.431/.550 14HR 91RBI 133G 13/25SB 3.7WAR (AAA) // DNP (career)
Our 2014 version of Anthony Rendon for me. A kid that, if he starts well and gets the final development boost at the MLB level, can win the Rookie of the Year award. Rated 70/65/60/45/55 batting potential with 60 defense in left field, Castellanos is a great prospect that should get our bats up to life and should be an upgrade over the bat of Travis Snider. Acquired from DET in 2012.

LF/RF Jordan Danks(27, 2*, L) .236/.315/.352 10HR 60RBI 154G 16/18SB 2.9WAR // .221/.301/.336 21HR 103RBI 247H 125R 309G 41/49SB 3.6WAR (career)
Can’t go completely wrong with a 2x Gold Glover in the outfield. Moving to right field to make room for Castellanos, the question about Danks is not whether the defense will be great, but whether he can at least repeat his 2013 season with the bat to stay relevant offensively. Acquired from CWS in 2012.

CF Jake Marisnick(23, 2.5*, R) .204/.263/.307 11HR 45RBI 20/23SB 150G 3.4WAR // .208/.262/.318 19HR 91RBI 199H 86R 42/51SB 303G 5.4WAR (career)
Our scooting department thinks I am too obsessed with Marisnick’s defensive ability, but a Gold Glover at center field that is putting up 3.4WAR while batting .204… find be a better center fielder in this organisation. His bat is slowly developing, but 2013 was actually a bit worse than 2014 there… but yes, I love this kid.

CF Kevin Kiermaier(23, 2.5*, L) .256/.300/.374 4HR 30RBI 10/11SB 87G 1.4WAR // .256/.300/.374 4HR 30RBI 50H 29R 10/11SB 87G 1.4WAR (career)
Make no mistake, if we go by pure scouting reports, Kiermaier would be the starting right fielder, albeit by a small margin. We will observe the situation closely, but what Kevin did as a backup outfielder was exquisite and we will soon have to make a tough decision between good outfielders with what is coming up from AAA. Acquired via trade from TBR in 2012.