According to Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star, a multiyear deal for Matt Stairs would leave Adam Lind’s 2008 playing time in question.
Vernon Wells and Alex Rios will lock up center and right field for many years. And DH Frank Thomas is under contract for 2008 with a reasonable vesting option for ’09. If Stairs is retained and gets another 300 ABs, Lind will be at best locked into a platoon. And he and Stairs are both left-handed.
Lind, who turned 24 last July, began the season at Triple A. He quickly got the call in April when Reed Johnson was injured. Lind hit well initially, but was terrible in May and June as the full-time left fielder. He was demoted by July and posted a good but not great performance until his September call-up.
Before the season, Lind was considered an "outstanding offensive prospect" by Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein. Goldstein ranked Lind 43rd overall on his top 100 prospects list. He obviously didn’t make much progress this year, making him a fine buy-low candidate for another GM. If Stairs is re-signed, GMs should come calling for Lind.
As I mentioned here, the Jays’ primary need is a shortstop. If J.P. Ricciardi decides to give up on Lind, he could use him in a deal for Edgar Renteria, Jack Wilson, or Miguel Tejada.
