When Alex Wants, Alex Gets

Since last off-season Alex Anthopoulos had been targeting CF Colby Rasmus from the St. Louis Cardinals. He tried in the off-season, he tried in June, but both times he failed. Today, on July 27th he finally got what he wanted. But in order to do that he had to pull off a trade with the Chicago White Sox first. AA traded Jason Frasor and Zach Stewart to the White Sox for Edwin Jackson and Mark Teahen. AA then flipped Jackson,Mark Zep,Corey Patterson, Octavio Dotel and 3 players to be named later or cash considerations for Colby Rasmus, Brian Tallet, Trevor Miller, and P.J Walters. The Cardinals wanted Rasmus off there team because he wasn't listening to there coaches, but if I were him, I wouldn't want to listen to their coaches either. They don't have good coaches too develop a young player like Rasmus, so in my opinion Rasmus was right to be listening to his father instead of the Cardinals coaches.
Rasmus is going to be a 5-tool player in the near future, and that is why the Jays are the clear winner of this three way trade. The Jays gave up relievers that wouldn't be on this team next year, and got the only player in the 12 player deal that has a good future. AA got rid of a horrible outfielder,and has pulled off another trade in which he is the winner.

With this trade finally giving the Jays a CF after Vernon Wells was traded in January, the lineup for 2012 and beyond comes into picture now. Maybe a few tweaks will come in 2013 with the arrivals of speedster Anthony Gose, Catcher Travis D'arnaud and defensive wizard Adeiny Hech. Aaron Hill also might not be in the lineup in 2012, but my guess is that he signs a new contract in the off-season after AA doesn't pick up his options. This is how i see the lineup being in 2012, and if the Jays have decent pitching next season, I see them making the playoffs 100%.

C-J.P Arencibia
1B-Adam Lind
2B-Aaron Hill
3B-Brett Lawrie
SS-Yunel Escobar
LF-Travis Snider
CF-Colby Rasmus
RF-Jose Bautista
DH-Eric Thames

Ricky Romero threw 8.1 beautiful shutout innings as the Jays beat the Orioles 3-0 to even the series at 1. The rubber match goes tomorrow at 7:07 PM, Carlos Villanueva takes the mound when Colby Rasmus makes his Blue Jays debut.