I know there are a few Canadians on the board, as well as one or two from Toronto. So i'm sure they are excited about the recent big news!

Let's recap:
Melky Cabrera form 2 years at $16 million.
Picked up on trade: Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, John Buck, and Emilio Bonifacio for Yunel Escobar, Henderson Alvarez and a few prospects.

I'd say it's a pretty good looking club. What do you think? Are the Blue Jays a true contender? Are they the team to beat in the AL?

(900)

There are some good players there, but the balance of power hasn't shifted much.

They need a good manager, I have a feeling Jim Tracy is going to get the nod.

I agree. I read an article on SI.com stating that the players they received in the trade would only add an additional 5 wins based on last year's performances.

Plus, how's that AstroTurf gonna play on Jose Reyes' bad legs? It's a good trade on paper but I doubt it'll shift the balance of power in the AL East. They still have to compete with New York, Baltimore, Tampa Bay and Boston.

Well, Baltimore and Tampa Bay, anyway. The only thing the Yankees and Red Sox are competing with next year is old age.

Baltimore is a maybe, we need to see if last year wasn't just a one-off. Tampa i agree is up there, probably the best pitching staff in the AL. New York is New York and always has the possiblility of making some magor changes, but as it stands now they have an aging group that seems on a downward spiral. Boston? Last place. They gave up too many good guys, and they are already a dysfunctional team, and John Farrell hasn't proven he's a good manager just yet.

What if the Jays add Shawn Marcum to an already solid pitching staff? He has shown he is interested in coing back to Toronto. I know he had a down year this year, but his history proves he is a good pitcher who maybe needs a change of scenery. So imagine this staff:

1)Johnson 2)Marcum 3)Buehrle 4)Brandon Morrow 5)Ricky Romero

That's a pretty good rotation. Especially if Romero bounces back from the horrible season!

The main reason the Jays can't compete is because they have a funny National Anthem .

Well Boston may not compete much with their starless roster but the Yankees just won 95 games, the AL East and made it as far as the ALCS. Every year people keep saying how old they are and they still keep winning. What more do they need to do?

Relax, buddy. You've known me for almost seven years. I'm just breaking your balls.

But in all honesty, there are too many ifs right now to call them a surefire playoff team for next year. But it's a long off season yet .

I wish Buehrle could have worked out a deal with the White Sox before he left for the big money & Ozzie in Miami. How'd that work out for you, Mark?!?!

John Gibbons as manager....out of left field no?

And word is they are still looking for front of the rotation starter. Greinke? Marcum?

So what does everyone think of this starting rotation:

1)RA Dickey
2Johnson
3)Buehrle
4)Brandon Morrow
5)Ricky Romero


Pretty sick right?!!!

That is a very nasty rotation! One thing nobody ever mentions with Dickey. He helps out the staff for at least two days after he pitches. Teams hit roughly .216 the following days after he pitches. The knuckball really hurts the hitters approach!

Hey Irishman, Yea they keep winning 95-100 games a year but they spend 95-100 Millon per player ..Lol..Jeter Rivera Jaba were homegrown, but not to many are..Where The marlins keep comming up with a champion caliber team couple of times in a few years it seems like..With Half the Money...Probally cause Flordia is the closest stop for the latin players from the south..Even kno they were a bust this year..Had some good guys it that lineup before Hanly rameriz trade.

Hey EastHarlemItal that is a great stat..Teams only hittin .216 folling Dickies starts..Alot of you guys are from NY so i was actully lookin for a thread like "WHY DIDNT NY RESIGN DICKEY"..Wright needs him on that staff..Hey i know he is 36 but alot of guys re invent themselves for a couple of years at that age painting corners..He is already done that, and cause of that nuckle ball also..He got a deacent curv and has a low 90 mph fastball..And the nuckle comes at 86mph..This guy might pitch a few more years and win 15-17 games.. i dont think he stresses his arm like a Strausburgh type guys either..Just cant Believe the Mets could not sign him. but he did earn the right to go cash in somewhere else..

I personally think the knuckelball gets into thier heads! Im not a Mets fan but I do know that Dickey wanted to much money. Can he be consistent for another several years? Time will onky tell. The Mets did get a great prospect in JP Doumont. As far as the Yankees go I think all us true Yankee fans knew it was going to be different when George passed away.