Filling out the bullpen is the most daunting task facing Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos this off-season.
As it stands right now, the Blue Jays have three significant holes in the back end of their bullpen. With closer Kevin Gregg and set-up man Scott Downs finding out what they can score on the free agent market, filling those roles appears to be general manager Alex Anthopoulos' most daunting task this off-season. The task was made a little easier Tuesday night when it was announced that Jason Frasor had accepted the club's offer of arbitration and will be back for at least a one-year deal for 2011.
At present, Shawn Camp, David Purcey, Casey Janssen and, likely, Josh Roenicke have the inside track on four of the seven jobs in the bullpen, but none of them have any closing or significant set-up experience. Many of you have wondered aloud if Jeremy Accardo, who closed for the Jays in 2007 but fell out of favour especially after Cito Gaston returned, might get another chance as the ninth inning guy. He only appeared in five games in the Majors early last season and, despite 24 saves with Las Vegas (AAA), was not one of the September call-ups after the rosters were expanded. At first glance, it appears that Accardo`s days with the Jays are over. Or perhaps the arrival of John Farrell might get Accardo, still just 28 years old, a final chance. That remains to be seen, but is not outside the realm of possibility.
Filling these roles from outside the organization will come at a cost. On the free agent closer market sits Rafael Soriano, fresh off a 45-save season with the Rays but currently rumoured to be in the cross hairs of the Angels. But from where I sit, it wouldn`t appear to be prudent for the Blue Jays to be earmarking big money on free agent relievers, especially after the Tigers overpaid - three years, $16.5 million - for Soriano`s former teammate in Tampa, Joaquin Benoit. Anthopoulos might kick the tires on the likes of Dan Wheeler, Grant Balfour, Jesse Crain, Aaron Heilman or Jon Rauch, hoping he can reel them in for modest money. But if he`s going to get what he wants this off-season, the trade market is likely where he find the requisite arms needed.
This is where I think new manager Farrell might have his first impact. The Red Sox already have a closer-in-waiting in Daniel Bard. That may mean that Jonathan Papelbon could be had and with the relationship that Farrell forged with the pitcher as a coach I see this as a possibility. It will come at a cost of prospects, and Papelbon isn`t exactly cheap (arbitration-eligible, $9.35 million salary in `10). But he`s just the type of closer that the Jays will need, moving forward, if they are to contend long-term. Another possibility could be White Sox closer Bobby Jenks, who has fallen out of favour on the south side of Chicago despite averaging 33 saves over his last five seasons. Or perhaps Royals closer Joakim Soria, coming off a 43-save season but on a team continuing to rebuild and looking to add parts.
There are, most likely, other possibilities that none of us have thought of, due to the fact that the Blue Jays sophomore general manager plays his cards so close to his vest. But I`m thinking that the holes in the bullpen will start getting filled pretty soon, especially with the annual Winter Meetings slated to begin in less than a week at Disney World near Orlando, Florida.
BRONX-STYLE CHICKEN
Is it possible that Derek Jeter might finish his Hall of Fame career wearing a uniform other than pinstripes? Everyone associated with the Yankees would have dropped a "poppycock" on you if you made that assumption, especially after the Yankees won their 27th World Series championship in 2009, and fifth with Jeter as their everyday shortstop and captain. But the longer that his contract negotiation drags out, the greater that possibility.
As it stands right now, the rumoured offer from general manager Brian Cashman to Jeter's representative Casey Close is three years and $45 million while the Jeter camp is looking for at least four years at $23 million per. That creates quite a chasm between the two sides and has caused a frustrated Cashman to dare Jeter to find out if the grass is greener elsewhere.
Jeter will turn 37 midway through the 2011 season and saw his production dip, although not significantly, last season. Coming off a 10-year deal worth an average stipend of $18.9 million, he likely feels that playing for anything less would be insulting after being the face of the franchise since he first arrived as a baby-faced, 21-year old rookie as a September call-up in 1995. Especially with the guy that plays to Jeter's right - Alex Rodriguez - under contract through the 2017 season earning an average salary just south of $24.9 million. Based upon his tenure and the fact that he's been squeaky clean during his Yankees and always represented baseball's marquee franchise with class and dignity, I'm sure in Jeter's mind that comes at a cost.
I will be interesting to see which side blinks first, but it may take a while because Cliff Lee is clearly the Yankees number one priority this off-season, likely followed by Carl Crawford. What will really be interesting if the Red Sox, the Yankees mortal enemy, gets involved and makes a better offer, if only to drive up the price that New York would ultimately have to pay to keep Jeter in the Bronx. Plus any chance that Jeter could jump to Boston would make Yankees' fans, who can't get enough of the shortstop even after all these years, sick to their collective stomachs and how might that reflect at the ticket windows.
What we basically have going on here is a game of chicken between the obscenely rich. Stay tuned...
