Blue Jays Team Report

INSIDE PITCH

The Blue Jays don’t figure on being much of a player in the free agent pool this winter.

Even though they have holes to fill at shortstop and catcher (Marco Scutaro(notes) and Rod Barajas(notes) have filed for free agency) and need help in both the rotation and the outfield, the Jays will try to fill the gaps in their roster for the 2010 season either by filling from within or making trades, according to new general manager Alex Anthopoulos.

“I would say that I would probably be more active in trades than free agency,” Anthopoulos said recently. “I think trades is definitely something that I’m going to be more aggressive with overall.”

Whether he can find the right fit or not, time will tell.

With the Jays expected to operate in 2010 with around the same payroll they had in 2009—roughly $80 million—they don’t really have the financial wiggle room to land even middle-grade free agents.

And being a team in transition, they definitely don’t want to lose any draft picks by signing a Type A free agent—at least not this offseason.

“If you feel like you are one or two pieces away and you’re going to supplement a strong core to put you over the top, that makes sense,” Anthopoulos said of adding top quality free agents.

The Jays, though, are not close to being at that point.

This winter, there will be no big splash from the Jays in the free agent pool. In fact, there will be barely a ripple.

NOTES, QUOTES

—cf V  ernon Wells recently underwent successful surgery to repair cartilage damage on his left wrist. The Jays said that Wells is expected to be fully recovered and ready for spring training. Wells had a miserable 2009. In 158 games, 684 at-bats, he hit just .260 with 15 home runs and 68 RBIs, totals that no doubt were affected by the wrist injury that plagued him the entire season. Wells’ problem with his wrist was not revealed until a couple of weeks ago.

• 2B Aaron Hill(notes) and DH Adam Lind(notes), the top two offensive threats on the Jays last season, were rewarded for their efforts, as both received Silver Slugger awards. They were the first Blue Jays to receive the award since CF Vernon Wells(notes) and 1B Carlos Delgado(notes) accomplished the feat in 2003. Hill, who earlier was named the AL’s Comeback Player of the Year, hit .286 with 36 home runs, 37 doubles, 103 runs and 108 RBIs. Lind hit .305 with 35 homers, 46 doubles and 114 RBIs.

• RHP Roy Halladay(notes), who figures to be a central figure in the Jays’ offseason—will they keep him for the 2010 season, the final year of his current contract or will they trade him as part of a rebuilding process?—finished fifth in the Cy Young Award voting with 11 third-place votes. It marked the fourth consecutive season that Halladay, who won the award in 2003, has placed in the top five in voting. On the season, Halladay, the starting AL pitcher at the All-Star Game, was 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA and 208 strikeouts. He also topped the major leagues with nine complete games.

• LHP Ricky Romero(notes), who finished second on the Jays with 13 victories, did not receive a vote in balloting for AL Rookie of the Year. Romero, the Jays’ first-round draft pick in 2005 (sixth overall), finished 2009 at 13-9 with a 4.30 ERA. Among AL rookies, he was second in wins and fourth in ERA.

• SS Marco Scutaro has not ruled out accepting an arbitration offer from the Jays if one is offered, according to reports. With Scutaro classified as a Type A free agent, the Jays would have to offer him arbitration if they want to receive two compensatory picks in the 2010 draft. The Jays are interested in bringing back Scutaro, 34, in 2010 after his career season in which he hit .282 with a .379 on-base percentage. He also set career highs in walks (90), runs (100), home runs (12) and RBIs (60).

• RHP Reidier Gonzalez had his contract purchased by the Blue Jays, who added him to their 40-man roster. Gonzalez, who turned 24 on Nov. 1, went 4-6 with a 2.90 ERA in 17 starts for Class AA New Hampshire this year.

By The Numbers:   16—Silver Slugger awards the Jays have accumulated in team history.

Quote To Note:   “From my standpoint, I think it probably had some type of impact on his season. I just don’t know to what extent.”—GM Alex Anthopoulos on the wrist injury that plagued CF Vernon Wells throughout the 2009 season.

ROSTER REPORT

The Blue Jays began the offseason with plenty of change. Paul Beeston removed “interim” from his title to become team president and CEO. General manager J.P. Ricciardi was replaced by his former assistant, Alex Anthopoulos, 32. As far as the roster goes, the biggest decision will revolve around star RHP Roy Halladay and whether to keep him for the 2010 season or trade him in the offseason for much needed talent.

Biggest Needs:   The Jays have to figure out what they will do with RHP Roy Halladay—keep him or trade him. They also might have to scramble to fill the holes at shortstop and catcher if free agents Marco Scutaro and Rod Barajas sign elsewhere. They do not have ready replacements in their system for either player.

Arrivals:   LHP Sean Henn(notes) (claimed off waivers from Orioles), INF Jarrett Hoffpauir(notes) (claimed off waivers from Cardinals), INF Mike McCoy(notes) (claimed off waivers from Rockies).

Free Agents:   SS Marco Scutaro, C Rod Barajas, SS John McDonald(notes), DH/INF Kevin Millar(notes).

The Jays would like to bring back Scutaro and will try and re-sign him. They will probably not pursue Barajas because they think that J.P. Arencibia may be ready to be promoted next season following the All-Star break. They might be willing to go with backup Raul Chavez(notes) and a cheaper alternative than Barajas. They have zero interest in Millar.

Arbitration-eligible:   RHP Jeremy Accardo(notes), OF Jose Bautista(notes), RHP Shawn Camp(notes), C Raul Chavez, RHP Jason Frasor(notes), RHP Casey Janssen(notes), RHP Brandon League(notes), RHP Shaun Marcum(notes), RHP Dustin McGowan(notes), LHP Brian Tallet(notes).

Frasor is the most valuable asset on the list and could be the Jays’ closer in 2010, having taken on the role after LHP B.J. Ryan(notes) was released. They have interest in bringing back the others with perhaps lukewarm interest in Jeremy Accardo, a reliever who spent most of the season at Class AAA Las Vegas.

In Limbo:   With the exception of 2B Aaron Hill and LF/DH Adam Lind, the rest of the players on the Jays’ roster can all be had for the right package, including RHP Roy Halladay. Although they’d like more production out of 1B Lyle Overbay(notes), they can live with his $7 million salary for 2010, the final year of his contract.

Medical Watch:  

RHP Jesse Litsch(notes) (Tommy John elbow surgery in June 2009) will be at spring training but is not expected to be ready by the start of the 2010 season.

RHP Shaun Marcum (Tommy John elbow surgery in September 2008) will be at spring training and could be ready at the beginning of the 2010 season.

RHP Dustin McGowan (right shoulder surgery in July 2008, right knee surgery in July 2009) will be at spring training but is not expected to be ready by the start of the 2010 season.

RHP Rob Ray (right shoulder strain) will be at spring training and could be ready by the start of the 2010 season.

CF Vernon Wells (arthroscopic left wrist surgery in November 2009) is expected to be fully recovered before spring training.

3B Edwin Encarnacion(notes) (left wrist surgery in October 2009) is expected to be ready for spring training.