Jays mailbag: How much would it take to get Matt Garza?

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American readers.

By the way, I hope you guys enjoyed that mangy second-tier of turkeys we left over from our own Canadian Thanksgiving which is, of course, celebrated in October. Sure we don't have all the tradition, the Pilgrims, Plymouth Rock, tripleheader football, Black Friday and all that other stuff.

Instead, the history of Canadian Thanksgiving goes back to 1578 and explorer Martin Frobisher who was looking for the Northwest Passage when his fleet got lost in the ice near Baffin Island. After finally finding each other, before heading home, the lost explorers had a big meal and gave thanks. That Frobisher Bay, Nunavut experience started the tradition of thawing out frozen turkeys before consuming. In 1957, Canadian Parliament officially declared the second Monday in October to be Thanksgiving -- converted to U.S. that's Columbus Day.

Back to baseball and the Jays. At midnight the other night, the club finally released its own list of five free-agent players offered arbitration or declined.

The Jays' transactions missed the deadline for the newspaper but was in the baseball blog still below this mailbag, but, in any case, here's a summary of what the Jays did with their own list of free agents.

Jays FA Offered Arbitration: Type B free agents C Jose Molina, RHPs Frank Francisco & Jon Rauch and Type A second baseman Kelly Johnson.

Declined to Offer: Type B RHP Shawn Camp.

What it means: This is a transition year between the old CBA and the new and as such is unique. The Jays if they fail to sign any of their own free agents and they land elsewhere will land seven draft picks among approximately Top 60 overall through the end of the first round and supplemental first round:

Jays 2012 Draft: No. 17, their own pick, and No. 21 for failing to sign Tyler Beede their No. 1 last year...then between rounds 1-2 the Jays would gain two picks for Johnson and one each for Molina, Francisco and Rauch. Neither Johnson compensation pick will be from the signing team.

The Jays are not living in fear that any of their free agent players will actually accept arbitration. If it happens it happens. They have spots in the bullpen, as backup catcher or at second base. Any of those arbitration deals would be for one year only.

The least likely player to accept is Rauch and after changes under the new CBA have been made wherein the signing team does not give up its own draft choice, Johnson's chances of finding a multi-year deal have improved.

In fact, as counter-intuitive as it seems, the most likely to end up back with the Jays is Camp. They refused his arbitration and thus lost any chance at draft pick compensation. That was because he was earning $2.2 million in 2011 and would likely be awarded at least that in arbitration. Yes, the Jays would like him back but at a lower salary. The two sides will talk, but if Camp gets a better offer elsewhere, he will have to decide.

On to the mailbag.

Q-Richard,

What does the new MLB Labour-Management Agreement mean for the Jays? Was it a help or a hindrance with the direction they are going and the strategy they are presently employing?

Dean G., Redding, Cal.

A-First impression for the Jays is the new Basic Agreement cuts into much of what the club has been trying to accomplish in terms of building from the bottom up to compete and maintain a self-sustaining feeder-farm-system. The Jays since GM Alex Anthopoulos took over in '09 have muscled up more than others in amateur scouting in the U.S. and on the international scene, accumulating June draft choices for departing free agents and being in on major international prospects. The CBA stifles those efforts, levelling the playing field in the one area where creativity and elbow grease can make a difference.

The concept of a “salary cap” has always been something the Players Association has ruled out in knee-jerk fashion in all areas. Therefore when the owners suggested a hard slotting system for the June draft, which is just another way of saying a salary cap, the union's automatic response was no. As MLBPA Executive Director Michael Weiner said on Tuesday: “We reserved the rights of drafted players to bargain.” Upon further review, hat is so much hooey. Drafted players are being held down in what clubs can pay under terms of the new deal. Throw the kids under the bus, they won't be union members until they make to the major leagues. The union feels good in standing strong, but the new deal is pretty much a salary cap, only giving the black hat to the clubs when they reach their allotted bonus total and must tell prospects they have no more money to hand out without risking huge fines and the loss of draft picks. Drafted players will be crawling over each other to be the first to take the money while it's still out there. Good for baseball's bottom line? Sure. Good for the industry? No.

The Jays will not be able to manufacture draft choices like they did with Miguel Olivo or Kelly Johnson. A departing player now needs to spend the entire previous season with the same team to be compensation-worthy, and even then that team needs to make a one-year qualifying offer equal to the average of the Top 125 players in baseball from that season. Will the Royals or A's do that? This year that one-year offer would be $12.4 million. How else have the Jays been submarined? The new “competitive balance lottery” for extra draft picks after both the first and second rounds, rewards the lowest revenue stream teams, weighting chances of winning the lottery towards the most needy. Oh yeah, if you don't really want those extras picks because of the bonuses you might have to pay but you win the draw, you can trade those picks, something that has never been allowed in baseball.

The Jays' recent philosophy of choosing a bunch of high-ceilinged high schoolers and overpaying, buying them out of a college decision is out the window. You better throw in some safe college picks or you'll fly past your bonus allotment and suffer the repercussions. Jays scouts cannot be happy.

Q-Richard,

I'm very confused by this new CBA and how most smaller revenue generating teams agreed to this. While I celebrate labour peace across the board for baseball (and hope the hockey guys get it right next year), I don't understand some of the nuances of this deal.

1-International Free Agents: There is a $2.9 million cap on international free agent spending, but there is now a pool of money that teams can spend from? The worst team (by winning percentage) to spend $5 million, while the best team only can spend $1.8 million. Meanwhile you can trade these allocations. I know AA is salivating at more levers to pull in potential trades, but it seems like this cap is going to inhibit the Jays ability to continue gaining an advantage on the competition by spending money on the international market. Does this also mean that Yu Darvish definitely wants to get posted this year so his earnings won't be limited?

2-There are significant tax penalties for teams who go over slot in the domestic draft. 75 per cent tax on signings up to 5 per cent over recommendation, 75 per cent tax and loss of first round pick for signings from 5.1 per cent to 10 per cent over recommendation, 100 per cent tax and loss of first and second round picks for signing 10.1 to 15 per cent over recommendation, and finally, a 100% tax and loss of two first round picks for signing of greater than 15% over recommendation. Again, this seems to really hurt the Jays ability to go after high value/high risk guys such as Daniel Norris, who they drafted this year and went way over slot to sign.

Finally a broader point...why are Canadians still penalized by being included in the draft, while other international players from Japan, or the Latin American countries ability to choose which teams they can go to?

Jason S., San Francisco

A-Good question and we'll take it point by point. The smaller revenue teams were thrown a bone with the chance for extra draft picks for doing nothing in what's been called the “competitive balance lottery.” Picks no. 31-36 at the end of the first round and another six at the end of the second will be awarded in a game of chance. Hey, the NBA's not using their ping-pong balls. But there are other reasons to hate the agreement re the future signing of amateur free agents.

1-In the area of international scouting, this year everyone has $2.9 million to spend for all international signings in the period between July 2, 2012 and June 15, 2013. The years after that, teams that finish higher in the standings will have less money to spend than the crappy teams, but that International free agent money can now be traded, rewarding both laziness in scouting and poor play on the field. How far will that allotment go? Consider that the Jays spent $12 million two years ago for Adeiny Hechavarria and the Reds exceeded $25 million for Aroldis Chapman. Now it would seem that those moves would not be possible without huge penalties. Yu Darvish would be well-advised to ask for his Japanese contract to be posted right here, right now. Oh yeah, baseball feels better about itself by creating a program that will further prospects educational/vocational training after they finish their careers.

2-The penalties for the June draft as you have outlined above, are punitive and will certainly make teams think twice about going over their recommended total for bonuses – call it a cap. The individual numbers are arrived at in that baseball assigns a dollar value to each slot through the first 10 rounds. If you include supplemental picks, that's a total of about 350 different slot values. It's the same as they would have had in a hard slotting system, only now the fingers of restraint are pointed at the organizations whenever negotiations reach an impasse. It affects kids that have a chance to go to college or play another major sport. Consider in '11 if the Jays had a $10 million total assigned them. Had they signed first rounder Tyler Beede they would have been at around $12 million for the first 10 rounds. That means their penalty would have been 100-percent over slot, or $2 million, plus the loss of their No. 1 picks from 2012-13. A deterrent? Of course they would have told Beede to go to Vanderbilt or else have backed off some other premium pick in order to leave room for Beede.

As for your question re Canadians in the draft, inclusion started around the time of Larry Walker's initial success in the late '80s. The feeling was that some teams were too far ahead when it came to scouting in Canada, the Expos and Jays included. So in order to level the playing field for the trailing teams that weren't scouting Canada well, baseball simply changed the rules. You would now have to use a draft pick to sign the same Canadian that you could have signed outside the draft before, penalizing the better scouting. The other reason Canada is treated differently than the Caribbean is the number of Canucks that are on scholarship to U.S. universities and junior colleges. That's legitimate right now, but back when the rule change was made those numbers were low. Besides, it looks like in the long run all international free agents will eventually be included in the draft. 

Q-Hey Grif,

I have a question I hope you can help me with. Why is it that when it comes to MVP voting the team's success comes into play, however, when it comes to the Cy, the teams success is irrelevant? I get the fact that to be the most "valuable" your team should probably succeed, but I think there is too much stock put into that fact. You can still be the most valuable to your team and NOT make the playoffs. Especially for the Jays and Bautista who have been fairly successful considering they compete against the best teams in MLB (AL East) for a majority of the season. It’s almost a given that two teams make it from the AL East because of the talent level. That should probably be taken into consideration for teams such as the Rays, Orioles and Jays who face $200 + million lineups. Is it time for a new Babe Ruth or Pete Rose (yeah right haha) award for best offensive player? Thanks and keep up the good fight.

Jeff I., Haliburton

A-This difference in what the award is called is likely what causes the difference in how the writers vote for each award. If the word Valuable was no longer included in MVP, it would be the best player that was always rewarded and all the angst about the need to play for a playoff team would disappear. Or if MVP was named after a former player like the Cy Young is. What if the MVP was instead named the Babe Ruth Award, sure it would re-define the criteria, but it would not eliminate pitchers from consideration because, remember, the Bambino began his career as one of the AL's top pitchers. On your further point, I don't think you can penalize or reward a player for the quality of the opponent he faces by division. Jays players should not be given a head start over anyone else in MVP voting because they play 54 games vs. the Yanks, Sox and Rays. You can only play the schedule. Hey, when the bug boys play the O's, most of the time they use their 4-5 pitchers in the rotation. How tough is that.

Q-Richard,

With the Red Sox struggling to find a manager, would it not be a good move for AA to see if Farrell is really interested in the Red Sox job? The Red Sox might be willing to give up something good (Clay Buchholz) for Farrell? AA then can sign another manager. Maybe Francona or someone else.

Brian M., Barrie

A-Make no mistake about it, Anthopoulos threw that suggestion out to the Sox before closing the door. Boston would have been crazy to agree. Think about it. First, they let their pitching coach go to the Jays to better himself as a manager, then after one season of mixed results at 81-81 they are suddenly going to give up potentially one of the AL's best young pitchers to get Farrell back. Not likely. Trust me. There are at least 100 men out there that would be great major-league managers, given the chance. It's just the right place at the right time. There's no need to trade players for your next manager.

Q-Hi Richard;

I have a grammatical, a nit-picking question for you. I do not expect a reply. Why do you and most other sports media insist on using RBIs?? You do know it should be RBI?? The plural is on the "run/runs." You say "runs batted in" and not "run batted ins." It is a small point but a nagging one. Thanks.

Gary S., Orillia

A-That's a great question and one that has a legitimate answer. Back when I was a PR guy in Montreal, that RBI question always bothered me. In the mid-'80s I got a response from the people at Webster's. Their belief was that through constant use over time the three letter designation for a run-batted-in had become part of the vernacular, a word unto itself, therefore they saw it as legitimate to use RBIs as the plural. Since then, I have always used it that way. It's one of those things where either is acceptable. 

Q-Michael Cuddyer and Matt Garza are two names that could help the Jays. Cuddyer is a .800 OPS hitter and can play good defence at first while also providing a good backup option for both corner OF spots. Garza is on a team that needs replenish their farm system. Which pitchers and position players from the farm system would you be more inclined to trade? I'm thinking a package involving Deck McGuire, AJ Jimenez, Chad Jenkins and Travis Snider could get a deal done for Garza.

Jason S., San Francisco

A-I love Matt Garza as a reasonable mid-rotation option for the Jays and as you point out, the Cubs are in the business of looking to the future. As for prospects, Anthopoulos has always had the philosophy of not offering players for anyone that he wants. What he likes to do is find out generically “what would it take to acquire Player X” then allow the other GM to choose who he wants from among players in that category. AA is right and I have seen it over my 38 years in the game that given the choice, opposing GMs will most often make the wrong choice and if you suggest three players, the other GM will think the ones you're not offering are better. Give them their own rope.

Q-In the new labour agreement, teams will have to make a “qualifying offer” of a one-year guaranteed contract to their players eligible to become free agents in order to receive compensation if the player signs with another club. That amount will be at least $12.4 million. Does this knock a hole in AA's favoured way of accumulating draft picks? $12.4 million is far more than has been offered to lost type A and B Jays free agents in recent years. How should AA adapt to this new system if he wants to keep a focus on stockpiling draft picks?

Thanks.

Donald W., Los Gatos

A-This news CBA no doubt puts a crimp in what the Jays have been doing with the draft over the past two AA years. The Jays could possibly have seven of the first 60 picks this year but that is the end of their three-year draft bonanza. The only way to get compensatory picks now is that hefty qualifying offer to really primo free agents. The Jays don't play that game. Many teams won't. However, there is one new rule that leaves the door open a little for AA to get more draft picks. It is the phony baloney “competitive balance lottery” for low revenue and revenue sharing recipients. It seems these picks – Nos. 31-36 overall and the first six after the second round – are tradable, so if you find a team that doesn't want to pay the bonus and wants immediate return, you could trade for their lottery picks and accumulate draft choices that way. Otherwise the Jays have just been brought back to the pack.

Q-Richard,

Thanks for the piece on Charlie Lea. It brought back great memories of some heady days of Expos baseball in Montreal. I am wondering about Kyle Drabek's place on the staff. His performance and ability (or lack thereof) to cope with duress last year was disappointing. I feel like he has been passed by Alvarez and maybe even Carreno. However, the Jays hierarchy seem to have a lot invested in him. Do you think his name and pedigree pretty much guarantee that he will be in rotation when the team breaks spring training?

Rory P., Montreal

A-You're right about the Jays having a lot invested in Drabek. But he is a talented pitcher, he's just not very mature in his approach to a simple 100-pitch, three-hour focus. He has been passed on the Jays' depth chart by Alvarez and for the moment the Jays consider Carreno a bullpen guy. For Drabek – you are right on -- his name, his pedigree and, you can add his age, all work for him. He has no guarantee for a rotation spot coming out of '12 spring training, in fact I would say there is zero chance he will be in the opening day rotation. In this day and age with very few guys playing winter ball, his only chance to impress is spring training and look how that worked out for the Jays with Drabek last spring. They would rather have a chance to see him at Triple-A again and then look for an opening if he's good. 

Q-Why would we let Jose Molina escape? He's way too valuable to the club in many areas. Third catcher, great bench and locker teammate. Hard to get that kind of experience when you're going with young catchers .and he's really close with the young pitchers.

George M., Ottawa

A-I hate to say that guys like Molina are a dime a dozen, but the Jays have always seemingly been able to find a legitimate backup catcher for their starter du jour. Before Molina they had Raul Chavez, before him Rod Barajas, before him Gregg Zaun, Sal Fasano, Ken Huckaby, etc. Besides, if Molina goes somewhere else, the Jays get a supplemental draft pick. It's the last roundup for AA. Still out there as potential backups are Snyder, Varitek, Shoppach, Bard and Pudge Rodriguez.  

Q-Do you agree with me that the regular baseball season is a bit too draggy and that if pared down to, say, even 150 games that we might then see the World Series actually played in September? Part of the game's attraction, at least for those fans who attend the major-league parks, is that it is a summer sport, associated with sun and greenery. To see players blowing on their hands and fans bundled up in blankets and parkas, especially amidst the game's most prestigious event is in some respects, ambiance-wise, anti-climactic, and about the equivalent of going to the arctic for a sun tan. Certainly there are other options if one puts one's mind to it. I think the commish of baseball should strongly consider trying to find a way of seeing to the Fall Classic becoming a warmer, more visually aesthetic and classier experience than it has been in recent years. I'd like to get your thought on this. Thanks.

Darrell H., Guelph

A-No I don't agree. I have no idea what “draggy” means. You suggest cutting 12 games off the regular season schedule. That's six home games times 35,000 fans per date, times whatever the average ticket price is plus concessions, parking and the like. You would have to ask players to take a 7-percent pay cut and that ain't gonna happen. I could see the schedule starting the last week of March with early scheduling set for the traditionally warm-weather venues and domes, with maybe a mandatory three built-in split doubleheaders to condense the season. They are headed in that direction already with the new CBA mandating expanded rosters to 26 players for split and traditional doubleheaders. Since 1903 the Fall Classic other than during time of war has been an October event. How can we suggest that fans would rather see the World Series played in warmth and sunshine when it's never happene

Q-Richard,

Admire your insights! Trade places-(now-for -this answer )-with AA.:

To fill 6 Jays present needs!!

1-Closer-Athletics-Andrew Bailey

2-2nd Base-Indians-Jason Kipnis

3-Back-Up-(lefty-hitting) Catcher-Angels-Conger

4-Stud Pitcher-Astros-J.A. Happ

5-Lefty-Hitting-1st Base/D.H.-B.Belt-Giants.

Analyze and Trade !

Thanks!

MPK, Mississauga

A-Let's see: 1-Yes; 2-I would do it; 3-Ain't gonna happen; 4-What are you smoking? Happ is not the answer; 5-Again, AGH. As closer, I would rather have Bailey than Huston Street, but if AA doesn't want to trade prospects, I like K-Rod as an expensive non-compensatory closer. The Giants are not interested in giving up offensive players. They already have enough trouble scoring runs. The Jays in a couple of years are going to have to make decisions on their own excess catchers. Why would they throw Conger into that mix. I would take Kipnis over Kelly Johnson or anyone that is currently in the Jays system, although in 2013 I would look at Hechavarria. 

Q-Richard,

I read your article in Saturday’s sports section titled "Trade scenarios best bet for Jays". I have been hoping for such an article since free agency opened. You address all areas of weakness well with excellent options. My question has to do with your "Dream lineup for 2012". I love your dream lineup and with the salaries you attach to each player it fits under the Jays typical yearly budget. So why is it you quote under your dream lineup " not going to happen...but" ? Is it that these players would not want to play in Toronto? If so why not stretch the team payroll slightly and overpay? I do realize the Jays want to maintain Bautista as the top player at $14 million. Is it that landing so many prized additions is difficult? I can see that but if we landed most it would be a huge leap forward. As field of dreams stated "If you build it they will come ". The Jays have tried to grow the attendance with the addition of a single star player many times. I feel in will take a competitive team ( playoffs ) to bring the fans back. Your Dream team could do just that!

Carlo C., Oakville

A-Thanks Carlo, but yes, “not going to happen” is less about the Jays and more about the players and their ability to make choices. For instance, Yoenis Cespedes is a Cuban living in the Dominican, a completely free, free agent. The Marlins have Cuban born Hall-of-Famer Tony Perez in their excursionary group and a new stadium based in Little Havana. Buehrle is a great fit for the Jays but is interested in the midwest, especially St. Louis. They Jays would have to pay more than anyone else, which, of course they have done before. Darvish has yet to be posted, though he better do it soon, and when he does there is only one winner, one team allowed to negotiate with him. Brandon Phillips wants a long-term deal heading into his final season before free agency. Right now the Reds say they don't want to trade him. That could change any time, but that's why -- along with all the other things that would have to fall into place – it makes it a not going to happen scenario. It would be great, but...  

Griffin: Jays offer arbitration to four of their own free agents

The Blue Jays, taking advantage of MLB's final opportunity for a draft-choice bonanza under the old compensation system for Type A and B free agents, saw GM Alex Anthopoulos, at midnight Wednesday, offer arbitration to four of their own ranked free agents, righthanded relief pitchers Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch; second baseman Kelly Johnson and catcher Jose Molina. The only Jays' 2011 free-agent not to be offered arbitration was veteran righthander Shawn Camp. Johnson had been ranked as a Type A, while the others, including Camp, were Type B under the old Elias system, that is being scrapped. 

The clear winner moving forward among the Jays' group of five free agents, after the new Collective Bargaining Agreement was signed, is Johnson. The 29-year-old veteran had done enough statistically to finish the season with Type A status using a strong Jays performance in the stretch-drive, after being acquired from the Diamondbacks in August.

Any team that had signed Johnson as a free agent, under the old rules, would have been forced to surrender its first or second round pick in the June '12 amateur draft. It would have surely acted as a deterrent for interested teams hesitant to negotiate for a player that does not really rank as one of the elite at his position. Under the new CBA rules, Johnson is more likely to receive a multi-year offer, given no draft choice penalty. 

Johnson earned $5.85 million in 2011. If he now proceeds to sign with another team the Jays would still receive two supplemental picks, but they will fall between the first and second rounds. The signing team, meanwhile, will retain all of its own choices.

Was Johnson worried? On the season's final weekend in Chicago with the Jays facing the White Sox, he had expressed concern at his potential Type A status, jokingly suggesting that "maybe I should go hitless this weekend." Under the new CBA, it's problem solved. There is now little chance he will accept Jays' one-year arbitration, which does not preclude the Jays being interested in inking Johnson to a multi-year deal themselves. 

Francisco earned $4.0 million in 2011. Jon Rauch, who finished the season on the disabled list, earned $3.75 million and when the Jays declined his option, he made another $250,000. Molina earned $1.0 million in his second season as the Jays' backup catcher.

But the most interesting situation surrounds Camp. The 36-year-old righthander earned $2.25 million in 2012 and would stand to receive an increase in arbitration. However coming off a down season, the groundball specialist is a solid, contributing professional still with some real value for the Jays. They may yet be interested in signing the veteran who would fit nicely into a rebuilt Toronto bullpen, but not at that salary. The Jays could likely begin any negotiations with Camp following the Rule 5 Draft on December 8.

If the Jays were to lose all four free agents offered arbitration this winter, combined with the compensation for last year's unsigned No. 1 pick Tyler Beede and with their own first and second round picks, they stand to be able to collect eight prospects in June 2012.

The Jays' current roster, after claiming catcher Brian Jeroloman off of waivers back from the Pirates who had claimed him from them earlier, currently stands at 39.  

 

 

 

 

Griffin: Peace in our time continues for MLB with new CBA

At long last, with little in the way of vitriol and posturing, baseball finally made the expected announcement with regard to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

There had never been any doubt in anyone's mind that major-league baseball and its players' union would reach agreement before push came to destructive shove, a glitch that would have precipitated another of pro sports' seemingly endless work stoppages. It wasn't going to happen. Everyone is doing too well and there's too much money involved. Both sides, the players and owners, learned from the cancellation of the World Series in '94, a work stoppage that extended into April of 95 and commissioner Bud Selig is working hard to amend his final legacy to be "peace in our time" ... and prosperity.

On Tuesday afternoon in New York, the two sides held a joint press conference announcing that they have arrived at a new five-year CBA that will carry though until December 2016. That will be 21 seasons of labour peace, an unprecedented period of tranquility since Marvin Miller formed the Players' Association back in the '60s.

"This is a good day for baseball," Michael Weiner, executive director of the MLBPA said in making the announcement, seated alongside Selig. "This is an agreement that will benefit all players, an agreement that will benefit all clubs. It's not just a good day for baseball but a good day for collective bargaining."

There was never any doubt that a deal would be done. No posturing, no threats, no issues bigger than the game, no issues too big to be solved through negotiation. The bulk of the negotiations was handled on the owners side by Rob Manfred, executive VP of labor relations and on the players' side by Weiner. Players and owners are satisfied with the results, including HGH blood testing for the first time, and the fans win.

Highlights of baseball's new collective bargaining agreement include:

1-Immediate blood testing for Human Growth Hormone starting at spring training next year. Baseball had been waiting for a reliable blood test before moving forward and the players have agreed. The penalty for a first failed test is 50 games, the same as for performance enhancing drugs, which had been a urinalysis. 

"There's a lot of history here," Selig said. "It's the strongest program today in American sports and we've now strengthened it. Both parties agree that it's the right thing to do and we've strengthened it. It shows the cooperation of both parties and how important we both think it is. It's important to the fans and we did something about it."

2-The Amateur draft will not have hard-slotting by round and position, something that owners had been campaigning for, but there will be a "luxury tax" for teams that go over a certain total of player signing bonuses over the 50 rounds, similar to what already exists with payrolls. "We preserved the rights of drafted players to bargain individually," Weiner said.

The compensation system for lost free agents will be amended with teams not being forced to give up their own draft picks for Type A players, but teams will get additional picks for losing the premier free agents based on the money being offered. The Elias rankings will disappear.

The area of signing international free agents will be an ongoing negotiation, with the players from overseas not being included in the draft, but with some new restrictions.  

3-By 2013, the leagues will be realigned with the Astros moving to the American League, something that was important to the players feelings of competitive fairness. In addition, a second wild-card team will be added as early as 2012.

4-There is a competitive balance tax that will be clarified later, but the fact is that only five franchises have not been to the playoffs since 2001. 

5-There will be expanded use of instant replay, the final result to be arrived at in conjunction with the umpires union to include fair or foul and other questions.

6-The minimum salary will got from $418,000 to $480,000 starting in 2013.

Since the great strike of '94 the players and the owners have worked together in areas like creation of the World Baseball Classic, a rookie education program at a week-long seminar in the D.C. area and in drug testing, helped along by pressure from the U.S. Congress. 

 

 

Griffin: Verlander captures AL MVP with Bautista third

In a wide-open race for MVP in the American League, Tigers righthander Justin Verlander was named the 2011 winner, in a narrow decision over Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox and Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays.

Verlander, with 13 of 28 first-place votes, became the first starting pitcher since Roger Clemens in '86 to win the MVP and the first pitcher since reliever Dennis Eckersley of Oakland in '92. 

Verlander compiled 280 points on the 28 ballots, in a 15-9-8-7, etc. format, being named on 27 of 28 ballots. Bautista, who led the majors in home runs and was arguably the top offensive player in baseball, received 231 points, trailing Ellsbury by 11 points. Bautista received five first-place votes to four for the Red Sox centre fielder, but Ellsbury was runner-up on 13 ballots, to provide the difference.

Verlander is just the second player in major-league history to win the Rookie-of-the-Year, the Cy Young and MVP over the course of a career, joining Don Newcombe of the Dodgers. 

When Verlander turned his season around with a no-hitter at the Rogers Centre in early May, the Tigers went on to win 20 of his last 22 starts, going from five games under .500 to runaway winners in the AL Central over the White Sox and Indians. Verlander, 28, won the pitching Triple Crown in the AL, leading the league in wins with 24, ERA at 2.40 and strikeouts with 250.

Bautista followed up his breakout 2010 season, in which he slammed 54 home runs, with a campaign in which he hit .302 with 43 homers and 103 RBIs, drawing 132 bases-on-balls. The Jays finished at 81-81. Bautista finished fourth in 2010 MVP voting.

"Thanks everyone for their good wishes for the MVP, maybe next year!!" tweeted Bautista after the award was announced.

"Even though I didn't win the MVP I have something better nobody can't take from me, that's the love and support from my fans!You guys rock!"

Jays mailbag: Remembering Charlie Lea

It seems that there have been too many occasions lately when we are tragically reminded that pro sports is about more than just league standings, individual statistics, team colours and civic pride. Pro athletes are flesh and blood.

Sports is real life, only played out under a revealing spotlight.

Upon closer inspection, our sports heroes are simply a cross-section of life itself, men, women, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives and friends looking for answers. Most times, when an athlete’s career is over, he returns to the mainstream and becomes another one of us, only with a much thicker scrapbook.

Thus it was that when the news that former Expos’ pitcher Charlie Lea had died of a heart attack at his home in Memphis at the age of 54, it hit hard, especially for those of us that had worked or played with him during the Expos years. Lea was a solid major-league pitcher, primarily in Montreal and briefly with the Twins from 1980-88, leaving much too early due to injury.

His career in the majors was less than a decade, but were seasons jam-packed with accomplishments that made him a significant character in the glory years of the Expos' franchise. More importantly, he was a great person, quiet and respectful, with a wry sense of humour, a loving husband, a father and a good friend.

Lea had remained connected to the game as a part-time colour man for the Memphis Redbirds, working radio home games in his adopted hometown where he grew up and attended college. He was born in Orleans, France.

On May 10, 1981 Charlie tossed a no-hitter against the Giants at Olympic Stadium in the second game of a doubleheader. It was the first Expos no-hitter at the Big O. He followed it up with a complete game shutout of the same Giants at Candlestick Park. Three years later, he was named the NL starter for the all-star game played in San Francisco. Lea ended his career with a 62-48 record and a 3.54 ERA. 

In '82, Lea was part of a great young rotation that always reminded me of what the Jays are trying to put together to carry them into the future. The Expos '82 rotation was led by 32-year-old Steve Rogers, who was 19-8 and led the NL with a 2.40 ERA. The other four starters, Lea, Bill Gullickson, Scott Sanderson and David Palmer, were all between 23-25 years-of-age and emerging into solid major-leaguers as a tight band of brothers. Combined, the five Expos pitchers started 141 of the 162 games and reminded me of this year's Jays in terms of age and as real friends that legitimately enjoyed each other's company and cheered for one another's success. When I think of Charlie Lea it's always from those years, always competing, always smiling. Rest in Peace, Charlie.

Q-Richard:

Have admired your work for years. Two points. First, what are your thoughts about Travis Snider going into next year? Is he going to get 500 AB in the big leagues? Also, thought you'd either love or hate my post: http://mcantil.com/a-blockbuster-hot-stove-deal-that-makes-too-much-sense-to-ever-happen/ Keep up the great work.

M.C., Chicago

A-First of all in the interest of fairness I must say that I really like Travis Snider as a person and if I ever had a son that played baseball – wait a second, I do – I would want him to grow up and have a baseball personality like Travis Snider, respectful of the game and of the people that populate it.

That being said, Snider's best chance of getting 500 at-bats this year is not with the Jays, it's with another organization via trade. If Travis stays with the Jays, he will end up going to spring training and trying to prove that he can play at the major-league level through hard work and defensive improvement. He did it last spring and he will prove it again, but will still have to either start the season as a fourth or fifth outfielder in Toronto or return to Las Vegas where he can play every day. He will be a first option if there is an outfield injury and that would be the way he could get 400 at-bats.

For Snider to get 500 major-league at-bats in 2012, he will need to be a part of a major trade wherein another team looks at his potential, his former draft status as a highly regarded first-rounder and decides that a change of scenery is all that he needs. My strongest memory of Snider that says he can do it is that April 13, 2009 game when he crashed two home runs off the facing of the upper deck in right field at the old Metrodome. It was a display of effortless power that he has had trouble replicating on a consistent basis. The Jays are looking hard for an alternative to Snider/Eric Thames/Rajai Davis in left field and I would be very surprised if the starting left fielder on Opening Day has yet to arrive.

Q-Hey Richard,

Love the blog and the mailbag. My question to you is in regards to Chone Figgins. I saw something online that suggested that M's would be willing to eat a considerable amount of his salary to get rid of him. This is easy to understand considering what he represents to them (huge risk gone bad). However, if he can be used as a super-sub he seems to hold a lot of value. Do you agree that the Jays could do worse than having him back up Lawrie, our second baseman, and in the outfield. I also know that this would be a dream that many wouldn't dare dream, but what about if we take on his entire contract, throw in Brett Cecil, Kyle Drabek, Travis Snider, David Cooper (or even Adam Lind), and attempt to bring King Felix to Toronto? What are your thoughts?

Brian, Victoria, B.C.

A-Chone Figgins in the prime of his career, when he was a contributing player with the Angels was one of my favourite players with his certain mix of top-of-the-order speed, adequate defence and above-average competitiveness. When Cito Gaston was still the Jays manager he wanted him on his team. But somehow when Figgins got to Seattle it all fell apart for him. His OPS in three years has dropped from .789. to .646 to .484. Classic change of scenery scenario required? Perhaps, but it would be an expensive gamble for the Jays, unless the M's were willing to pick up a chunk of the salary, which reportedly they are. The Jays need a true leadoff hitter and a second baseman. Figgins is under contract through 2013, with a vesting option for 2014. If the extra year vested then that would mean he was performing. It's at least worth a look for GM Alex Anthopoulos. I would rather have a contributing Figgins — not last year's Figgins — at second base than Kelly Johnson. In any significant deal with the M's one would have to believe that Seattle native Snider could be one of the cornerstones.

Q-Hi Richard,

I wanted to get your take on Chone Figgins and whether he would be a good acquisition. Here's a superior defender and switch hitter that can play 2B,SS,3B and the OF. His numbers are a little down since he went to Seattle (it seems everyone not named Suzuki does too), but he probably just needs a change of scenery. If it's true that Seattle is willing to absorb some salary (he has $17 million with 2 years, excluding the 2012 600PA vesting option) then I'm thinking he could be a pretty good bargain since Carroll (who the Jays were apparently interested in) got $7-million over two seasons and doesn't have near the ceiling that Figgins has. At worst he would be a Rajai Davis — a backup with great speed, but he would be much better defensively with better on-base skills, switch hitter that can play OF & IF. If they dumped Davis' $2.75 million salary, a more versatile Figgins might not be a much more expensive option. Thoughts?

Cheers,

Adam

A-See the answer above. But I would not acquire Figgins if he was only going to be a super-sub. The thought would have to be him in a starting role. The only downside is that if he is truly done as a contributing player in the majors, then you are stuck with that contract for two years. The Jays have to decide what is going on with the new CBA and Kelly Johnson before they explore something like this.

Q-Richard,

With the news swirling around the baseball community that the Jays are in fact in the market for a big-name closer, does a move like this in fact state, YES we are going to compete for a playoff spot next season? Would the Jays then if they did acquire a big name closer make more substantial moves to further solidify their roster? It would seem that if a closer was signed first it would be a precursor to bigger moves during the offseason do to the fact you just don't get a big name closer if you aren't willing to compete in 2012 or 2013?

Scott Cochrane, Niagara on the Lake

A-The news of Jays' interest in a closer isn't exactly “swirling” around the baseball community. It's been out there. In fact, on the final weekend of the season in Chicago, manager John Farrell admitted that handling the bullpen had been his biggest rookie weakness and that in '12 he wanted the closing role to be handled by one man. When the Jays decided to not bring Jon Rauch back and allowed Frank Francisco to walk, the obvious conclusion was that they wanted a legitimate closer through trade or free-agency. It had already been pointed out by many in the Toronto media. The “swirling” that you talk about is simply that the mainstream National writers in the U.S. have finally tweaked to it and, of course, until they say something about the Jays and their direction, it doesn't exist.

I have always believed and written that the Jays intend to compete for a wild-card and maybe even the division as early as 2012 and they will make every effort to build a contender during the offseason. That includes exploring every avenue with regard to a bullpen closer. If the Jays were not interested in contending right away then it would be counter-intuitive to sign a big-name closer to what would likely be a four-year deal wherein the best return in terms of saves and dominating statistics would come in the first two years given the accepted shorter shelf-life of a top closer. By the time they were ready to contend, his numbers would likely be sliding. The accepted logic is to wait until you feel you are contending before locking up a legit closer. If Anthopoulos is chasing a true closer, it means that he feels feel they are ready to contend. There is no accepted order to this winter's acquisitions – whatever presents itself first -- but make no mistake about it, Anthopoulos is working hard under his customary cone-of-silence to add significant players for 2012, not the Rajai Davis, Jon Rauch, Jose Molina type of role players.    

Q-Do you think the Jays have a chance at obtaining Joey Votto this offseason? He has two more years left on his deal, and the Reds need to cut payroll. They have a young 1B, Yonder Alonso who could replace Votto to some extent. The Jays have a surplus of young pitching that they could offer (Deck McGuire/Kyle Drabek) and a young controllable middle infielder (either Yunel Escobar or Adeiny Hechavarria) that would be a good package for Votto. Dealing Lind, Snider, two pitching prospects and a young catcher (Carlos Perez or AJ Jimenez) could net Felix Hernandez as well.

Jason Sinnarajah, San Francisco

A-Why do people just assume that the Reds need to cut payroll. They have been to the playoffs as recently as two years ago and played 2011 with a team payroll of just over $80 million. They chose to sign Votto to a three-year deal prior to 2011 that will pay the Etobicoke native $9.5 million then $17 million for the next two years. That is the window of opportunity for the Reds to try and win again. Votto is perfect for Great American Ballpark and is a Gold Glove defender. They have a good young hitter behind Votto in Yonder Alonso but at spring training they can simply point out to left field and say “Go hither, Yonder.” Fans tend to look at Jays prospects as if no other team has prospects of their own and that everybody covets the Jays youngsters.

Reds' GM Walt Jocketty in October denied that the Reds had even discussed trading Votto. Nothing has happened since then to change his mind. Would Votto be an upgrade for the Jays? Well, yeah. The opportunity for Votto to be a Jay would be more likely as a free agent in 2014 or even heading into his final contracted season in 2013.

Q-Hey Richard,

I love what Jose Bautista does for the Jays and he is clearly their best hitter. That being said, AA has expressed that the Jays have money available to spend to overpay for a player or two but only when those players are the final pieces. If the Jays do not believe that they can really compete in ‘12, I think that it makes sense to trade Jose. His value will never be higher than it is right now. Even if he hits .290 this year with 35 HR, by 2013 (when they will be on the cusp of really competing) he'll probably be around .280 25 HR. There are many people in the league who the Jays can go after that can put up those same numbers. The Jays should see if they can trade Jose for a young stud pitcher who has started to prove himself (Ivan Nova) and 2 other top prospects (Jesus Montero, Eduardo Nunez). I don't think that is an unreasonable asking price for the best hitter in the league. Do you think the Jays have or will explore options that involve trading Jose? If they can get a package that includes a front-line starter do you think they should consider this? Thanks!

Josh Cymbalista, Thornhill

A-These are traditionally the types of questions asked by fans who have been reared in fantasy leagues where numbers are the only thing that matters. Major league baseball is flesh and blood and matchups and personalities and elation and depression and 25 men living and working together every day for six months. It's not easy. Bautista is more than statistics for the Jays. CC Sabathia's 16 wins are different than Ivan Nova's 16 wins. Sabathia faces aces and contenders while Nova gets the rest. Bautista's 25 home runs are different than Adam Lind's 25 home runs. Bautista's presence in the batting order has a ripple effect while Lind's does not. Bautista's presence in the clubhouse has a lightning-rod effect. Lind's is just that of another good player that can contribute statistics to a winning team. The Jays worked hard to develop Bautista and then to sign him as a potential free agent. It doesn't mean that there are not storm clouds on the horizon. Make no mistake about it, with Matt Kemp and others reaching the $20 million per year plateau, if Joey Bats has another 40+ home run year with an OPS in the 1.000 range, he will be asking to open up negotiations again, but until then enjoy Bautista as a Jay because he is not going anywhere in 2012.   

Q-Hi Richard!

There are certainly lots of rumours floating around right now - I love this time of year! What do you think about the Jays chances of landing Jair Jurrjens and Martin Prado from Atlanta? Prado can play second, as well as the outfield, and Jurrjens is a young, mid-high end of the rotation guy. The Royals were asked for young outfielders but wouldn't part with them — we have lots of them! Enjoy the free agent frenzy!!

Jon Empringham, Woodstock

A-As soon as I read about the availability of Prado and Jurrjens, my interest was piqued. If I was Anthopoulos, I would go after Prado as my first choice at second base for 2012 and beyond, but as far as Jurrjens goes, the health issues he had in the second half of 2011, the diminishing strikeout rate, plus the fact that the Braves are interested in trading him red-flag any positives in acquiring the 26-year-old from Curacao. I would focus on Prado, who could play second base every day and also is an adequate left fielder. He has two more arbitration years before becoming a free agent. In terms of young outfielders, the Jays have gone from having no real outfield depth in '09 to having one of the most well-stocked 26-and-under outfield cupboards in baseball — Eric Thames, Travis Snider, Anthony Gose, Moises Sierra, Darin Mastroianni, Jake Marisnick, Marcus Knecht, Michael Crouse, Brad Glenn and Chris Hawkins, among others. As for Jurrjens, the Jays are also very deep in young starters that are not quite ready for primetime but that in a couple of years will sweep past a guy like Jurrjens like a high-90s tsunami. I would focus on Prado but I would do it now.   

Q-Hi Richard.

Is this the Jays' year to take the AL East? Is the AL East still the premier division in MLB now that the NL has won two WS in a row? Boston has tanked, the Yankees have blown it two years in a row in the post-season and don't show the desire to win and the Rays seem to have worn out their welcome. How long can we live in the future? Is Rogers going to sign 2-3 free agents this year to finally make the Jays a contender? What do they need? A starting pitcher, a closer and what else?

Bruce Hutchison, Winnipeg

A-The Jays are readying this winter to take their best shot at the AL East crown and, if not in 2012, then they will have a head start when the Astros head to the AL West and MLB adds a second wild-card in 2013. As for the AL East, it's still one of the premier divisions in baseball, although with the Marlins and Nats gearing it up; with the Braves and Phillies always strong and with the Mets trying to right the foundering ship, the NL East will be even better than it has been. But the relative strengths of baseball's divisions over the 162-game marathon that is the regular season would seem to have little to do with post-season success. It's whoever is hot at the moment. Look at the NL Central in 2011, with far and away the worst overall record of any division in baseball, but when push came to shove it was the Brewers and Cardinals, the last men standing, competing in the NLCS for a trip to the World Series.

Boston still has tremendous talent. They were touted prior to 2011 as the best Red Sox team ever, but I fear that Sox upper management will interfere with their young GM Ben Cherington, making Peter Angelos in Baltimore, by comparison look like King Solomon in his wisdom. In pro sports, there is nothing worse for an organization than panicky ownership that listens to fans. An example right now is Cherington seemingly wanting to hire Dale Sveum as manager to replace Terry Francona, while skeptical fans and owners remember his third-base coaching technique of waving runners around third to their doom, that at times made The Charge of the Light Brigade seem like Olympic Dressage.

The Yankees are the Yankees and will spend, with a fair share of their contracts not working out, but they bludgeon opponents into submission and will continue to do so. The Rays meanwhile are limited by payroll and have a ceiling that the Jays can reach. It's possible for the Jays to compete in 2012.

Q-Always love your fall/winter news and insight. With the Jays organization that seems to be moving towards a homegrown Canadian feeling, what are the chances of a Jays minor league team moving into Ottawa's empty baseball venue?

Philip McCloskey, Orangeville

A-That has been a goal of Alex Anthopoulos since he was an assistant GM, bringing minor-league baseball back to Canada in a significant way. The Jays started with the successful debut of a new Vancouver Canadians in a short-season Class-A format in 2011, winning their league championship. What Ottawa needs to do is to find solid ownership and find a Double-A or Triple-A franchise that is in financial distress where they are and to transfer the team to Ottawa. And Ottawa is not the only city that is possible, but is the most likely because, ideally, it needs to be done by 2013. The Jays may not be in Ottawa in 2013, but they more than likely won't be in Las Vegas. It's a good fit, but private ownership needs to step up to make it happen. Triple-A in Ottawa has been tried before with mixed results.

Jays mailbag: Nice call by Johnny Mac

It was never a slam-dunk that John McDonald would return to the Jays for a third go-round to finish his career in Toronto. But, before the Jays had even had a chance to enter the bidding process, before Thursday's open bidding for free agents even began, Johnny Mac had re-upped with the Diamondbacks for another two seasons.

It followed the late-season deal and his euphoric first trip to the post-season with the Snakes in the Valley of the Sun. That's what players dream of. But even on the way out, as he closed the door behind him, McDonald did it with class.

There was no professional need, but before the D-backs announcement, before he signed and removed a Jays option, Johnny Mac picked up the phone to call GM Alex Anthopoulos and let him know what was going on and to thank him for what he had done for his family and his career. The bottom line is that Johnny Mac is better off in the NL where the bench remains an integral part of the game. There are double switches and pinch-hitters for the pitcher; defensive replacements, pinch-runners and days off for the starters. That's his game. All we can do is wish him well and thank him for the way he played the game, the example he set for our young players, always ready to come off the bench at full speed and always giving 100 per cent.

For a pictorial tribute to one of the most popular Jays of this century see the Star's photo blog.

Q-Hi Richard. What do you think of the 2012 starting rotation? Do you think it is time to sign Morrow to a team friendly long-term deal with a couple of team options? A good No. 2 starter who can survive in the AL East is very hard to get via trade. With depth in pitching, catching and OF in the system, which team would seem to be a match in trade with the Jays?

Thanks and keep up the good work!

James Ho, Burnaby

A-I really like Morrow as evolving steadily into a solid No. 2 starter. And if they brought in another potential No. 2 in the rotation to match Morrow's potential, along with Romero that would be a great decision for the Jays moving forward. However, as a former reliever, the Jays have been building on Morrow's innings total year-by-year — to 146 in 2010 and to 179 in 2011. AA's strength is as a communicator and if Morrow understands that with hard work his day will come in terms of being rewarded with a long-term deal, I can see the Jays beginning discussions with the Morrow camp next spring, then as he shows he can stay healthy and his inning total mounts, on pace for 200+ frames, building off his strong finish this year, I can see them rewarding Morrow some time during the summer like they did this year with Yunel Escobar in June.

Morrow has two years remaining before free agency. The Jays would prefer not to finish next season without a long-term deal if they feel Morrow is indeed in their plans moving forward – which I believe he is.  As for a team match in trade with the Jays, that's something we will discuss in future mailbags as team's needs and early signings begin to unfold.

Q-Rich. Quick question for the myth, the man, the legend: With rumours of the Rays being unable to afford James Shields, to the Blue Jays swoop in and grab him?

Thadius Selick, Guelph

A-Shields is a solid No. 2-3 pitcher of the type that the Jays have expressed an interest in adding to the rotation mix. He had one completely dominating start against the Jays last season that demonstrated what he is capable of, changing speeds and toying with the Jays' aggressive young hitters. Can it happen? I never thought the Rays would trade Matt Garza last winter and they did, so I'll never say never about the Rays trying to create a market for Shields.

Make no mistake, if he is being dangled at any point this winter, Anthopoulos will have spoken to Andrew Friedman and will know what is required to pry him away. The problem for the Rays is that it's inside the division and the Jays are at the point now where division opponents don't just give them a fatherly pat on the head and make a deal anymore. They must be concerned about helping the Jays to the point where they push past them in the standings. Shields will make $7 million in 2012 and will be pitching as a 30-year-old. The last 30-year-old that started a game for the Rays was in 2007. If that streak is to continue, they must trade Shields.

Q-Richard. With second base looking like a hole to fill during the offseason could you see the Jays signing Clint Barmes? He is the kind of versatile player that AA loves to have, he can start at 2B and also fill in at SS and 3B when Yunel Escobar and Brett Lawrie need rest or do you see the Jays offering arbitration to Kelly Johnson (Type-A free agent) and Johnson taking the deal due to the fact that no team will want to give up a draft pick for Johnson?

Scott Cochrane, Niagara on the Lake

A-Clint Barmes, to me, would not be as attractive an option as signing either Kelly Johnson or Aaron Hill — and I don't think that either of those men is a priority for the Jays. Barmes will be 33 when the '12 season starts. He has a career .302 on-base average. His highest home run total was accompanied by a low batting average and his highest batting average included low power numbers. Sounds like the bad Hill.

Barmes' best seasons came at altitude in Colorado and even though I know that's a cliché because only half those game are home, by now Barmes is a glorified utility man and as a free agent he'll be looking for a starter's salary.

As for Johnson, he is a Type-A free agent that would gain a first- or second-round draft pick and a supplemental pick between the first and second rounds – but only if the Jays offer him arbitration by the midnight deadline on Nov. 23.

Judging from their past history, the Jays will do that. However the decision to offer a one-year contract through arbitration opens the door for Johnson to actually accept that offer and rejoin the Jays for 2012 for a pretty-much-guaranteed raise. Nobody ever takes a pay cut if they played every day.

Johnson earned $5.85 million in 2011 and by accepting arbitration, he would be assured at least $6.5 million. The solid reason he might consider that one-year option for his career is that as a Type A free agent, any team that negotiates with him in their own minds would be treating it as a trade – Kelly Johnson for a first-round draft pick in June '12. And the danger is that pick may turn into a future star.

More teams are becoming more careful in that regard and, especially, on the part of fringy-type A's like Johnson, it is becoming a major problem.

On that final weekend in Chicago, Johnson was so concerned that he might be a Type-A that he said to me, “Maybe I should go hitless the next two days.”

Of course he was being facetious but the situation had affected Jason Frasor last year to the point where the right-handed middle reliever did accept arbitration rather than go through the process. Another guy this year that has that same problem is Octavio Dotel who pitched his way into Type-A status and whose best option now might be returning to the Cardinals for one year. 

Q-The Hot Stove Season is upon us and there are a lot of excited Jays fans wanting to see what AA is going to do. As fans, we have our opinions (cue the laughter) and here is mine that I would love your opinion on: Lawrie is a terrific athlete and played better at third base than I ever dreamed he could, however, I have a nagging suspicion he could be slightly injury prone, and that worries me...what if we moved Lawrie to LF, where he could easily play and be very good, and looked at trading for either David Wright or signing Aramis Ramirez, both of whom are good fielders and hitters? With Lawrie, Rasmus (if he develops...Gose in a year if not) and Bautista, you have a great OF that would be set for a long time and free up some players like Thames to be included in a trade... just a thought and would like your input.

Frank, Knoxville

A-I think in baseball that sometimes we overthink the short term and panic about the long-term. As for Lawrie and a possible position change, I think all of your reasons and arguments are unnecessary and over thought. There is absolutely no need to move Lawrie before you think about trading Eric Thames or Travis Snider or anyone else in the second tier of major-league ready prospects. Just trade them if it's what makes you better.

And as far as thinking about Lawrie being injury-prone, yes he plays hard, but if that's the case, it's just as easy to be injury-prone as a corner outfielder as it is at third base. Larry Walker played hard and found ways to get hurt in the outfield. There are walls all around and pesky warning tracks and dives with awkward shoulders, wrists and elbows at risk and there's hustling collisions with teammates. Besides, finding outfield help in the future is easier than finding a major-league solid third baseman, which is where Lawrie is quickly headed towards as an all-star.

The Jays have lined up some pretty good outfielders in the system including Gose, Thames, Snider, Jake Marisnick and Moises Sierra. Even if Rasmus cliff-dives to obscurity as some suspect he might, they are in good shape into the future, but they need Rasmus to step up if they are going to compete in 2012.   

Q-Hi Richard,

Long time fan of your writing and your opinions... left the bright lights of T.O. behind for the sun and sand of the wild, wild west, but you know the old cliché: 'you can take the boy out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the boy' or something to that effect... was curious to see this comment attached to a photo of Michael Cuddyer in the Star's photo essay on 10 free agents the Jays should consider: "If you go in for this sort of thing, one of the pieces the Jays lack is a vocal, veteran clubhouse presence. You know, the kind of thing that destroyed the Red Sox. Since the departure of Vernon Wells, the Jays room is slightly rudderless.".... Excuse me ?? I kind of thought that Joey Bats has instilled a new culture of lead-by-example, quiet dignity that effectively shows youngsters and newcomers how to be professional while also mentoring other Latin players... all while maintaining his own high level of play, completely deserving of his latest Hank Aaron award... your comments please... and who wrote that caption ??

Richard Rafton, Kelowna, BC

A-I'm with you. I do not subscribe to that evaluation of the Jays' room as rudderless. That Michael Cuddyer free-agent blurb was likely written by one of those effete national baseball analysts for one of those big sports websites who was musing about potential landing spots for Cuddyer and tried to fit the Jays size 12 clubhouse foot into a Size 8 Cuddyer shoe. Yeah, how did that veteran leadership thing work out for Boston? At Fenway, as it turns out in the bright glare of hindsight, the true leadership mantle fell on the guy with the phone number for Popeye's delivery and the fresh keg on his shoulder.

I always believed that Jose Bautista could be the glue to the Jays' clubhouse fabric because of his ability to cross over and relate to all segments of this sport's societal structure. It resembles the closeness in the room I had seen in Montreal with the young-veteran leadership of Moises Alou and Larry Walker. But one thing that surprised me here was how quickly Romero was able to step up and grab the leadership role of the Jays' pitching staff. No, if Michael Cuddyer ever signed with the Jays it would be for his baseball ability and not for his leadership. That blurb was written by someone that has been in the Jays' clubhouse not very often. Bautista's MVP credentials are not all left out on the field.   

Q-There's a lot of rumours about the Jays going after Yu Darvish. While I'm not really a fan of spending 100+ million on a pitcher whose never pitched in the majors before, does it not make sense for the Jays to place an insanely high bid in the posting auction? From what I understand if they place the highest bid they win exclusive negotiating rights, and if they don't reach a contract agreement he must return to the NPB league. What is stopping the Jays from making an outrageous bid, only to not offer a large contract and thus just ensuring he doesn't go to the Yankees?

Rylan Stolar, Sudbury, ON

A-That catch-and-release scenario with regard to Darvish is one of the first things I thought about when I read the rules of encounter for the posting system with regard to Japanese players. Sure the Jays could bid $60 million, win the auction, cut a cheque to Nippon Ham — making sure the company knows they're not actually ordering ham — then fail to sign Darvish and have him remain in Japan and pitch for the Fighters, but that borders on unethical.

Besides, Darvish two seasons down the road becomes a total free agent from his Japanese team, I believe after the 2014 season, at which time he'll be in the majors anyway without compensation, so you'd just be postponing the inevitable.

Instead, I think if the Jays win the sealed bid for Darvish, that Rogers ownership should consider the posting fee as an investment towards expanding their communications empire into the Asian marketplace. The rest of it, the negotiations for the contract of Darvish the pitcher, would be considered as the only portion that counts towards the Jays operation as a baseball entity. That would likely be around $12-15 million for 4-5 years. Darvish has a few adjustments to make, the first one being to get used to pitching every fifth day, but talent-wise he is major-league ready with more of an awareness of the differences between where he's going and where he's been than Dice-K, who became slightly disoriented in Boston with the unique physical requirements and between starts routine of MLB.

Q-Hi Richard.

Really like the column. Glad you're back. Interested in your take on a comparison of the Jays and the Rays. Similar dough available but the recent success of the Rays outshines the Jays. Where lies the difference? Thanks Bob.

Bob Leatham, Ilderton

A-I always think that the story of the Rays rapid rise into contention should give the Blue Jays their inspiration for believing they can contend in 2012, despite finishing 81-81in 2011. Recall that the Rays went from 66 wins in '07 to 97 victories and a trip to the World Series in 2008.

How did they do it? They rebuilt the bullpen, made a couple of fortuitous trades, signed a couple of key, role-playing free agents to fill specific needs and counted on the development of their homegrowns and voila!

In terms of further comparison, consider that in the past 10 seasons the Jays have won 808 games. The Rays have won 750. Over the past six seasons the Jays have two more wins than the Rays, 497-495. However, the key complaint for Jays fans is that the Rays have been to the post-season three times.

I think the biggest difference for the Jays, the reason for fan optimism as they move forward, is that when they finally do reach the post-season, they will have the financial wherewithal with Rogers ownership and the deep pockets to sustain and build off of previous success rather than what the Rays have to constantly do in dealing their high-priced home-grown players, scrambling to remain on budget. The Rays revenue streams are not as solid as the Jays. Of course that scenario of sustainability all depends on making good talent decisions which is not always a given in Major League Baseball.   

Q-We need a second baseman, a front-line starting pitcher and a closer as per as per our GM. I do agree. I'm not particularly very happy with Travis Snider and Eric Thames in the left field. Do you see any one really good coming through the system? And what about our middle relief?

Tapan Chatterjee, Brampton

A-Middle relief and backup catching are areas that can be filled through free agency and filled very easily using good judgment. There are 49 free agent relievers not including the list that will be added from non-tendered contracts. There are 15 catchers on the free-agent market. Many of those will still be available in the new year. As for the outfield, I agree that at this stage of their careers, Snider and Thames are not good enough to be key contributors on a contender. The outfield picture looks bright in 2013 and beyond with Marisnick, Gose, Bautista, Rasmus, Sierra, Marcus Knecht and others. However that does not address 2012. I think there was a clue to where they are going short-term when AA said that Edwin Encarnacion was going to play some left field in Winter Ball. If Encarnacion could play the outfield at even a Thames level, he could become the starter out there and provide more consistent offence, opening the need for a designated hitter. That is just a short term solution, but EE is only signed for 2012 anyway. That may be what the Jays are hoping for in terms of 2012. But in 2013, with another 600 ABs under his belt, Anthony Gose will be ready to take his place in the Jays outfield.

Q-Hi Richard

Why do baseball players spit so much. Even when they are not playing they spit. A TV camera zooms in on a player in the dugout and most times he is spitting. Hockey players do the same. It's gross. Basketball and soccer players don't seem to have this problem.

Tom Davis, Pickering

A-Chewing tobacco and dipping has been a long-time baseball tradition but is now being outlawed. However that has not stopped dippers and chewers from continuing the vile habit that always results in great expectorations. It always seems a greater problem, a blight on the game, than it actually is because there are more cameras, more televised games and more close-ups of players in dugouts. The guys using the seeds in the dugout only spit seed husks, but the horking and dribbling of dippers and chewers is really unpleasant to watch. Most of the time, if tobacco is not involved and if there are no seeds, I think it is merely a nervous habit carried over from youth baseball and watching their heroes.

Griffin: LaCava shows Blue Jays loyalty

There are only 30 major-league baseball GM jobs out there in the sporting workplace, so it would seem that if you're an experienced, eminently qualified, middle-aged baseball man and you are offered one of those plum assignments and decide to turn it down, just as Jays' assistant Tony LaCava (centre in photo) did on Tuesday with the Orioles, there must have been some deep soul-searching, some extremely well thought out logic to staying put. 

LaCava, with the Jays since 2002, was summoned back to Baltimore for a second interview on Monday, a sure sign that he was the handpicked front runner, especially after fellow candidate Jerry DiPoto had taken the Angels job in the meantime. But after talking with owner Peter Angelos and with manager Buck Showalter, LaCava respectfully declined. He had interviewed in the past with other teams, but had never reached this point before.

The decision in one way was stunning and in other ways was quite understandable. The 50-year-old LaCava was complimentary towards the process and the Baltimore organization, but the O's have had a sketchy recent history, a bad reputation in the business that has been clearly documented and must surely have left LaCava's Spidey senses tingling.  

Here is a list of the likeliest Top 4 reasons why LaCava decided to remain in Toronto rather than leave the Jays' nest for birds of another colour:

1-Ever since being led by a pair of back-to-back Hall-of Fame GMs Roland Hemond and Pat Giilick ran the O's, the last time, in fact, that they made the playoffs, Angelos, whose picture surely appears in Wikipedia under the definition of "hand-on-owner", Baltimore has had five GMs in 13 years -- Frank Wren, Syd Thrift, Jim Beattie, the late Mike Flanagan and Andy MacPhail. This means that, dating back to Gilllick's final frustrating season at Camden Yards, adding to the list whoever next takes over, this will be the O's seventh GM in the past 15 seasons. That's not a great history of job security.

2-It's likely the final interview did not fulfill LaCava's expectations. The initial interview would have been mostly about LaCava's personality, vision of a front-office team and his own qualifications for leading a major-league organization into the future. As one of many candidates, you have a morning or afternoon to impress those in the room with your philosophy of building a winner, of dealing with players, agents, opposing GMs and your new bosses -- reasons why they should hire you. But the second interview, when the club shows they are interested, the show is on the other foot. It becomes more about what you can expect from the team in terms of support, payroll, autonomy, etc. Clearly, LaCava impressed the O's in Interview 1 more than the O's impressed LaCava in Interview 2. It's tough to turn down an opportunity to live a dream, but obviously not impossible.

3-LaCava must believe that the Jays are close to their goal of reaching the post-season and he wants to be a part of it. If he doubted and thought that the Jays were still building and that the season for finally contending was in 2014 or beyond, then the decision to remain with the Jays would have been more difficult. But, if he believes that contention will come in either 2012, or 2013 at the latest, then he would want to remain and see his subtle work in player development come to fruition. LaCava was hired by former GM J.P. Ricciardi, but when his fellow assistant GM Alex Anthopoulos was named to replace Ricciardi, two years ago, a job that LaCava also applied for, it was believed at the time that Tony would be looking for the next serious offer to exit the scene gracefully and get on with his life. However, Anthopoulos' first task was to meet with LaCava and explain how important he was to what they wanted to accomplish. LaCava remained and the two men have grown as friends and have developed into one of the most effective front-office teams in baseball, in terms of re-loading the farm system and accelerating the process of contending.

4-LaCava knows his time will come. The respected, career baseball executive realizes that every winter there will be GM jobs that open up. He is a Pittsburgh native and still resides there. The Pirates would be his dream job. He interviewed for the job the last time when Neal Huntington was named. But whenever his next GM interview arises he knows that he has become a major player on anyone's future list. And it will only thicken his resume if he's around when the Jays finally make it to the post season, using the fruits of his farm.

It would have been a tough decision for LaCava, or anyone that dreams of becoming a major-league GM, but remaining with the Jays is a win-win if he truly believes in what the organization is doing. Going to Baltimore, to an organization with a losing recent history and a farm system planted in shallow soil, sure there was a chance for short term gain but more likely for long term disappointment. It was surprising to see LaCava turn down the O's, but it was something he obviously felt he had to do. The Jays are glad he did.