Yes, Ian, because Thomas was about to get those 300 more at-bats any day now, so they obviously couldn't keep him around for two more months before doing this.

Cutting him at his lowest point and saying he's washed up to avoid the option is much more plausible than waiting until he rebounds and subsequently cutting a .270/.370/.500 hitter a few AB from his option.

Lind is a middling prospect in a thin organization. He won't be an everyday big leaguer. How many ABs is Stewart good for?

What's the problem with Lind? I know he's not very good defensively, but I thought his bat was good enough to overcome that?

Lind will be fine. He's better than that quote makes him out to be. He lacked plate discipline last year, but I see him as a 280/330/480 hitter.

Also, wrt to Ian's post about Thomas heating up....if he has heated up, then it would make more sense to keep him, and either bite the bullet on the option, or trade him then since he'll look more attractive. They clearly think he's done.

I don't think Lind is that bad in LF. I question if he'll hit the # of HRs expected from a corner OF. He'll hit doubles but again I question how much he'll be on base. In a nutshell I don't think he projects as a corner OF who will hit either at the top or in the middle of an order. He should ( and may yet ) pick up a 1B glove to increase his value off the bench.

Nobody else think Burnett is gone during the season also?

Nobody else think Burnett is gone during the season also?

If the Jays are out of it, then without questoin they will. If they are still in the hunt, they will keep Burnett (barring a trade which actually helps their major league team in the present). Part of the reason why they are cutting Thomas is because he is doing poorly and they are afraid that he will continue to suck while triggering his option and hurting the team by not producing.

Why be too concerned?

the Yankees will sign Frank Thomas

or the Red Sox will risk tearing the universe in half by putting the Big Hurt and Big Papi on the same team

Thomas, Papi and Manny all in the lineup! Thomas can play first base. The astonishing defensive prowess of Lugo, Petunia and Crisp will mean he can just stand there and let the balls fly into his glove.

I think if Thomas, Papi, Manny and Bonds were all in the same lineup, the universe really would explode.

Crisp?

I don't see a lot of 8-3 putouts in the Red Sox future

Just in case anyone is still wondering, the Jays are on the hook for all the guaranteed money in Thomas' contract, which means the remainder of his salary for 2008. They're not on the hook for the option, unless there was also a buyout involved, which doesn't appear to be the case here.

Thomas/his agent could argue that he was released to avoid hitting certain incentives in the deal, and would have to file a grievance over the matter. Teams are not supposed to release players for the sole purpose of preventing them from hitting incentive thresholds.

Thomas/his agent could argue that he was released to avoid hitting certain incentives in the deal, and would have to file a grievance over the matter. Teams are not supposed to release players for the sole purpose of preventing them from hitting incentive thresholds.

With that in mind, I've got to say I can't find any fault in the Blue Jays releasing him now. With him struggling, with yesterday's expressed displeasure and the fact he's so far away from reaching the necessary plate appearances, I would think the Jays have insulated themselves as well as possible from a successful grievance. Wait around longer, to the point where Thomas bounces back a little and he gets closer to the PA threshold, and he may have a more legitimate claim.

I think if Thomas, Papi, Manny and Bonds were all in the same lineup, the universe really would explode.

Or opposing starting pitcher's shoulder would explode.

I think if Thomas, Papi, Manny and Bonds were all in the same lineup, the universe really would explode.

Or opposing starting pitcher's shoulder would explode.

Or the Owner's wallet would explode

I think if Thomas, Papi, Manny and Bonds were all in the same lineup, the universe really would explode.



Or opposing starting pitcher's shoulder would explode.



Or the Owner's wallet would explode

Or Fenway would implode from the gravitational pull of those fat asses all in one place.

Has anyone asked about when NY gives up on Giambi?

I wonder if this was planned sometime in January.

Why don't teams/players use some kind of randomizer with these playing-time incentives to avoid messy situations? So a hypothetical clause for some pitcher would be based on whether on they reached 120 innings + a random number between 0 and 30 (which would only be determined AFTER the season). So this hypothetical pitcher's threshold for the clause could be anywhere from 120 to 150 innings.

Then you would have teams going to court over the seed.

If Frank Thomas is eligible to get $10 million from this, I'll eat Darren's hat. The presumption should be that he's not eligible, and we should be stunned by the Blue Jays' idiocy and incompetence if he is.

You realize who is GM of the Blue Jays, don't you? Would you still be stunned?

I think everyone here is missing what the real reasoning behind this decision was. JP didn't realize MLB contracts are guaranteed, and thought he'd save the remainder of Frank's 2008 salary releasing him now. True:)

With that in mind, I've got to say I can't find any fault in the Blue Jays releasing him now. With him struggling, with yesterday's expressed displeasure and the fact he's so far away from reaching the necessary plate appearances, I would think the Jays have insulated themselves as well as possible from a successful grievance. Wait around longer, to the point where Thomas bounces back a little and he gets closer to the PA threshold, and he may have a more legitimate claim.

Do you find any fault with them giving a 40 year old DH with a bad foot this contract with that option? Is it any surprise they'd end up paying $20M for one years service?

I think JP is gonna try to resign Shea Hillenbrand with the savings.

I think if Thomas, Papi, Manny and Bonds were all in the same lineup, the universe really would explode.

Or opposing starting pitcher's shoulder would explode.

Youkilis 3B (R)
Bonds LF (L)
Ramirez RF (R)
Ortiz 1B (L)
Thomas DH (R)
Drew CF (L)
Lowrie SS (S)
Pedroia 2B (R)
Varitek C( S)

Come on Theo, make it happnen.

Just to make sure I understand the post in 120, having an option for an old hitter based on PA is bad thing? I'd think that's exactly what you'd want to do as a front office. Or are you just looking to grind an axe with JP?

Honestly, like any decent organization would have, I think they talked about the upcoming option in the off season. I'm also afraid they they decided they wanted off the FT train then, because there were stories in ST that FT's bat had slowed down. And then he hit well his first few games. Then again, maybe he was cheating on the fastballs and had a good run.

I guess we'll never know. I do know my team basically paid $18 million for a one (1) nice season from a DH. I'd say that's a poor allocation of resources.

Benching him was the right move.

Now IF that was going to transform him into a clubhouse problem, which the Jays have had trouble with in the past, it is better to get rid of him BEFORE that happens.

That is just speculation however.

19. Donald Lawrence Mahnken Posted: April 20, 2008 at 12:53 PM (#2751806)

How long after Thomas gets signed by another club does it take for Bonds and the union to cry collusion? Obviously those complaints would be ignoring the fact that the Mariners (or whoever) would only be on the hook for the ML minimum. Whatever Bonds would accept it would exceed the minimum

What the #### are you talking about?

"Barry Bonds' personal advisors hinted that collusion amongst the owners could be the reason Bonds hasn't received any contract offers. Bonds' agent says he hasn't even received an offer to play at the league minimum, and strongly denied rumors that his client is looking for a $10 million deal. A couple managers around the league have suggested Bonds could help their team, but their owners have shot down the idea. Bonds' camp plans on watching Frank Thomas' status as a free agent to use as possible evidence of a conspiracy."

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/tht-daily-winning-milestones/