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Since neither Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos nor president and chief executive officer Paul Beeston make a habit of lying, it’s easy to take them at their word when they say Rogers Communications will pump payroll into the club when asked. It’s almost as if there is a plan in place, high up on some shelf and ready to be enacted at the right moment. The key, of course, is determining that moment, and part of the equation has to be the relative strength or weakness of the Yankees, Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, right? Isn’t that part of determining the window of opportunity?

“Honestly, I think our window of opportunity will be based first and foremost on our own talent level,” Anthopoulos said Thursday upon his return from Orlando, still chuffed from a 30-minute, preflight, brain-picking session with Hall of Fame bound former Blue Jays general manager Pat Gillick.

In other words, regardless of what everybody else in the American League East does and regardless of baseball’s future playoff structure, Anthopoulos is still in a long-term talent accumulation phase. That’s why Shaun Marcum was traded for high-ceilinged, 20-year-old offensive infielder Brett Lawrie. That’s why the Blue Jays are interested in Zack Greinke – just one year older than Ricky Romero – but not to the point where they’d give the Kansas City Royals carte blanche to pick through their minor-league system. Greinke is the exception, especially if the Blue Jays get a window to talk contract.

Anthopoulos doesn’t think he needs to “react” to other teams’ signings. Throw the fans a bone, like Manny Ramirez at designated hitter? Only if the price is really cheap, and only for one year.

See, Anthopoulos does not function or think in a vacuum. Does he watch what has gone on with the Maple Leafs and Raptors? You bet he does. No way will he let a player hold his team hostage the way Chris Bosh did with the Raptors; you don’t want to sign an extension, you’ll be out of here well before the start of your final season. (And, yes, the guess here is Anthopoulos is wondering what Jose Bautista’s market value is right now, considering how many teams are looking for sluggers.)

Has Anthopoulos gone to school on what happens when you fudge a rebuild the way Brian Burke has done? Of course, that has been a cautionary tale, and to that end the good news is you can’t trade draft picks in baseball. Been enough of that around here, no?

UssjTrunks wrote:I wish he could simultaneously manage all of Toronto's sports teams.