Big Hurt Released

[still-hate-francisco-cabrera]

Someone who needs a DH could certainly use the Big Hurt.

How many teams really need a DH right now though? Any team that is young and building isn't going to take him at this stage of his career, even if he is technically better than what they have. Most of the contenders in the AL already have a decent DH in place. I'm not sure there's going to be a ton of interest.

[slomo007]

Seattle?

[Mugrila]

Someone who needs a DH could certainly use the Big Hurt.

How many teams really need a DH right now though? Any team that is young and building isn't going to take him at this stage of his career, even if he is technically better than what they have. Most of the contenders in the AL already have a decent DH in place. I'm not sure there's going to be a ton of interest.

The Mariners think they'll compete this year and they trot out Jose Vidro to DH every night.

[bdrotoronto]

$18 million for one season + three weeks of mediocre DH'ing.

I don't think releasing him is such a bad move, he just wasn't getting it done, and his stats last year are deceptive, he was terrible the first few months of '07 and only got things back to respectable-looking long after the Jays were cooked. Locking him in at DH also prevented the team from giving other guys days off in the field when they needed it (Glaus comes to mind most).

It was never a signing that made much sense with this roster, and I guess JP finally came to the same realization when he was faced with the prospect of having to pay him for another year of that. Hopefully at some point JP is held to account for these sorts of expensive failed decisions.

[mweir145]

My opinion of the Toronto Blue Jays organization is at an all time low. They obviously care far more about the bottomline, money, than actually winning games.

Releasing your best hitter (which Thomas was in '07) is never a good thing when you're trying to contend, and the offense is already fairly mediocre in the first place. And to pass it off like he was under performing...wow. He got off to a similar start last year, and still hit better than anybody on the team. Anybody that looks at 60 AB, especially for someone like Frank Thomas, and thinks they are meaningful in any way, is just stupid.

I guess Toronto is going for the great DH pairing of Stairs/Barajas for the rest of the season. What a waste of good pitching it's going to be this year. This team makes me sick.

[mweir145]

Of course...if this was all done to prepare the team for Bonds, I'd change my tune very quickly. But let's be serious, this is the Jays we're talking about. They haven't committed themselves to winning in...well I guess 15 years now.

[BritSox]

Seattle?

My first thought when I heard the news. He'd be a big upgrade there.

[still-hate-francisco-cabrera]

Yeah, I forgot about Seattle. They could go after him.

[BronXBombers51]

Of course...if this was all done to prepare the team for Bonds, I'd change my tune very quickly. But let's be serious, this is the Jays we're talking about. They haven't committed themselves to winning in...well I guess 15 years now.

This was the first thing I thought of as well. Maybe they're going to go after Barry now?

[J35J]

frank thomas----hall of famer ??

One of the best right handed hitters....EVER! Easily a HOFer!!