Team-by-team outlooks

The Blue Jays made a hard push in the free-agent market two winters ago and they didn't do too bad this past offseason, acquiring heavy-hitting Frank Thomas to serve as their designated hitter. Unfortunately, their pitchers still have to deal with two insane lineups in the AL East in Boston and the Yankees. That means the Jays will have to try to outscore teams for wins -- could that be a stranger sentence? In other words, they aren't going to get into many 2-1 pitching duels.

Don't be too concerned for this pitching staff -- they still led the AL East in staff ERA (4.37) and their bullpen is anchored by a top 10 closer in B.J. Ryan.

This team does not run much (65 steals were only one more than Jose Reyes), so don't look here for a lot of speed help.

Outside of the powerful bat of Adam Lind, there's not much help offensively in the minor league system.

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Spring position battles

Fourth and fifth starter -- John Thomson, Tomo Ohka, Shaun Marcum vs. Josh Towers

Ohka likely earns a spot after signing this past January. He returns to the AL for the first time since he broke into the majors with Boston from 1999-2001. This is a tough division in which to pitch, something he'll find out quickly. Thomson pitched with Texas in 2003 -- the only year in which he reached 200 innings -- but his past two seasons with Atlanta have been marred by injury. These two are decent pickups in AL-only leagues, but Marcum and Towers are ones to think about only if they win the job outright. Victor Zambrano will be in this mix also, once he returns from elbow surgery in midseason.

Utility player -- John McDonald, Ray Olmedo vs. Russ Adams

Really, this battle has little to do with Fantasy. In this lineup, Aaron Hill and Royce Clayton will score plenty, but for Fantasy purposes, their backup in the middle infield is not worth drafting outside of larger AL-only leagues.

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Toronto Blue Jays Outlook
Projected lineup Pos. Projected Rotation
1 Reed Johnson LF 1 Roy Halladay RH
2 Alex Rios RF 2 A.J. Burnett RH
3 Vernon Wells CF 3 Gustavo Chacin LH
4 Frank Thomas DH 4 John Thomson RH
5 Troy Glaus 3B 5 Tomo Ohka RH
6 Lyle Overbay 1B Alt Shaun Marcum RH
7 Gregg Zaun C
8 Aaron Hill 2B Top bullpen arms
9 Royce Clayton SS CL B.J. Ryan LH
Top bench options SU Jason Frasor RH
R Adam Lind OF RP Jeremy Accardo RH
R John McDonald INF RP Brandon League RH
     
Rookies/Prospects Age Pos. 2006 high Destination
1 Adam Lind 23 OF Majors Majors
Showed he can mash, but has to earn at-bats after Big Hurt signing
2 Ricky Romero 22 LH SP Double-A Double-A
First pitcher taken in '05 draft to make '08 rotation
3 Travis Snider 19 OF Rookie ball Class A
Big bat will get 2006 high schooler to majors quickly
4 Ryan Patterson 23 OF Double-A Double-A
An extra-base machine -- can hit for power and average
5 Brandon Magee 23 RH SP Class A Class A
Former college closer can be middle-of-the-rotation SP
Best of the rest: C Curtis Thigpen, 23; RHP Francisco Rosario, 26; LHP David Purcey, 24; RHP Jesse Litsch, 22; LHP Chi-Hung Cheng, 21; RHP Josh Banks, 24; 3B Balbino Fuenmayor, 17.

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