Blue Jays Journal

The Blue Jays are optimistic that closer B.J. Ryan should be ready for opening day after Tommy John surgery in 2007.  There’s no doubt that having a healthy Ryan and Brandon League in the pen will go a long way towards the Blue Jays having a chance of keeping up with the Yankees and Red Sox.  While I still don’t think the Jays have quite enough to finish higher then third in the AL East, that could turn around quickly if the Jays can build on what was already a solid pen in 2007.

In other news, Jays GM J.P Ricciardi has spoken out and said the Jays are done making moves this offseason so what you see is what you get.  Another starting pitcher would have been nice, but I guess we’ll have to wait until next year.

With the Glaus/Rolen trade now fully disected by both national and local media, thought I would take some time to look into it even further.  On paper it would seem that both the Jays and Cards got even money in their swap of third-sackers.  This perspective, of course, is subjective at best.  When one takes into account each players fragility over the last few seasons, along with their propensity to be disruptive clubhouse presences, it remains to be seen who, if anyone, came out on the better end of this deal.

 Looking at numbers alone, it is hard to differentiate between the two players.  Each is a perennial .250-.280 hitter with consistent OBP’s in the mid to high .300′s.  In Rolen the Jays are getting a stronger glove defensively, however replacing Glaus’ power numbers would be a stretch for the 32 year old former Card.  Again, po-tay-to, po-tah-to.

Prior discrestions should also be noted.  Rolen was a vocal clubhouse cancer in St. Louis.  His very public rift with manager Tony LaRussa was more than likely the chief catalyst in the trade being made.  Glaus, mind you, was mentioned in the Mitchell Report and had been widely believed to be a “large” player in the performance enhancement era (although MLB has cleared Glaus of any punishment, citing lack of hard evidence).

My question is this: who got the better end of this deal.  While numbers alone don’t seem to separate one player from the other, perhaps only time will tell.