Game Recaps

For those of you who decided to call in sick today, and for that I'm proud of you, to watch Opening Day because you were having baseball withdrawals, I'll be posting game recaps for most if not all of the games today.

Today did not get off to a good start, however, for the Yankees and Blue Jays. The game has been postponed due to rain and a new date should be set soon for the makeup game.

Two other games are also being delayed due to weather. Arizona is in Cincinnati to take on the Reds and Milwaukee is in Chicago to face the Cubs, both are being delayed due to rain.

A game that is already underway, the Detroit Tigers are hosting the Kansas City Royals, the game is currently in the top half of the 7th. Detroit got the scoring started in the 2nd inning. After a Carlos Guillen double to lead off the home half of the 2nd, both Pudge Rodriguez and Jacque Jones would strike out. After a Bradon Inge walk, Edgar Renteria would single, scoring Guillen from 2nd.

In the 4th inning, after Pudge Rodriguez led off the inning with a walk, Brandon Inge would hit a 1-out double to left and Renteria would be walked to load the bases. When it looked like the Royals would get out of the inning unscathed after Placido Polanco lined out to right field, Gary Sheffield would work a bases loaded walk which scored Pudge Rodriguez to make it a 2-0 game.

The very next inning, new Tigers' acquisition Miguel Cabrera would make his presence felt, lauching a solo HR to left to push the Tigers up 3-0 after 5 innings, but back came the Royals.

In the top half of the 6th, Mark Grudzielanek would hit a 1-out single, then Alex Gordon would pull the Royals within 1 after a 2-run HR to right off Justin Verlander, his first of the season and it was 3-2 in favor of the Tigers.

In the 7th, with Verlander still in the game, Mark Teahan would work a lead off walk followed by a Ross Gload single to put 2 men on and noone out, which signaled the end of the day for Tigers' starter Justin Verlander. Jason Grilli would be brought in to replace Verlander who promptly gave up an RBI single to Jack Buck, scoring Mark Teahan from 2nd to tie the game 3-3. Grilli would be pulled in favor of Bobby Seay who got Joey Gathright to line out to short. Seay was quickly pulled after 1 batter and replaced with Acquilino Lopez to face Mark Grudzielanek. Grudzielanek would untie the game with an RBI single to right scoring Ross Gload.

After 7 innings, the Royals lead 4-3 in Detroit.

Rolen may not be ready for Opening Day

New Blue Jays' 3rd baseman Scott Rolen may not be on the field when the Blue Jays open the 2008 season.

During a fielding drill on the back fields on Sunday, Scott Rolen suffered a broken finger when the ball hit him on the fingernail, ripping it completely off and breaking the top knuckle on his right middle finger.

GM J.P. Ricciardi, “It’s a non-displaced fracture, which is the good news. I’m not a doctor, but the early prognosis is it isn’t going to be six weeks, so I don’t even want to throw a schedule out there. Our best-case scenario is that it’s quick and our worst-case is it isn’t as long as most things we have had to deal with. My instinct is I am preparing for the worst-case scenario but I can say this, he won’t be lost for the year.”

Alomar to be inducted into "Level of Excellence" by Blue Jays

Catcher Roberto Alomar will be inducted into the "Level of Excellence" by the Toronto Blue Jays prior to their home opener on April 4th, according to a team press release.

The Level of Excellence is the highest award bestowed by the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club to recognize tremendous individual achievement.

Alomar will join George Bell, Dave Stieb, Joe Carter, Cito Gaston, Tony Fernandez, Pat Gillick and Tom Cheek.

Blue Jays bring back Stewart

Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports, Shannon Stewart will return to the team that drafted him in 1992 and a team that he played for from 1995-2003...the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays and Shannon Stewart agreed on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on Sunday. The Blue Jays plan on putting him into the mix for the left field job. Prior to his signing, the Jays were going to have a platoon situation between Matt Stairs and Reed Johnson.

Stewart finished the 2007 season with a .290 batting average with 12 HR's and 48 RBI'ss in 146 games season with Oakland A's.

Jays avoid arbitration with OF Rios

The Toronto Blue Jays avoided salary arbitration by signing OF Alex Rios to a 1-year $4.835M contract on Tuesday.

Rios finished the 2007 season with career highs in HR's (24) and RBI's (85), finishing with a .297 batting average.

Barajas signs with Blue Jays

After a deal fell apart last offseason, the Blue Jays have signed catcher Rod Barajas to a 1-year 1.2M deal to be the backup to starter Greg Zaun.

The Jays has pursued Barajas after the 2006 season, but when the deal fell apart, it led to harsh words exchanged between the two. Seems like all that has been put aside.

Downs signs extension with Jays

Left-hander Scott Downs agreed to a 3-year $10M extension with the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.

Downs will get $2.25 million this year, $3.75 million next year and $4 million in 2010. He had a breakout year with the Jays last season, going 4-2 with a 2.17 ERA in 81 relief appearances.

Rolen, Glaus swap complete

1.14.08 10:14pm PST

According to ESPN News Services, the trade between the Cardinals and Toronto was completed on Monday.

Jerry Crasnick reports that sources close to the deal said it was contingent on Troy Glaus picking up his $11.5M option for 2009. Otherwise, the Cardinals would not have pulled the trigger on the deal.

1.12.08 3:00pm

Jerry Crasnick weighs in. The deal has been agreed upon but hangs on both players completing their physicals.

Usually that means it's a done deal, but with both players coming off surgery, the deal is a long way from done.

1.12.08 10:49am PST

According to Ken Rosenthal, the St. Louis Cardinals are close to a deal that would send 3rd baseman Scott Rolen to Toronto for Troy Glaus.

Rolen, Glaus trade nearing completion

1.12.08 3:00pm

Jerry Crasnick weighs in. The deal has been agreed upon but hangs on both players completing their physicals.

Usually that means it's a done deal, but with both players coming off surgery, the deal is a long way from done.

1.12.08 10:49am PST

According to Ken Rosenthal, the St. Louis Cardinals are close to a deal that would send 3rd baseman Scott Rolen to Toronto for Troy Glaus.

Cardinals trade Rolen to Jays for Glaus?

According to Ken Rosenthal, the St. Louis Cardinals are close to a deal that would send 3rd baseman Scott Rolen to Toronto for Troy Glaus.

Jays re-sign OF Johnson

The Toronto Blue Jays have re-signed OF Reed Johnson to a 1-year $3.275M contract on Wednesday.

The 'Jays also signed minor league deals with right-hander Lance Carter as well as left-handers John Parrish and Ryan Ketchner

Jays, Tigers interested in Olivo

12.15.07 11:46am PST

The Toronto Blue Jays have thrown their hat in the ring for the services for free agent catcher Miguel Olivo.

Olivo makes more more sense for Toronto because he'd definetely get more playing there than in Detroit.

12.14.07 1:09pm PST

According to Jon Paul Morosi, the Detroit Tigers have contacted Martin Arburua, the agent for free agent catcher Miguel Olivo. Arburua said he's received phone calls from 5 or 6 different teams regarding Olivo.

Jays close to a deal with Eckstein

12.13.07 10:21am PST

Ken Rosenthal confirms the deal, 1-year $4.5M. Not a bad deal for the Jays, especially since Eck wanted a multi year deal.

12.13.07 7:36am PST

The Toronto Blue Jays, seemingly the most quiet to this point, are set to sign veteran free agent shortstop David Eckstein. Terms of the deal have not been released.

Surprisingly, Towers non-tendered by Blue Jays

In a move I found surprising, the Toronto Blue Jays non-tendered 30-year old right-hander Josh Towers, effectively making him a free agent.

Don't be surprised if he ends up with an NL West team.

Nationals land Lo Duca

12.10.07 12:21pm PST

After all the reports we heard that Lo Duca would sign with Toronto, noone saw the Nationals coming. The free agent catcher has reportedly agreed to a 1-year deal with the Washington Nationals according to Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post.

12.5.07 8:16pm PST

According to Robert MacLeod of globesports.com, the Blue Jays are close to a 1-year deal for free agent catcher Paul Lo Duca. The deal is reportedly in the $3M - $4M range plus bonuses.

In the same article, the Jays are waiting for an answer from the Giants on an Alex Rios for Tim Lincecum deal the Jays proposed earlier in the day.

Blue Jays close to a deal with Lo Duca

According to Robert MacLeod of globesports.com, the Blue Jays are close to a 1-year deal for free agent catcher Paul Lo Duca. The deal is reportedly in the $3M - $4M range plus bonuses.

In the same article, the Jays are waiting for an answer from the Giants on an Alex Rios for Tim Lincecum deal the Jays proposed earlier in the day.

Padres looking to deal for a starter

Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union Tribune reports that the Padres could deal for a starter before the end of the Winter Meetings. The 2 names mentioned are the Cubs' Mark Prior and Blue Jays' Josh Towers, who the Padres tried to acquire before last year's trading deadline.

Mark Prior is a very close neighbor of Padres' GM Kevin Towers and has made it well known that he would like to pitch for the Padres, but you have to wonder about Prior's health and ability to stay healthy for even half a season.

Josh Towers is a young pitcher who can throw strikes, but does not have near the upside as Mark Prior.

Blue Jays could deal A.J. Burnett

According to the Boston Globe, the Toronto Blue Jays could look to deal right hander A.J. Burnett for the right players.

There are other pitchers coming off injuries (ex. Matt Clement, Mark Prior, Jason Jennings) that are getting a lot of interest, so I'm sure there's going to be several teams putting packages together for Burnett in the coming days or weeks.