Davidi: Oliver undecided about 2013 season

[BigLeagueChew]

The 41-year-old Toronto Blue Jays left-hander said Sunday he remains undecided about his future and won't really begin to consider it until he's back home for the winter, although he sounds like someone who may be ready to walk away from the game.

Though this campaign has been Oliver's best as a reliever numbers-wise -- he's 3-3 with a 1.78 earned-run average over 60 games, covering 55.2 innings, allowing just 41 hits and 14 walks with 52 strikeouts -- the main factor in his decision will be "my two kids and my wife."

"I would never play this game and be away from them and take that away from them," said Oliver. "Every kid needs a father at home. That's important to me. I think it should be important to a lot of people. Baseball's second. Family's first. I've always said that."

"You guys catch me in the off-season somewhere," he said with a grin. "See what happens when I'm in the Bahamas."

[Santoki]

We ruined his post-season streak. He will probably retire or go somewhere with a better shot at the post-season. He was only on a 1-year deal, right?

[Michael Bradley]

He has a team option for 2013 at $3M. So he either plays for the Blue Jays in 2013 or retires, unless the Jays decide to decline his option in which case he is free to sign with anyone (the latter is highly unlikely though given the year Oliver had and AA's unhealthy obsession with relievers).

Jays fans better hope Oliver stays for a year. Nevermind that he is good, could you imagine him leaving and AA deciding he has to sign another reliever for millions who will likely be no where near as good as Oliver?

[satyr9]

Since we have no idea what will happen to Perez post-rehab, keeping Oliver around has to be a priority. He's just a rock back there at this point (who knew that would happen, there was a time he was almost one of my go-to punchline guys for bottom of the barrel hanger-on guys in MLB).

IMO, if the Jays could have this core going next year, they'd have the makings of a great bullpen:

Janssen
Santos
Delabar
Lincoln
Lyon/Frasor (bring back 1 and maybe even that's not necessary, but after using 90 relievers this year, I'd feel safer)

Oliver
Loup

That leaves guys like Carreno, Dyson, Stroman, Crawford, Cecil, and the rest of the Carpenter, Beck, Jenkins, et al. types as injury replacements, they're relatively injury proof and have high-end potential. Without Oliver and Perez there's a strong need for a quality lefty, 'cause Loup's been great, but you need two and totally relying on a surprise rookie to perfectly repeat is never a good idea.