Morales and Morality

He may have been one of the more popular Latino players in the Blue Jays clubhouse, but the team got an offer for Kendrys Morales they felt was too good to refuse.
The 35-year-old designated hitter was dealt to the Athletics on Wednesday night in return for a minor league infielder, Jesus Lopez.

As much as Morales was seen as a mentor for players such as Vlad Guerrero Jr. and fellow Cuban Lourdes Gurriel Jr., his departure gives manager Charlie Montoyo plenty more options for his lineup.

With Morales almost exclusively a DH, the Jays can now slot others into that role depending on the opponent and who in the Jays lineup might be wielding a hot bat.
It also leads to immediate speculation that it could result in a sooner than later promotion for first baseman Rowdy Tellez.



The other benefit from the deal was that it was yet another salary dump for the Jays. Morales was the highest-paid remaining Toronto player and the Jays have reportedly agreed to pay $10 million of his $12-million US salary.
Morales, who filled the DH void created with the departure of Edwin Encarnacion the past two seasons, is expected to play first base for Oakland.

It is supposed to be the time of year for optimism, the belief that, no matter how far-fetched, somehow you are following a team worth watching and, if all goes well, one that will be playing meaningful baseball late into summer.
For the first time in a handful of seasons, it’s a claim that can’t be made about the Toronto Blue Jays.
With a new manager and a lineup void of any established superstars, the pickings are expected to be slim over the next six months. The glimmer of hope — assuming it is supplemented by some reliable starting pitching and the continued development of young players — is that the future is bright.
Just how that translates into wins will start to unfold when the 162-game season gets under way on Thursday afternoon at the Rogers Centre. With expectations the lowest in years — a view punctuated by team president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins — declines are expected on multiple fronts: On-field performance, which already skidded significantly the past two seasons; Rogers Centre attendance, which just two years ago was the pride of the American League; and overall interest in a team that had enjoyed unprecedented, coast-to-coast support.
But opening day always brings with it a whiff of hope (in lieu of any other meaningful signs of spring) and the youth movement has some promise, even if the two most prized jewels will start the season in Florida and Buffalo respectively.
Answers will come eventually, but for now, we present our 10 burning questions in advance of opening day.

The wise guys who establish the lines in Las Vegas aren’t buying into the enthusiasm of Montoyo, the big spring of starting pitchers Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez and the great Dominican hope, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The bookmakers know the Jays are in rebuilding mode and that they are in arguably the toughest division in baseball, so 75.5 is the established over/under total.
While low, much would have to go right to top that number, especially if the bullpen remains suspect and if, by the end of July, management pawns off proven assets to further bolster the youth movement.
I am betting on the over , way over.