The Jays made three roster moves as they optioned OF John-Ford Griffin to Triple-A Syracuse, outrighted David Hanson to Class A Dunedin, and optioned RHP Jesse Harper to Double-A New Haven. It was a double dose of bad news for Griffin as X-rays detected problems with his right wrist. The Jays will have him examined by a hand specialist.
Advertisement
ARRIVALS RHP Miguel Batista (free agent from Arizona), LHP Ted Lilly (trade from Oakland), RHP Pat Hentgen (free agent from Baltimore), RHP Kerry Ligtenberg (free agent from Baltimore), RHP Justin Speier (from Arizona via trade), RHP Terry Adams (free agent from Philadelphia), SS Chris Gomez (free agent from Detroit), LHP Valerio De Los Santos (free agent from Philadelphia), RHP Bruce Chen (free agent from Boston), OF Chad Hermansen (free agent from Los Angeles), RHP Jayson Durocher (free agent from Milwaukee).
DEPARTURES RHP Kelvim Escobar (signed as a free agent with Anaheim), RHP Cory Lidle (signed as a free agent with Cincinnati), LHP Mark Hendrickson (traded to Tampa Bay), SS Mike Bordick (retired), RP Cliff Politte (signed as free agent with the White Sox), RHP Tanyon Sturtze (free agent), C Ken Huckaby (free agent, signed with Texas), RHP Doug Creek (free agent), RHP Dan Reichert (free agent), LHP Trever Miller (signed as a free agent with Tampa Bay), RHP Pete Walker (contract sold to Yokohama BayStars in Japan).
PROJECTED ROTATION
--RHP Roy Halladay
--RHP Miguel Batista
--LHP Ted Lilly
--RHP Pat Hentgen
--RHP Josh Towers
Halladay is the reigning American League Cy Young award winner and comes to camp with a four-year $42 million contract. Batista (10-7, 3.54) was signed to a three-year $13.5 million deal, after averaging 25 starts a season in his three seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lilly, acquired in a trade with Oakland, pitched well for the Athletics last season. Hentgen and Towers are question marks -- Hentgen is coming off Tommy John surgery, and Towers has been inconsistent.
PROJECTED BULLPEN
--RHP Kerry Ligtenberg
--RHP Justin Speier
--RHP Aquilino Lopez
--LHP Valerio De Los Santos
--LHP Bruce Chen
--RHP Jayson Durocher
--RHP Terry Adams
It remains to be seen whether a closer emerges from this group. Ligtenberg, Speier and Lopez all have shown in the past that they can do the job, but manager Carlos Tosca also could choose to go the closer-by-committee route. There are a lot of candidates here, so spring training will be interesting to see how the situation sorts itself out.
PROJECTED LINEUP
--RF Reed Johnson
--OF Frank Catalanotto
--CF Vernon Wells
--1B Carlos Delgado
--DH Josh Phelps
--C Greg Myers
--3B Eric Hinske
--2B Orlando Hudson
--SS Chris Woodward
Not a lot of household names here, and the one who fits that category -- 1B Carlos Delgado -- is a candidate to be traded if the Blue Jays fall out of contention. Don't be surprised if this lineup is altered as the season unfolds.
PROJECTED RESERVES
--SS Chris Gomez
--C Kevin Cash
--INF Dave Berg
--INF Howie Clark
--OF Chad Hermanson
--OF Jayson Werth
Another group that looks a little thin on paper. But manager Carlos Tosca thinks Cash has a bright future, and Berg has proved to be a valuable backup.
TOP ROOKIES OF Alexis Rios, honored as the MVP of both the Eastern and Puerto Rican winter leagues, was named to USA Today Sports Weekly's Minor League All-Star Team. Rios batted .352 for Double-A New Haven, the third-highest average in the minors. He had 11 homers, 11 triples and 82 RBIs. Playing for the Criollos de Caguas, Rios hit .348 with 12 homers and 37 RBIs. He came through with 11 more RBIs in the playoffs, the third-highest total in the league, to help lead his team to the league's best record. RHP Jason Arnold struggled at Triple-A Syracuse, but Jays fans could see him before the All-Star break if there is an injury.
MEDICAL WATCH LHP Ted Lilly arrived at spring training with a sore left wrist and hasn't been able to throw. RHP Justin Miller, who was 9-5 with an ERA of 5.54 in 2002, didn't throw a pitch in 2003 after undergoing season-ending surgery.
Copyright (C) 2003 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
he wants to do nothing? what the hell is this. I'm not saying he has to try and get all the big names, but c'mon, DO SOMETHING!!! He's full of so many excuses, he has to go
