BlueJays, LHP J.A. Happ avoid arbitration with 1-year, $3.7 million contract.

that's an awful lot for someone in the Buffalo rotation.

He's actually a pretty good 5th starter but I guess that's what happens when you have depth.

I bet him and Lincoln are not to pleased.

If everyone stays healthy through spring training, which rarely happens anyway, I could see us moving an arm or two to a team that hasn't stayed healthy for a prospect to help restock the system.

Really? There's no point because at the trade deadline you'll be trading those prospects for pitching depth, mine as well hold on to em now in an "all-in" year.

I don't think so

Depth bro, depth

So does this finalize the budget for next year?

Happ and Rasmus signed, Oliver in

What is payroll at now?

AA says he still wants to add a RH bat who can play mulitple positions but that no trades are in the works.

Maybe a guy like Raburn?

a couple others out there to, Cairo, Derosa.

I don't see Happ content with being in AAA at all.

I think this arb avoidance was keyed on a promise he'd be moved rather than sent down. We shall see.

Hes not right handed but what about matt carpenter? He already plays part time and they got Oscar Tavares comin to take away more of his playing time. He could fill in at 3rd, 1st and corner outfield spots. He could also challenge Lind for more AB's.

He also intimated that he might prefer making that acquisition during spring training via a waiver pick up, cheaply.

I'd like to see us add Hafner to DH and hit 5th and use Lind as a PH for JP.

Shi Davidi ?@ShiDavidi
#Bluejays settle with Emilio Bonifacio at $2.6 million, avoiding arbitration.

Why? I think Happ will happily play the 6th man knowing that it's likely he will see some MLB time at some point.

If he goes the whole year in AAA, then I could see him requesting movement.

He wasn't content in the bullpen last year. Just don't see him content in AAA.

He's not a star or anything, but the guy is a solid MLB pitcher and belongs in the bigs. If not on a super stacked Jays rotation, then somewhere else. But at least in the pen.

For someone needing pitching at the end of ST, he could be a nice 4/5 guy. That being said I see him staying with the JAYS content or not.

Perfect depth. He's great to have as a 5/6 starter. I don't really care whether or not he's content with his role. He's under contract to pitch, wherever the Jays assign him. He'll get his shot at some point. <Hell, he could easily take Romero's spot as the 5 if he doesn't pitch well to start.

"What is payroll at now?"

Estimating everyone pre-arbitration at 400K I've got it as $128M less $8.5M from the Marlins.

Your joking right? If this team plans on contending they will need Happ. If he starts the year in AAA then so be it, but he will be utilized quite a bit throughout the year. Every contender needs a couple quality arms in AAA that they can count on and right now Happ looks like that guy.

Not bad. My guess is that AA has a fairly hard cap around $120M for this year. If revenues from TV and attendance goes up, maybe more, but I think he's at the limit with Rogers.

(Caveat: none of us really know of course...)