Toronto Blue Jays

Enrique Rojas (ESPN Deportes baseball newsbreaker extraordinaire) has reported that Jose Bautista and the Toronto Blue Jays are closing in on a 5 year, $65 million extension that will keep the Major League Baseball home run champ in Toronto through 2015.

It's more than worth it.

As I posted almost a month ago, even if Bautista undergoes a Brady Anderson-like decline, he'd still be worth $13 million a season.

The Toronto Blue Jays have announced today the signing of 34 year old OF Scott Podsednik to a minor league contract, with an invitation to attend Major League spring training.

Last season for the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Dodgers, Podsednik hit .297 with six HRs, 51 RBIs and 35 stolen bases in 134 games played.

Over his 10-year career, Podsednik has a .279 average with a .340 OBP and 301 stolen bases.

With all the hype and hope the Blue Jays injected into their fans with their play of last year, there is one thing everyone is forgetting when looking forward to this year. The simple way of putting it: they are going to fail this year.

Generally, I'm one to stick to the team and players and project big years from all involved. However, it seems like the doom and gloom media and fans have all either had a change of heart with Anthopoulos' steady hand at the helm, or they have all finally given up.

While it's still cold out, and the ground is covered in snow wherever you are, a sure sign of better weather ahead is the start of Spring Training.  Pitchers and catchers for each team are set to report to camp on Monday, and the storylines will emerge soon after.

Just like the Baltimore Orioles, the Blue Jays suffer from AL East syndrome.

The Toronto Blue Jays haven’t seen the postseason since 1993.

Yes and no. 

Michael Young is reportedly wanting out of Texas and has demanded to be traded according to sources. 

Young is one of the more established hitters in the game, having a .300 career batting average.  If the situation doesn't resolve and Young is indeed leaving the Rangers organization, he will be highly sought after around the league.

The Toronto Blue Jays front office doesn’t limit themselves to the usual resources to find talent; MLB, MiLB, NCAA, or the draft.  This time their experts directed them to the new North American Baseball League. 

Right-hander Steven Raburn has signed a minor-league contract and is expected to report to extended spring training by April 5. 

Alex Anthopoulos of the Toronto Blue Jays has been among the most active general managers in baseball's trade market this offseason. 

First, he acquired leadoff man Rajai Davis from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for two minor league arms. Davis has stolen 91 bases over the past two seasons.

With spring training just days away now, it's getting awfully tough to generate interesting topics surrounding the Blue Jays. Luckily, an interesting player has reportedly become available in the last day or so that should interest the Blue Jays. It's not Michael Young either, although the where, if and how of him coming to the Jays will be kicked around some more below.