Toronto Blue Jays @ Bare Baseball - Baseball MLB Blog

Mailbag: Does Toronto Delgad-it?

11/14/2005
I heard a rumor that the Marlins will be shopping Carlos Delgado this offseason. Given the Jays' need for a power hitter, is there any chance that Delgado will make a return to Toronto? Or will this just stay in the dreams of a longtime Jays fan? -- Luke E., Vasey, Ontario
It may be irresponsible to dismiss this scenario out of hand, but the odds are heavily stacked against it ever coming to fruition. The Marlins do seem to be shopping Delgado, who signed a heavily backloaded contract last winter. Simply put, the Blue Jays will likely look elsewhere for someone younger and less expensive.
Delgado remains one of the best players in franchise history -- if not the best -- but it would be a dicey proposition to bring him back. For one, he'd still be earning a disproportionate share of the team's payroll, which was the biggest factor in him leaving.
Secondly, Delgado will probably slow down a little bit over the next few seasons. The slugger will be 36 at the end of his contract, and he'll still be making an All-Star-type salary at that point. Basically, that's why Florida wants to move him now.
Here's the bottom line: Losing Delgado definitely hurt Toronto last season -- but adding him again could jeopardize the team's progress over the next few years. However, the Jays still need a power bat, and first base is as good a place as any to put it.
Still, the smart money says that Toronto will look to the future instead of the past when filling out the roster this winter.
It is true that Mike Piazza is interested in coming here as a DH? If so, will the Jays go after him to fill that role or will they go in another direction? -- Tom H., Toronto
This is almost the same category as the Delgado question, with one profound caveat. Piazza isn't expected to command a premier salary as a free agent, which may make him more interesting to a mid-revenue team like Toronto.
Piazza's agent has already contacted the Jays, but not much is known beyond that. The former All-Star would fit perfectly with an American League team, because it would allow him to spend some time behind the plate and some time at DH.
The Jays may well pursue Piazza as far as they can. After all, as a patient hitter with lots of power, he fits their offensive personality perfectly. Piazza has never played for an American League team before, but he'll probably have several to choose from this winter.
Why did the Jays reacquire John MacDonald? I'm baffled. They have a crowded infield as it is! -- Anil P., Scarbrough, Ontario
McDonald isn't coming in to take anyone's job. The glove man is returning to Toronto as an insurance policy, helping to guard against both injuries and shaky late-inning defense. He filled the same role last year -- up until the July trade that sent him to Detroit.
This time, McDonald is more or less filling in for Frank Menechino, who was the team's primary infield reserve last season. Menechino may still return as a free agent, but McDonald's presence makes that development much less likely.
The Jays don't expect much offense out of their newest acquisition. They just want him to work with young infielders like Russ Adams and Aaron Hill, who gained from his presence last season. McDonald's presence doesn't affect the infield's other pressing problem.
Toronto still has to decide whether Hill is ready to seize a starting job. And if the Jays decide he is, they have to make room by trading an incumbent starter. That could affect Adams, Corey Koskie or Orlando Hudson -- and it will likely happen before Spring Training.
Does Dustin McGowan have a shot at making the Blue Jays' rotation? His first games were OK, but can he make the rotation? -- Peter K. Wallingford, Conn.
No, McGowan isn't being considered for the rotation this season. The Jays do think he can contribute as a late-inning relief arm, but he may not be ready to start in the big leagues just yet. For whatever reason, his stuff seemed much more crisp when he worked out of the bullpen.
Expect Toronto to be patient with him, owing largely to the presence of several other high-caliber arms in the upper levels of the organization. The starting rotation is the team's strength at this point and should remain that way for the foreseeable future.

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

posted by David @ 4:58 AM