Offseason Agenda: Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays are coming off of a dissapointing season with a 83-79 record which was good for third place in the AL East. I'd have to say that the 2007 season was a huge step in the righ direction. The emergences of pitchers Jeremy Accardo, Casey Jannssen, Shaun Marcum, Dustin McGowen and Jesse Litsche, the Jays don't have waste money on crapy veteran pitching.

Pitching
The Jays pitching staff has been badly banged up for the last couple seasons. Roy Halladay, the ace of the rotation, has been solid, outstanding at times, but always seems to be missing time because of injuries. Although an apendectomy isn't really an injury, it still took Doc out of the rotation for three weeks. Number 2 AJ Burnett has not become the number two visioned by GM JP Riccardi. Burnett hasn't been able to keep healthy. He is a heck of a pitcher with amazing stuff, but can't stay healthy. Riccardi saying and I quote "If we knew that Marcum and McGowen could pitch like this... than we wouldn't have signed AJ Burnett". Not the best motivation for the troubled pitcher. Burnett can opt out after this season so trading him is an option. Dustin McGowen and Shaun Marcum came out of nowhere to show off their amazing skills. McGowen has established himself as a number two or three starter with great stuff. Marcum has proved he can be a dependable middle rotation guy who can eat up innings. The number five spot come down to Gustavo Chacin, Jesse Litsche, a minor leaguer or a free agent. Chacin hasn't pitched well since winning AL Rookie of the Year runner up honours a few years back. So it seems to be Litsche or a free agent.

The bullpen has shown great improvement thanks to Casey Jannssen and Jeremy Accardo. Accardo can be one of the better closers in the game if given the chance, but that job will most likely nelong to BJ Ryan next year. Jannssen was an excellent set-up man as well. Looks like Jannssen and Accardo will set up Ryan. Jason Fraser and Scott Downs will most likely be back for long inning relief. Another reliever would help. Joe Kennedy is someone being considered.

Infield
The Jays infield went from a strong potentail group of players to an injured underachiving bunch. Lyle Overbay is probably the Canucks most pure hitter in the lineup. He hurt his wrist early and was never the same. Aaron Hill dazzled us with his great defence and mediocre hitting that will hopefully improve. John McDonald should have this year's Gold Glove for SS after an amazingly outstanding highlightreal defence. Royce Clayton didn't do enough to stay with the team. Troy Glaus hurt his heel and was terrible. The steriod allegations won't help either. C Gregg Zuan was also part of the walking wounded after a hand injury took him out for a while. Sal Fasano played fine and prospect Curtis Thigpen showed he can do a little something in the bigs. DH Frank Thomas fits in here I guess. The Big Hurt was the Jays best offensive player this season with his 26 HR and 96 RBI. Either the same or a little bit more would be great next year. Overall, health is the main concern. A shortstop/third basemen would help too. A Jack Wilson trade or a Juan Uribe signing could help.

Outfield
The outfield was average this season. New franchise player CF Vernon Wells played subpar and had shoulder problems. He should be healthy by next season. RF Alex Rios was an All-Star again and should improve. LF is a problem though. Matt Stairs was signed to potentially platoon with Adam Lind. That leaves out Reed Johnson. It's too bad for Reed who had back problems and didn't live up to his lead off hitter expectations. We've got Johnson/Stairs/Lind going on in LF so decisions will have to be made.

Prognosis
The Jays don't have much to do. Fill out depth is the only real issue other than getting healthy and playing up to expectation. The Red Sox will be hard to beat but will the Yankees? The Yankees will take a hard hit if A-Rod is lost. If Posada, Pettitte, and Rivera say good bye than the Yankees are in trouble. The Devil Rays and Orioles appear to be battling for the bottem again this year. So it comes down to Red Sox and Jays on paper right now. We'll have to wait and see.

Up next: The Boston Red Sox