Disecting the 2010 Roster

I am sick of hearing and reading about Roy Halladay getting traded. Fucking sick.

There is news though that Scott Rolen may be on his way to Cincinatti for a package including current 3B Edwin Encarnacion. So, at least stuff is going on besides Doc.


Anyways, I thought I would take a lot at the players that the Jays have under contract for next season and decide if they can compete next year, if that is just horseshit.

The Pitching Staff

The Jays have a load of young starters and it is still undecided how many of them are going to be more than back-end guys.

Marc Rzepczynski, Bobby Ray, Brad Mills, and Fabio Castro are all probably number 4 guys at best, while Brett Cecil and Ricky Romero are probably number 2 types in a couple years.

Shaun Marcum, in 2011, should be back to his old self. I'm not sure how 2010 is going to go for him, as a lot of Tommy John recoveries take a couple years and a lot of discomfort to get over.

Dustin McGowan is a guy who cannot be counted on, although if he ever gets back, maybe putting him in the bullpen is the best option, as he seems fragile.

Jesse Litsch should be back at some point next season, but I don't know if he is even a part of the future as more than a swing man type.

Another starter to keep an eye on is David Purcey. I think he could be really effective as a short reliever, which would allow him to blaze his fastball and really focus on putting all his ability into 1 or 2 innings. But, as a starter, Purcey could still be a legit option as a back-end guy. His stuff is good, he has just struggled with his control greatly.

I think a rotation of Doc, Romero, Marcum, Cecil, and Rzepczynski is a pretty good one for 2010. And if Doc is dealt, well... at least there is depth.

As for the bullpen, Scotty Downs is still a Jay next year, unless they trade him (which I think they should). For lefties in the pen, you still have Carlson and Tallet, and if you really want a third lefty, Bill Murphy was pretty solid earlier this season, and Davis Romero impressed in his brief stint in 2007.

On the right side, Accardo, Frasor, and League are your big 3. Either one could close out games for the Jays next year if Downs is gone. Shawn Camp is a solid arm and should be used in a similar manner to how he has been.

And because I don't believe in signing middle relievers to free agent deals that are not minor league, a couple guys in AA/AAA to keep an eye on for potential roles in the pen are Ed "Bubbie" Buzachero, Adrian Martin, Zach Dials, Rommie Lewis, and Dan Farquhar. Dials and Farquhar are both young and in AA, both are dynamite arms who could make a big impact.


The Catching

Rowdy Rod will be leaving after this season (hopefully), finally vacating the black hole behind the plate, kinda like when Roger Dorn retired in Major League. I am pretty sure that Raul Chavez is under team control regardless of whether he is a suitcase or not. I hope the Jays bring him back to back up Arencibia, or a catcher they get in a trade. I think Arencibia could duplicate Barajas' awful hitting (OBP under .300) with more power and more speed (at least we won't have to pinch run for Arencibia every time he is the tying run.

If you want to look to the free agent market for a catcher to hold over for another year, the best of the bunch (that I would want the Jays to acquire) are probably Miguel Olivo and Brian Schneider. Schneider is the supperior defender (and a left handed bat), while Olivo is Barajas with more power.

First Base

Lyle Overbay is under contract for $7M next season. Unless he is dealt (highly unlikely), then the Jays will have to wait another year to install an offense first power hitter into a ket spot. I like Overbay's defense a lot, and I am a fan of his bat, but if the Jays are going to go with no mashers in the OF or DH, then 1B has to be where one come in.

Hopefully, A right handed hitter is brought in to platoon with Lyle. I am thinking a Robb Quinlan type, who can play 3B and the OF.

I also would not mind if the Jays took a stab at Hank Blalock if he could be had for a few million. He could DH and play a little 1B, while providing some power.

Brian Dopirak is a guy I am excited about, and he is AAA right now. He could come up next year if Overbay is traded during the season.

Middle Infield

Aaron Hill is set at 2B. Leave him alone and try to find a capable short stop to play with him for a few years. I am against re-signing Marco Scutaro, as I do not believe he is capable of being as good again ever.

The free agents are not what I would like to see, but maybe a deal for Khalil Greene could be made on the cheap and he could rebound in Toronto. He plays good defense and still has power in his bat. Either him on a 1 year deal (JJ Hardy is a free agent after 2010) or make a trade for a young SS. I would trade Travis Snider for Alcides Escobar or Elvis Andrus.

John McDonald is free agent after this season, and I would like to see the Jays re-sign him. He is a great defender at both SS and 2B and can be used to pinch run. He is a better option than any free agent or Angel Sanchez in AAA (even though he is hitting over .300).

Thrid Base

Scott Rolen is our 3B next season unless traded. If he is dealt, than Edwin Encarnation would likely come the other way. He would not be the guy I would want starting at 3B. He is dreadfull defensively, but has some power. He could DH and play 1B against lefties.

Jose Bautista is a serious non-tender candidate. He is paid too much to be on a non-contender's bench. He is a good player though, and if the Jays can't get a real 3B, than I would not mind Bautista starting every day there.

On the free agent market, Chone Figgins is a guy I would love to bring to Toronto. He would make an excellent table setter in front of Hill and Lind and playes a good 3B.

The Outfield

Ah, the black hole. (That was not a racist comment). Vernon Wells and Alex NEED to be better (I even put it in caps so that the point would be more clear). Adam Lind and Travis Snider will both be in the line-up every day next season (hopefully) and one will have to be DH.

I would love it if Wells was in RF and Rios in CF, but I do not think Vernon would go for it. His happiness is actually a pretty big deal. It is one thing to have a guy who is under performing, but another if that under performer is bringing down the club house with his attitude.

There is no-one in AAA besides Snider who could make an impact, although I would like see Buck Coats as the 4th OF next season. A guy with real speed and base-stealing ability would be nice to have on the bench.


Well, that does it. I hope Halladay wasn't traded while I wrote this.