<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The big offseason move was the trade with the Cardinals that brought in Scott Rolen in exchange for Troy Glaus. Rolen has had issues with his left shoulder, but if healthy he will provide better defense than Glaus, who was hampered by back and foot problems. In a surprise move, the Jays signed free agent SS David Eckstein after awarding SS John McDonald with a two-year contract last September. C Rod Barajas also arrives as the backup to Gregg Zaun a year after reneging on a contract he agreed to in 2007. ARRIVALS: 3B Scott Rolen (trade with Cardinals), SS David Eckstein (free agent from Cardinals), C Rod Barajas (free agent from Phillies), OF Buck Coats (trade with Reds), INF Marco Scutaro (trade with Athletics), RHP Shawn Camp (free agent from Rays), LHP John Parrish (free agent from Mariners), INF Pedro Lopez (waiver pickup from Reds), RHP Lance Carter (free agent from Japan). DEPARTURES: RHP Josh Towers (free agent, signed with Rockies), LHP Joe Kennedy (died of heart failure), 3B Troy Glaus (traded to St. Louis), INF Ray Olmedo (waiver claim by Pirates), OF John-Ford Griffin (released), RHP Lee Gronkiewicz (free agent, signed with Red Sox), INF Ryan Roberts (free agent, signed with Rangers). SPRING FOCUS: The makeup of the bullpen will be determined by the recovery of LHP B.J. Ryan from "Tommy John" surgery. CF Vernon Wells is a main key in the Jays attack and needs to bounce back after an unproductive 2007 season caused by a torn labrum in his right shoulder. PROJECTED ROTATION: 1. RHP Roy Halladay 2. RHP A.J. Burnett 3. RHP Dustin McGowan 4. RHP Shaun Marcum 5. RHP Jesse Litsch The lone open spot in the rotation is No. 5 with Litsch expected to emerge with the job in a three-way battle with RHP Casey Janssen and LHP Gustavo Chacin. Chacin, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, figures to start at Class AAA Syracuse; Janssen would be shifted back to the bullpen if LHP B.J. Ryan, the closer, needs more time to recover from "Tommy John" surgery. In 2007, both McGowan and Marcum made giant strides and will be counted on to continue to improve. Litsch made the jump last year from Class AA and was 7-9 with a 3.81 ERA in 20 starts. PROJECTED BULLPEN: RHP Jeremy Accardo (closer) LHP Scott Downs RHP Casey Janssen RHP Brian Wolfe RHP Jason Frasor LHP Brian Tallet RHP Brandon League While the above is the likely bullpen at the start of the season, the roles will change dramatically when B.J. Ryan returns from "Tommy John" surgery to reclaim the closer role. In that scenario, Accardo moves to a setup role and the others are bumped down a peg. The odd man out then figures to be Wolfe, who has options, Frasor or League. PROJECTED LINEUP: 1. SS David Eckstein 2. 1B Lyle Overbay 3. CF Vernon Wells 4. DH Frank Thomas 5. 3B Scott Rolen 6. RF Alex Rios 7. LF Matt Stairs 8. C Gregg Zaun 9. 2B Aaron Hill This is the lineup against right-handed hitters. Manager John Gibbons will use Reed Johnson in LF and Rod Barajas at C against left-handers. In that case, Johnson will bat second and Overbay will be dropped to No. 7. Barajas will bat eighth. Injuries made a mess of the lineup in 2007, and Gibbons is looking for a return to health and stability in 2008. A lot of the Jays' success will center around a return to form by Wells, who because of a bad shoulder hit just .245 with 16 homers and 80 RBI in 2007. PROJECTED RESERVES: C Rod Barajas INF Marco Scutaro INF John McDonald LF Reed Johnson Rod Barajas, who bats right, will form a platoon with Gregg Zaun and get the start against left-handers. He will also see action against teams that can run, such as Tampa Bay. Johnson, who bats right, is part of a platoon in left with veteran Matt Stairs. Johnson will start against left-handers and will see more action depending on how he bounces back after an injury-plagued (back surgery) 2007. McDonald figures to get two starts per week at shortstop and should be in the lineup in all of Roy Halladay's starts. TOP ROOKIES: LHP David Purcey was restricted to 11 starts at Class AA New Hampshire because of elbow problems but was impressive in the Arizona Fall League. A former No. 1 pick (2004), Purcey is expected to make giant strides this season. C Roninzon Diaz hit .316 at Class AA and .338 in 19 games at Class AAA Syracuse and is the Jays' catcher of the future. MEDICAL WATCH: LHP B.J. Ryan (Tommy John elbow surgery in April 2007) is expected to be ready sometime before June at worst and mid-April at best.</div> http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/teamReport?ca...egyAndPersonnel
Casey will end up as the fifth starter if BJ is anywhere near ready by the start of the season. I guess Wolfe is kind of the wildcard here are well. Downs and League seem fine for what we need them for but if Wolfe can step it up it will really make it easy to take Janssen out of the pen and into the starting five. Litch will be on spot starting duties for most of the year. Gus is a cooked goose.
