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Ricciardi thinks he may get both Lilly, Meche

ROBERT MACLEOD

Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 10:47 PM EDT 04/12/06

Jays GM is prepared to try to arm himself for success at baseball's winter meetings, reports ROBERT MACLEOD ...Read the full article

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  1. alma gita from Hamilton, United States writes:
    Before re-signing Lilly, shouldn't the Jays know if he is prepared to work with the current manager? Have Lilly and management moved past this past year's altercation on the mound and in the walkway up to the club house? I presume a player's fit with a team still has a role to play as to whether or not that player would get re-signed. The question shouldn't be then, 'Can the team afford Lilly?' it should be 'Can the team afford to lose Lilly?'
  2. Rob Kirsic from Brampton, writes: Forget J.P thinks he might get pitching help, the headline should say J.P should start THINKING. I don't understand why he hasn't gotten onto signing Wells now, what does he think, that salaries are going to go down as the season goes on - he'll just end up paying more next year. That's all assuming he decides to keep Wells which brings me to what another scribe wrote in another paper today which was either the Jays trade or sign Wells, don't drag this on.

    As for the pitching, Lilly pitched well last season, but I'm willing to bet that was a fluke. I also find it hard to believe that he can get along with the coaching staff, there's no way that blow-up is behind them. And Gil Meche, 9 million for 11 wins, or something close to that - that's sad and pathetic, almost a million for each win.

    This is what bothers me about the Jays during this J.P era, had they drafted well instead of using that crappy Moneyball theory, there'd probably be quality pitching prospects and maybe even a replacement for Wells, or a capable fourth outfielder, Lind is still at least a season away. There wouldn't be such a reliance on the inflationary free-agent market unless it was to get a key signing like a Frank Thomas to bolster the lineup.
  3. Luke P from Vancouver, Canada writes: Lilly's definitely not a fluke. He's only posted two seasons with an ERA above 4.40 (his first full season with the Yanks and '05, when he may have been playing hurt). He's also an AL East killer, which is key if they Jays have pennant aspirations. Yeah, he may or may not get along with Gibbons, but I'm willing to bet that given the team the Jays are putting together, they're both willing to put up with each other for a run at the World Series. As for Meche, he's almost as talented as A.J. Burnett - a fastball at 95, 96 MPH and a really good curve. I think he has a similar career trajectory as Jason Schmidt, who, like Meche, had fantastic stuff but had issues with confidence and focus. In the right situation, I think a 3 or 4 year contract at 9 million per could wind up being a huge bargain in 2009 or 2010 (and if not, the pitching trade market always finds value for 10-12 win pitchers, especially at the trade deadline). Given the shallow free agent market, and the Jays' need for starting pitching, I think it would be a perfectly acceptable, even desireable, signing.
  4. Disco Stu from Canada writes: Given the choice between Lilly and Meche or Chacin and Towers, it is a no brainer. I really don't care how much Lilly and Meche will command salary wise. Every free agent this year has been overpaid (and every professional player, for that matter).

    As for Lilly and Gibbons getting along, I don't see it as an issue. After the scuffle they had, Lilly still had some outings and there wasn't a problem afterwards, so I'm sure they both sucked it up and put it past them.
  5. Bobcat Bobby from WINNIPEG, Canada writes: No I don't think Lilly will sign with the Jays, he's just playing them along, I don't think the altercation with Gibbons is behind him. As for Meche, 11 wins is not worth the money they are thinking of paying for him. They need to focus on signing Wells and put the money for Lilly and Meche together and sign Zito.

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