Assistant GM McCleary leaves Jays
10/27/2005
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays announced a change in their front office Thursday, when assistant general manager Tim McCleary parted ways with the team.
McCleary's expertise lay in the interpretation of rules and contracts, a role that may not be filled in the foreseeable future. Paul Godfrey, the team's president and CEO, explained the move in a prepared statement.
"We thank Tim for his many and varied contributions to the club and have a high regard for him both personally and professionally," said Godfrey. "At this time, no decision has been made on a replacement for his position."
The Jays recently promoted former scout Sal Butera to the role of assistant general manager, but Butera's experience lies in baseball matters as opposed to procedural ones. McCleary joined Toronto in November 1995, and he helped prepare the team for contract negotiations, budgeting and the arbitration process.
He gained experience in those areas by working for the Office of the Commissioner from 1986 to 1992. McCleary started as an intern and worked his way to director of player and waiver records before moving on to his first front office job.
McCleary worked for three years with the Yankees as assistant general manager before joining the Jays in the same capacity. After four years, he was promoted to vice president. Now, the Jays have one less voice speaking up in consultation.
"This was a truly difficult decision to make," said J.P. Ricciardi, Toronto's general manager. "Tim is more than just a good baseball man, he's a good friend. But we felt we needed to make a change."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Jays have high hopes for young trio
10/26/2005
TORONTO -- You know about Vernon Wells and Corey Koskie. What about the rest?
Despite the club's youth-dotted roster, most of Toronto's regulars are established players -- established for what they can or can't do over the length of a regular season. The Jays hope to sign or trade for a few more veterans of that stripe during the offseason, but their forward momentum may hinge on further strides from Russ Adams, Aaron Hill and Alex Rios.
All three of those players are recent first-round draft picks, and all three have shown glimpses of their potential. Nobody knows what kind of big leaguers they'll be over the long haul, but Toronto should start to find out in 2006. Rios took a step back in his second full season, and the Jays are hoping for opposite reactions from both Hill and Adams.
"I thought Hill did a great job coming up," said Toronto's general manager, J.P. Ricciardi, at his season-ending press conference. "[Especially] when you think that two years ago, this guy was playing in the College World Series, and [now] he's in the big leagues holding his own. I think he went through a little bit of a dead period, but he bounced back and had a good last month. He went over and played second base -- a position he hadn't really played at -- and did a good job.
"If he's going to be on our club, he has to play every day. I don't think it would do him any good to be a reserve."
In other words, Hill played well enough to move past the part-time role. Ricciardi doesn't want to see one of his top prospects flitting between three positions -- he wants him to find one, conquer it and remove that spot from consideration for the next few seasons. Despite making 26 errors as a rookie, Adams has managed to master the shortstop role.
"I think he played better as the year went on, defensively," said Ricciardi. "I think he's only going to get better there. Sixty-three RBIs out of your shortstop is a pretty good offensive year."
Toronto doesn't know whether Hill will make more sense at second base or third base, and that will likely depend on offseason trade developments with respective incumbents Orlando Hudson and Corey Koskie. Brian Butterfield, the team's infield coach, thinks Adams and Hill will be able to adjust to whatever the situation dictates.
"It makes the job that much more fun when you have players that are hungry, that want to get better and are willing to pay the price," he said in the last week of the season. "They've improved at preparing as a Major League player, and they've improved through repetition in game situations -- both of them -- and it's the same thing as Orlando Hudson.
"When [Hudson] first came in as a starting second baseman, he struggled at first and showed steady improvement. I think that's what we're hoping for with the young guys."
Rios' situation is completely different. The youngster got the job in right field with little or no competition the last two seasons, and he seemed to stall out a bit in his development. He could be on the verge of breaking through or breaking down, and the Jays have to be prepared for either alternative.
Toronto will likely bring in an experienced outfielder this winter, which means that Rios will be left to fight with Reed Johnson, Frank Catalanotto and company for spare at-bats. His situation will be watched extremely carefully. After all, Rios was the MVP of two leagues (the Double-A Eastern League and the Puerto Rican Winter League) just three seasons ago.
"I wouldn't say its a disappointment. It's a typical young kid up-and-down year," said Ricciardi of the outfielder's season. "He had a real period there when he was really going great guns, driving the ball. People made adjustments on him. He's got to learn to make adjustments back. He's still a young player that's learning at the Major League level."
Rios might be part of a dying trend, in that respect. The Jays don't want to wait for their prospects to learn at the big-league level anymore -- they have to make a seamless transition or wait for an injury and play their way into the lineup.
Ricciardi wants to win now and has the means to augment his roster. Consequently, that means that some young players will get shorter leashes next year. Will they thrive or collapse under the pressure? The answer to that question may go a long way toward deciding the ultimate success of the team next season.
"He's learning on the job, basically like a lot of our young guys are," said Wells, speaking about Ricciardi and the team's position. "He's got some money to work with, which will obviously help his decision-making. I know we're all looking forward to it. I know he is. It's a big year for all of us."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Bats awaken for Jays prospects
10/28/2005
Animals don't usually hibernate in the deserts of the Southwest, but the prospects of the Toronto Blue Jays seemed to be doing just that during the first two weeks of the Arizona Fall League.
All of a sudden, the bats of these highly-touted youngsters woke up and started performing at the level everyone had expected. Here is a rundown on how each of the Blue Jays' six prospects did in the AFL last week:
RHP Stephen Andrade: It was a relatively uneventful week for Andrade. The burly right-hander saw action in just two games -- Oct. 22 and 27 -- and in two innings, allowed a run on two hits, while walking one and striking out two.
RHP Bubbie Buzachero: Buzachero was roughed up in his only outing this week. The 24-year-old reliever surrendered two runs to the Mesa Solar Sox on three hits and a walk while striking out three over three innings on Oct. 25.
C Erik Kratz: In an otherwise glum season, Kratz finally had a game that he could be proud of on Oct. 25. Kratz enjoyed a 2-for-4 performance, scoring twice. It was his first multi-hit game, coming in the second game of a doubleheader against Mesa.
LF Adam Lind: After enduring a tough first two weeks in the AFL, the real Adam Lind appeared on Oct. 22 and started a hitting streak that stands now at five games. Lind has at least two hits in each game, and has raised his average from .065 to .260.
C Guillermo Quiroz: Quiroz appears to be another Blue Jays prospect that is starting to shake off his early AFL hitting woes, collecting hits in three consecutive games. The 23-year-old Venezuelan backstop raised his batting average over the .300 threshold when he batted 2-for-4 on Oct. 27 against Phoenix.
2B Ryan Roberts: Roberts had an up-and-down performance for the Saguaros over the last seven days. After going 4-for-10 with two home runs in his first two games, Roberts went hitless for his next three contests before snapping out of the slide with a two-run homer on Oct. 27 against the Desert Dogs.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Topps Players of the Year honored
11/01/2005
The Topps Company of New York, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, announced its George M. Trautman Awards on Tuesday, awarded annually to the Player of the Year in each of 16 affiliated leagues. The 2005 winners represent 14 different Major League teams, including two each from the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers.
Topps Minor League Player of the Year Delmon Young (Devil Rays) headlines this year's list of winners. The 20-year-old outfielder took the honors in the Double-A Southern League after hitting .336 with 20 home runs and 71 RBIs in 84 games for the Montgomery Biscuits.
The other winners at the Double-A level were Mike Jacobs (Mets) of the Binghamton Mets in the Eastern League and Midland's Andre Ethier (Athletics) in the Texas League.
Tucson's Andy Green (Diamondbacks) was named the Triple-A Pacific Coast League Player of the Year after leading the circuit in hits (182), doubles (46), triples (13), extra-base hits (78) and runs (125). And Shane Victorino (Phillies) garnered the award in the International League with his breakout year at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
At the High Class A level, the Minors' home run king, Brandon Wood (Angels), was the California League recipient, coming on the heels of his 43-homer outburst for Rancho Cucamonga.
Leo Daigle's Triple Crown at Winston-Salem assured the White Sox farmhand of the award in the Carolina League and Lakeland's Brent Clevlen (Tigers) led the Florida State League in RBIs (102) and on-base percentage (.387).
In the Low-A ranks, Carlos Gonzales (Diamondbacks) finished in the Midwest League's top five in hits (158), runs (91) and RBIs (92), at the age of 19. He also helped lead the South Bend Silver Hawks to the MWL championship.
Matt Miller (Rockies) had a huge year for Asheville, hitting .330 with 30 homers and 100 RBIs, to win the Trautman Award in the South Atlantic League.
Short-season league winners were Ryan Patterson (Blue Jays) of the Auburn Doubledays in the New York-Penn League and Danville teammates Eric Campbell and Max Ramirez (Braves), who were named Co-Players of the Year in the Appalachian League.
Rookie League recipients included Spokane's Steve Murphy (Rangers) in the Northwest League, Helena's Angel Salome (Brewers) in the Pioneer League, Dodgers prospect Eduardo Perez in the Gulf Coast League and Milwaukee's Lorenzo Cain in the Arizona Summer League.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Jays Care helps treat kids on Halloween
10/31/2005
TORONTO -- It may have been a candyless Halloween, but there were plenty of costumes to go around.
A group of volunteers from Toronto's Jays Care initiative visited a children's hospital on Monday, bearing gifts and wearing disguises to help bring the holiday home. Many of the patients and their parents had their own costumes, which lent some character to the hospital's halls.
"It's heartwarming in that we're able to be here and help," said Holly Purdon, the Jays' coordinator of community relations, who was dressed as a medieval maiden. "These kids are so strong every day of the year. For us to take a little bit of time and make their day brighter, it's the least we can do."
Jays Care is an civic-minded program that involves Toronto's entire support system -- from on-field personnel to executives and other employees. Everyone in the organization donates some time to community service, and the Jays Care Foundation has committed more than $1 million to worthwhile local programs.
Judging by Monday's procession into Marnie's Room, an arts-and-crafts lounge at the hospital, the most recent event was a complete success. Throughout the day, children of all ages and costumes circulated around the room, playing with each other and filling their grab-bags with Toronto hats and stickers.
There were angels and devils, ballerinas and jailbirds, skeletons standing next to clowns with bright rainbow wigs. One youngster summed up the variety with a casual comment to a passerby.
"My brother's an old granny," said the child, dressed as a red Power Ranger.
Marnie's Room was just one of the stops on the tour. There were stations set up on virtually every floor, making it far easier to replicate the trick-or-treat experience. Most stations didn't have candy, though -- the main refreshments were fruit punch and cookies shaped like ghosts and black cats.
Jane Darch, who runs Marnie's Room during the year, said many of the patients look forward to Halloween for weeks on end.
"The kids anticipate it -- all the excitement of choosing a costume and getting ready," said Darch, a Certified Child Life Specialist. "A normal day would be much quieter. There wouldn't be this level of activity or preparation. This is a break in the routine, but it's also something they'd be doing with their friends at home."
Ace, Toronto's mascot, was a big hit with most of the kids. He posed for pictures and helped hand out merchandise, as did the rest of the volunteers. They were dressed up creatively, too, ranging from a cowgirl to an American Gladiator and a hockey player with a blacked-out tooth.
With that said, the costumes were only part of the fun. The rest came from giving back to the community and presenting some relief for people who need it.
"Just the smiles on their faces -- being able to get their attention and see their eyes light up," said Purdon. "This is definitely a priority as far as the program goes. It's an event we've done numerous times in the past and one we'd like to do numerous times in the future. We'd like it to be a tradition."
Darch said she's worked at the hospital since 1998, and she also said that the staffers appreciate the Jays' involvement almost as much as the patients do.
"It's fun. The kids face so many challenges and so many changes when they come to the hospital, so it's nice to provide Halloween for them," she said. "It's an opportunity for the Jays to spend time with the kids and for the kids to meet their heroes. It's fun for the families, too."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Hudson, Wells earn Gold Gloves
11/01/2005
TORONTO -- The row formerly known as Web Gem Way can now be called Gold Glove Drive.
Second baseman Orlando Hudson and center fielder Vernon Wells, two occupants of the back row of lockers in Toronto's clubhouse, earned Gold Glove Awards on Tuesday in recognition of their defense.
"First of all, I want to let the Toronto fans know, 'Thanks for the support,'" said Hudson. "It's fun to win it with a teammate. [Wells is] an unbelievable outfielder -- one of the best in the game."
Wells won for the second straight season, becoming the first Blue Jay to do so since Roberto Alomar in 1994 and 1995. Alomar actually won five straight times, and Hudson was the first Toronto infielder to win since the last of Alomar's victories.
The switch-hitting Hudson led his American League peers in both range factor (5.84) and fielding percentage (.991). He only played in 130 games due to injuries, but he led AL second baseman in putouts (302) and ranked fourth in assists (391).
Still, Hudson said he expected Baltimore's Brian Roberts to earn the accolades.
"I didn't expect it at all," Hudson said. "He had a great year, and the guy can play second base. He makes a lot of hard plays look easy. ... I just knew he had it hands down."
Brian Butterfield, Toronto's infield coach, was nearly certain that Hudson would take the award. He shared that sense with his charge, and Hudson reciprocated by saying Butterfield was one of the main reasons he earned the award.
"He's by far the best infield coach in baseball," he said. "He upped my game. ... [I have] much respect [and] much love [for him]."
"It ain't even close," said Butterfield during the last weekend of the season. "I think he impacts games defensively for us more than any other player in baseball affects the game at their respective position."
Wells is one of just four outfielders in franchise history to win the Gold Glove. The others were Jesse Barfield, Devon White and Shawn Green.
Still, despite the defensive hardware, the former All-Star wasn't thrilled with his season.
"It's two separate parts of my game," said Wells, contrasting his offense and his defense. "Offense is where you're going to struggle at times. That's life. Defensively, if you start struggling there, you're going to affect the team in bigger ways."
Rawlings established the Gold Glove Award to recognize the best fielders at each position. Managers and coaches of each team vote for the best defensive players in their league, excluding their own team.
The first Rawlings Gold Gloves were awarded to one player at each position across both leagues in 1957. Since 1958, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award has been presented annually to a lineup of nine players for both the American and National Leagues.
Wells wasn't surprised to win the Gold Glove again, but he said it was a little more special to do it in the same year as Hudson.
"I think that's the biggest thing, to see that he finally won one," he said. "I think he definitely deserved it in years before this. It's good that people are recognizing what he can do and what he has done.
"He's a special person and a special second baseman. ... We'll have fun receiving that award together."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Jays trying to lure Burnett
11/03/2005
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays' flirtation with their top offseason priority has begun in earnest. Former Marlins hurler A.J. Burnett has been meeting with team officials in Toronto the past couple of days, and he made an appearance at Wednesday night's Raptors game.
Burnett was at the game with two familiar faces -- Roy Halladay and Brad Arnsberg, the Jays' ace and pitching coach, respectively. Burnett spoke to several media outlets, leaving interesting quotes in both the Toronto Sun and the Toronto Star.
When asked about his interest in signing with the Jays, Burnett gave a frank response.
"They're up there," Burnett told the Toronto Star. "We're going to explore our options, obviously, and see what's out there. But definitely it's good, and it shows ... they're interested in me."
The pitcher's relationship with Arnsberg -- one of his former pitching coaches in Florida -- is one of the oft-cited reasons for his interest in Toronto. Burnett confirmed that Wednesday at the basketball game.
"He knows me more than anybody knows me," Burnett told the Toronto Sun. "[Having Brad] helps, but I want to go somewhere where I [can] win.
"I want to go somewhere where the fans want to win as much as I want to win and the club wants to win as much as I want to win, and they've showed me that so far."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Mailbag: Where will Hill play?
11/07/2005
How much of a play will the Jays make in the A.J. Burnett sweepstakes? If they get him, who stays and who goes? What happens with the oft-injured, but talented, Ted Lilly? -- James B., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Toronto will make as big a play as it can for Burnett, a strategy that's been telegraphed for more than a year. In fact, when the Blue Jays promoted Brad Arnsberg to pitching coach last October, the pursuit of Burnett was already taking shape. Arnsberg was one of Burnett's coaches in Florida, and the two share a close relationship to this day.
General manager J.P. Ricciardi has admitted that he would "overpay" for a talent like Burnett. And he may have to, because the ex-Marlin seems to be the top prize in a weak pitching class this winter. Burnett has already visited Toronto and met with Arnsberg and Roy Halladay, so the groundwork is clearly being laid.
Who stays and who goes? That's the whole point of adding talent via free agency instead of trade: Nobody has to go, if Toronto wants to keep its staff intact. Some of the former starters -- Dave Bush and Scott Downs, perhaps -- could move to relief roles to make room.
Otherwise, the Blue Jays would have trade chips to move as they see fit. Halladay is set as the team's ace, and Burnett would slot in right behind him. Lilly would become the rotation's bridge, and the back end would likely be filled by Josh Towers and Gustavo Chacin.
Is there a chance that the Jays might acquire Paul Konerko? I believe he's just what the Jays need to fill the cleanup spot. -- Anthony H., Toronto
The Jays were sitting this one out even before Konerko increased his demand with an outstanding postseason. Now, they'll listen to the daily reports of escalating demands and smile contentedly from the sidelines.
Konerko had a highly visible career year and will be able to name his price despite whispers that he's not one of the league's true elite power bats. The White Sox will likely make a strong push to keep him in the fold, but league sources indicate that Konerko may want to play closer to his California home.
All the signs point to a long and protracted negotiation that may well resemble an auction at times. That's exactly what Toronto wants to avoid -- especially since there are already strong contenders for Konerko's services.
Burnett will probably be the Jays' lone big-ticket pursuit, and they're hoping to land him before the bidding gets out of control.
What will become of Gregg Zaun? Will he be the starting catcher in 2006, or will the Jays go with Guillermo Quiroz? -- Peter T., Toronto
Few players on Toronto's roster have more job security than Zaun. The former backup has seized his first extended shot at a starting job, and at this point, there aren't any realistic alternatives in the organization.
The Jays will likely scout around for another backup type to serve as injury insurance, but they seem set to let Quiroz graduate to the backup slot. The former prospect is out of options, which means the team has to protect him on the 25-man roster or risk losing him to waivers.
Zaun will tutor Quiroz throughout the season and may yield at-bats to him in the second half, depending on the team's position in the standings. If his performance stays level, the Jays may even re-sign Zaun to team with Quiroz in 2007 and beyond.
Aaron Hill proved to be a solid infielder and hitter when playing every day with the Blue Jays. Do you think the team will even think of using him as a bench player? -- Derek B., Pickering, Ont.
That course of action would seem to make a lot of sense, but there's only one problem: The Blue Jays are fully against it. Toronto wants Hill to play every day, even if that means he has to start his season with Triple-A Syracuse.
That's where the team stands in principle. In practice, things may change if the Jays can't whittle down their infield logjam. Hill appears to be blocked at second base, third base and shortstop, and the Jays want to hold on to their incumbents at all three positions.
For a variety of reasons, Hill's most likely landing spot is still second base. Fellow youngster Russ Adams is entrenched at shortstop and doesn't have much trade value yet, and Corey Koskie's healthy salary pushes him out of trade talk at third base. Orlando Hudson, fresh off winning his first Gold Glove Award, is the team's most marketable trade chip.
This is Toronto's most interesting dilemma, and nobody really knows how it will turn out. Still, the educated guess suggests that Hill will be on the Opening Day roster in one capacity or another.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Chacin fifth in AL ROY voting
11/07/2005
TORONTO -- Gustavo Chacin's year officially ended Monday, when the balloting results for the American League's Rookie of the Year Award were released. Chacin received enough support for a fifth-place finish, netting two first-place votes and 14 total points.
Oakland closer Huston Street won the award, giving the A's two consecutive Rookies of the Year. Street was followed by New York's Robinson Cano, Tampa Bay's Jonny Gomes and Chicago's Tadahito Iguchi. Street received 97 points, taking home 15 of the 28 first-place votes.
Cano, Street's closest competitor, finished with four first-place votes and 57 total points. Only three starting pitchers -- Chacin, Oakland's Joe Blanton and Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir -- received as much as a single point on the 5-3-1 scoring system.
Chacin was one of Toronto's most dependable pitchers last year. He was the only member of the Jays' starting staff to make every rotation turn, and in only one month did he post an ERA over 4.50. The southpaw was named the AL's Rookie of the Month in both April and July.
The Venezuela native won just two of his final 12 starts, notching a 2-4 record with a 4.50 ERA in that span. Chacin was 8-6 with a 3.71 ERA at the Rogers Centre and 5-3 with a 3.71 mark on the road. He pitched fewer than five innings in just four of his 34 starts, and one of those was caused by a rain delay.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Cheek, Howarth up for Frick Award
11/08/2005
Toronto broadcasters Tom Cheek and Jerry Howarth are together again, nestled on the same list of candidates for the Ford C. Frick Award. Cheek passed away in October, but he worked with Howarth for more than two decades in an iconic partnership that brought two generations of Toronto fans their daily baseball fix.
Last year, the local populace rewarded Cheek with more than 7,000 online votes, a showing that made him a finalist for the Frick Award. The fans will get a chance to have their say again this year, with three of the award's 10 finalists coming from the popular voting process.
The Hall of Fame lists four items to consider: longevity, continuity with a club, honors and popularity with the fans. Toronto's entries stand out like few others, in that respect. Cheek worked more than 4,000 consecutive games, from the team's inception through its World Series triumphs. Howarth worked next to him for 24 years and remains as the dean of Toronto's broadcast community.
Cheek is perhaps best known for his call of Joe Carter's World Series-winning home run in 1993, and the Blue Jays placed him in their exclusive Level of Excellence shortly before the end of the 2004 season. For many years, he was synonymous with Toronto baseball.
Paul Godfrey, the team's president and CEO, noted that shortly after Cheek's passing.
"Tom Cheek has provided the soundtrack for the most important moments in this team's history, with his choice of words and intonation always perfectly suited for the occasion," he said. "He was far more than just an outstanding announcer, though. He was a great goodwill ambassador for baseball in Canada.
"His love for the game, which radiated through his words on the radio, captivated fans across this country and helped to grow the sport from one coast to the other."
Cheek and Howarth aren't the only ones on the ballot with a Blue Jays connection. Former broadcaster Tony Kubek worked for 30 years after his playing career was over, and almost half of that time was spent in Toronto. Last year's winner was Jerry Coleman, a longtime broadcaster in San Diego.
Presented annually since 1978 for excellence in baseball broadcasting, the Ford C. Frick Award is given to an active or retired broadcaster with a minimum of 10 years of continuous Major League broadcast service with a ballclub, network, or a combination of the two. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for up to three of the 182 broadcasters eligible for consideration for the 2006 Frick Award. Bios of each candidate appear on the site. Fans are allowed to vote once daily. Results will be announced when voting concludes, though updates will not be provided during the voting. The fan selections, along with the full ballot of 10 candidates, will be announced on Dec. 5.
The final ballot will be comprised of the three fan selections, along with seven other candidates, determined by a Hall of Fame staff research team. The Frick electorate includes all living Frick Award winners and six historians appointed by the Hall of Fame.
The voting electorate consists of 20 members, featuring 2005 Frick Award winner Jerry Coleman and the 13 other living Frick Award winners: Marty Brennaman, Herb Carneal, Joe Garagiola, Curt Gowdy, Ernie Harwell, Jaime Jarrin, Milo Hamilton, Harry Kalas, Felo Ramirez, Vin Scully, Lon Simmons, Bob Uecker and Bob Wolff. Six historians and veteran media members are also part of the electorate, including Bob Costas (NBC), Barry Horn (Dallas Morning News), Stan Isaacs (formerly of New York Newsday), Ted Patterson (historian), Curt Smith (historian) and Larry Stewart (Los Angeles Times).
Voters are asked to base their selections on the following criteria: longevity; continuity with a club; honors, including national assignments such as the World Series and All-Star Games; and popularity with fans. Paper ballots will be cast by voting members in January, and the final results will be announced on the Hall of Fame's Web site in February.
Each voter will cast ballots for three candidates, and the broadcaster with the most support will be named the winner and be honored next summer at the annual induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Jays try to lure in free agents
11/09/2005
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays are buyers this winter, but they can't get any business done without selling themselves to each of their prospective signees.
You can see it in the team's pursuit of A.J. Burnett, for instance. It's no longer enough to present a compelling match between the lines -- nowadays, teams have to convince players that their city is a positive instead of a potential drawback.
That's why Burnett was in town last week, meeting with front office executives and Toronto ace Roy Halladay. Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi knows the Jays have to take extra steps to land they players they want.
"What's happened is that the big leagues have become almost like college sports," he said recently. "You see a lot of these guys going up and taking a tour of the city. It's like recruiting."
Ricciardi's team has a lot of selling points, but the GM believes the city of Toronto is one of the more underrated perks. That's why he wants to get potential additions to the roster up early -- so they can find out what the city is like well in advance of their decision.
Once that's out of the way, Ricciardi is confident that players will see a young team that has its best baseball in front of it. Toronto has approximately $25 million to spend this offseason, and Ricciardi wants to add one arm and some additional offensive help.
"I think we're in a better spot because of what we have -- we have more depth," he said. "We'll use Ted Lilly as an example. Ted's a guy we could trade in the offseason. Ted's a guy we could bring back next year.
"Ted's a guy we could offer arbitration to and get a draft pick for, and if Ted's a guy we could lose at the end of [the 2006 season], we could have [David] Purcey or [Zach] Jackson step right in. We haven't been in that position before.
"Most of the contracts we have are good contracts from that standpoint. They can either bring us something in return or they can help us here."
The Jays will likely scour the free agent market, but they could also be involved in some trades. Ricciardi said blockbuster deals aren't likely, though. He said he'll have a better chance of adding talent if he doesn't have to surrender any of his own.
"I think trades are getting harder to make because more teams are doing a better and better job of managing their payroll," he said. "They don't have to make trades to move money. It has to be their need for your need, and it's getting tougher and tougher to match up."
The Jays are likely to make a full run at Burnett, which could take up a lot of their attention and discretionary income. After that, the offense is the next priority -- and Ricciardi said he'd like to add a few mid-level bats.
Toronto had some problems in the power department last season, but that's not likely to be corrected this winter. Ricciardi said it would probably be easier to find a few solid hitters with plate discipline, which puts more of an emphasis on situational hitting.
"There will always be someone out there, but we don't want to just spend money for the sake of spending money," he said. "If we take the whole team, bring the whole team back and nothing changes, with Halladay healthy, I think we win 85-87 games.
"It's our goal to get better than that, so we have to do some things to get over the hump."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
McDonald rejoins Blue Jays
11/10/2005
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays added a familiar glove to their infield logjam on Thursday when they reacquired John McDonald from the Tigers for cash considerations.
McDonald, a defensive specialist, spent half of last season with Toronto. He was traded to Detroit on July 22 for cash considerations, essentially clearing a roster spot for Corey Koskie's return from the disabled list.
The utilityman split time with Russ Adams in the early portions of last season, spelling the rookie against left-handed pitchers. McDonald batted .277 overall, posting a .326 on-base percentage. For his career, McDonald is a .241 hitter with four home runs and 49 RBIs.
McDonald will likely serve as injury insurance for Toronto, but his presence may also signal another imminent trade. The Blue Jays have established starters at each infield position, plus Aaron Hill waiting in the wings for his own spot.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Jays prospects finish their AFL seasons
11/11/2005
At this time of year, most birds are flying south to avoid the harsh winter months.
Six Toronto prospects are heading in the opposite direction after completing their six-week stay in the Arizona Fall League. The Blue Jays saw Stephen Andrade became one of the most dominating relievers in the league, while outfielder Adam Lind righted himself after an early slump.
Here is how all six Blue Jays farmhands fared during the final week of the AFL campaign:
RHP Stephen Andrade -- Andrade was unhittable during the last week, retiring all six batters he faced in two appearances. He struck out four, bringing his total to 23 in just 13 innings. The 27-year-old right-hander limited opponents to a .170 average and had a 4.15 ERA that was skewed by one bad outing.
RHP Bubbie Buzachero -- Buzachero saw a lot of action this week, pitching four innings over three appearances and taking the loss in two of those games. The Tennessee native finished 0-3 with one save and a 5.30 ERA in 13 AFL outings.
C Erik Kratz -- Kratz got into just one game this week, going hitless in four trips to the plate on Nov. 8 against the Peoria Javelinas. The 25-year-old backstop batted .192 in 16 games with two RBIs.
LF Adam Lind -- Lind hit safely in four of his last five games, including a 2-for-5 night with two RBIs and two runs scored on Nov. 7. After collecting just two hits in his first 10 AFL games, Lind finished the season with a .238 average, one home run and 10 RBIs.
C Guillermo Quiroz -- The 23-year-old Venezuelan backstop fared well during the final week of the season, getting hits in two of three games. On Nov. 7, he went 2-for-5 with his lone AFL home run. Quiroz ended up batting .294 in 15 games.
2B Ryan Roberts -- Roberts finished his AFL season on a rough note, going 2-for-12 in his last four games. Both his hits came against the Javelinas on Nov. 8, when he went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
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/
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/
Report: Towers agrees to terms
11/15/2005
TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays have yet to make a splash in the free agent market this winter, but the team is doing what it can to protect its core of emerging young talent.
The Blue Jays reportedly have come to terms on a two-year, $5.2 million deal with right-hander Josh Towers. The 28-year-old California native notched career highs in wins (13) and innings pitched (208 2/3) in 2005, while his career-low 3.71 ERA was the best on Toronto's maturing staff.
"For the most part [the deal] is done," said Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi. "There's just a few things that have to be cleaned up."
News of the deal was reported in Tuesday's editions of the Toronto Globe and Mail. An official announcement from the team is expected later Tuesday or on Wednesday.
Towers broke into the Majors with the Baltimore Orioles before joining the Jays in 2003, going 8-1 as a spot starter and long reliever. He cracked the rotation in 2004 and went 9-9 in 21 outings before posting a 13-12 mark in 33 starts this past season.
The soft-throwing control pitcher walked just 29 of the 876 batters he faced, while striking out a career-best 112.
The deal represents a major raise for Towers, who earned just $358,000 last season. He'll reportedly cash in with a $2.3 million salary in 2006 and a $2.9 million payday in 2007.
Towers earned the deal by providing stability for the Blue Jays after staff ace Roy Halladay was lost for the season with a fractured leg. Thirteen of Towers' final 14 outings were quality starts, and he won seven of those starts.
"Anytime he goes out there, you know you can count on him," Toronto manager John Gibbons said of Towers in the midst of that stretch. "There's something to be said for guys that are winners."
News of Towers' deal comes as one of his former Baltimore teammate, free agent closer B.J. Ryan, visited Toronto on Monday. Ryan and his wife toured the city and went to dinner with Ricciardi.
Asked about the meeting on Monday afternoon, Ricciardi was both optimistic and cautious.
"So far, so good," he said. "But it's not how it goes, it's where they sign."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Rogers Centre undergoing makeover
11/16/2005
TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays are tinkering with their ballpark again this winter, feathering the nest to make their home stadium a little more fan-friendly.
It's been almost a year since the team purchased the stadium known as SkyDome, renamed it Rogers Centre, and then installed a new playing surface and a video display system, featuring out-of-town scoreboards built into the outfield wall.
Toronto fans responded to the changes by clicking through the turnstiles more frequently last summer. The Jays drew almost 25,000 people per game to their new-look ballpark, and the team topped the two-million mark in season attendance for the first time since 1999.
Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey said taking control of the stadium led to a "dramatic improvement" in the team's relationship with fans.
"We've put a lot of money into the building just to improve the cleanliness and general day-to-day maintenance," he said. "The response that we got from the public has been very good."
Now the team is planning another offseason of upgrades to its lakefront home. Godfrey said three major projects are in the works this winter and that the Jays are already talking about plans for 2007.
The biggest project is an overhaul of the concourse that rings the field level seats. Godfrey said the area will be widened and brightened by removing some seats that are covered by the stadium's second deck.
"They're not the greatest seats," Godfrey said. "What we're going to do is take out about three rows of seats and basically widen the concourse area, make it brighter and improve the way the concession stands look, just give it an overall better feel."
Also in the works is a re-fit of the club seating area in the stadium's second deck.
"We're going to shrink it a little bit to make it more exclusive," said Godfrey, adding that the new club section will also boast a buffet dining section and theater-style seats.
Finally, the team is renovating 43 luxury boxes and will convert some of them into larger party suites that can accommodate as many as 150 people.
"There seems to be a demand to have bigger suites where people can hold executive office parties, larger birthday parties, bigger evenings out with bigger crowds."
The team is already looking ahead to next winter, Godfrey said, when they plan to "totally rebuild" the Blue Jays' clubhouse and weight room area below the third-base stands. The visitors' clubhouse may also get a makeover.
"Capital dollars are always at a premium," Godfrey said. "It all depends on budget availability, but we're hoping to do that as well."
Another project on the long-term agenda involves adding some type of facade to the exterior of the stadium, a monolith that is oft criticized for being cold and imposing.
"We've been working on the inside of the building first," Godfrey said. "What we would plan to do in a future phase is look at the outside of the building and try to soften the concrete look out there as well."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Jays fill two remaining spots
11/18/2005
TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays rounded out their 40-man roster on Friday, filling the two remaining spots by purchasing the contracts of right-handed pitcher Josh Banks and infielder Ryan Roberts.
Banks, 23, pitched for the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats in 2005, posting an 8-12 record and a 3.83 ERA in a team-leading 27 starts. The Baltimore native ranked fifth in the Eastern League in both strikeouts (145) and innings pitched (162 1/3) and was selected to play in the league's All-Star Game.
A second-round pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, Banks finished the season strong, striking out 66 batters while walking only three over his final 11 starts.
Roberts, 25, opened the 2005 season in the Florida State League but won a promotion to New Hampshire after swatting nine homers in 42 games for Class A Dunedin.
An 18th-round pick in the 2003 draft, Roberts kept up his hot hitting at Double-A, collecting 15 home runs in 92 games with the Fisher Cats. He added 19 doubles and 44 RBIs and showed a good eye at the plate, drawing 55 walks.
The Texas native, who played second base and saw time at designated hitter, finished off his year in the Arizona Fall League, hitting five home runs and driving in 15 in a 27-game stint with the Peoria Saguaros.
With the additions of Banks and Roberts, Toronto is carrying 21 pitchers, two catchers, 10 infielders and seven outfielders on its 40-man roster.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Two Jays honored by Topps
11/17/2005
The Blue Jays were driven by youth for most of the 2005 season, and two of those youngsters were recognized for their efforts on Thursday. The Jays placed two players -- Russ Adams and Gustavo Chacin -- on the Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team.
Both Adams and Chacin were unanimous nominations, and Toronto was one of just three teams with more than one player on the list. Oakland and Atlanta, which boast strongly touted player-development systems, were the other two teams.
Adams was J.P. Ricciardi's first draft choice as Toronto's general manager, and he made rapid progress through the organization before a September callup in 2004. The left-handed hitter was Toronto's shortstop from wire to wire in 2005, and he added leadoff duties as the season progressed.
Adams batted .256 with 40 extra-base hits, and he demonstrated a healthy command of the strike zone (50 walks and 57 strikeouts). His play in the field was another issue, though. Adams proved he was athletic enough to handle shortstop, but he made 26 errors, a total exceeded by just one of his Major League peers.
Chacin, on the other hand, was an unqualified success. The Venezuela native made a name for himself in 2004, when he turned his fourth tour of Double-A into an attention-grabbing season. He made his big-league debut that September and went to Spring Training as a favorite for a rotation slot.
The southpaw took hold of that spot and kept it all season, and he was the only member of Toronto's starting staff who never missed a turn. He was named the American League's Rookie of the Month twice, and he posted an ERA higher than 4.50 in just one month of the season. Chacin led Toronto in starts (34), wins (13) and strikeouts (121).
The Topps Major League Rookie All-Star team began in 1959. Each Rookie All-Star's 2006 Topps trading card will feature a trophy.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Prospects work to stay with big club
11/18/2005
TORONTO -- Thursday brought snow to Toronto for the first time this fall. It was only a few flakes, but a definite sign of the white winter still to come before the Blue Jays are back in town. So what better time to start talking about Winter League baseball?
Winter ball is certainly what catcher Guillermo Quiroz and outfielder Alex Rios are talking about these days. While Toronto watches the flakes fly, Quiroz and Rios are watching fly balls in Venezuela and Puerto Rico, respectively.
For the 23-year-old Quiroz, billed as Toronto's catcher of the future, the winter stint with his hometown Zulia Aguilas is a chance to play more after three seasons wracked by injuries.
For the 24-year-old Rios, who was MVP of the Puerto Rican league when he played for the Caguas Criollos two years ago, it's a chance to sharpen his skills and stay loose over the offseason.
"Both of these guys just want to play," said Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi. "One needs to play, and one wants to play. They're still young players; they're still developing."
As befits a catcher, Quiroz's list of injuries is long and painful. He missed time with a collapsed lung in 2003 and spent seven weeks on the sidelines with a fractured finger in 2004.
Things got even worse in Spring Training 2005, when he tore a muscle in his right shoulder. He battled his way back to health only to suffer another collapsed lung, eventually winding up in surgery to correct the problem.
But Quiroz worked his way to Toronto by late August, appearing in 36 games with the Jays, then tuned up for Zulia by batting .294 in 15 games with the Peoria Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League.
Quiroz made an impression on Toronto skipper John Gibbons, a former catcher, with improved game-calling skills during his time in the Majors this summer. If Quiroz wants to make more of a name for himself next summer, he'll use the winter to work on extending the flashes of power he's shown from time to time.
The stocky Quiroz, who hit 20 home runs at Double-A in 2003, had six homers in 39 games with Zulia last season.
"Every time I get hurt and try to come back, my timing is off," he said when asked about his power stroke on the last day of the 2005 season.
"I'm trying to catch up with fastballs. It's tough."
Rios hasn't been able to regain the power he had in the winter of 2003-04, when he hit .348 with 12 homers and 37 RBIs in Puerto Rico, then drove home 11 more runs during the playoffs.
But the lanky outfielder with the rifle arm hit 10 homers for Toronto in 2005, a vast improvement over his debut season.
Still, Rios looked rough around the edges at times last summer. In mid-September, he was pulled in the second inning of a game against New York for failing to hustle on a routine fly ball. But the youngster learned his lesson quickly and came back strong, batting .357 over his final 10 games.
Another Blue Jay playing baseball this winter is Double-A farmhand Steve Andrade, one of two closers in the bullpen for Team USA at an Olympic qualifying tournament going on this week in Arizona.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
