RealGM

Good article in case any of you missed it:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/s ... id=3588364

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "Toronto has the best front-end pitching in the American League. They have the best pitching staff in our league, period."

And I'm sure Colorado was hoping for the same thing coming into 2008.

The problem with the Jays is they are going to have to re-sign Burnett (or sign someone comparable), add a Manny Ramirez type bat for the middle of the order, and get a competent short-stop like Furcal (free agent) or JJ Hardy (trade) without losing any key members on the team presently. That's just to have a chance at making the playoffs. Re-signing Burnett is possible, but adding that potent middle of the order bat plus a SS who is actually an above average two-way player seems rather unlikely at the moment.

Right now, as much as I expect AJ to become unreliable again when he gets a new contract, I'm all for extending him as long as there are no more opt-out or no-trade clauses included. Burnett has proven to be a very good #2 calibre starter in the AL. It's just his durability which is an issue. He's a pitcher who can go to Fenway or Yankee Stadium and completely dominate. Jesse Litsch, Dave Purcey, Ricky Romero, etc, don't give off that type of intimidation.

This is a very critical off-season. If Rogers is willing to pony up the money, then the pieces are in place for a potential playoff team. Unfortunately, JP "no risks" Ricciardi is still going to be the GM most likely.

The solution, if AJ scares you, is to go after Ben Sheets or C.C. Sabathia instead. Perhaps more money, but I can't imagine a team with CC and Roy Halladay in the rotation missing the playoffs.

Also, I agree that Dave Purcey may not intimidate in Yankee Stadium or Fenway... but there's a good chance that the Rays would be scared if he walked to the mound at Tropicana.

Out of curiousity, how much do you guys think the Jays should pay to keep Burnett at most? What would be your maximum offer to AJ?

Holmes wrote:And I'm sure Colorado was hoping for the same thing coming into 2008.

I'm sure as well.

This run shouldn't be the basis for an attempted playoff run in 2009; the Jays are a borderline playoff team, but playing in a division where that's simply not good enough. Consider the Red Sox; they have played below their capabilities for much of the season (the injury to Ortiz is a large reason), yet they'll probably win 95+. The Rays might struggle to recreate this year (+6 over their exp. win total thus far), but how big a step back will they take? And will a pissed-off Yankees team throw around cash like never before?

If the Jays can get Ben Sheets, go and get him. If AJ Burnett wants to play out the remaining two years, by all means keep him. But I'd be just as happy to see this team rebuild on the fly, set themselves up for a massive salary dump in two years (when Rolen and Overbay come off the books), and look to trade Wells now that he has reestablished his trade value.

Michael Bradley wrote:This is a very critical off-season. If Rogers is willing to pony up the money, then the pieces are in place for a potential playoff team. Unfortunately, JP "no risks" Ricciardi is still going to be the GM most likely.

Funny that Rogers ponied up the money in 2005 (210 mil over 3 years) to get Riccardi to build a playoff team. Now, with being at the peak of spending all that money, Rogers has to provide more for this team to even contend. All the while Boston's homegrown talent has made them even harder to catch and Tampa comes out of no where with their stockpile of 1st rounders.
Good times.