If Houston enters the AL, and the new balanced schule arrives, and universal DH passes, and a new 5 year agreement is ironed out, whew , that is a lot.
But if this all comes to pass for2012, the Jays lose their excuse that they cannot compete against the Sox and Yanks, so unless there is another Wild Card spot, they have no chance to win, in the ultra uber compettitve AL East, then think again.
It will be time for Rogers to show they can pony up to a $100 million payroll, or admit they are Canadian version of the Athletics, good, not great, but budget conscience. Cannot compete with big boys for top free agents.
Case in point is their opening at second base. Now by all accounts the Kelly Johnson experiment was not all that fruitful, he hit in low .220 s for the Jays, and never could he confused with Aaron Hill defensively. So if he is classed as a Class A free agent, he will seek $ 6,7 million per year, but will easily agree to aceept arbitration. His agent is greedy, but not stupid.
The Jays will counter with an expected $ 3.5 to $ 4 million offer, and probably lose, and be faced with his inflated salary. Will they accept it , possibly, maybe they walk away.
So what is under Alex Anthopolous tree this year.
Hechavarria to play flawless cheap 2nd base.
Richard Griffen to stop nagging at them.
A rotation that includes Dustin McGowan and Henderson Alvarez.
A trade of Travis Snider for Huston Street.
Rogers agrees to a 2012 payroll of $ 72 million, may a bit higher.
Maybe as stocking stuffers some competant middle relievers, but we could see Shawn Camp, Casey Janssen as dual 8th inning set up men, and Jesse Litsch as the new long man. Do not rule that out.
But as we know there are always middle relief men out there. Maybe Chuck Lamarr can help weed out the good from the bad.
Winter meetings in 2 weeks, so we may see the Huston Street trade by then, or someone else.
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