Quiet Winter Could Hurt The Blue Jays in 2009
Hiatus Off-Season Will Prove Hurtful For The Jays
Coming off a 86 win season, the Toronto Blue Jays came into the off-season with some holes to fill. The starting rotation needed help, with Roy Halladay being the only pitcher that any team would fear. John McDonald simply will not cut it as a everyday shortstop. They needed depth on the infield with Aaron Hill's post concussion problems still lingering and ever growing list of injuries to Scott Rolen. The Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles and AL East Champion Rays all made huge splashes in the free agent pool this winter, and the Jays...they barely made it into the pool. Here's a rundown of what the Jays winter looked like.
Yankees Sign P A.J Burnett
This was a given. Not necessarily to the Yankees, but the second Burnett opted out of the last year of his contract, he wasn't coming back. The Jays didn't have the money to contend with the others like the Yankees and simply, J.P Riccardi's comments of doing everything to keep him was bogus. Everyone knew Burnett would opt out and ask for more money, the guy just came off a career season posting a career high 19 wins and one of the league's highest strikeout numbers with 231 Ks.
Jays Sign 3B Jose Bautista to a One-Year Contract, C Micheal Barrett & P Matt Clement to Minor League Contracts
This was where the Blue Jays made their tiny splashes this winter. Bautista is a decent 3rd basemen that came over in a trade late last year. He will be counted on to fill in if or when Scott Rolen gets injured. But he is a free swinger, when he connects with one, it will definitely go a long way. But most of the time, he's swinging and missing, Bautista batted under .238 last year and just .214 for the Jays. Barrett and Clement are questionable signings. Both will have to crack the spring training rosters to make the team. Clement has had a series of injuries since 2006, and did not impress the St. Louis Cardinals enough for the Cards to even make any type effort to keep him. Barrett on the other hand had his starting job with the Cubs taken away by rookie All-Star Giovanni Soto, and then was traded to San Diego mid last year. He also won't be much of an impact to the roster unless Rod Barajas suffers an injury.
Furcal...Bartlett...Then Nothing
Rumours flew around in the offseason about the Jays interested in free agent Rafael Furcal but couldn't outbid the Dodgers for him. They were supposed to be in talks to acquire Twins shortstop Jason Bartlett, but turns out they were rumours and that was all they were. There were a couple of other names that floated around the Jays but nothing materialized and now they are stuck with a all-glove and no-bat shortstop in John McDonald. McDonald has more than a few beautiful plays in the field last year, but hit just .210 in 186 at bats.
All of this happened at the same time as the Yankees getting Burnett, big lefty CC Sabathia and switch hitting power-monster Mark Tiexeria. The Rays getting long time Phillies' outfielder Pat Burrell. The Red Sox upgrading their pitching with Brad Penny and John Smoltz. And the Orioles making a variety of moves to improve their team as well including getting the speeding Ryan Freel from Cincinnati via trade. The Jays are in trouble this year and as Roy Halladay's contract nears its' last legs, a division sitting basement team isn't going to be at the top of Doc's list to go to. The Jays may potentially be in for a very, very long (losing) season.
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