FanHouse continues its 2009 MLB Preview with a look at the Toronto Blue Jays.
There's no team in baseball in a worse spot than the Blue Jays. They've had to contend with the megapowers in New York and Boston for years, watching their competitive payroll and over-.500 seasons amount to nothing more than third-place finish after-third place finish. No matter how much they have spent and how much they have won, it has never been enough to catch the Red Sox or the Yankees.
Then along come the Rays, who made it clear that it isn't just a matter of money that's keeping Toronto from the top of the heap. The Jays haven't developed enough organizational talent to mimic the rise in Tampa, and with the Orioles finally developing some of their own, they may not be able to hold onto fourth place for much longer. The Jays are at a crossroads, and they've got to decide the best way to build their team in a division with no room for error.
| Lineup | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Aaron Hill | 2B |
| 2. | Adam Lind | DH |
| 3. | Vernon Wells | CF |
| 4. | Alex Rios | RF |
| 5. | Travis Snider | LF |
| 6. | Scott Rolen | 3B |
| 7. | Lyle Overbay | 1B |
| 8. | Rod Barajas | C |
| 9. | Marco Scutaro | SS |
| Pitching Staff | ||
| 1. | Roy Halladay | R |
| 2. | Jesse Litsch | R |
| 3. | David Purcey | L |
| 4. | Scott Richmond | R |
| 5. | Ricky Romero | L |
| CL | B.J. Ryan | L |
In: Brian Burres, SP (waivers), Mike Maroth, SP (free agent), Michael Barrett, C (free agent), Matt Clement, SP (free agent), Adam Loewen, OF (waivers), Kevin Millar, 1B (free agent)
Out: A.J. Burnett, SP (free agent), Brad Wilkerson, OF (free agent), Gregg Zaun, C (free agent), Gustavo Chacin, SP (free agent)
Storylines
The Doctor Is Out?...
There may not be a better starting pitcher in the American League than Roy Halladay. Year in and year out, Doc has been in contention for Cy Young Awards and put together one of his finest campaigns in 2008. He's got an affordable contract for a pitcher of his talents, with two years remaining for the Blue Jays to enjoy his services. On a team with uncertainty all over the place, Halladay is surest of sure things.
All that said, he isn't enough to lift the team out of their current predicament. No one player could do that, so dealing Halladay for several young players who could form the foundation of a winning team is something that must be considered. He'll be 32 in May, so there's not much time left to get a significant return in a trade. It would raise the white flag in the short term, and might be reviled by the fanbase, but teams stuck in positions as precarious as Toronto's have to make difficult decisions.
Losing the Arms Race...
While Halladay will be a stud, the Jays can't count on anyone else in their rotation for much. Burnett's departure and injuries to Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum have left a lot of question marks in the rotation. Jesse Litsch improved across the board in 2008, but his strikeout rate remains low enough that there's reason for concern about him going forward. David Purcey, a massive lefty, gives the strikeouts that Litsch doesn't, but struggled with his control before taking a step forward last summer.
Litsch and Purcey are Maddux and Glavine compared to the rest of the options in the Jays' nest, however. Maroth, Clement is a reclamation project. Casey Janssen missed all of last season after having surgery to repair a torn labrum, Ricky Romero hasn't justified being selected ahead of Troy Tulowitzki and Scott Richmond only reached Triple-A as a 28-year-old. The saving grace could be 22-year-old Brett Cecil, the team's top pitching prospect, who needs a bit of polish in the minors before ascending to the rotation.
Money Down the Drain...
The most glaring flaw in Toronto's attempt to keep up with the Joneses can be found in the lineup. It's stocked with veterans who make too much money for too little production. There was really nothing offensively that the team did well in 2008, ranking in the back of the AL pack in every significant offensive category. Rookie Travis Snider should help, but the continued decline of players like Lyle Overbay and Scott Rolen will offset any gains provided by the sublimely talented newcomer. With the likely dropoff in their run prevention, the offensive shortcomings may make it difficult for the Jays to keep up with the Orioles if things break right in Charm City.
Chart a Course...
However the Jays' season sorts itself out, the time has come for a referendum on the future of G.M. J.P. Ricciardi. He came with the gloss of being a Billy Beane acolyte, but has failed to make a difference in the team's fortunes for seven years. The team hasn't drafted well enough, hasn't spent wisely on free agents and hasn't come up with a plan that seems destined for long-term success. The death of team owner Ted Rogers in December may foreshadow a more sweeping overhaul at the top of the franchise, something that may be a couple of years late in coming.
2009 Outlook
Why You Should Watch: Snider has a chance to be Rookie of the Year, watching Halladay pitch is a true joy and, um, "O Canada" is a pretty song. Seriously, though, anything beyond Snider and Halladay is a stretch. It's shaping up to be a long, hard year for the Jays.
What Defines Success: Snider making good on his hype and a smooth debut from Cecil would make things easier, but the Jays have to do more off the field to really achieve anything resembling success. The team's
gone stale, and some fresh ideas are necessary for a brighter tomorrow.
Related Links
- Fantasy Baseball Preview: Catch Halladay While You Can
- Better Know a Prospect: Toronto Blue Jays
