The Blue Jays fans are optimistic, it is spring after all, but its time to take a realistic look at the season and the Jays are faced with the unfortunate prospect of fighting for last place with the rebuilding Rays
Toronto finished with a surprising 85 wins in 2010, which would have been enough to compete in the other two AL divisions but not in the powerful AL East. But because the Jays have a plethora of young talent, especially on the mound GM Alex Anthopoulos traded 2010 Opening Day starter Shawn Marcum to the Brewers and slugger Vernon Wells to the Angels. Toronto could afford to do both because of all their young pitching and because dumping Wells brought major salary relief.
Key offseason additions: Frank Francisco, Octavio Dotel, Jon Rauch, Juan Rivera, Rajai Davis
Key offseason losses: Vernon Wells, John Buck, Scott Downs, Kevin Gregg, Lyle Overbay, Shaun Marcum
Toronto hasn’t made the playoffs since Joe Carter’s epic Game 6 World Series home run off Mitch Williams in 1993. The Jays haven’t won 90 games in a season since or finished higher than third more than once. They won’t likely do either this year, either, but the future appears bright.
So although the Blue Jay will flirt with .500 all year, in this division that equates to flirting with last place.
Video: Jim Bowden previews the Blue Jays 2011 campaign
