New York and Boston

With the Yanks signing Tex to that massive 8 year contract I am actually finally starting to buy into the propaganda that the Jays will have a hard time competing in the American League East for the foreseeable future (basically as long as the Yanks and BoSox can continue to massively outspend the Jays).

Sure the Jays have Roy Halladay, and a growing list of impressive young starters coming up behind him, and they finally have some real hitting prospects in Snider, Lind and Arencibia. However it's just not enough. The Yanks and BoSox can just spend the money needed to trump any good young player we have coming up. A good example of this would be a Snider vs. Texieria comparison. Sure there is a good chance that Snider turns out to be a good ballplayer, but will he be as good as Tex? Who knows. Another example is the case of our young starters in Marcum and McGowan. They both have real good stuff, but due to the Yanks deeps pockets they are able to counter those nice up and comers with established vets like Burnett and Sabathia.

You get my point - When they Jays have a nice prospect coming up, that powers that be just buy a player that is proven to be better. Add in the fact that the Tampa Bay Rays just made it to the World Series and should be very competitive again this year. 2009 is going to be a long season in Jays town.

The Mench in Japan

Just throwing this out there on a slow news day. Kevin Mench signed with a team in Japan for approx. $1.8 million. Maybe the global economic downturn hasn't hit Japan yet....

"Not spending anymore money" - Tank mode?

If you are wondering where I have been, and why I haven't been posting - basically I have been waiting for the Jays to do something or give some indication on how the offseason will pan out for the team before I made and new posts.

Well here you have it......

source --- http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/12/ricciardi_were_done.html

Don't expect the Blue Jays to be involved with any high-profile free agents for the rest of the winter. On Tuesday, Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi told MLB.com that he expects to stand pat as the offseason winds down, with the possible exception of some minor moves.

"We're done," Ricciardi said. "We won't be spending any money."

Earlier this week, Ricciardi mentioned free-agents Orlando Hudson and Jason Giambi in an online report, and the Blue Jays were involved with free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal (re-signed by the Dodgers) earlier this month.

Ricciardi also indicated that the Jays won't be involved with any high-profile free-agent arms. Toronto will continue to consider reclamation project-type pitchers.

So there it is - straight from the mouth of the General Manager. Just happens to be on the same day that the Yanks sign Mark Teixeira to go along with their two other prize signings this offseason in Sabathia and Burnett.

I guess it wouldn't even really matter if the Jays had extra money to spend anyway. The way the AL East is currently shaped it would take I'd say about $40 or $50 million more for the Jays to compete. So with that said I am fine with letting the kids play, however I do feel sorry for Roy Halladay. However don't fret Doc, your contract ends just after 2010, so you'll be able to get outta dodge soon enough.

They Jays should finish in 4th place this upcoming season and will be hard pressed to reach the .500 mark - but again it could be fun watching the likes of Snider, Cecil and Lind receiving full-time major league duties.

The interesting offseason I predicted clearly didn't pan out like I thought it would.