Blue Jays, Posada, and other MLB topics

The Toronto Blue Jays kick off the free agency season like a lot of other teams, quietly. They are looking to make few moves this offseason and are hoping key components stay healthy in an attempt to contend in 2008. The formula could work. If you couple the offense from 2006 with the pitching of 2007 you would no doubt have a great team. But injuries came along and hurt the lineup throughout the season. The fact that many of the injuries were nagging is what caused them to under perform all season. Hand injuries to Zaun and Overbay left both of them (especially Overbay) with numbers below their career averages. A shoulder problem that stuck with Vernon Wells all season snuffed out his batting presence also.

What I dislike is the signing of John McDonald. I realize he was splendid in the field, and arguably the best defensive SS in the AL, but his bat is not good enough to be an everyday player. Much like the Reed Johnson signing was a mistake because management felt he became an everyday player, the same problem will occur this season if they do not find someone other than McDonald to play shortstop.

Johnson is a very good platoon outfielder. He can rake against lefty pitchers, but as an everyday player he struggled and did not materialize into the lead-off hitter the Jays wanted him to. They need to platoon him with Stairs, who likely can't upgrade on the numbers he put up last year because of his age. Going out and getting Kenny Lofton for the top of the order would be a very wise decision by the Jays. It would finally give them someone at the top of the lineup that is a true lead-off hitter that can still have above average on-base-percentage numbers that Jays management wants. Pushing Wells down in the order and hoping he gets his stroke back is necessary for the success of this team.

As for pitching, BJ Ryan will come back later in the season, but we can't expect him to be fully recovered and be the BJ Ryan of old until 2009. The bullpen was outstanding last season and the rotation, if healthy, is still good.

But it is hard to gauge how the young pitchers will come around in 2008. McGowan will in all likelihood remain the number three starter and put up similar numbers to last year. But Marcum, who took a shutout into the seventh inning more than anyone on the club could struggle. It was not too long ago that Gustavo Chacin came up as a rookie and won 13 games with the Jays. Since then he has been quite ineffective in his starts in between injuries.

Overall, the pitching can't be as good as it was last year, and the hitting has to be better, the law of averages tell us that. But it will be another year of wait and see on guys to hopefully stay healthy. Can they make the playoffs? Probably not.

Four More Years!

Jorge Posada signed a four year $52 million dollar contract with the Yankees. Does anyone else think this is going to end up like the lengthy Johnny Damon contract? Four years for a catcher that is 36 years old is far too long. Catchers are typically over the hill at age 35. I understand that Posada is coming off of a career year, but throwing those terms on a deal is not a good decision by the Yankees. The last two years of that contract will be a mistake. That said, the Yankess can afford to make that kind of mistake, they have the revenue to overpay, and overpay they did.

Other Notes

Johan Santana trade talks will become interesting over the offseason. Every team in baseball is going to want to get their hands on him. The Twins need to get something for him before he leaves in free agency. They lost David Ortiz and he has since won two World Series in Boston. From a Jays perspective you know that Minnesota would expect no less than McGowan and Janssen in the deal, while probably wanting them to add Adam Lind and another pitching prospect. With outfield prospect Travis Snyder on the farm the Jays could afford to lose Lind. But are they willing to give up possibly four arms under the age of 25 to get one pitcher?

The Braves gave the money to Mark Teixeira and effectively said goodbye to Andruw Jones. But where will the 10 time Gold Glover end up? He is getting older, despite his 2007 Gold Glove award I think his defense is on the decline he recieved it more on reputation rather than ability. He is running down less balls in the outfield than ever before and within four years may need to be converted to a DH. Coming of a season hitting just .222 make matters worse. Regardless, someone will pay to much for him even though it is over the hill. The Dodgers appear to be the front runners for his skills and are searching for a CF like Jones or Hunter or Rowand while moving Juan Pierre to LF.