What Will The Blue Jays Do?

Blue Jays interim CEO Paul Beeston told the Toronto Star earlier this week that the Blue Jays will not be players in the free agent market. This comes as a surprise to many who have heard the Jays mention Rafael Furcal, Jason Giambi, and Raul Ibanez as possible targets. However, sponsorships are down and while season tickets are "consistent," the plummeting value of the Canadian dollar might force more season ticket holders to forego their tickets.

The Blue Jays can spend at least 24 million dollars on the market. That is the money that would have gone to A.J. Burnett if he hadn't opted out of his contract. The Blue Jays could pursue a guy like Felipe Lopez to help out at shortstop, but his price might rise now that several teams are going after him. The Blue Jays will need a number two starter behind Roy Halladay, and who would be a better stop-gap than Randy Johnson? Bringing in Johnson would not only sell tickets, but it would allow Dustin McGowan to come back strong in the four or five spot of the rotation. While this is merely speculation, it would limit the amount of trades the Blue Jays have to make, a weakness of GM J.P. Ricciardi's.

As for low-cost players they could trade for, they could work a deal, with prospects of course, to acquire Jason Marquis. Marquis is in the last year of his three year deal and is coming off a strong 2008 going 11-9 with a 4.53 ERA in 29 games. Marquis has averaged 15 wins over the last five seasons, and will only make 9.87 million dollars in 2009.

If Ricciardi does not make improvements, he will be an early candidate to be fired if the Blue Jays are not off to a good start in 2009.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Blue Jays Offseason Update

Talks with Blue Jays pitcher A.J. Burnett are ongoing, but it is believed that the Blue Jays are preparing a "take it or leave it" worth 14-16 million dollars annually. However, industry sources believe that if Burnett holds out until Sabathia is signed, he could earn up to 18, maybe 19 million dollars. The Jays would like to add about fifteen million dollars in payroll, but would also like to add a power hitter to help at DH. 

If the Blue Jays up their offer to 16-17 million dollars annually, they could take on a short term contract (2-3 years) in Raul Ibanez. While Ibanez is a question mark, he would give them a solid DH/outfielder who can rotated around if Snider appears ready early on in 2009. Signing both Burnett and Ibanez would probably push their payroll to about 110-112 million dollars, it will be the only way Ricciardi will be around come 2010. 

One reporter I spoke with thinks the Blue Jays could trade Alex Rios for a starter like Matt Cain, which would clear up some cash, and then sign a starter (preferably Burnett), as well as an outfielder. While the reporter was just speculating, the Jays would be smart to listen to offers. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Blue Jays Interested In Crosby

The Blue Jays, who pursued shortstop Orlando Cabrera in a sign-and-trade deal with the White Sox, would like a potential starter to play shortstop. Crosby, who last season hit .237 with 7 HR 145 games for the Athletics, won the Rookie of the Year in 2004. However, Crosby has never carried much of an average, and his power numbers steadily declined. Injuries have been a factor in his development, and his defense hasn't given teams reason to pursue him. 

The Blue Jays currently have Marco Scutaro starting at shortstop, so expect them to make a move by Opening Day. They did inquire about now Mariners infielder Ronny Cedeno when he was with the Cubs, as with Jack Wilson of the Pirates. In December, GM J.P. Ricciardi told me that the Blue Jays have virtually no money to spend. With the economy worsening, and the Blue Jays already forced to cut jobs, it is likely that they cannot take on too much extra payroll.  

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Blue Jays Update

A lot of you have been asking about the Blue Jays lately so I made a point of it to talk with GM J.P. Ricciardi. I asked him about the short stop situation and if any of the young guys will be getting a shot at shortstop in 2008, and he said: "No, not this year. We have some really good young shortstop prospects, but they are a couple years away." The Blue Jays bullpen was one of the best in the game this season, and you can never have too much pitching, so I asked him if they would look to reinforce the 'pen even more: "You know you can never have too much pitching, but I think we will look in-house on this one." Although Alex Rios is on the trading block, I wanted to see if the Blue Jays were having him work on anything to improve upon those numbers: "Well, if you look at his numbers, he has gotten better every year," he said. "He is starting to get comfortable and trust his swing. You know he is a young player that keeps getting better-" Finally, I wanted to know if the Blue Jays were planing to make a run at any catcher: "Yes. We are working on it right now." Paul Lo Duca maybe?

Here are some other things I heard before I left for the evening:

- Although it is not confirmed, the Tigers might look to trade Dontrelle Willis and Ivan Rodriguez to the Mets for Brian Schneider, Phil Humber, Fernando Martinez, and Aaron Heilman. Those names are not being thrown around at the moment, but it is a possibility. Personally, I think the Tigers should absorb the money by bringing in these players and make a run at a World Series.

- The Rockies are closing in on a three year deal, worth 30 million dollars with Aaron Cook.

- The Padres are looking into the idea of signing David Eckstein. They have also signed Glendon Rusch.

- The Orioles have contacted the agent of Tadahito Iguchi suggesting they are moving closer to a trade involving Brian Roberts. The Cubs are known t be interested, and could offer up Rich Hill and Eric Patterson and still be in good shape, if not better, for 2008.

The Final Word: I ran into ESPN reporter Peter Gammons in the lobby today and introduced myself as the founder of Eli's MLB Rumors. He told me that he looks at my site more than any other site. It made my day to be complimented by such a great journalist.

Blue Jays Sign Miller

The Blue Jays and Wade Miller have agreed to a minor league with an invitation to Spring Training. Miller, who last pitched in the majors in 2007, had a 4.10 ERA in 151 games over the course of his career. The Blue Jays have an influx of veteran pitching with Matt Clement, Mike Maroth, and Miller on their roster. Miller said that he is feeling great, but the Blue Jays will see if his velocity is still there.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Will Godfrey or Ricciardi Be Brought Back?

Blue Jays President Paul Godfrey's contract expires at the conclusion of this season and it is not yet clear whether or not the Jays will bring him back. Under Godgrey's watch, the Jays have suffered 9 straight seasons without a Play-Off birth, extending the streak to 15 years or 14 seasons. Every year under Godfrey's watch, there has been hype that the Jays could unseat the mighty Yankees or Red Sox and make the post-season but every year the same result happens, a disappointing 3rd or 4th place finish(except in 2006 when they finished 2nd) while being 10 or more games behind the Wild Card. Every year it's something different. In the early 2000's the Jays had Championship quality hitting but had AAA pitchers. When Gord Ash was let go and JP Ricciardi brought in, hope was restored but the same result happend. But instead of having the Championship hitting, the Jays now had a lack luster bullpen, an average rotation and a middle of the road line up. Fast forward a few years to 2008 and the Jays have one of the best rotations, the best bullpen but now have the most inconsistent line up in baseball(especially with RISP). So, over the course of Paul Godfrey's 9 year tenure, the Jays have 180'ed and can't seem to find the right mixture of quality hitters, starters and relievers that will let them contend for a Play-Off spot.

JP Ricciardi still has 2 years left on his contract extention from 2005 but has an opt-out clause that gives him the power to leave if Paul Godfrey is no longer President of the franchise. Ricciardi has been nothing short of a disappointment for the Jays as he's gone through 4 managers in his 7 year tenure (Carlos Tosca, Buck Martinez, John Gibbons and Cito Gaston). Fans don't trust him since he lied about the seriousness of BJ Ryan's injury in 2007 and he also lied about apologizing to Adam Dunn for publicly criticizing a player, who at the time, was hitting better then any Blue Jay(Ricciardi says he called Dunn personally and apologized but Dunn says he didn't). Many in the Greater Toronto Area believe that Ricciardi will be gone by October 31, 2008. Who would replace him though? The popular choice among fans is Cito Gasto, who many believe is owed the spot because of what happend in the mid-1990's. Oher options that could help the Jays in the front office include Cincinnati Reds Special Assistant Bill Bavasi(brother of ex-Jays GM Peter Bavasi), Yankees GM Brian Cashman, Mets MLB Scout Wayne Krivsky, former MLB Executive Of The Year Cam Bonifay or San Diego Padres Front Office Assistant Paul DePodesta.

Posted by Will McComb

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Blue Jays Hope To Sign Burnett, Outfielder

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Blue Jays have made it priority number one to sign A.J. Burnett, then plan to gauge the market value of outfielder Manny Ramirez, who is reportedly seeking a six year deal. "It would really be a long shot for us to bring him to Toronto. He's on our radar, but maybe not on our radar like some people will report," GM J.P. Ricciardi said. The Jays have a lot of young pitching in the rotation and a year or two away, so they can afford to pay Burnett and then focus in on their outfield and shortstop spot. 

If the Blue Jays are set on pursuing a top of the line outfielder, they could go after Adam Dunn or Bobby Abreu. Another option is Raul Ibanez, but signing him would cost them two prospects.  

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Team by Team Updates from Orlando

Angels: After signing Gary Matthews to a five year deal, the Angels have kept fairly quiet. GM Bill Stoneman arrived late Monday and had minor discussions with a couple different teams. The Angels are tossing names around like Bartolo Colon and Felix Rodriguez in hopes of acquiring a bat. But other than just rumors, there has been no news to report.

Astros: The latest news from the Winter Meetings for the Astros is that Andy Pettitte wants to pitch next year and is leaning towards returning to the Astros. This could influence Roger Clemens decision on whether he wants to return to Boston, New York, Houston, or just retire. The Astros are also discussing a possible trade for Jason Jennings.

Athletics: The A's appear to be the number one team to sign Mike Piazza as their DH. The deal is a two year deal worth 15 million dollars. They are also working on a deal with Alan Embree.

Blue Jays: The Blue Jays are desperately trying to retain Ted Lilly but it appears that the Cubs are the favorite. Lilly has received a four year offer, worth 40 million dollars. "That's just hearsay from our end," Ricciardi said. "I personally talked to Ted Lilly on Saturday and had a great conversation with him. That's really all I can go on." The Blue Jays are also targeting Gil Meche, and are talking with the White Sox about trading Vernon Wells.

Braves: Reports from Orlando are saying that the Braves may look to trade Adam LaRoche and Marcus Giles. However, there are also rumors concerning Andruw Jones as well. It appears that GM John Schuerholz will look to trades before signings.

Brewers: The Brewers have been talking with teams about trading Geoff Jenkins or Kevin Mench, and have heard the Red Sox are interested in acquiring Derrek Turnbow. The Brewers are also interested in signing Kenny Lofton. They also are working a deal with Tony Graffanino who appears to be staying in Milwaukee.

Cardinals: The Cardinals have inked a five year, 65 million dollar deal with Chris Carpenter. The also plan to meet with Jason Schmidt. Other than that, the Cardinals have been relatively quiet.

Cubs: The Cubs have made an offer to Ted Lilly at an estimated 40 million over four years. They are also looking into Jason Schmidt and Gil Meche. They are also looking to trade Jacque Jones, have inquired about Jason Jennings, and may look to sign outfielders Cliff Floyd and Kenny Lofton.

Devil Rays: The Devil Rays main priority is to build their bullpen. However, that has not stopped them from looking to trade Rocco Baldelli, Jorge Cantu, or Carl Crawford. They are also working on a deal to sign Akinori Iwamura.

Diamondbacks: The Dbacks have been very quiet, hoping they could possibly sign Mark Mulder. The have also met with the agents of Keith Foulke.

Dodgers: The Dodgers appear to be interested in Jason Schmidt and have only had few conversations. On Monday, the Dodgers and Red Sox were talking about a trade for Manny Ramirez, but according to Colletti, the deal has a less than "5 percent" chance of getting done. They are close to finalizing a deal with Mike Lieberthal and rookie closer Takashi Saito.

Giants: The Giants have signed numerous players over the past week and have just began to finalize them. They have signed Dave Roberts, Rich Aurilia, Bengie Molina, and have resigned Pedro Feliz. The Giants are looking into signing Ryan Klesko, and have inquired about the Mariners Richie Sexon and the Cubs Jacque Jones.

Indians: Joe Borowski will take a physical either today or tomorrow for the Indians and then he will sign a one year deal. However, they will still look into signing Octavio Dotel or Keith Foulke. The Indians are really focusing on pitching and beefing up their bullpen after signing Dellucci.

Mariners: The Mariners are in hot pursuit of two pitchers. They plan to meet with Jason Schmidt and appear to be the favorites if the Cubs sign Lilly. However, Schmidt has said he wants to win now and has no problem leaving the West Coast. They are also looking to trade for Jason Jennings, but so are several other teams.

Marlins: The Marlins are showing serious interest in acquiring Rocco Baldelli. The Marlins are reluctant to part with pitching, but according to sources, Scott Olsen could get the deal done.

Mets: The Mets were in hot pursuit of Barry Zito but may have to settle for a veteran because of how high Zito's price tag is. Scott Boras is reportedly asking for a six to seven year deal, worth 102 million dollars. The Rangers seem more willing to offer the big deal.

Nationals: The Red Sox and Giants are talking a three way deal with the Nationals concerning Manny Ramirez. They would probably lose Chad Cordero and possibly acquire Noah Lowry. However it is just speculation. The Nationals Ryan Church, Jose Vidro, and Chad Cordero are all drawing interest in other trades.

Orioles: Rodrigo Lopez is on the topic of most general managers list of pitchers. The Mariners, Brewers, and Mets have all inquired about Lopez but no deal appears imminent. The Brewers have offered Kevin Mench but a formal offer will have to be sketched out. The Braves appear interested in Brian Roberts but the Orioles are reluctant to trade him.

Padres: The Padres are closing in on a deal with Greg Maddux. The deal is estimated at a one year deal worth 10 million dollars with an option for one more. They are also interested in Jason Schmidt and Ronnie Belliard.

Phillies: A frustrating off season so far might make a turn for the worst. Pat Burrell is drawing little to know interest and the Phillies continue to struggle to find pitching. Eaton only pitched in 65 innings and pitched okay when he returned. They are looking to Chicago to acquire Freddy Garcia, possibly reuniting Aaron Rowand. The Cubs might also be interested in Aaron Rowand because they are in need of a center fielder.

Pirates: The Pirates are talking with the Braves and Reds about Adam LaRoche and Adam Dunn. They have also inquired about Trot Nixon for right field. None of these deals appear to be finalized soon. The Pirates do have a slight advantage with the overload of pitching. They could acquire a decent hitter for a pitcher or two.

Rangers: The Rangers and Vicente Padilla have agreed to a three year deal, worth 33 million dollars. This will set the minimum for other second tier pitchers like Ted Lilly and Gil Meche. The Rangers also expect to make a serious run for Barry Zito, who is seeking a six year deal, worth 17 million annually.

Red Sox: The Red Sox are close to signing Julio Lugo and J.D. Drew. They also plan to finalize a deal with Daisuke Matsuzaka. Theo Epstein has also set a deadline for when he will stop trying to trade Manny Ramirez. THIS JUST IN: The Red Sox have agreed to a 5 year deal, worth 70 million dollars. I do not see Manny Ramirez being traded because the teams that are pursuing him do not have what the Red Sox want. Or they are not willing to part with what the Red Sox want.

Reds: The Reds have signed a 2 year deal, worth 5 million dollars total with Dave Weathers. Other than Weathers and Gonzalez, that is all the news from the Reds office. Adam Dunn is drawing some interest from teams but no deals have been worked out.

Rockies: The Rockies have signed LaTroy Hawkins and he will be their setup man. Several teams have inquired about Jason Jennings including the Astros, Cubs, Mariners, Mets, Rangers, and Twins. They also have interest in Kenny Lofton and Darin Erstad.

Royals: The Royals have focused on pitching, and have made an offer to Miguel Batista (3/24). They also have put Gil Meche as a top priority but it appears he will either go to the Cubs or Blue Jays.

Tigers: Jeremy Bonderman and Marcus Thames' names have come up in trades but the Tigers do not appear to be interested in trading them. They are interested in trading for Marlins pitcher Renyel Pinto. Pinto, 24, went to the Marlins last year in the Juan Pierre deal. He pitched from the bullpen most of the season.

Twins: The Twins are serious about acquiring Jason Jennings and a deal could get struck by tomorrow. With Liriano out for 2007 and Radke to retire, the Twins are looking for pitching and due to a lack of funds, will have to do it by trade. They are also working a deal to keep Rondell White.

White Sox: White Sox pitcher Brandon McCarthy may start in AAA next year unless they can trade one of their pitchers. Javier Vasquez and Freddy Garcia have both drawn a lot of interest from the Mets, Phillies, and Yankees and it is more than "50 percent" possible that one of them gets traded. The White Sox are also interested in acquiring Vernon Wells but I do not know if they have what it takes to trade him. They also have interest in Aaron Rowand.

Yankees: The Yankees have made an offer to Andy Pettitte worth 15 million for one year. The Yankees and Bernie Williams have also had minor discussions about a deal. They are also close to a deal with Kei Igawa. They have interest in Ted Lilly, Gil Meche, and Freddy Garcia (via trade).

Wells Breaks Wrist

Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells broke his wrist and will miss the next six to eight weeks. Wells, who is currently hitting .281 with 5 HR, is a big part of the Blue Jays lineup and you hate to see him go down. The Blue Jays made two upgrades yesterday with Wilkerson and Mench, so they will probably split time in right. Wrist injuries are pretty bad, but most players come back and recover pretty well.

Derrek Lee had a similar injury in 2006 and missed most of the season, but didn't find his power swing until this season. He was a good hitter in 2007, but only hit 22 homeruns. I expect something similar to Wells, mostly because they are both power hitters. Blue Jay pitchers are doing very well, but the offense has not come around. With Wells out, they are going to have to step up even more.

MLB Rumors elsewhere: Check out my article published over at Dugout Central! Hopefully, it will be the first of many.

Blue Jays Talking With Hill

The Blue Jays are reportedly in talks with free agent pitcher Shawn Hill. Hill has some upside despite battling elbow injuries. Hill, who was 4-5 with a 3.42 ERA in sixteen games in 2007, pitched in just two games this Spring not surrendering a run. He could be a cheap addition to the Blue Jays who could give them a dozen or so spot starts.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

GM Talks: Williams, Ricciardi, Gillick

• According to Jon Heyman, the White Sox are working on an extension for GM Kenny Williams, whose contract is set to expire in 2009. Williams is one of the best GMs in baseball, having most recently acquired Carlos Quentin and Alexei Ramirez, as well as drafting Gordon Beckham, one of the top infield prospects in America.
• Blue Jays CEO Paul Godfrey told reporters that J.P. Ricciardi will be back for the 2009 season, but did not hint at whether or not he will be given an extension. If the Blue Jays can boost their infield and give Travis Snider a shot at DH, they could compete for a playoff spot. Expect the Blue Jays to be very aggressive this season in resigning A.J. Burnett, as well as several other players.
• According to Jon Heyman, Phillies GM Pat Gillick may not retire after this season after all. While this would not bother many Phillies fans, it would probably bother Ruben Amaro Jr., who has been waiting for this job for a very long time. He could decide to leave and sign up with another team in their GM spot. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Blue Jays May Trade Halladay

The Boston Globe is reporting that the Blue Jays may be forced to trade Roy Halladay if they are forced to cut their payroll. Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi responded saying they would have to "exhaust every avenue" before that would happen, but didn't rule out the possibility. Halladay has a full no trade clause, but would likely waive it to pitch for a winner. Halladay is making 14.25 million dollars in 2009 and 15.75 in 2010, so he may be hard to move. Halladay has a career 15-6 record against the National League, and was 20-11 last season with a 2.78 ERA. 

The majority of teams are not looking to add payroll, but that could change if injuries come up. The Dodgers, Braves, Phillies, Cubs, and Giants are all teams that could make a move for Halladay. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Bedard to Red Sox, Cubs, or Blue Jays?

The Mariners are reportedly very frustrated with Erik Bedard and are considering whether or not to tender him a contract this offseason. The Mariners are obviously in rebuilding mode and may not want to deal with Bedard, who will be out till August of 2009. In fifteen games this season, Bedard was 6-4 with a 3.67 ERA in fifteen games, on pace for another 12 to 13 win season. His high strikeout rate and consistency is what will earn him a good contract, but the Mariners may not want to risk that with a pitcher just coming off of surgery.

With that said, if they were to not tender him a contract, expect the Red Sox, Cubs, and Blue Jays to be in on him. The Red Sox are known for taking on pitchers who are interested and working with them to get them healthy. Three good examples include Wade Miller, Matt Clement, and Bartolo Colon. The Cubs were very aggressive in their pursuit of Erik Bedard this past offseason as well as three seasons ago in the trade for Sammy Sosa. Not to mention their willingness to work with rehabilitating pitchers. Look what success they have had with Ryan Dempster. The Blue Jays may be interested in bringing back a Canadian, but also because he is familiar with the AL East.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Varitek to Blue Jays?

Jason Varitek is likely entering his last game as Red Sox. He hit .220 with 13 HR in 131 games this season. He's been declining for the past three seasons, and it is obvious in his power numbers and a forty point drop in his batting average. Varitek is making nine million dollars this year, but will likely have to take a major pay cut if he wants to play in 2009. He was in the bottom half in nearly every category when it comes to catchers, so he might earn nearly 2-4 million dollars for one year. With that said, the Blue Jays are in the market for a catcher and may look to Varitek's veteran know-how and leadership to help some of the Blue Jays younger pitchers.

According to a source, the Nationals and Mariners are also considering a run at a catcher. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Zambrano Lands On DL, Miss 2-3 Weeks

Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano has been placed on the disabled list with a strained hamstring. Zambrano injured his hamstring beating out a bunt in the series finale against the Marlins. Zambrano is currently 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA and is hitting .278 with 1 HR and 2 RBI. "He doesn't want to go on the DL which is the part of him we like, but at the same time the doctors feel probably he needs two, two-and-a-half weeks to be 100 percent and there is no reason to push it and it would be foolish on our part to push it and have it get worse," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. 

The Cubs will call up Bobby Scales until Friday, when they will call up pitcher Randy Wells to make his debut against Milwaukee. It is a nice move by the Cubs to call up Scale, who will make his major league debut after 11 minor league seasons. Scales is hitting .303 in 21 games at Triple-A Iowa. Wells, who is 3-0 with 2.77 ERA in five games, was taken and returned in the Rule 5 draft last season by the Blue Jays. He pitched well in 5.1 innings for the Blue Jays, but was cut when the Blue Jays decided to revamp their bullpen. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Jays Sign Maroth

The Blue Jays and Mike Maroth have agreed to a minor league deal, SI.com is reporting. Maroth is recovering from shoulder surgery, and will probably have to prove himself in Triple-A before getting a chance to pitch in the MLB again. He has a career 5.05 ERA, but the Blue Jays have had success working with correcting pitchers poor tendencies, so there is still a possibility he could be a decent back end starter or reliever. He'll probably be a non-issue in 2009. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

With Godfrey Out, Is Ricciardi Next?

It was made official today, Toronto Blue Jays President Paul Godfrey will not be coming back for the 2009 MLB season. Godfrey, who's been the team President since 2000, has been a major factor for the club since Day 1, being a key member in bring baseball to Toronto in 1976. Godfrey was a good President for the most part but unfortunately his intuition towards hiring capable individuals to run the team are below average at best. He was also too involved in the team media wise, constantly in the public view and while doing so, never actually answering any of the media's questions and always finding ways around them.

What does this mean for Jays GM JP Ricciardi? He has an opt-clause in his five year extension, which he signed back in 2005, that allows him to leave if Godfrey is no longer team President. Will he use his clause to leave on his own note instead of being fired when the new President is appointed? It would be a wise decision for Ricciardi to leave on his own terms after the World Series.

There has yet to be any word about Godfrey's replacement, but one possibility the Jays could look into is Pat Gillick. Bringing in a guy like Gillick would give the Jays a proven winner in the front office, instant credibility, and more importantly, an experienced Front Office man. For the past three seasons, Jays owner Ted Rogers has been saying he wants to build the Jays into a perennial World Series contender. Having Gillick would be a step in the right direction.

Posted by Will M.
This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Will The Jays Be This Year's Mariners?

Will the Jays, desperate for pitching, swing for the fences and break the bank for a free agent pitcher? Last offseason, the Mariners dished out 48 million dollars to Carlos Silva, who set a career high in ERA (6.46). It is hard to sell Toronto to a pitcher when several top market teams are pursuing the same guys. The Blue Jays have contacted A.J. Burnett, Ryan Dempster, Derek Lowe, and Ben Sheets, but all four of those guys have also been contacted by the Yankees, among other teams. Right now, their best bet is A.J. Burnett, who, from what I am hearing, is leaning towards returning to Toronto. 

If Burnett leaves, the Jays will need to sign a pitcher quick so they have some leverage in negotiations with position players like Rafael Furcal or Jason Giambi. After Burnett, their best bet is Ryan Dempster, who is from Canada. Dempster has told the Cubs he would like to hear what other teams have to offer, which would suggest he would go to the highest bidder. Dempster was the "X-factor" for the Cubs this season and he is in for a big raise. However, he tripled the amount of innings he pitched in as well as had ridiculously high pitch counts consistently. Making a long term investment might not be the best idea for the Jays.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Weekly Roundup

What started as a nice start to another baseball season, we were blindsided with the news that Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in an automobile accident. Off to a promising start with a six inning shutout performance, the top pitching prospect looked to be blossoming into a true major leaguer. The news of his death was a tragedy, not to mention the three other lives that were taken as well. The Angels, already with their three top pitchers on the DL, are now forced to find a replacement. The Angels held a very nice ceremony for the victims before Saturday's game, and were able to beat the Red Sox in his honor. On a lighter note, there were several young players who had nice weeks, and teams are looking to these guys to build off their strong starts.

Jordan Schafer, Braves: .348 AVG, 2 HR, .423 OBP.

- Schafer has put up great numbers at the plate and has shown off his speed in the outfield. 

Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins: .500 AVG, 1 HR, .517 OBP, 4 SB.

- Bonifacio is off to a great start at third for the Marlins. The talent has always been there, it's poor consistency that has been the problem.

Adam Lind, Blue Jays: .400 AVG, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .419 OBP.

- Entering his third major league season, Lind has taken big strides at the plate. He could play a big role in the Blue Jays playoff hopes this season.

Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles: 2-0 W-L, 2.25 ERA, 5 K, 12 H.

- Guthrie has been an Orioles project for the past three seasons, and he might be putting his stuff together. He did put up 10 wins last season, and is off to a good start this year.

Josh Johnson, Marlins: 2-0 W-L, 0.57 ERA, 1 ER, 15 SO.

- Johnson is a big, hard throwing right hander who combines his fastball with a hard slider. He was able to beat Johan Santana today, and is hoping to lead that young rotation.

Here are some other young players whose first week is something they would like to forget:

John Lannan, Nationals: 0-2 W-L, 10.00 ERA, 10 ER, 3 BB, 9 IP. 

- The Nationals hope Lannan can breakout for the Nationals after putting up 10 wins last season, but he hasn't been able to command his fastball early on.

Scott Olsen, Nationals: 0-2 W-L, 14.63 ERA, 8 IP, 13 ER, 2 HR, 6 BB.

- The Nationals hoped that when they traded for Olsen, he would emerge into a solid top of the rotation starter to lead the Nationals. So far, that hasn't been the case.

Chris Davis, Rangers: .045 AVG, 1 H (22 AB), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 10 SO.

- There is a lot of pressure on Davis to put up big numbers after having a breakout 2008 campaign. So far he has struggled mightily and the Rangers could be scrambling if Davis doesn't pick it up.

Injuries

Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks: 15-day DL, shoulder tightness.

Doug Brocail, Astros: 15-day DL, strained rotator cuff.

Rumors

After Cole Hamels struggled through his first outing, several believe that he is showing the effects of an overworked pitching from last season. Hamels told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he is "fine now."

The Angels may be forced to add another pitcher with Escobar, Lackey, and Santana on the DL. Pedro Martinez is available. The LA Times mentions Anthony Ortega and Darren Oliver asi in-house possibilities.

Dodgers outfielder Delwyn Young is out of options, and several scouts have been watching him during his rehab assignment. The Indians, Pirates, and Phillies are interested.

Minor League Update

Juan Miranda, Yankees (AAA): .474 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBI.

- The Yankees won't hesitate to recall Miranda if Teixeira goes down for an extended amount of time.

Matt LaPorta, Indians (AAA): .625 AVG, 1 HR, 1 SO, .667 OBP.

- LaPorta could be playing for the Indians very soon if he continue to swing a big bat.

Tyler Flowers, White Sox (AA): .417 AVG, 1 HR,  2 RBI, .500 OBP

- Flowers is the young power hitter the White Sox hope can fill the shoes of Jim Thome or Jermaine Dye when there time with the team runs out. So far he is looking really good.

David Price, Rays (AAA): 0-0 W-L, 4.91 ERA, 4 SO, 3.2 IP.

- Price will be pitching for the Rays at the major league level really soon. Once he gets comfortable and into more of a routine will the Rays give him the opportunity. 

What to look for next week...

Interviews will start to be scheduled next week.

Rich Harden, who is coming off a solid 10 strikeout performance, will be making his second start of the season. Some think that Harden is already DL bound, so it will be interesting to see if he can string together back to back strong outings.

The Pirates, Cubs, Nationals, Rays, Dodgers, and Mets all have their home openers. 

Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello will make his second start of the season.

 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Winter Meetings Update: Day 1

I will be at the Winter Meetings Wednesday and Thursday, but for now, here is a team by team update from what I am hearing:

Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays are staying the quiet this off season mostly focusing on internal needs. However, after getting a utility player in Scutaro, they are looking for a catcher, and a pitcher. From what I am hearing, they are in contact with Michael Barrett, and are eying pitcher Matt Clement. Furthermore, they have been connected to free agent Bartolo Colon, but it is unlikely he would go to Toronto.

Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles have received word that Erik Bedard will not resign with the team when his contract is up, suggesting they will trade him now. Also, I have received word from someone inside the Orioles organization that they are shopping Aubrey Huff and Kevin Millar. They have also been connected to catcher Michael Barrett, but would like to unload Hernandez before pursuing one. Talks with Miguel Tejada and other teams are ongoing, so expect to hear rumors all the way up to Spring Training.

Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays added Troy Percival to their bullpen and continue to look for more pitching. They traded Elijah Dukes meaning that Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli will not be going anywhere. While they are shopping Edwin Jackson, they are also trying to lock up Carlos Pena.

Boston Red Sox
Waiting on the Twins to make a move with Santana. Otherwise, they are looking for a suitor for Coco Crisp while trying to improve their bench. They are interested in finding a catcher to replace Jason Varitek, but that might have to wait. They have been linked to other pitchers on the trade block, but nothing is serious just yet.

New York Yankees
The Yankees set a deadline on the Twins but will probably withdraw that giving them more time. They want him very badly. While they added Pettitte, they are still hoping to add Luis Vizcaino and Ron Mahay.

Cleveland Indians
The Indians do not have any major issues, so do not expect much. They have failed to find a suitor Josh Barfield, so that will wait probably till Spring Training. They plan to address pitching, and may look for a corner outfield. I plan to talk with Mark Shapiro later this week so I'll keep you posted.

Kansas City Royals
The Royals are trying very hard to lure Jose Guillen to signing with the Royals, and it will probably happen eventually. Also, they are trying to bring Hiroki Kuroda, but he seems heading to the Mariners. They will address pitching, of course, but might not do much more than that.

Detroit Tigers
The Tigers are looking for another pitcher, while always trying to improve the bullpen. They have been in talks with Carlos Silva, Livan Hernandez, and LaTroy Hawkins, but I have not heard of any offers being made.

Minnesota Twins
With the Santana trade looming over them, they are not doing much. They are looking for a center fielder, and are shopping Joe Nathan. The Brewers are interested, but they are having trouble making progress.

Chicago White Sox
The White Sox are making minor upgrades while planning to make a splash somewhere soon. They are eying Kosuke Fukudome, but will probably settle for something less. While they having pitching, they may look to bring in a veteran to back the bottom end.

Anaheim Angels
After the Angels acquired Garland and Hunter, they are still planning a big move. They are waiting on the Marlins to accept their offer, but might pull it off and look elsewhere. I have heard that the Cubs are somewhat interested in Reggie Willits, but not to the point where they have talked specific players. From what I am hearing, they are looking to make the big trade.'

Oakland Athletics
The Athletics are shopping Dan Haren and Joe Blanton, but will probably trade other pieces to rebuild. They are looking at Tony Clark, Sammy Sosa, and Mike Piazza.

Seattle Mariners
The Mariners are waiting on Hiroki Kuroda, but will probably waiting for some time. They have been tied to trades involving Richie Sexson, Raul Ibanez, and others. Ibanez to the Cubs, Sexson to the Rangers, are the most common, but the Cubs see Ibanez as a fallback to Fukudome.

Texas Rangers
The Rangers are shopping Gerald Laird. They are looking for outfield help in return. Not sure where they are looking, but I think they would be smart to try and add either Aaron Rowand or Andruw Jones. Other names that come to mind that are available through trades are Juan Pierre, Josh Hamilton, Matt Murton, Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, and Austin Kearns.

Atlanta Braves
The Braves are looking into Steve Finley as a possible platoon with one of their young outfielders. From what I have heard, he has been roaming the lobby and if he is down there Wednesday, I will try and talk with him. Otherwise, they will look for a lefty reliever because Mahay is likely on his way out. Maybe Will Ohman. Ohman is being courted by the Rockies and Braves though.

Florida Marlins
They are looking to trade Miguel Cabrera, but they will have to accept the Angels trade to move ahead. It would not surprise me though if a team came in with a big offer a took Cabrera off the market. They are shopping Sergio Mitre and Dontrelle Willis, but will probably hold onto both.

New York Mets
They are eying pitcher Erik Bedard while looking for veteran pitchers on the market. They are talking with Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, hoping they can turn their troubled seasons around into years like Orlando Hernandez and Oliver Perez did.

Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are eying pitchers, and Aaron Rowand. They are hoping to bring Hiroki Kuroda away from the West Coast, but will probably be unsuccessful. The Phillies have a lot of internal issues, but would like to add a pair of pitchers.

Washington Nationals
I talked with an executive of the Nationals who told me that they have talked with Jason Jennings. They are looking at an incentive laden contract. By offering Chad Cordero for Rickie Weeks, it shows they are looking to trade him. Maybe if the Red Sox miss out on Santana they will move Papelbon and trade for Cordero, probably not though. They have improved their outfield, but should look to improve their pitching before anything else.

Houston Astros
The Astros are looking for a closer while shopping Luke Scott and Chris Burke. They added Kaz Matsui, and that was good, but now their focus is on the bullpen. They missed out on Brett Tomko and Randy Wolf, so now they are looking elsewhere.

Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers are in talks with Scott Rolen, and because it is being kept so quiet, I think talks are progressing nicely. Otherwise, they are shopping Bill Hall and are looking to land some more bullpen help. They won't trade any of their young guys, so expect them to hit the market.

St. Louis Cardinals
They are looking to trade Scott Rolen. The Brewers and Rangers are the top suitors. Chris Duncan might be on his way to the Indians, that is if the Pirates cannot work a deal with them. They also plan to sign a big name pitcher, probably Carlos Silva or Kyle Lohse. They have also been connected to Pedro Feliz, but only if they trade Rolen.

Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are eying Kosuke Fukudome. If they cannot land him, they will look to Rual Ibanez, or maybe Corey Patterson. They have a lot of young pitching, and could package them in a trade for something else, but I'm not sure what. They do not seem interested in something like that. They are looking for another middle infielder but might just settle for Mike Fontenot and Eric Patterson for the time being.

Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are looking to finalize their outfield, while shopping Matt Morris. They are looking for young pitchers as well, especially because their GM specializes in development.

Cincinnati Reds
The Reds are shopping Josh Hamilton and other young players for a solid pitcher. They will also look to improve their bullpen, having talked with LaTroy Hawkins and Jeremy Affeldt. I have heard they have also talked to the Blue Jays about Jeremy Accardo, maybe for Josh Hamilton.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Although this has not been confirmed, I am hearing the Diamondbacks are the front runners for Hiroki Kuroda, who is looking to go to a contender. They may also trade some of their young players for solid pitching prospects. It is possible with the trade for Chris Carter that they may bring back Tony Clark and trade Connor Jackson for prospects.

Los Angeles Dodgers
I do not see the Dodgers doing much this off season. Joe Torre was their greatest upgrade and that should make the team a lot better. I think Ned Colletti has realized what he has with his young talent, and he may look to trade a pair for a solid pitcher, I do not see him unloading them for one player. They are interested in Andruw Jones, and have made an offer to him, but I'm not sure he will accept it.

San Francisco Giants
The Giants are looking to add Andruw Jones as well, but I would not be surprised if they trade for Cabrera. They are looking for corner infielders and maybe another outfielder, and hope to address that this week. It is possible we could see them go after Richie Sexson.

San Diego Padres
The Padres are very serious about Kosuke Fukudome. While they are closing in on an extension with Peavy, they are working very hard to lure Fukudome to San Diego. They will probably bring back Michael Barrett, and may look for a second outfielder if they land Fukudome. They are looking in house for second base, but I expect them to be pretty active this week.

Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are hoping to lock up Matt Holliday this offseaon and hope to build upon their playoff run. They are talking with Marcus Giles for second base, and are nearing a deal for Jeremy Affeldt.