**** Pyzinzki

He's a type A FA too so we'd be giving up a pick, let's hope it's not true.

not true as arbitration was never offered

ahhhh ty, this is less bad then, but still pretty bad

AA's first mistake?

dont really see this as a huge mistake. AJP is solid, JPA is probably getting moved. Something tells me that he doesn't really project all that well, plus AA is hogging all the catchers and people are going to want to pay out.

McGowan resigned too, 1-year at $450k

Bunch of ppl saying on other jays sites, that the Chicago writer that reported this is the 2p2 equivalent of grearrrrr, so dont think its official yet.

Whats the point of adding jeroloman to 40man, signing wakamatsu to tutor arencibia, to sign pierz...

oakland non tendered e-5, lol

yeah i just looked up AJ's stats. he's not as good as I thought he was, though he's probably just had an off-year. I mean I guess he could just be regressing now and is just now ******, but his babip was 34 points lower than the year before and like 24 below his career numbers, so that could simply be an outlier. still, I always thought he was a decent hitter as opposed to the slightly below average that he really has been over his career.

Russell martin on trading block with <30min b4 non-tender deadline...

He got non-tendered, let's sign him. I love Russell.

Ok, Fred Lewis and Jeremy Accardo both gone, nothing suprising beside that Jeremy Accardo is a whiney bitch, and cost himself 1.5~mill. If he kept his mouth shut, he would have been tendered a contract, yet he whines like a little bitch, not realizing that he isnt the same pitcher since his injury in 2008.

Yea Russell is snap call imo, if he hits 275/350/400 and we pick him off the scrap heap for 3-4 mill, excellent deal.

Have u seen his stats? lol

Yes, have u seen his stats? Yea they declined the last few years, but a few years ago he put up back to back 275 / 350 / 500 seasons...

Yes a few years ago...

Club needs

Closer: Last season's closer Kevin Gregg recently declined arbitration and is now a free agent. Anthopoulos previously stated he is open to the idea of re-signing the 32-year-old but all indications seem to indicate that is an unlikely scenario. The Blue Jays receive a compensation pick in the 2011 Draft if he signs with another club and there is no shortage of options on the free agent market to replace Gregg. The Blue Jays reportedly expressed an interest in Twins free agent Jesse Crain, who has never been a full-time closer but is looking to become just that. Other possibilities include Bobby Jenks, who was recently non-tendered by the White Sox, or possibly someone like Kerry Wood, J.J. Putz and Manuel Corpas.

Third base: Last season's starter Edwin Encarnacion is now in Oakland but the Blue Jays have several options they could use at the position. Hill is capable of playing third as is slugger Jose Bautista. A more likely scenario, though, is for the Blue Jays to target someone through trade or free agency. The club reportedly expressed interest in Arizona's Mark Reynolds but that's just one name of many that likely will be talked about during the Winter Meetings.

First base/Designated Hitter: The Blue Jays have raised the possibility of using Adam Lind at first base next season. The 27-year-old has played just 11 games there during his big league career and at this point the sample size is too small to know whether he can play the position on a full-time basis. If the Blue Jays are confident Lind can handle the position then they likely will add a designated hitter to the team. If not, then a new first baseman will be on his way. Possibilities might include Lance Berkman, Adam Laroche and Russell Branyan.

Who they can or need to trade

Shaun Marcum: Marcum was the Blue Jays No. 1 starter in 2010 and he is a candidate to fill the role again next season. But the Blue Jays have a deep pool of young pitchers and if the right offer comes along Marcum may be expendable. The 29-year-old likely would net a large return because he is coming off a season in which he went 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA and 165 strikeouts.

Jason Frasor: Frasor recently accepted arbitration from the Blue Jays and is in line to receive a raise on the $2.65 million he made in 2010. Prior to accepting arbitration, Frasor reportedly was in talks with several teams but was unable to get a deal done. Toronto could use his experience at the back end of the bullpen but if one those interested teams calls Anthopoulos it's not out of the realm of possibilities they could work something out with Toronto.

Adam Lind: Lind is one of the biggest question marks on the Blue Jays heading into next season. In 2009, Lind won a Silver Slugger but he regressed this year and finished with a .237 average with 23 home runs and 72 RBIs. If the Blue Jays decide he is not capable of playing first base he is a possibility to be traded elsewhere.

Aaron Hill: Hill also struggled through the 2010 campaign. It seems unlikely, though, that the Blue Jays would move him. Hill could start at second or even third base next season and his contract, with three option years, is structured in such a way that gives Toronto a lot of flexibility.

Fifth starter: The Blue Jays have a variety of young pitchers who will enter Spring Training with a shot at contending for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. It's also possible they could be used as trade bait if the right opportunity presents itself. Marc Rzepczynski and Jesse Litsch could be on the market but it seems unlikely the Blue Jays would want to sell low on either player considering they suffered disappointing seasons in 2010.

Top prospects: RHP Kyle Drabek, C J.P. Arencibia, RHP Zach Stewart, SS Adeiny Hechavarria, OF Anthony Gose, C Travis d'Arnoud, RHP Henderson Alvarez, OF Moises Sierra. C Carlos Perez, OF Eric Thames, RHP Deck McGuire, RHP Chad Jenkins, C A.J. Jimenez. The Blue Jays have enough depth in their farm system to trade some of their prospects if it means adding a key component to the Major League squad. Hard to imagine them dealing away Drabek, Hechavarria or Stewart but, as always, it depends on the type of player they would be getting in return.

Big contracts they might unload

Vernon Wells, CF: Moving Wells and the $86 million he is owed over the next four seasons is an extremely unlikely scenario. The 32-year-old enjoyed a bounce back season in 2010, hitting .273 with 31 home runs, 88 RBIs and an .847 OPS. Those were the best numbers Wells recorded since signing his seven-year, 126-million contract in 2006. The native of Texas has suffered through a variety of injuries in recent seasons, though, and it appears highly doubtful another team would want to take a chance on the former All-Star.

Arbitration-eligible: Jeremy Accardo, RHP; Jose Bautista, OF; Shawn Camp, RHP; Yunel Escobar, SS; Casey Janssen, RHP; Fred Lewis, OF; Rajai Davis, OF; Jesse Litsch, RHP; Shaun Marcum, RHP; Brandon Morrow, RHP; Jason Frasor, RHP.

Payroll summation: The Blue Jays are one of the few teams in Major League Baseball that do not operate under a set payroll. Toronto has the ability to add salary this offseason but it's going to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Anthopoulos recently said he enjoyed this type of structure because teams who operate under a self-imposed salary cap sometimes miss out on players who make a little bit more money but offer a lot more value for their price.

That being said, the Blue Jays are still in the process of building for the future and do not see the benefit of significantly increasing payroll unless it was for a player who will contribute for the long term.

tldr

cliffs - no more cito, were freeeeeeeeeeeeee ?

Agreed, I would be very happy with Martin in a Jays uniform. Similarly, I'd love to see Jeff Francis get a shot as well. And Morneau. And Votto. And Larry Walker.

jeff francis no way, he couldn't even break our top 5 right now..

Alex was on the FAN this morning.

First off this kid is smart! The more I hear him the more I like him. He laughed at the AJ rumours and said it seems Toronto is the team everyone puts in rumours this year.

He said priority 1 is closer.