Buffalo Boy's Blog

There were a lot of days that I bet Jays fans wished we could have asked JP Riccardi to leave and let fans take over as GM of the Blue Jays, a lot of things would have been done differently.

So this offseason Im going to try to get Alex Anthopoulos, the new Blue Jays GM a head start.on this years free agents.

After the season Toronto fans went through, no position should be safe with the exception of Aaron Hill, Adam Lind and Roy Halladay.

I am looking at only unrestricted free agents and staying away from type A and type B which would require coughing up draft picks to sign those players away from their teams.

Starting Pitchers: Brad Penny- He spent 2009 with Boston and San Fran, hes unrestricted he went 11-9 and is only 31 years old. He would make a nice mid-rotation guy or maybe convert him into a closer which we desparately need.

Relief Pitchers: Danys Baez, the pickings are slim, he saved 41 games in 2005 he will be 32 going into the season. Worth bringing in for a look and try out at closing.

Catcher: Unless you want to steal someone off the Yankees roster in Jose Molina, Rod Barajas is your best option here and hes is unrestricted so you pretty much either go after Molina who can't hit or keep what you have. JP Arencibia may be ready this year too.

Firstbase: Hank Blalock, what the hell, it can't be worse that Lyle Overbay can it? Has to be better than Kevin Millar and will get us to David Cooper.

Secondbase: I won't even bother because we know who is starting at this position for a long, long time.

Thirdbase: We need help here,Im sorry but Edwin Encarnacion just doesn't do it for me. Why is it no matter who the Jays find at this position they turn out to be some 6'6" monster who is either lazy (Troy Glaus), damaged goods (Scott Rolen) or lazy again (Encarnacion). Joe Crede will be out there. He started his career in Toronto, why the hell can't we offer him a contract and see what he says, he would be an upgrade over Encarnacion.

Shortstop: Would you believe me if I said that Marco Scutaro is the best option at shortstop amongst free agents? He is and if we don't get him early it gets ugly fast. My second choice would be Miguel Tejada.....Hes a little old for my tastes but could bridge the gap if you needed it. The only other guy Im looking at on the market is maybe Adam Everett and that would be for his glove.

Outfield: Assuming we do the rumored trade of Vernon Wells for Milton Bradley, the Jays are going to need insurance in the outfield. Rick Ankiel anybody? Rocco Baldelli? Reed Johnson for the second time?

I told you this was a weak free agent class. No one is going to be in awe unless a team gets desparate and signes someone else's type A or B players.

Essentially its going to be a keep your own type of year and hope you get a solid rookie or two to come up and wow you.