Next year

[Bam-Bam Bigelow]

Big year for the Jays. They either rebuild during the summer or go for it all. Is Rogers willing to increase payroll? If Rogers is willing to bring in a free agent bat, the Jays got a chance. If not, they really should of rebuilt. Personally, I would of gone the rebuilding route. Failing next year will force the Jays to trade Halladay at the trade deadline and he'll be strictly a 2-3 month rental. Jays won't get the package of prospects they were getting now.

The team lacks hitting depth and has for years. Look what the Snider injury forced the Jays into this year, Delucci, Inglett and Adams. I don't want to go into next year relying on Snider to have an Adam Lind like year and for all 3 of Wells/Rios/Overbay to have good years cause that just isn't likely. Signing an extra bat lets the Jays keep Snider in the minors. Then when one of the batters gets hurt or when they start struggling heavily, bench them and make room for Snider. No playing around next year. It doesn't matter how much they're paying the player, if he doesn't perform bench his ass. For all the pitching depth the team has, they have no hitting depth and JP's band-aid solutions have all sucked (Wilkerson, Dellucci, etc). Figgins seems like a good option, but it will be tough to get him away from Anaheim. He would provide some much needed speed and can play 3b.

[Mak]

Only 8 months left!

[Bam-Bam Bigelow]

Only 8 months left!

Jays are done this year, might as well look forward. Looks like the payroll will be at 95 mill+ if the Jays bring everyone back. Team will still lack a bat and do you really see Rogers without Ted going into the 100 mill+ range for this team next year? Rebuilding looks like the best option and JP holding onto veteran players at the trade deadline was bad management.

[Mak]

I agree with you. It just sucks that every year after the all star game all we have is hope for next year.

[Hoopstarrzz]

Based on the suggestion that we'll be trying to contend next yr, I would say that next year, the sure-shot players in the lineup should be:

Shoe in's for the lineup:
2B Aaron Hill
LF Travis Snider
DH Adam Lind
RF Alex Rios (no one would trade for him)
CF Vernon Wells (forget about anyone wanting him)

Re-signings:
Use the money free'd up by the Rolen trade to re-sign:
- scoots to a 2 yr deal in the 4 mill per range
- Barajas to a 1 yr contract
- Frasor via abitration

Trades:
- Use Overbay's expiring deal, package him with the likes of Scott Downs and Brian Tallet for an upgrade at 1B. Someone who can hit for power. A pure slugger who has a knack of cashing in runners and belt big shots all over the park. Doesn't have to be a 1B necessarily. If need be, we can make him a DH and use Lind at 1B.
- Package some of our arms like Purcey, Carlson, Jennsen and Camp out for minor league hitting prospects.

FA Signings:
- If Overbay can't be traded for, than spend money on a big-time FA slugger who's in his prime. Be a part of a bidding war for once!

Pitching:
Next year's rotation should look like (assuming Litsch and McGowan aren't back yet):
1- Halladay
2- Marcum
3- Romero
4- Richmond
5- Cecil

Bull pen should be like:
1- Closer: Frasor
2- League
3- Zip
4- Hayhurst
5- Accardo
6- ??
7- ??

[Bam-Bam Bigelow]

FA Signings:
- If Overbay can't be traded for, than spend money on a big-time FA slugger who's in his prime. Be a part of a bidding war for once!

The problem is, the payroll will be at 95 mill next year if they bring back everyone. How are the Jays gonna add a big bat? Payroll this year was about 82 mill, and even then Rogers made some comments about being more cost sensitive next year. Seems really unlikely that they will go into the 100 mill range.

[Modern_epic]

Actually, the problem is that this is baseball, not basketball.

Also, "Be part of a bidding war for once"? There is the A.J. Burnett guy I've heard about, I wonder if he's available. He seems like the kind of guy that would cause a bidding war this offseason; he's done it twice before. I can't remember who won those, though.

[DD38]

Tear everything down

the only way we can win is if we do a rays type of thing

rebuild the whole team next year except for hill, lind, romero

everyone else should be up for grabs especially doc who deserves better and whom we can get so much for

[Modern_epic]

Basketball fans are so cute.

[why22]

Tear everything down

the only way we can win is if we do a rays type of thing

rebuild the whole team next year except for hill, lind, romero

everyone else should be up for grabs especially doc who deserves better and whom we can get so much for

snider dude that guy has worlds of upside

[LieCheatSteal]

I don't think the Jays can go shortsighted next year and "go for it all". This team, talent-wise, just doesn't match up to the Yanks and Sox. And what credible bat are you going to bring in to go for it knowing that this is the year they "go for it" but missing leads to a complete rebuild.

My suggestion is do what the Pirates did (but not as embarrassingly) by stripping parts for prospects even if you are fielding a semi-competent team. Move as many veteran players as possible (ie Halladay, Overbay, Scutero, Barajas, Bautista and, hoping upon hope, Wells) but keep Lind and Hill and play the prospects. Let them take their lumps. As for the pitching staff, it does look OK with Marcum and McGowan returning, Litsch midseason (but he won't be a factor anyways because he sucks regardless of Tommy John or not), plus Romero, Richmond and Cecil are back. Bullpen's OK with a healthy Downs, League, Frasor, Camp, Hayhurst and a healthy Janssen.

Then, when you assess what you have and don't have, then you add FAs and take in salary. So, next year is a down year but, at least, make it a productive year. Being shortsighted in this division doesn't work.