Even some of the leaders who were added last season by Anthopoulos, such as John Buck and Alex Gonzalez, have come and gone. So, many people in the industry rightfully question how much leadership remains in Toronto and question whether or not there’s enough of it on board. I say that the latter question is non-sense, and that there’s plenty of leadership remaining with the club for the 2011 season.

Some of the players that can be expected to take on a bigger leadership role with the Jays in 2011 are predictable, and others are not. What bodes well for the Jays is that those who do take on that role will likely do so because they want to, and also because they can do so with the respect of the remainder of the team.

Here are my candidates to become the likely leaders of the club in 2011: (more…)

image courtesy of prorumors.com

• RHP Octavio Dotel, age 37, closer-setup – excellent vs RHB and horrific vs LHB (.301/.412/.582) in 2010
• LHP David Purcey, age 28, closer-setup – excelled against both RHB  and LHB in 2010
• RHP Jason Frasor, age 33, closer-setup, good vs RHP and mediocre vs LHB (.361 OBP in 2010)
• RHP Casey Janssen, age 29, reliever – excelled against RHB, struggled against LHB (.283/.382/.416) in 2010
• RHP Shawn Camp, age 35, reliever – excelled against RHB, struggled against LHB (.299/.364/.467) in 2010
• RHP Carlos Villanueva, age 27, reliever-spot starter-long relief – good vs RHB, ok vs LHB (.232/.333/.434) but not great in 2010
• RHP Jesse Litsch reliever or AAA starter (as things look today), I say reliever…for now simply because I think the Jays still want to see if Stewart can start as he gets more experience in AA or AAA – struggled against both LHB and RHB as he returned from injury in 2010 (more…)

The Jays Draft Picks in 2011: (more…)

image courtesy of upload.wikimedia.org

The LA Angels have signed free agent reliever Scott Downs to a 3-year $15m contract pending a physical. The deal includes an incentive worth $1m which is based on the amount of games Downs closes.

This is the worst scenario possible for the Toronto Blue Jays in terms of compensation for Scott Downs being a type A FA.

Why?

Well, first and foremost, the Jays automatically get a 2nd rd, not a 1st rd, draft pick from the Angels because their 1st rd pick is protected. It’s protected because they were one of the bottom 15 teams last season. This already lowers the pick by quite a large margin – by at least 45 picks (you’ll notice that the Angels actually pick 17th in the 1st rd, but that’s due to compensation to other teams for not signing draft picks, they’ll pick in the 14th position in the 2nd rd).  That means that the Jays have to wait through the remaining 16 picks of the 1st rd, the entire sandwich pick rd, and then another 13 picks before making their compensatory selection.

But wait, it gets worst. (more…)

It’s obvious that the Red Sox have done the most to improve their team for 2011, and it’s also obvious that the Rays will have a lot of question marks surrounding their lost impact players. The Orioles and Jays have made minor moves in comparison, but moves that could impact their respective clubs long term. However, the biggest surprise thus far has been the lack of any moves from the NY Yankees. I’ve never been a Brian Cashman fan – any GM who gives A. J. Burnett that kind of money and dumps Johnny Damon for Nick Johnson when the former was such a perfect part of the team and deals too much talent and youth for an aging Curtis Granderson is just all out wrong – and expect him to keep faltering this off season.

Here are the details of each club’s moves or non moves either just before or during the winter meetings: (more…)

• Alex Anthopolous quote of the day: “If there’s not a lot of separation in our minds in terms of performance and talent and it’s close, then you take the one that’s available at the best price”. It sounds obvious, but it tells us that Alex will not overpay for a player simply because he’s a bit better than an other option that’s available. Translation – the Jays are going to be patient and will make sure their target is the most attractive. Sounds good to me!
• Bored while waiting for the next Jays move? Read this 10 question and answers with Kyle Drabek from MiLB.com. The best quote from the questions was when asked about what he wanted to improve, Kyle answered “I want to be able to be consistent with my windup. To be able to stay consistent so I don’t tip pitches and things like that. It’s mechanical. I just need to work on that and tune up all my pitches, because if I want to make the club, I have to fight for my spot. That’s what I’m going to go into Spring Training and try to do.” Good stuff. (more…)

(image courtesy of wikipedia)

Jon Paul Morosi recently linked the Jays to ex-Twin reliever Matt Guerrier, and we also know the Jays are interested in another ex-Twin and Canadian, Jesse Crain, who was born in none other than Toronto. If the Jays were to add both relievers, it would provide them with a very much needed level of experience – both during the regular and post-season – that would go a long way to rebuilding the pen into a top 10 contender. With news that Jason Frasor accepted arbitration, this trio could become the bulk of the back end of the pen, with only the closing position left to be fixed this off season.

Although it would be a great start to the rebuilding of the Jays pen to add those 2 relievers, would it make the Jays pen any better overall? After all, what the Jays want is not to simply replace those who are leaving, but it is to improve the pen so that the Jays can make a real playoff run in 2011. If we all agree that the closing position is still very much in the air despite Jason Frasor‘s 36 career saves, we can evaluate what the other 6 pen members may look like should both Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier sign with the Jays this off season. (more…)

There were no real surprises in the end, and here’s the full rundown:

Courtesy of SI.com

C Miguel Olivo

Olivo’s decision to decline the Jays’ offer and test the free agent market was the closest to the 11:59 p.m. EST deadline, as first reported by Jon Morosi of FOX Sports about two-and-a-half hours ago (via Twitter).

This wasn’t surprising considering Olivo was slightly bitter to be traded away from Colorado in the first place and was a Blue Jay for about one hour.

Ken Rosenthal reported a few hours ago that the Dodgers are one of the teams interested in Olivo’s services. (more…)

Image Courtesy of the Miami Herald

If the Jays ever considered Leo Nunez as a possible addition this off season, now would be the time to ask for him in trade.The Marlins just completed a deal with the San Diego Padres that had the fish taking on 2 relievers in return for the talented Cameron Maybin. Not only does this add some big time pieces to their already well-stocked pen, but it makes it more likely that they’ll look to deal Leo Nunez or others in order to afford Dan Uggla – if a deal is attainable at this point, after Dan Uggla‘s side have stated that they’re willing to make a deal happen but have been cut off in communications with Florida executives.

Leo Nunez is arbitration eligible for the 2nd time this off season and cost the Marlins $2 million in 2010. With a raise on the way, this money would go a long way to getting Dan Uggla under contract, if this is still in their plans. Why else would they give up Cameron Maybin for 2 relievers? Leo is by far their biggest cost in the pen and lost his closing job to Clay Hensley at the end of the 2010 season, making him expendable. I’m fairly certain that with Jose Ceda making the jump fromt he minor leagues, Clay Hensley, and the 2 new additions, Florida is more than satisfied to use Leo Nunez and his bigger than average Marlins salary as trade bait.

On the Jays side of things, whether it’s along with Dan Uggla or not, Leo would go a long way to adding some depth and experience to a Jays pen that very well needs it. They can definitely afford his salary, but the question leans more towards whether or not Leo will be effective in the American League, or more specifically in the AL East? (more…)