If you were GM...

There’s so much I’d do!
- I’d keep Ryan, there’s no accounting for an experienced closer, Jays bullpen was lights out last year and that is needed if this team wants to contend.
- I’d bring back AJ Burnett for 4 year $60M deal
- I’d sign Jason Giambi to DH for 2 year $20M
- I’d trade League and Cecil to Milwaukee for Hardy
- I’d sign Glendon Rusch as a spot starter/long man as insurance for McGowan/Purcey
- I’d sign Michael Barrett to share time with Rod the Bod

C – Barajas/Barrett
1B – Overbay
2B – Hill
3B – Rolen
SS – Hardy
LF – Lind
CF – Wells
RF – Rios
DH – Giambi

Bench: John McDonald, Marco Scutaro, Joe Inglett, Jose Bautista,

SP: Halladay, Burnett, McGowan, Litsch, Purcey (Rusch)
RP: Rusch, Janssen, Downs, Carlson, Accardo
CL: BJ Ryan

If healthy this is a pretty stout lineup and solid pitching staff. In case of injuries Travis Snider is almost ready in AAA to fill in at corner OF, DH or 1B, Casey Janssen could step into the rotation if required as well. The big IF here is whether AJ Burnett will come back to TO for $60M (or at all). If he doesn’t the money could be spent on brining in Oliver Perez, Derek Lowe, Ryan Dempster or Ben Sheets. I think with Frank Thomas’ contract coming off the books it opens up the $ for Giambi and I think there are others coming off the books this year but I can’t remember who off hand.

I’d commit to Snider and Lind in LF, not a platoon, but just sharing time, until one of them clearly shows he’s the better player. The other two OF positions I’d leave alone.

I’m willing to give Rolen and Overbay a shot at keeping their positions, despite the risk.

I would sign Rafael Furcal. I believe he can come back from the injuries and be a great lead-off hitter, actually stealing some bases and playing very well.

Hill is fine at 2B.

Barajas will be interesting to watch as an everyday C, but I think a major league ready backup might be necessary instead of Curtis Thigpen…so sign someone like Henry Blanco or David Ross and see what Spring Training holds.

The starting rotation scares me the most. Marcum is out for the year; Burnett won’t likely re-sign; so that leaves Litsch and Purcey as true starters, and an injured McGowan who may, or may not be ready come the beginning of 2009. That’s pretty scary.

I’d sign Ryan Dempster, and maybe one other starter, someone who could be considered a reclamation project. No, not in the way Tomo Okha and Victor Zambrano were reclamation projects. Someone more like Claudio Vargas or Jason Jennings.

I would leave the bullpen alone.

Last, but not least, I’d get a real DH, who can also play 1B or OF. Ricciardi blew it with Adam Dunn, so that’s not going to happen. Pat Burrell has proven that he’s not an asset playing defense, so he’d be a good addition to the AL as a DH (while still getting the occasional start in LF). I’d see it this way:

Furcal SS – S
Rios RF – R
Wells CF – R
Burrell DH – R
Rolen 3B – R
Overbay 1B – L
Hill 2B – R
Barajas C – R
Snider / Lind LF – L

(maybe Overbay hits in the 2-hole, moving Rios to 5, and Rolen to 6)

Thigpen C
Parts of Scutaro, Batista, Inglett, McDonald

Halladay R
Dempster R
McGowan R
Litsch R
Purcey L

Ryan CP – L
Downs L
Carlson L
League R
Janssen R
Tallett L

with parts of Accardo, Wolfe, Camp, Frasor