Looking Forward to 2010

What are people's thoughts about 2010?

Does anyone buy JP's and Beeston's promise of contending? We have to remember that the Yanks, Boston, and Tampa Bay will not be worse next season. Odds are that Boston will actually try to improve considering just how good the Yanks will be over the next few seasons. The Rays players are still young enough to keep them all on that team. So do we really have a chance to compete in 2010? Can we pass at least 2 of those 3 teams next season?

It looks like right now we have following team going into next season (either signed or ARB);
1B -- Overbay $7.95 million
2B -- Hill $4 million
SS -- ???
3B -- Edwin E $4 million
C -- ???
CF -- Wells $16.143 million
LF -- Lind
RF -- Snider
DH -- Ruiz

SP -- Halladay $15.75 million
SP -- Marcum
SP -- Romero
SP -- McGowan/Litsch/Richmond/Purcey/Cecil/Zep

RP -- Downs $4 million
RP -- League
RP -- Camp
RP -- Tallet
RP -- Janssen
RP -- Frasor
RP -- Roenicke/Wolfe/Accardo
** BJ Ryan $12 million

My figures are not 100% accurate because I am unclear on how much the Jays are paying Rolen next season, but it looks like we have approx. $64 million in locked up salary for next season. We will obviously need to sign our ARB available players as well. We also need to sign a shortstop and a catcher just to feild a full team. We have some options in the minors for both positions, but none of those players look anywhere ready to make the jump. We have some tradeable pitching assests in my opinion.Will we compete next season? I say no unless we upgrade C/3B, and sign a decent SS (perhaps Scutaro). A true number 2 starter would be nice too.I guess we won't know what the direction the club is taking until the offseason, but either way it's tough to compete in this divsion no matter how you look at it.

Scutaro is an interesting case. He will be 34 years old going into next season and only has one good year under his belt. He is in line for a HUGE raise. If the Jays are planning on contending next season then maybe your offer him a 2 or 3 year deal. I don't really like signing players into there late 30's, so I would perfer a 2 year deal.

I actually think the Jays have stuck gold with Randy Ruiz at the DH spot...

Next year will be something.