Jays sign DeRosa, Make me look Good...

The best feeling in the world is being right. AA fulfilled my wish/prediction of signing Mark DeRosa to be the 25th man on this 2013 team by agreeing to a 1 year MLB contract worth $750K, with an Anthoption for 2014 at the same value. Sam Dyson was DFA'd to make room for DeRosa on the 40-man. My words on DeRosa from January 10th...

Lastly, Mark DeRosa. He is the best of the 2(in my opinion). At 37, he is getting up in there in years, and has stated that he isn't certain what his future holds for him(although he has also stated he'd prefer to re-sign with the Nats). Throughout his career he has been on base against lefties over 36% of the time, and, in 2012, that number was close to 33%, not so bad for a bench player. He can do everything a utility infielder needs to do, and, once John Gibbons gets fed up with Adam Lind's inability to hit a southpaw, he can be a nice platoon partner with him. He can play basically every position on the diamond(nobody said he can do it well), so defense isn't much of a problem with him either. I like him.
After starting with 15 possible names, I've narrowed it down to 2 players who are a fit for the Blue Jays' 25th roster spot(of course, there are minor league free agents and players signed to teams that I didnt look at). AA said what he wanted, and after that whole process, Mark DeRosa makes the most sense as the utility infielder/platoon partner for Adam Lind in my opinion. 

Basically, Mark DeRosa will play very few games in 2013.He's the 25th man  for a reason. he is a good bat to platoon with Lind if needed, and, theoretically, Gibbons can even play Melky Cabrera in center versus lefties, with DeRosa playing left. This would allow Colby Rasmus to avoid lefties, something he needs to do almost as much as Adam Lind does.

Honestly, for the 25th man, he's great. If he truly is a great "clubhouse guy", who cares how he hits? I know I don't, and I'd gladly pay to see him against lefties rather than Lind or Rasmus. Marginal victories are worth a lot, and DeRosa might just be the guy who gets us some.

The Jays are going to play meaningful games in September, do you actually care if the 25th roster spot is occupied by Mark DeRosa? The answer should be no.

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Analyzing the Offseasons of the AL East

With Spring Training right around the corner, (pitchers and catchers report in less than a month) it would appear that most teams are done making major moves. This is why I think it's fair that we can now analyze the offseasons of the AL East, as even if any AL East teams do sign one of the 3 remaining major free agents, the team doesn't change enough for my opinion on how the offseaon has gone for that given team. I will go through each team and tell you what they did, show you their projected lineup and rotation, give you my thoughts, and give an overall verdict and grade. I will go in order, based on the standings from 2012.

New York Yankees 
2012 Record: 95-67 
Key Acquisitions: Kevin Youkilis via free agency (1 year, $12 million), Russ Canzler (Waiver Claim from Indians) 

Re-Signed: Andy Pettite (1 year, $12 million), Hiroki Kuroda (1 year, $15 million), Ichiro Suzuki (2 years, $13 million), Mariano Rivera (1 year, $10 million). 

Key Departures: Nick Swisher (to SEA), Russell Martin (to PIT), Raul Ibanez (to SEA), Rafael Soriano (FA) 

Projected Lineup and Rotation: 

1. RF Ichiro Suzuki
2. SS Derek Jeter
3. 2B Robinson Cano
4. 1B Mark Teixeira 
5. CF Curtis Granderson
6. 3B Kevin Youkilis 
7. DH Eduardo Nunez (sometimes Russ Canzler) 
8. LF Brett Gardner
9. C Chris Stewart

1. LHP CC Sabathia
2. RHP Hiroki Kuroda
3. LHP Andy Pettite 
4. RHP Phil Hughes
5. RHP Ivan Nova 

CP- Mariano Rivera
SU- David Robertson 

Analysis: 
The fact is, the Yankees didn't get any better this offseason. They didn't upgrade at a single position. I do give them credit for re-signing numerous free agents that are keys to the team, but I don't think it was enough. Losing Swisher and Martin are the 2 biggest blows to the team, especially since they don't have any players to fill in at both DH or catcher (until Gary Sanchez is ready). Having Nunez and Stewart or Romine in the lineup every day should prove to be a huge disappointment. I don't think that Youkilis will be as bad of a signing as people say he will be, and once A-Rod comes back, their offence should get a huge boost.
Verdict:
The Yankees got worse. The offseason has been disastrous. With that being said, the Yankees are still a very good team. The Yankees didn't need to do much, but it would have been much better if they made a move for a catcher, or possibly a better DH. Every year we say that the Yankees haven't done enough, and yet they still find themselves playing meaningful baseball in October. I still expect them to be contenders to win the AL East.

Offseason Grade: C-
Overall Team Grade: A-


Baltimore Orioles
2012 Record: 93-69
Key Acquisitions: Alexi Casilla (off waivers from MIN), Trayvon Robinson (via trade from SEA), Danny Valencia (via trade from BOS).

Re-Signed: Nate McLouth(1 year, $2 million).

Key Departures: Mark Reynolds (to CLE), Joe Saunders(still a FA), Robert Andino (trade to SEA), Jim Thome (still a FA) 

Projected Lineup and Rotation: 

1. LF Nate McLouth
2. SS J.J. Hardy
3. RF Nick Markakis
4. CF Adam Jones
5. C Matt Wieters
6. 1B Chris Davis
7. DH Wilson Betemit
8. 3B Manny Machado
9. 2B Brian Roberts (or Ryan Flaherty) 


1. RHP Jason Hammel
2. LHP Wei Yin Chen
3. RHP Chris Tillman
4. RHP Miguel Gonzalez
5. LHP Zach Britton

CP- Jim Johnson
SU- Darren O'day
SU- Pedro Strop


Analysis:

I get it. If you use logic, you would think that if the Orioles had a successful season in 2012, that it would make sense for the O's to stay put in the offseason. Unfortunately, the 2012 season for the Baltimore Orioles completely defied logic. The O's do have some good pieces, but the fact is, they were really, really lucky last season. Based on this, I would say that the O's should have made some more moves, maybe to bring in some starting pitching or long relief help, or an upgrade at second base or left field. I like the Casilla waiver claim, but all he'll do is be a replacement to what they had in Robert Andino.

Verdict: 

Just not enough. The Orioles just don't have enough talent to compete this year. Most of the time, when you're lucky one year, the next year you'll come back down to earth. The O's will do exactly that. The only way I can see the O's competing is if Dylan Bundy emerges onto the scene and instantly becomes a star, which isn't something completely crazy, but it usually doesn't happen, even with the best of prospects (Mike Trout was special).

Offseason Grade: D+ 
Overall Team Grade: B- (borderline C+) 



Tampa Bay Rays
2012 Record: 90-72
Key Acquisitions: Yunel Escobar (via trade from MIA), James Loney (via FA 1 year, $2 million),
Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi, Mike Montgomery (all via trade from KC), Roberto Hernandez (Fausto Carmona)((via FA 1 year, 3.25M))

Re-Signed: Joel Peralta (2 years $6 million) 

Key Departures: B.J. Upton (to ATL), Jeff Keppinger (to CWS), J.P. Howell (to LAD), Carlos Pena (to HOU), Luke Scott (still a FA), Kyle Farnsworth (still a FA), James Shields, Wade Davis (Both traded to KC)

Projected Lineup and Rotation: 

1. CF Desmond Jennings
2. SS Yunel Escobar
3. 2B Ben Zobrist
4. 3B Evan Longoria
5. RF Matt Joyce
6. LF Wil Myers
7. 1B James Loney
8. DH Ryan Roberts (Maddon will use numerous players in this role) 
9. C Jose Molina

1. LHP David Price
2. RHP Jeremy Hellickson
3. LHP Matt Moore
4. RHP Jeff Niemann
5. RHP Chris Archer

CP- Fernando Rodney 
SU- Joel Peralta
SU- Jake McGee

** The Rays lineup and rotation is hard to predict right now, as a lot of it will be determined in Spring Training. You could see Alex Cobb or Jake Odorizzi in the rotation instead of Archer or Niemann, and it's unclear if Wil Myers will make the team out of camp, if not, the Rays will go with a platoon of Sam Fuld and Brandon Guyer in LF.

Analysis: 

The Rays' moves in the offseason have been very well received in the baseball world, and rightfully so. In what was an incredibly lopsided trade, the Rays stole the Royals 3 top prospects in exchange for James Shields and Wade Davis, a trade that will surely work out very well in the long-term for the Rays, and it was possibly a trade that determined that they will be a contender in 3-5 years from now, unless Myers, Odorizzi, and Montgomery are complete busts. An under-appreciated trade that they made was the trade for Yunel Escobar. They got him for practically nothing, and many feel that he could bounce back in a big way offensively, to go along with his already stellar defense.

Verdict: 

The offseason has been a success for the Rays. They have yet to make a move that I question. What I think is forgotten, though, is that they lost multiple impact players in James Shields and B.J. Upton. Short-term, I actually don't think that they got any better, but they certainly didn't get any worse. The best way to explain it is that they got the best out of a not-so-great situation.  Well done, Friedman.

Offseason Grade: A
Overall Team Grade: A-


Toronto Blue Jays
 2012 Record: 73-89
Key Acquisitions: R.A. Dickey and Josh Thole (via trade from NYM),  Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Emilio Bonifacio, and Mark Buehrle (via trade from MIA), Melky Cabrera (via FA, 2 years, $16 million), Maicer Izturis (via FA, 3 years, $10 million), Esmil Rogers (via trade with CLE), Jeremy Jeffress (via trade with KC), Henry Blanco(via FA, 1 year, $750k.) 

Key Departures: Kelly Johnson (still a FA), Travis d'Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard, and Wuilmer Beccera(all traded to NYM), Yunel Escobar, Adeiny Hechavarria, Jake Marisnick, Justin Nicolino, Henderson Alvarez, and Jeff Mathis(all traded to MIA), Jason Frasor (to TEX), Omar Vizquel (retired), Brandon Lyon (Free Agency), Carlos Villanueva (to CHC). 

** Also a completely new coaching staff, that includes John Gibbons as the manager.

Projected Lineup and Rotation: 

1. SS Jose Reyes
2. LF Melky Cabrera
3. RF Jose Bautista
4. 1B Edwin Encarnacion
5. 3B Brett Lawrie
6. CF Colby Rasmus
7. C J.P. Arencibia
8. DH Adam Lind
9. 2B Maicer Izturis/Emilio Bonifacio

1. RHP R.A. Dickey
2. RHP Brandon Morrow
3. LHP Mark Buehrle
4. RHP Josh Johnson
5. LHP Ricky Romero

CP- Casey Janssen 
SU- Sergio Santos
SU- Delabar/Loup/Lincoln/Rogers (all will be used in a set-up/middle-relief role) 



Analysis: 

Yes, this is a Blue Jays blog, but, I am not stating a biased opinion when I say the Blue Jays had the best offseason in the AL East, and possibly in Major League Baseball. All you have to look at is who the Jays got, and who left, to see that this is by far the most improved team in the Major Leagues. It isn't debatable that they got much better. I have heard an argument that the moves they made didn't help them out in the long-term, but the thing is, the Jays only have one player (Josh Johnson), who is due to be a free agent in 2014. The players that they acquired are long term players, with major league success. Many get too over-attached to the prospects, and don't understand that proven MLB talent defeats all.

Verdict: 

The Jays are good. Really good. The only thing that they might need to work out is the bullpen, but that need can be addressed when it is a need. So what I am trying to say is that if the bullpen is struggling mid-season, they can look to trade for one more dominant relief pitcher to put them over-the-top. As for right now, the Jays will stay put.

Offseason Grade: A+
Overall Team Grade: A 


Boston Red Sox
2012 Record: 69-93

Key Acquisitions: Shane Victorino (via FA, 3 years, $39 million), Jonny Gomes (via FA, 2 years, $10 million), David Ross (via FA 2 years, $6.2 million), Stephen Drew (via FA, 1 year, $9.5M), Ryan Dempster (via FA, 2 years, $26.5 million), Koji Uehara (via FA 1 year, $4.25 million) Mike Napoli (not finalized, but had agreement, looks like 1 year deal), Joel Hanrahan (via trade with PIT) 

Re-Signed: David Ortiz (2 years, $26 million)

Key Departures: Cody Ross (to ARZ), James Loney (to TBR), Ivan Dejesus Jr (Traded to PIT), Stolmy Pimentel (traded to PIT), Mark Melancon (traded to PIT)

**Also a completely new coaching staff, with John Farrell becoming the manager. 

Projected Lineup and Rotation: 

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. LF Shane Victorino
3. 2B Dustin Pedroia
4. DH David Ortiz
5. 1B Mike Napoli**
6. 3B Will Middlebrooks
7. SS Stephen Drew
8. RF Jonny Gomes
9. C Jarrod Saltalamacchia 

1. LHP Jon Lester
2. RHP Ryan Dempster
3. RHP Clay Buchholz
4. LHP Felix Doubront
5. RHP John Lackey

CP- Joel Hanrahan
SU-Andrew Bailey
SU- Koji Uehara/Junichi Tazawa

Analysis:

The Sox were handing out contracts like they were flyers this offseason. Any time you hand out lots of contracts to high profile free agents like they did, your team is bound to get better. And yes, the Red Sox did get much better. The question that must be asked is "is it enough to compete?" My answer to that question is yes, but just for 2013. With all of the talent that they have compiled, it would be hard to think that they won't at least be in the hunt for a wild card spot.

Verdict: 

The Sox got better for the short-term, but not for the long-term. Many of the contracts that they gave were to players that are either on the back-end of their primes, or already completely out of their primes, and by the time their contracts are expiring, it's hard to believe that any of them will be 2+ WAR players, which just isn't worth it, considering the money that they spent.

Offseason Grade: B
Overall Team Grade: B

My final offseason grades: 

1. Blue Jays- A+
2. Rays- A
3. Red Sox- B
4. Yankees- C-
5. Orioles- D+

I hope that you enjoyed the article. If any other significant moves are made in the AL East, I will update this article and keep you posted.


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The 3 Most Overrated Free Agents... With Predictions!

Earlier this week I did a piece on the 3 most underrated free agents. I mentioned I'd do an article on the top 3 most overrated free agents. Well, here I am. Let's get the list started.

3. Nick Swisher, Right Fielder. 

You have got to love Swish. He's got a great sense of humour, and he always would play games with the bleacher creatures of Yankee Stadium. I don't think that people understand how inflated his stats are after playing half of his game at Yankee Stadium, though. During Swisher's term as a Yankee, he has averaged around 25 home runs. I can't even count the times when he has hit a home run that has barely gone over the short porch in right field in New York. It seems like a weekly occurrence. If I were to conservatively estimate, I'd say about he hits about 5 "Yankee Stadium Home Runs" every year. So now we must look at his stats, if we took 5 home runs off of them. He becomes a guy who hits 15-20 home runs a year. Add that to his .260 batting average, lack of speed, and mediocre defence, you are really getting an average player.

Prediction: Nick will end up as a Seattle Mariner. With the fences moved in at SafeCo, it'd be the right idea for the M's, just the wrong player. 

2. Kyle Lohse, Starting Pitcher.

16-3 with a 2.86 ERA is good, right? Yes, it's good. There are just a few things that make me second guess Kyle Lohse. One of those thing is his 2012 WAR. It's quite fascinating, actually that someone who led the league in win percentage, and had a sub-3 ERA had a WAR of just 3.9. It's telling you that Lohse was lucky. He doesn't have a put-away pitch. Stuff-wise, he's not great, based on his 6.1 K's per 9 innings, which is actually quite bad.

Another thing that made me second guess Lohse is the lack of continued success. If I'm the GM of a MLB team,  I am not locking up Kyle Lohse long-term. When you look at the stats that matter, you'll see that Lohse's 2012 wasn't too different from his 2011. I can see him becoming the pitcher that he was when he was younger. Nothing much more than average. If I'm signing a pitcher long-term, I'm signing a guy with at least 2 years of success, not one who had a good ERA, but doesn't have the peripherals to back it up.

Prediction: Lohse signs with the Boston Red Sox. Lohse in the AL East will be a disaster, in my opinion. 

1. Marco Scutaro, Infielder. 

I love and respect what Marco Scutaro did for the Giants this postseason. For that same reason, he's overrated. I think teams will look solely at what he did in October, and not realize that he's nothing more than a solid utility infielder. When was the last time that Marco Scutaro was a solid starter at a single position for an entire year? I personally would say it's when he played for the Blue Jays, in 2009. I'd also say that that was the only year that he was a solid starter.

If you look at just this year, when Scutaro was a Rockie, he was quite terrible. He was a below replacement player. There was certainly a switch turned when he was traded to the Giants, but I don't think it's something that you can come to expect for years to come.

Don't get me wrong, Scutaro is a valuable player to have on any team, but for the amount of money I predict he'll get, no thank you. There are many similar options out there for cheaper, such as Jeff Keppinger and Freddy Sanchez.

Prediction: Scutaro re-signs with the Giants which will earn him a nice paycheque. He will be valuable to the Giants, as a utility player, but he won't be worth the contract that he'll receive. 



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Should the Blue Jays Target Alfonso Soriano?

"I want to play over there...In Toronto!"

When Alfonso Soriano first started playing outfield, he was one of the best in the league offensively. He had a league average OBP, and way above average power, so, given his stats, he was a can't miss player when he hit free agency after the 2006 season. The Cubs locked him up to a 8 year deal (which almost never works) worth $133 million. He produced solid numbers until 2009(obviously not worth the amount he was being paid), but then his wheels fell off, and he had his first sub-replacement level year since his rookie season with the Yankees in 2001. He has been on and off since then, most recently on, when he had quite a decent year in 2012, hitting 32 home runs and posting an OPS of .821. Again, not worth $18 million a year like he is getting, but still, I wouldn't mind having him in my line-up at all. He has been mentioned in trade rumours for quite some time now, but he has remained with the Cubs. I want to suggest the Jays take a run for him via trade.

The 2013 left field spot is wide open right now. AA, the Blue Jays, and frankly most knowledgeable Jays fans want Anthony Gose to start in AAA Buffalo because he needs more seasoning to work on his hit tool. Free agency is actually really strong in outfielders this year but, once you take Josh Hamilton, Michael Bourn, B.J. Upton and to a lesser extent Torii Hunter and Angel Pagan out of the equation because of how cheap Rogers is, there really aren't any options for the Jays to upgrade the LF spot. One name that intrigues me is Melky Cabrera. He is said to be looking for a 1 year deal worth a couple million,because he wants to prove he can be good without the help of PED's. A deal like that would be cost efficient, and provide the Jays with a low risk-high reward situation. But, then again, would AA involve himself with somebody who tested positive? With Toronto's fans, I don't think he would. So, the free agency market is not a good place for the Jays to find their left fielder, but Soriano in a trade could work,no?

When trying to predict what Alfonso Soriano will do in 2013, you have to look at his stats. His BABIP was .303, the same as his career average. Judging solely on that, it would seem that he would produce at roughly the same level. His LD% was 20.4%, 0.1% better than his career, showing again that his numbers should be about the same as his 2012 stats. Not only are those the same, but his fly ball rate was 4% lower in 2012 than in his career, yet he still hit 32 Home Runs. But...his HR/FB% was 2% higher than his career norm, suggesting a drop back in power production in 2013. That's not going to happen though, for two reasons. The first, his groundball percentage was almost 4% higher than it normally is for Soriano, so he will likely be hitting more fly balls(i.e more Home Runs). Secondly, if he comes to Toronto, he would get out of a pitchers park at Wrigley, and come into the hitters park known as the Rogers Centre. Not looking like such a bad idea anymore,huh? Plus, imagine what the "man in white" could do with him!

In order for a trade to occur, the Cubs would need to eat a serious amount of the $36 million still owed to him in 2013 and 2014. I'd think it would have to be around $18 million for the 2 seasons, or half. The problem is that the more the Cubs eat in salary, the more prospects AA needs to give up. He would have to choose which he would rather have, the prospects or the money, and make a trade based on that.

So, answering the question of should the Jays target Soriano, the answer is yes. Should they acquire him? Given that he projects to hit roughly the same, or even better next year(if he's at the RC), I see no reason not to. If a fair deal can be worked out, where the Cubs are paying a significant amount of the salary, I'd love to see this happen. What it would take from the Jays system to get him? I have no clue. probably Chad Jenkins and one of our high ceiling centre fielders. He does have a no trade clause(or 10-5 rights, I'm not sure), so he would have to agree to come here. Why wouldn't he want a better chance to win?

What do you think? Let me know below in the comment section, and we can continue to discuss.

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List of the Blue Jays Minor League Free Agents

Matt Eddy of Baseball America released the complete list of minor league free agents today. There are 549 players eligible for minor league free agency, 31 of which finished the year in the Jays organization. For the complete list, click here.

Toronto Blue Jays
RHP: Scott Copeland (HiA), Michael Dubee (AA), Evan Englebrook (HiA), Wes Etheridge (AA), Cody Evans (HiA), Jerry Gil (AAA), Chris Jakubauskas (AAA), Stephen Marek (AA), Sean O'Sullivan (AAA), Yohan Pino (AA), Chorye Spoone (AA), Ronald Uviedo (AA)
LHP: Willie Collazo (HiA), Frank Gailey (HiA), Bill Murphy (AAA), Nate Robertson (AAA)
C: Joe Bowen (HiA), Ryan Eigsti (AAA), Tuffy Gosewisch (AAA), Luis Hurtado (AAA), Brian Jeroloman (AA), Paul Phillips (AAA)
2B: Jonathan Diaz (AAA), Luke Hughes (AAA)
3B: Kevin Howard (AAA)
SS: Brian Bocock (AAA)
OF: Jack Cust (AAA), Francisco Leandro (HiA), Ricardo Nanita (AAA), Danny Perales (AAA), Kipp Schutz (LoA)

Nothing to get excited about...
It will be interesting to see if Jeroloman gets a job to compete for a backup position at the MLB level, as that's what we've been hearing he is destined for, for the past I don't know how many years. Same goes with Jon Diaz, who the most recent Blue Jays manager(He who shall not be named) referred to as a young John McDonald. Did somebody say utility infielder?


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The 3 Most Underrated Free Agents...With Predictions!

The 2012-2013 Off-season has started, and it should get heated in the next few weeks. It's sure to bring excitement to all of us fans, well probably not fans of the Blue Jays, but for the rest of you, I'm sure it will be awesome. During this fun-filled time of year, I will be writing articles not only about the Blue Jays, but also some about the MLB in general. In this piece, I will be ranking the 3 most underrated players in this years free agent class.

One thing that I must say before I start my list is that I there are 4 things that I look for in an underrated player. These things are: Potential, tools, consistency, and of course, stats. For each player, those 4 things will be broken down. Let's get started.

3. B.J. Upton, Center Fielder

Potential: B.J. Upton has the most potential on this list; by far. He was a big prospect when he was coming up through the Rays system, and has shown some brilliance over the years. Some things have held him back from reaching this potential, like lack of hustle, and injuries. If he gets straightened out and remains healthy, I have no doubt in my mind that he can be a top 5 center fielder in the league.

Tools: Upton is one of the most toolsy players in all of the MLB. He covers a lot of ground in centre(though he has had only one positive year of DRS), has a great arm and can hit for tremendous power(.208 ISO in 2012), but, because having three tools is too mainstream, B.J also has a sick set of wheels. If healthy for an entire season, he does have the ability to steal 45 bases.

Consistency: This is why many people doubt B.J. Upton, and it's also why he's number 3 on this list, not number 1. Upton is prone too have prolonged slumps. I have a belief that these slumps aren't physical. Upton sometimes isn't focused. He loses concentration, and when that happens, he doesn't hustle, which is the key reason why he has been benched many times in the past.

Stats: It's possible that the most overlooked thing about Upton are his stats. Despite his abysmal .298 OBP this year, his OPS was a respectable .752. What his OBP lacks, he makes up for it with his speed and defence, which is evident in his WAR, a very nice 3.1.

As a conclusion, I like to think of B.J. Upton as a homeless mans' Mike Trout.

Prediction: Upton signs with the Washington Nationals, making a very nice outfield consisting of Bryce Harper, Upton, and Jayson Werth, moving Mike Morse to first base, to replace the departing Adam Laroche.

2. Rafael Soriano,Right Handed Closer

Potential: Soriano's potential has already been reached. He's a hard-throwing pitcher, who has a knack for clutch situations. Remarkably, he's still not considered an elite closer, after 2 years of being superb. 

Tools/Makeup: Soriano's primary pitch is a four-seam fastball in the 91-94 mph range. He pairs it with a sharp slider in the low-to-mid 80s. He used to frequently throw a two-seam fastball and cut fastball, these pitches seem to have mostly disappeared in 2012. (Credit for scouting report goes to @KennedyMLB.) 

Consistency: After looking it over, I can come to the conclusion that Soriano has been a very consistent reliever. After being just above-average for the early stages of his career, he has come into his own. When he has been in the closer role, I would say he has been a top 3 closer over the last 3 years. (Kimbrel has obviously been the best.) 

Stats: Soriano looks even better once you look at his stats. The most surprising stat to me is his stellar  career WHIP of 1.046. In 2010, his WHIP was 0.802, an unheard of number...Especially in the AL East! Another stat worth noting is that his K's per 9 innings is consistently around 9, a number that is difficult to achieve for a 32 year old pitcher. 

Prediction: Soriano signs a 2 year contract with the New York Yankees. This one will go down to the very end of free agency, and Rafael Soriano's agent Scott Boras will suck every dollar out of the Yankees. Although Soriano won't be used as a closer in the 1st year of his contract, it'll be 100% worth it. 


1. Freddy Sanchez, Second Baseman. 

Potential: Like Soriano, unless there's a drastic change, Sanchez's potential has already been achieved. He is a scrappy player, who has been an All-Star, and won a batting title. He didn't play this season due to injuries, but will be ready to play come 2013. That's why he's overlooked. 

Tools: Freddy certainly has the glove tool. Not only does he have the glove tool, but he has the hustle tool(sounds familiar for second baseman, doesn't it?). He's a man who respects the game, and does whatever it takes to win. Power is something that has never been his forte because he is not a largely built individual, another thing that seems to make people overlook him. But, most second baseman don't have power, so he fit's in a lot of different line-ups.

Consistency: Apart from recent injuries, you're not going to find many people who are more consistent than Freddy Sanchez. Since 2005, there hasn't been a year where he has batted below .271. He goes out there every inning with the same exact goal, and nothing stops him from achieving it. He has no issues off the field, and he's a guy who you want on your team, in any role. 

Stats: Since 2005, he hasn't had a WAR below 0.9(not the best, but aside from that outlier, it hasn't been below 1.5). His career OPS is .748, which is something that you would think isn't ideal, but from a second baseman who doesn't hit for power, you would take that any day of the week! Other than that, there is nothing about Sanchez's stats that pop out at me, because stats aren't what make him the player that he is. He is defined by his hustle fine defence. 

Prediction: Freddy Sanchez signs a one year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. I made this prediction in another article that I wrote, and I stand by it. He would allow Hechavarria to mature, whether that's getting AAA at bats, or spending 2013 as a bench player. 

Stay tuned for a list of the top 3 most overrated free agents! 

You can follow me on Twitter, @IsaacBlueJays.To connect with the site, Follow us on Twitter, and Like us on Facebook.

Excitement Shouldn't be Hard to Come by this Off-Season!

In what appears to be a depressing 3 1/2 months, pitchers, catchers and injured players will report to their respective clubs for the start of spring training, all with hopes of winning the 2013 World Series. There must be some mistake. Did they play 162 games this year or did we miss a couple of months somewhere? You may be asking yourself is there anything to possibly look forward to between now and March? Lets see...

The winter meetings, and the rumors, speculation and excitement that surround this yearly baseball festival will get any fan's heart racing in anticipation of free agent signings, trades and the effect it has on your favorite team. Several big name free agents are available such as Zack Greinke, Josh Hamilton, Rafael Soriano, Nick Swisher, B.J. Upton and playoff hero, taken out at second, dust himself off, and as an encore knock in the winner for the sweep, Mr. Marco Scutaro, to name just a few.

A new team in the AL. Ok, its Houston(you might not call them a major league team), and yes, they have a problem. Moving to the Junior Circuit with a punch-less offence will not exactly make a pitching staff tremble, but they did slash their payroll this summer, so they might  be a big player in the free agent market. 

When your GM says your no longer a super-star caliber player anymore, yet you wont be traded, consider that a kiss of death. While there is no guarantee that Alex Rodriguez will be traded this winter don't be overly shocked if it happened. Paying someone 30 million to not be a super-star is not a formula for success. Any takers? 

Oh Melky Cabrera. Left off the playoff roster even though you would have won a batting title and were eligible to come back? Obviously the Giants made a huge...no, wait; they won the World Series without you. Even though you hurt your free agent value, your 28 years old, a heck of a talent, and someone will offer a contract. Don't count the Giants completely out on this one. They love cheating outfielders in the Bay area, don’t they?

As hard as this seems to believe the Rays will consider trading David Price. They desperately need offence, have a ton of pitching, and this small market team has what all teams need or want another of - a true ace. The Jays could offer a package that the Rays can’t turn down, wouldn’t it be nice to see Price in a Jays uniform? The Rays need a catcher, and the Jays have plenty!

After losing 90 games for the first time in 46 years, this baseball-obsessed town will let the front office know they expect more from their Boston Red Sox. While the club shed a pile of money from their payroll, they still have holes to fill and the ever-present rumors of what will happen to Jacoby Ellsbury. Bringing John Farrell in may help in the sense that he is not Bobby Valentine, but this team could have done better especially since Farrell is once again asked to be the dugout leader for a rebuilding organization. Ask the Jays how that worked out for them. 

Speaking of Bobby V - Bobby Valentine rid the clubhouse of chicken and beer but made way too many mistakes with the press concerning veteran players. Since its Movember lets remember Bobby as the kind of guy who gets tossed but comes back to the dugout 'incognito' sporting a thick, black moustache as he did so many years ago with the Mets.

Can't wait for the spring but a lot of excitement lies ahead.

Toronto Blue Jays Off-Season Outlook

Today marks the first day of the baseball off-season as the Giants swept the Tigers out of the World Series to bring San Fran their 2nd championship in 3 years. So, as we all start our baseball withdrawal, here's a look at the important off-season dates, and what AA needs to do for them.

Will Darren Oliver ever
 throw another pitch?

3 Days after World Series(October 31st): Options must be picked up or declined. The Jays have club options on 2 players;Darren Oliver and Rajai Davis. I expect both Davis' and Oliver's options to be picked up, although Oliver might retire, so we won't find out what his plans are for 2013 until he makes an official announcement. Both of these options could be decided today,so check your twitter as often as possible!

Six days after World Series(November 3rd): Until this date, GM's can talk to agents about their interest in their clients, but not until Saturday, can a player actually sign with a team other than their 2012 club. The Blue Jays free agents are Jason Frasor, Kelly Johnson, Brandon Lyon, and Carlos Villanueva. I'm not sure I'd bet on any of those 4 guys being back here. Kelly Johnson is all but gone, Carlos Villanueva hates AA after his comments in September, Jason Frasor has become redundant in the Blue Jays bullpen, and Brandon Lyon is going to cost more than $6 Million a year. Will AA spend that amount of money on a reliever? I'd love to see Lyon back as his 2nd half was unbelievable(10.1 K/9 in 25 IP), but if Rogers is going to be cheap again, I rather see that $6 million spent on a starter.

Now, for outside free agents. The Jays need 2 starting pitchers, a left fielder, and a second baseman. A DH would be nice as well, but isn't at all necessary after Adam Lind's good 2nd half. I see the left fielder coming via trade(see my article to be posted later this week), and the 2nd baseman might still be Mike Aviles or Adeiny Hechavarria, so a free agent might not be needed to fill that position. David Ortiz would make the perfect DH for us,but it seems like he will be going back to Boston for another 2 years. There are a ton of free agent pitchers to choose from in the market, but the demand is high as always, so AA will have to spend if he wants to contend. Brandon McCarthy and Shaun Marcum are the two pitchers that I believe could come here, and actually have a chance to.

12 days after World Series(November 9th): Free Agents must accept arbitration by this date. I don't think this will apply to any of the Jays free agents in the next few weeks. If Frasor is offered, he might accept it, but I highly doubt he will be offered. As for the others, I doubt any of them are offered arbitration.

November 7th-9th: GM Meetings in Palm Springs, California. Nothing really big will happen during these meetings.

November 30th: All contracts must be tendered by this date. All of the Blue Jays will have their contracts tendered.

December 3rd-6th: Winter Meetings in Nashville. If AA is going to make a big trade, the foundation will likely be laid during these meetings.

December 6th 2012: Rule 5 Draft. With Omar Vizquel's impending retirement, the Jays now need a utility infielder(depending on how Mike Aviles is used). I could see AA plucking somebody from the Rule 5 to be his utility man.

That's it. After that, the arbitration hearings are in February, and then Spring Training starts in March 2013.

Hope this sorted things out for you guys. Leave your comments below.

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4 Bold Predictions for the Offseason

1. R.A. Dickey will become a Boston Red Sox. (Sock?)

For the Red Sox, this will go down as an absolutely dreadful trade. Shortstop prospect Xander Bogaerts, and pitching prospect Matt Barnes will be sent the Mets way. I think that Dickey will take a large step back in 2013, with American League hitters figuring him out rather quickly. His ground ball rate will take a huge hit, facing the lineups in the AL east, which will make him prone to the long-ball. On the other side of the trade, the Mets receive 2 All-Stars. Xander Bogaerts will perennially hit 20-25 Home Runs, hitting over .300, with an OPS around .900. Matt Barnes will make a very nice number 3 starter behind Matt Harvey and Zach Wheeler. Barnes' fastball hits 97 mph on the gun, and its movement makes it very hard for hitters to square up. He can throw his change-up in any count, which is possibly his best weapon. 

This deal will eventually turn the Mets into contenders, in my opinion. As for the Red Sox, could it be the curse of the Dickey? 

2. Justin Upton becomes a Pittsburgh Pirate, Travis Snider becomes an Arizona Diamondback. 

Also going to the Diamondbacks in this deal are Canadian Jameson Taillon, and Starling Marte. This one will be the biggest blockbuster of the entire offseason. Upton is a star, but he hasn't reached his full potential just yet. Justin could become someone who will hit 40+ home runs, 110+ RBI, and .290+ batting average. He will be the best player in the deal, and there's no debate. However, I cannot say that the Pirates would win this deal. They are getting 3 players whose ceilings are through the roof! (No pun intended) Taillon is possibly a top 5 prospect in all of baseball. He's a freak of nature, at 6-6, 220 pounds. He has hit 100 on many radar guns, to go along with a filthy curveball. Starling Marte is one of the best pure athletes in all of professional baseball, as we witnessed this season in his brief debut with the Pirates. He steals bases, plays good defence in the outfield, and he hits for power and average. He could blossom into a true 5-tool player. As Jays fans, we all know about Travis Snider. Many Jays fans were heartbroken when he was traded, I was not. No matter how many times we were told he was fixed, he was never patient enough at the plate. He would swing at breaking pitches down and away, and if a fastball was anywhere above the letters, he'd take a whiff at it as well. His defence isn't stellar by any means. He really doesn't have a plus tool. Overall, if this trade were to happen, I'd say it'd be a tie. 

3. Alex Rodriguez remains a New York Yankee

I think that this would happen, because it wouldn't be logical to the Yankees. If they were to somehow get rid of A-Rod, they would have to pay about 15 million of his contract each year. Now, the Yankees would have to find a 3rd baseman to replace A-Rod. Let's say they'd pay this new player 10 million dollars a year. A 3rd baseman who is making that kind of money, would probably have very similar stats to A-Rod as it stands right now. So, now you end up paying around the same money, (maybe more) for a 3rd baseman who isn't significantly better than Alex Rodriguez. There's also the odd chance that A-Rod finds his swing again, and we all know that he's a very talented player, and could still be an elite hitter. 

4. David Ortiz signs a 2 year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays can't afford to have Adam Lind as a DH next year, if they really want to contend. David Ortiz has said that he wasn't very happy in Boston, indicating (in the middle of this year) that the clubhouse is completely depleted. Not only was his team terrible this year, but it might be terrible for years to come. If Papi wants any shot at winning the World Series, coming to the up-and-coming Blue Jays would make a lot of sense. He would be lethal behind Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, creating possibly the best 1-2-3 punch in all of baseball. A 2 year contract worth 20 million dollars would make sense, although he wants in the neighbourhood of 2/28, so AA might have to go over a bit.

You can follow me on Twitter, @IsaacBlueJays.To connect with the site, Follow us on Twitter, and Like us on Facebook.

More Farrell Rumours!

The John Farrell rumour pot continues to be stirred by the Boston media as we get closer and closer to the day when the Blue Jays Front Office needs to make that inevitable decision that has been looming ever so large for the past couple of weeks. As of this morning, we knew that the Jays and Red Sox had opened talks for the Red Sox to gain the right of Mgr John Farrell, and that they were past the preliminary stages. The different media outlets across Toronto and more importantly Boston have speculated many things, like the compensation will be a serviceable major leaguer and a AA prospect. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet wrote earlier that if Farrell leaves, he will likely take a lot of his coaching staff with him, which I would not be too happy with, although it does give the Jays some more bargaining tools. Anyways, a few minutes ago Jen Royle of ESPN, SBNation, and lots of other sites tweeted that Paul Beeston told the Boston Herald he wants a player for the 25-man roster.
WHAT???
Am I missing something? When did the Jays brass become so open about their negotiations; with the Red Sox about Farrell or with anybody else about anything? If this is true, this means that the clubs are indeed talking, and that the Jays have set their price.

Is Daniel Bard decent? How about Clay Buchholz? Both aren't likely to happen, but I think those are the two players to hope for (Pedroia and Ellsbury aren't coming). Problem is I don't see AA agreeing for a reliever. The Jays are set to have their first great bullpen in a few years, and we aren't in need of another 6th or 7th bullpen pitcher. But, if we do end up getting a reliever and a AA prospect for Farrell, I would probably bet on closer Casey Janssen being traded this off-season in a package deal. As I mentioned before, our bullpen is packed with great relievers, so the addition of one more likely means AA will add one of them to the list of players he'll trade for a SP, with Janssen likely to be the one .

If anything else develops, I'll keep you guys posted!

Leave your comments below.

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Starting Pitching Possibilities

As many of you know, the Blue Jays starting pitching this year was for the most part, a disaster. Things were looking really promising early on. All was well until the Washington Nationals strolled into town. What happened that week was absolutely unthinkable. First, our true ace, Brandon Morrow went down with an oblique injury, which would sideline him until late August. You could say that he was gone for the rest of the season, as when he returned, the Blue Jays were well out of contention. It was 2 days later when the centrepiece from the Roy Halladay trade, Kyle Drabek suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament, otherwise known, as the "Tommy John ligament." It was immediately decided that he is going to be missing in action until at least June of 2013. Then, 2 days later, Drew Hutchison, a player who showed much promise, went down with a sprained UCL of his own! We probably won't see Hutchison until 2014, as it was a late decision to resort to Tommy John. In those 5 days, the Blue Jays season went down the toilet. There is no recovering from losing 3 of your 5 starting pitchers, especially when all 3 of them were having pretty good seasons.

"Ace" Ricky Romero had one of the worst seasons in the MLB of the last decade, and there's no way to explain that. We need help on the mound, and we need it fast. AA has said recently that he is looking to add 1 or 2 starting pitchers, which is about the most specific AA will ever get. 1 starting pitcher is not good enough. A contender doesn't have a rotation of 1. Morrow 2. Blank 3. Romero 4. Alvarez 5. Happ, and I can prove that, using the combined WAR of a playoff team's rotation, vs. the combined WAR of the Blue Jays rotation this year, plus the WAR of (for example) James Shields. Take the Yankees, for example. Their starting pitching isn't known to be superior to other playoff teams', yet their combined WAR this year was 12.2. If James Shields was on the Blue Jays this year, the combined WAR of their starting pitchers would be 5.5! Not even half of the Yankees! And you're lucky I counted Aaron Laffey, and J.A. Happ! I know that things could change, but with just one addition, it's absurd (even with improvements from this year, as we should expect) to think that we will become a legitimate playoff contender. It won't come close to 12.2. I will be discussing what our possibilities are, when it comes to adding 2 solid starting pitchers.

Some people say that bringing back Carlos Villanueva as a starter would be a good idea, as he had some success this year. I don't like this idea, and here's why: Villanueva has indicated that he doesn't like the way that AA has talked about him, saying “I don't really love the advertisement being put out there. GMs are influential and somebody else might listen to them and think, ‘Hey, maybe they know something we don’t know." 

I like Villanueva in the bullpen, but the rotation isn't the right fit. He hasn't pitched in more than 125 innings in the big leagues, which is something that you should expect out of a starting pitcher. Although he has never had the opportunity to pitch 200 innings, indications like struggling in the second half the last 2 years would suggest that he's not capable. Villanueva should not start next year, end of story. 

Mike Wilner, of whom I cannot view his tweets, has suggested interest in Alexi Ogando, being our number 2 starting pitcher. I must say, the amount of stupidity in that statement is absolutely unbearable. Alexi Ogando is a great relief pitcher. He started in 2011, and in the first half, he was an All-Star, he was great, an ace, some may say. Then, as soon as the second half hit, his arm got tired. Ogando wasn't the same pitcher at all, and it even forced a move to the bullpen. The Rangers, and their very smart management, took this into account, and labeled him as a relief pitcher, as his arm cannot support him for a full season. Ogando has been great since then, with less of a work load. If the Rangers thought he was a starter, they would have started him well ahead of Roy Oswalt and Martin Perez this season. Not only that, but the Rangers would probably ask for one of the Lansing 3, along with a top tier offensive prospect. On top of all this, Ogando is injury prone! Way too much for a project that will inevitably fail. If Ogando is a Blue Jay next season, he better be pitching in relief. 

James punches out more than just batters!

Now, on to the 2 pitchers that I'd like to see in the rotation next year. 

One of them is James Shields. James Shields is lights out. He strikes out guys when he needs to, but is also very efficient with his pitches. This year started out badly for Shields, but he has gotten on the right track, as he finished the year with a WHIP of 1.17, and a K/9 of 8.8, helped out by his final start of the year, where he pitched a 15 strikeout masterpiece. We do not yet know whether the Rays will exercise Shields' 12 million dollar option, but I would highly doubt it. Shields will demand a lot of money, but with AA's comments about raising payroll "significantly," I think he's prepared. Something along the lines of 4 Years, $80 000 000 would be within reason. 

The other player I would like to see the Jays sign through free agency is Anibal Sanchez. Sanchez has shined in Detroit, prior to the playoffs, I really like what I have seen from him. He has pitched over 190 innings in the last 3 years, which would be a huge breath of fresh air for Jays fans, with all of the injuries. He strikes out batters, but isn't overpowering. He has great stuff. His fastball averages about 91-92 MPH, but has a pretty wide range of velocity. He will often drop into the 87-88 range, but also regularly dials it up to 95 MPH.   Sanchez mostly works with a four-seam fastball, but mixes in a two-seamer with decent tailing movement as well. His main secondary pitch is an 83-86 MPH slider that has been pretty effective the past couple years. Sanchez has an above average 83-86 MPH changeup, a pitch that has very nice of sink.  He also mixes in a slow curve on occasion, yet it's not his strongest pitch.

Although these signings will help, they will not put our rotation over the hump. What will make our rotation look like one you would see in the playoffs, would be the re-arrival of Ricky Romero. Ricky being Ricky again would put 4 top tier starting pitchers in the same rotation. It would be a spectacle to watch.

To finish, here is what I think the starting rotation should look like for the 2013 Toronto Blue Jays: 

1. Brandon Morrow

2. James Shields

3. Ricky Romero

4. Anibal Sanchez

5. J.A. Happ 

You can follow me on Twitter, @IsaacBlueJays.To connect with the site, Follow us on Twitter, and Like us on Facebook.

AA Needs to Give Toronto Some October Baseball in 2013

AA will hopefully be on the phone a lot this
off-season as he searches for a few starting
 pitchers to help the Jays in 2013.

I am not writing this article to make a point that AA is running out of time in his new GM honeymoon. He isn't. It is completely unfair to start saying Alex Anthopolous is doing a bad job before his draft jewels like the Lansing 3(soon to be Dunedin 3) or the key pieces he has received in trades have made it up to the majors. I am writing this to say that if AA is smart, which he clearly is, then he would do everything in his power to make sure that the Blue Jays are playing meaningful games in September come 2013, and maybe even a few games in everybody's favourite baseball month, October. I also don't want this to sound like something you'll read on Bleacher Report(if you were to be reading Bleacher Report of course, it would be against your will), but it might due to the list I'm about to give, so bare with me on that one. So...On to the reasons why AA should get this team to October next year.

5. The Beast Doesn't Like Being Wrong

Paul Beeston made a pretty big declaration at the State of the Franchise event last January that he expects this Blue Jays team to make the playoffs about 3 times in the next 5 years. This year is over with no postseason play for the Jays, which only leaves 4 more years. Making the playoffs 3 times in 4 years is a daunting task, especially in the AL East.Just ask the Rays, or the Red Sox, or the Glory Year Blue Jays. Considering that the current Blue Jays team doesn't really have a chance until 2014, Alex needs to do some retooling this off-season. Whether it is through free agency or trades, AA needs to work some of his Ninja magic and make sure Paul Beeston isn't wrong by acquiring some starting pitching!

4. It Could Always Be Your Last Chance

We all know it. In fact, most people in North America know it. Toronto Sports fans are arguably the worst fans in the world.They turned on Leafs GM Brian Burke after 4(?) years. Nobody goes to TFC games anymore because it isn't the least bit exciting watch your home team get killed, for 90+ minutes.  Brian Colangelo has a great reputation, and the Raptors have no hope anyways in the Star dominated NBA, so he sort of gets a free pass when it comes to Raptors fans.AA isn't going to last very long if he doesn't produce a team that can get to the playoffs. The Toronto streets are filled with uneducated fans who will turn against the Silent Assassin himself if something doesn't happen pretty soon. In fact, a lot of "fans" already have turned. AA wants to keep his job. We want AA to keep his job. But we, the rational, level headed, next generation Blue Jays fans, who understand what it takes to build a winner, and understand how long it takes for a farm system to be developed, are not the majority in Toronto. If the Jays suffer another losing season next year, I can almost guarantee that people's patience will have run out, and there will be a lot of people calling for Alex's head(or job in this case). In order for Alex to avoid that inevitable situation, he will need to satisfy our playoff needs in 2013.

3. Don't Repeat the Mistakes of the Past

Gord Ash and JPR wasted Carlos Delgado. JPR wasted Roy Halladay. AA cannot do that with Jose Bautista. Jose is turning 32 in a couple of weeks. He isn't getting younger. He is going to be coming off of major wrist surgery next season, and there are no guarantees that he will regain his old form. It could be too late to take advantage of Jose's home run hitting powers. It probably won't be, but AA only has a few years left before Jose will be completely out of his prime(which he is currently exiting), and he will have to be a DH who has a good eye and will hit 20-30 homers.Alex needs to show Jose some good faith,and get some starters, so that Jose has a chance to hit a world series winning walk off homer before his talent is no more.

2. The AL East is Very Weak Right Now

A lot of you are probably disagreeing with me on this one, but if you think about it, the AL East isn't as strong as it once was. The Red Sox are almost Astro(Houston) like. The Orioles will come back down to reality next year. The Rays have no offense, and it doesn't seem like they will be getting some anytime soon. The Yankees eventually need to age, don't they? By 2014, the Rays could have traded for or signed a big offensive player. Baltimore's prospects might get them out of sucking. The Red Sox might actually have a functioning clubhouse, although I think we all doubt that will actually occur. The Yankees, well the Yankees....The Yankees might go spend half a billion dollars on some free agents and could wind up retooling their aging core(though they are trying to lower their payroll). 2013 is a perfect year for the Jays to strike, and with more chances at the playoffs than ever before(well except for this year), AA should go for it.

1.Take Advantage of Those Idiots that play Hockey

The NHL is locked out. From what I've been reading, a full season cancellation is very possible.I, amongst many others, left hockey for good in 2004 which is the last time the NHL locked out. Many more will do the same this year. If Alex makes a a big free agent signing and acquires a pitcher or two via trade, the Blue Jays fan base will no doubt begin to grow. If there is any off-season which could contribute to expanding the fan base, an off-season where Canada's game is not being played professionally is 100% the one to take advantage of. With the Jays set to start losing some money in the new revenue sharing program, a couple more fans can't hurt, can it?

Leave your comments below.

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The 3 Basic Moves AA Needs to Make this Off-Season

Before going after starting pitching, which obviously should be Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopolous' number 1 priority this off-season, there are 3 basic moves that I think should be made by the 3rd year GM. 2 to help(or clear up) the bullpen, and 1 to fill the void at second base that will be made when, hopefully, Kelly Johnson packs his things, and goes to strike out somewhere else in the MLB.

1.Let RP Brandon Lyon walk as a Free Agent: It is hard for me to say this as it has been a great pleasure to see Lyon sit batters down like it's going out of style since coming over in that huge not so huge trade with the Astros completed in July, but it needs to be done. The 33 year old from Salt Lake City,Utah has a k/9 ratio of 11.1 with the Jays this year(20.1 IP), but is making $5.5MM in 2012. Given his success this season, I see no reason why that salary will not be in the $7MM range next season, which is a huge amount of money, and frankly, I rather see that spent elsewhere. Unfortunately the Blue Jays will not receive any compensation for letting Lyon walk, except for that extra cash to spend on other aspects of the team that need fixing.
If Lyon is not brought back, the bullpen in 2013 should look like this, barring any FA signings and/or trades, injuries.
CL Casey Janssen
SU Sergio Santos
SU Darren Oliver
MRP Steve Delabar
MRP Brad Lincoln
MRP Aaron Loup
MRP Brett Cecil
Which brings me to my next point of...
2. Sign Brett Cecil to a 4 year, $6.25MM contract extension with 2, $1.5MM club options for 2017 and 2018:"What? The guy has a career 4.73 ERA and you want to extend him?" Ya, that's exactly what I want done...how did you know?(was it because it says that above this?) Cecil is lights out against lefties, and will make a great reliever for many years to come. His velocity has been down as a starter the past couple of seasons as a starter, but when he relieves, his velocity sits at 91-92. Still not so good, but at least whenever he makes a mistake at that velocity, it won't be out of the ballpark every time. With the upcoming vacancy in the Blue Jays bullpen due to Brandon Lyon's imminent departure, and due to he fact that Cecil is 26 year old lefty killer who can fill multiple roles for you in the bullpen and rotation, there is no good reason why not to extend him. This contract would buy out his 3 arbitration years, and his 1st year of free agency. Then, AA would have two perfectly priced Anthoptions on him for 2017 and 2018. This is an easy way to keep Cecil, who is a lefty, in your bullpen for at least 4 more years, and save money. Instead of having to sign a lefty killer every off-season, AA will now have one for a cheap price, and, for 2013, should make a nasty 1-2 punch against lefties with Darren Oliver. Another reason why this is a no brainer for Alex; some fans are starting to turn against him, and signing Cecil, who is a fan favourite, could get some of those "Fans" back. This move would solidify the bullpen, and save money, which could be used to...
3. Sign Marco Scutaro to a 1 year, $6.5MM contract, with a club option for 2014 at $6MM: Scutaro is the exact opposite of current Blue Jays 2nd baseman Kelly Johnson. He rarely misses the ball(only 48 strikeouts in all of 2012), and, as a result of that, he gets on base, a lot! He has a .372 OBP since being acquired by the Giants in July(49 GP), and a career mark of .339. Marco, who played with the Jays for 2 season in 2008 and 2009, is just the stop gap AA needs, as there really are no second base or shortstop prospects in the Blue Jays system right now. Chances are Scutaro will re-sign with the Giants, as he said he would like to do, but if not, AA better jump on this opportunity to get a second baseman. A move like this would allow the Blue Jays to trade one of Yunel Escobar or Adeiny Hechavarria, as only one of them would no longer be needed. So, a signing of Scutaro  could fill a hole in the rotation. Yup, another amazing reason to get Scutaro back north of the border!

What do you think of these moves, let us know with your well appreciated comments below.

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