Jays Roster Discussion

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Did Osuna expect a bigger role this season or was he cemented as the closer?

[Captain Canuck]

Did Osuna expect a bigger role this season or was he cemented as the closer?

I believe he was cemented as the closer after the numbers he put up the last 2 seasons. He really hasn't had any competition for the closer role since Miguel Castro was traded in the Tulo deal. Never got the sense from anyone that he would be put in a position like Sanchez was to transition from the pen to the rotation.
Who knows what the future holds in terms of openings in the rotation though with Estrada and Liriano in the last year of their deals.

[Captain Canuck]

Jarrod Saltalamacchia has been DFA'd after a terrible showing both at the plate and behind it. Salty made Josh Thole look like an All-Star by comparison.
Luke Maile has been called up and will be the Jays new back-up catcher.

[L K]

Did Osuna expect a bigger role this season or was he cemented as the closer?

I believe he was cemented as the closer after the numbers he put up the last 2 seasons. He really hasn't had any competition for the closer role since Miguel Castro was traded in the Tulo deal. Never got the sense from anyone that he would be put in a position like Sanchez was to transition from the pen to the rotation.
Who knows what the future holds in terms of openings in the rotation though with Estrada and Liriano in the last year of their deals.

Osuna prefers being a relief pitcher.

"You're right," he replies, "it's because they want me as a starter. But if I would have the choice, I would stay in the bullpen, especially next year when we won't have probably [Drew] Storen or [Brett] Cecil, so I probably have the chance to be the closer. I would take the closer over starter."

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Thanks for the clarification lads.

[Darryl]

Here's hoping Stroman's armpit tightness is nothing significant.  The rotation is scary enough already.

[Captain Canuck]

Here's hoping Stroman's armpit tightness is nothing significant.  The rotation is scary enough already.

Yeah Sanchez, Happ and now Stroman makes for a real mess in the rotation. To make it even worse the 2 healthy starters Estrada and Liriano are free agents after this year and therefore likely pieces to move by the deadline. It sounds like Latos will get another start even though he was awful last time out. T.J. House looks pretty good down in Buffalo, would like to see him up with the Jays.

Jays also claimed reliever Neil Ramirez off waivers from San Fransisco. His numbers aren't that great this year, but looks like he had some decent numbers with the Cubs in the past.

[bustaheims]

Jays also claimed reliever Neil Ramirez off waivers from San Fransisco. His numbers aren't that great this year, but looks like he had some decent numbers with the Cubs in the past.

His traditional numbers don't look good, but some of the deeper looks point to him likely turning things around. His BABIP in particular is absurdly high (.500!) and will not stay that way. He may not end up being good, but he'll be better than he has been so far in 2017.

[Joe S.]

If the jays dfa'd Bautista I absolutely wouldn't care. He reminds me of when Bell just couldn't hit anything anymore and just like that, it was over.

I know it won't happen... but still.

[Captain Canuck]

The way Bautista is playing these days I can't see him being here after the trade deadline. This guy was the league leader in HR and now he is getting out-homered by the likes of Ryan Goins. 
His contract is essentially a 1 year deal with a couple option years, but there is no way management can justify keeping Jose the way he is playing.
Estrada will be the main trade chip at the deadline, with Liriano and Bautista as secondary pieces. If this Biagini in the rotation thing becomes more than just an injury relief situation, he could slot into the rotation after the trade deadline.

Injury bug continues to bite the Jays, now Russ Martin on the 10 day DL and the catching platoon is Luke Maile and Mike Ohlman. Shocked the scorekeeper gave Maile his 1st Jays hit tonight, was a catchable ball that the Cleveland outfielder totally lost in the lights and went off the heal of his glove....should have been scored an error.

[Captain Canuck]

Another day, another injury...this time Morales who left the game tonight with a hamstring injury, will have an MRI tomorrow.

[herman]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-starter-marcus-stroman-hits-first-career-home-run/

6-pitch repertoire, homerun hitter (to oppo on an 0-2 no less)

[L K]

Another day, another injury...this time Morales who left the game tonight with a hamstring injury, will have an MRI tomorrow.

It's an older team but maybe the training staff needs to be looked at.  An awful lot of hamstring injuries early in the year. 

[Peter D.]

It's an older team but maybe the training staff needs to be looked at.  An awful lot of hamstring injuries early in the year.

This comes after Shapiro implemented a sports science program for the organization.  Don't know if that means anything or it is simply pure coincidence. 

[bustaheims]

This comes after Shapiro implemented a sports science program for the organization.  Don't know if that means anything or it is simply pure coincidence.

Likely coincidence, I imagine. Older team, not great home playing surface, etc. Possibly some bad off-season training habits that are coming back to bite them now.