2012 MLB Free Agent List

The Bluejays are 2+ years from being a serious contender but they can make a substantial move next year. When you look at the free agent lists for 2012 – 13 they have opportunities to improve their pitching at an affordable price point. I believe they have decent hitting and just need to fine tool that side of the roster. The young players will get better, Bautista, Lind and Escobar will stay status quo. We’re not building a dream team here so there will be weak spots such as 2nd, maybe left field but they won’t be that big a drag on the team. The players at those positions will be MLB average quality or better. 2014 could field the top team in the majors and they could make a 2 to 3 year run at the prize. It’ll get really interesting starting next season and as they mature they’ll be hard to match. A few tweaks here and there and who knows. I hope that Anthopoulos continues to add what is necessary and not what the media and dopey fans think they need. So…

Drabek is a 5th starter next year at best and you can’t rely on any current minor league pitcher to make a substantial contribution next year, if they do !@&?!..Ayy! We need at least 1 free agent starter signed for next year a 2nd starter would be the perfect scenario. I’d go hard after Rich Harden as long as he’s healthy and C.J. Wilson. Villanueva moves to the bullpen and can makes starts if necessary and by that time McGowan should be in the pen as well. By adding in two starters we improve the pen and now all we need is a closer and we should have the cash available to sign a Heath Bell, J. Broxton or a closer with upside over a 1 – 2 year span for a minimum of 2 – 3 years. Now guys like Francisco and even Rauch can pitch in a more preferable role and not be thrown to the wolves by asking them to do what they’re not capable of. There are always relievers available and if we can keep/tweak what we have and make a couple of quality signings this team has real promise as long as the 25 and under crowd continues to improve. We blow too many saves and our starting pitching is not consistent enough. Fix what is broken and we’ll see a real turn around.

Just a few thoughts on the 2011 and improving Jays.

P.s.
I fondly remember the Expos of the 90’s. They drafted well, had a great manager in Felipe and started to really fly in 94 and then… Armageddon! The team was blown up and dip-shits who answered to accountants kept the team down until they sent it to that shithole otherwise known as DC. It hurt so much!! The current Bluejays are not in that type of a situation other than they have a young team that needs to gain experience and mature. Fans need to support this team and understand how good Rasmus, Morrow and Romero are going to be. Maybe Snider and or Thames prove to be above average and hit for power consistently and maybe Lawrie turns out to be a decent fielder with an excellent bat. Drabek becomes a 12 game + winner and man you’ve got a team. I’m not even taling about what you have coming up through the minors. Take any other team out there and see if you have that much potential going forward. Not much to choose from is there? Mark my words in 2014 if we stay on this path the Jays will post a minimum 100 win season and they can maintain a high profile for at least 3+ years.

Is it a coincidence that Anthopoulos grew up watching the Expos of the 90’s? Ask him how much it hurt him to see the strike of 94 crush a team and to watch their slow demise until they left. He worked there in the tough times, he saw the Jays win back to back and he saw great things diminished in Montreal. The Jays are lucky to have him because he knows the formula for success and you’re seeing it in action. Be patient and you’ll see a top flight team for years to come. By the way anybody who says that Beltran, Reyes etc… are the answer need to have their head examined and maybe try living in the real world rather than in Moms basement.