Instead of spending heavily in the free-agent market, Anthopoulos is investing in other areas first. Toronto has put an emphasis on acquiring young talent through trades and improving via the First-Year Player Draft. Last year, Anthopoulos spent $11.6 million on Draft signing bonuses, which according to Baseball America is the third-highest amount in Draft history.
"Our focus is to continue to try to build, to continue to try to get core pieces all over the diamond," Anthopoulos said. "That [may have] to impact the short term in order to do it. That's what the [Shaun] Marcum trade was all about -- not a fun trade to have to make, but we feel that Brett Lawrie can be that All-Star caliber player six years and beyond. That makes a whole lot of sense for us, especially with timing of our other young players."
The model for this type of approach can be found in Florida. The Tampa Bay Rays have been consistent playoff contenders for the past three years because they made a concerted effort to develop their Minor League system. During last season's playoffs, 12 of the 25 players on Tampa's roster were developed internally. Others, such as right-hander Matt Garza, were able to be acquired through trades because of the depth of young talent.
The Blue Jays are looking to take a similar approach to building a roster, but Anthopoulos says that's where the similarities end between the two organizations.
Despite winning the American League East twice in three years, Tampa Bay averaged just 23,064 fans per game in 2010. Low attendance is one of the reasons the Rays were unable to pursue any of their top free agents. Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena have already left for other organizations, while Rafael Soriano is all but assured to follow suit. There's also talk the club may have to part ways with top starters like Garza or James Shields.
Anthopoulos insists that scenario won't happen with the Blue Jays if they are able to develop a similar core. The club is owned by Rogers Communications, an organization with seemingly endless resources, and Toronto's GM has been ensured that when the timing is right the money will start flowing -- and he thinks the fans will follow.
"Whenever there has been a buzz, an excitement for baseball in the city, the fans come out," Anthopoulos said. "Some of those other markets have proven they can win, and they've done it for a few years and they still haven't drawn in attendance.
"Our upside will happen if we have that type of success. We'll be able to keep those players and we'll be able to sign them."
The strategy is similar to the one used by former general manager Pat Gillick during the 1970s and 1980s. Gillick treated the Blue Jays like a small-market club during the organization's early years, opting to build the team through the Draft and international scouting.
During the Blue Jays' first eight years of existence, they consistently ranked in the bottom 10 of the Major Leagues in team payroll. By 1985, Gillick felt his team was close to contending and the overall salary increased into the top 10. The end result was the Blue Jays making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Over the next several years, Gillick continued to add payroll, and by 1992 he oversaw a team with the largest budget in the Major Leagues. The progression didn't happen over night and if there's something Anthopoulos can learn from one of his predecessors, it's patience.
"It's a lot easier to go from 75 wins to 85 than it is to go from 85 to 95," Anthopoulos said. "It's a much steeper and greater hill to climb. Incrementally improving two or three games is a big deal."
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/ar ... r&c_id=tor
