Buffalo Boy's Blog

Now that Jose Bautista has crushed the Toronto Blue Jays home run record and has officially broken the 50 home run mark I think we can safely start talking offseason for the Jays.

This offseason needs to capitalize on the renewed buzz in Toronto around this team, around the fact that if you can get this team 10-12 more wins via free agency and improving in a few key areas, this team has a shot to make a real run at this division, not in five years, not in three years but next year.

Alex Anthopoulus, the young, yet impressive new Jays GM has had a very, very successful year after taking over a turbulent franchise from JP Riccardi,  I think it was safe to say that morale amongst fans after the Halladay trade last offseason was at an all time low.

But something happened. We all forgot this team had talented pitching behind Doc. They have two of the best lefties in baseball in Brett Cecil and Ricky Romero and a rejuvenated Shaun Marcum. They also have a much more talented Brandon than the one they shipped to Seattle to get Morrow. If Brandon Morrow continues to make progress, Brandon League for Brandon Morrow will be the biggest steal pulled off by any GM in the history of this franchise.

Vernon Wells may earn some of his contract and Jose Bautista....well, JP Riccardi did something right by getting this guy and Cito, well Cito took a guy who couldn't hit 15 home runs and now he has gone out and hit 51 and 52.

You could even argue that the ten games this team needs to gain in the standings is already on the roster. If Aaron Hill and Adam Lind have just .75% of the seasons they had in 2009, this team probably wins 10 more games and could easily be talking wildcard.

So, Alex Anthopoulus needs to go running out of the free agency gates this offseason and compete for some talent this offseason, Edwin Encarnacion is not going to work anymore. The experiment is over. I want Scott Rolen back who though injured for times this season has had his best offensive season in 4 years and still playing great defense. Since that won't happen, well find someone who can do something similar.

Lyle Overbay, you made up some ground this season but no dice on next year, your contract is up and its time to go fishing for something better. Or maybe we use a stop gap guy in there for one more year and go after Prince Fielder in 2011, either way, do something.

Revamp the bullpen a little. Please, no more Jason Frasor, I can't do it anymore. Kevin Gregg might be the worst closer ever to have 35 saves.

This is a grand opportunity, go out and make some moves this offseason, the time is right to strike while the buzz is up and fans are interested again. Spend a lil, trade a lil, either way, make some waves this offseason that make this team a contender and I promise the Dome formerly known as Skydome will be rocking next year.