like we are intent on going with the exact same lineup as last season.  I don't know how I feel about this deal.  On one hand, Stairs was one of our best hitters last season and has been an above-average hitter for a long time, especially against righties, which we desperately need.  Also, I just like him.  On the other hand, he was lousy in the outfield, is not young, and had been trending downward before last season.  As with J-Mac, the 2-year deal will make it more difficult to trade them away. Unlike with J-Mac, though, there is an internal candidate to replace Stairs in Adam Lind.  If you look at the ZIPS projections, Lind is actually projected to hit better than Stairs did this season.  And because Lind is coming off a mostly bad season, his trade value is down.  I really would like to see Lind get regular at-bats this season, somewhere.    

I think the Jays will cut Sparky a break and tender him arbitration.  I think he was a good organizational soldier for a long time and they are going to overlook his bad season and blame it on the back surgery.  They may be right, and I do think Sparky is a useful player if used properly, which means no more batting atop the order against righties.  Of course, he's yet to show he's fully recovered.  As we know, returning from back surgery ain't no trip to Cleveland.