News
Inbox: Are prospects' fates intertwined?
Beat reporter Jordan Bastian answers Jays fans' questions
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
02/08/10 2:20 PM ET
I'm curious about the decision to move prospect Brett Wallace from third base to first base when the Blue Jays have David Cooper -- the first-round Draft pick from 2008 -- in the system. Has Cooper's stock diminished?-- Jesse S., Milton, Ontario
During the first round of the 2008 Draft, the Blue Jays were hoping that Wallace would fall to the 17th slot. Remember, Toronto originally selected Wallace in the 42nd round of the '05 First-Year Player Draft, but he did not sign. This is a player who has been high on the club's wish list for a long time now.
Instead of having another shot at Wallace in 2008, the Blue Jays watched the Cardinals grab him with the 13th overall pick. Four selections later, Toronto selected Cooper, who climbed up three Minor Leagues levels in a solid debut season for the Jays in '08. Last year, though, Cooper went through some ups and downs at Double-A and in the Arizona Fall League.
Under the circumstances, the Blue Jays will likely have Cooper repeat Double-A this season. Considering Toronto first baseman Lyle Overbay is a free agent after this season, that potentially leaves a hole at first. That's where Wallace, who was acquired in the Roy Halladay trade in December and is considered to nearly be ready for the big leagues, enters the picture.
Cooper might need another season or two to be ready for The Show, while some think that Wallace could handle playing in the Majors right now. Wallace projects to be more of a power threat than Cooper, and the Jays see the newly acquired prospect as the club's future at first base right now. That said, a move back to third hasn't been ruled out.
Wallace wants to try to earn a spot on the Jays' Opening Day roster, but it's more likely that he opens the season with Triple-A Las Vegas. Behind Overbay, Toronto also has a pair of slightly older backup first base possibilities in Randy Ruiz (32 years old) and Brian Dopirak (26). They'll also be vying for a spot on Toronto's roster rather than a trip back to the Minors.
Since Kevin Gregg was a Type A free agent, did the Blue Jays give any compensation Draft picks to the Cubs for signing him?
-- Tim L., Guelph, Ontario
|
Have a question about the Blue Jays?
 E-mail your query to MLB.com Blue Jays beat reporter Jordan Bastian for possible inclusion in a future Inbox column. Letters may be edited for brevity, length and/or content.
|
||||||||
No, the Jays did not have to surrender any compensatory Draft picks -- that was one reason Gregg appealed to Toronto. In order to be worth compensation, a Type A or Type B free agent must receive and decline a one-year arbitration offer from his former club. Chicago did not offer Gregg arbitration, eliminating the chance that he might agree to the arbitration offer and also removing the opportunity to gain Draft picks for his signing elsewhere.
In all the pitching possibilities, I haven't heard much about Casey Jannsen. How healthy is he, and is he a candidate for the rotation or the bullpen?
-- Steve L., Dublin, Ontario
Janssen has recovered from the right shoulder problems he had last year and will be in the running for a job this spring with the Blue Jays. Although he has experience as a starter and a reliever, it's most likely that Janssen will come into camp with a shot at a bullpen spot. It's a crowded fielded, though, so Janssen will need to stand out this spring to earn a place on the Opening Day roster.
Who do the Blue Jays have on the bench to fill in for Aaron Hill at second base when he needs a day off this year?
-- Preston D., Comox, British Columbia
The only lock on the roster for such a role would be veteran infielder John McDonald. The Jays re-signed him to a two-year deal this offseason to provide depth at second, short and even third base. Beyond McDonald, Toronto claimed a pair of infielders -- Mike McCoy and Jarrett Hoffpauir -- off waivers this winter, and they'll be in the running for a spot on the club's bench this spring.
I heard that the Rogers Centre has new turf this year. Is this true?
-- Gideon T., Thornhill, Ontario
Yes, it's true. The Blue Jays will be using a new artificial playing surface this year. Toronto has installed AstroTurf to replace the FieldTurf that has been used for the past few seasons. The new surface consists of long, removable strips (an estimated 90 pieces for the baseball field) rather than the square trays of turf (1,400 pieces). It will require less time to move in and out, and having fewer seams will, hopefully, create smoother hops for balls hit on the ground.
In 2007, the Blue Jays used the 16th overall pick on shortstop Kevin Ahrens. I've heard nothing of him since he was drafted. What progress has Ahrens made, and is there any chance he could be the answer for shortstop one day?
--Jordan B., Windsor, Ontario
Ahrens was shifted to third base during his first professional season in the Jays' farm system, and he has had some offensive struggles since. In three years, he has hit just .238 between stints with the Rookie League Blue Jays, low Class A Lansing and high Class A Dunedin. Ahrens will turn 21 in April, so he's still young. He'll likely open this season back in Class A, and the Jays are holding out hope that he can still develop into a solid option for third base.
Out of curiosity, do you have any idea what former Jays closer B.J. Ryan is up to these days? Is he even still playing baseball?
--Kyle K., Sheridan, Wyo.
After being released by the Blue Jays last July, Ryan signed a Minor League contract with the Chicago Cubs and attempted a comeback. He continued to struggle with his command in the Minors for the Cubs and asked to be released in early August. Ryan is currently an unsigned free agent, but he will still earn $10 million this year as part of the five-year contract he inked with Toronto before the 2006 season.
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
