Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail reported yesterday that the Blue Jays are not looking outside the organization for pitching help or trying to deal Lyle Overbay. The Jays are hanging on to first place in the AL East by a half game after losing four straight. Here are the details from Blair's blog entry:
- The Jays plan to rely on pitchers within the organization such as Casey Janssen and Ricky Romero (both returning to the team).
- The Jays aren't even scouting Mark Mulder.
- The Jays would listen to offers for Lyle Overbay, who has an OPS of .867 and as many walks as strikeouts (17). However, they don't have the depth to deal Overbay because, as Blair points out, Kevin Millar "is not an option" as an everyday player.
- Overbay makes $7MM this year and the same amount in 2010, but he plays good defense. Last year he was the seventh-best defensive first baseman in the majors according to the plus/minus system.
- Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi says he hasn't been proactive on the trade front.
- He says he's under no pressure to lower payroll.
