Jays Considering Decrease in Payroll?

As reported on TSN.ca it seems that the downturn in the global economy may seriously hinder the teams plans this off season.

To quote JP Ricciardi:

"The economy is definitely having an effect on us, so maybe our spending has slowed down a little bit."

With that said it looks like the Jays will be either stand pat or will attempt to unload some salary. The Jays are currently hampered by massive contracts (Wells, Rolen, Ryan), which are in all likelihood impossible to move. The only possible way I can see the Jays being able to move these players is by eating massive portions of their respective salaries.

The Jays do have some young options for 2009 in Lind and Snider, but they will not be good enough to carry an offence that has been bad for 2 seasons into the playoffs. Combine that with the fact that the starting rotation is now a complete mess, perhaps a real option should be to hold on to these contracts, let them expire, and re-build properly.

I hate to say it, but it seems that Roy Halladay needs to be traded.

Various News and Thoughts

1) AJ Burnett's agent has notified the Jays brass that he plans to opt out of his current contract, thus allowing him to test the market as a true free agent. Basically this means that AJ's days in Toronto are over. We cannot, and should not overpay a player for one very good season in the majors. We did it once with him and got 1 full season from the guy. Goodbye Mr. Burnett, we barely knew you.

However, with this news the Jays MUST make it priority number one to remove Jesse Litsch from the number 2 pitching position. Someone like Ryan Dempster or Jake Peavy (dream) should be seriously looked at either through free agency or via the trade route.

2) JP has been hard at work signing some bums to fill out the Jays roster through the waiver wire. I would post names ans stats, but I highly doubt we will see any of these guys in Jays uniform... or at least I hope not anyway.

3) The Yankees have declined the option on Jason Giambi's contract. The Jays should be opening the vault to acquire this guy. He would fill a MAJOR hole in the Jays weak hitting lineup.

The Hoss is Staying in Toronto

The Jays decided to use up Rod Barajas' option - so the Hoss will remain a Blue Jay for the 2009 season. The Hoss hit .249 with 11 homeruns and 49 RBI's and posted a .704OPS in 349 AB's in 2008. Not exactly earth-shattering numbers, but good enough to earn approx. $2.5 million next season.

The Jays are hinting at having Curtis Thigpen or possibly Brian Jeroloman as the backup catcher who breaks camp.

This is not the start to free agency I was looking forward to. The Jays finished in 4th place in 2008. Doc and AJ combined for 40% percent of the Jays wins last season. Once A.J leaves that will create a major hole. Combine that with our serious lack of offence, we will be in trouble. To compete the Jays need to upgrade DH, C, SS, and remove Jesse Litsch from the number 2 pitching position. When I say the Jays are going to have a "bad team," I mean it comparatively to the rest of the AL East. The Rays will only get better, the Yanks and going to open the vault, and BoSox will be the BoSox. Combined that with the fact that Baltimore is seriously looking at players like A.J Burnett and Mark Teixeira, we are looking at a hard battle for 4th place next season.

The same place we finished in 2008.

EDIT - The Mets have picked up Carlos Delgado's $12 million option for next season - so for those dreaming to see him back in a Jays jersery, that won't be happening any time soon.