Lyle Overbay commented yesterday about how he is unlikely to return next season as a Blue Jay. He is in the last year of a deal he signed with the club in January of 2007, after he was traded to the Blue Jays from Milwaukee in 2005.
Overbay has been mentioned in multiple trade rumors this offseason, including a deal that would bring Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder to Toronto for him. Expect these rumors to continue up until the July 31st trade deadline.
It is all but certain that Brett Wallace, the Blue Jays' top hitting prospect, will replace him. Wallace was acquired from Oakland for Michael Taylor in December as part of the four-team Roy Halladay blockbuster trade. He was also the key prospect in the deal that sent Matt Holliday to the St. Louis Cardinals mid-season in 2009.
Overbay never quite lived up to his potential with the Blue Jays. He was acquired to give the Blue Jays a power bat, a top priority for the team going into the 2005-2006 offseason, yet he has never driven in 100 runs in any given season, and his best year included only 22 home runs.
He will be missed however, as he maintained a good presence in the locker room and a steady relationship with fans.
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