In looking for an example of a team that didn't live up to expectations in 2006 but came together in 2007 with few roster chances, Ricciardi points to the Cleveland Indians. Their success has reinforced his belief that good things can occur in 2008.
"Injuries aside, we like our club, and the way we built this team, we felt this would be a competitive club from '06 through 2010," Ricciardi said. "You don't know what year it's going to click, but you have to have belief in some of the things you put in place.
"I like our club a lot. I liked our club in '06 when we won 87 games, and I liked our club a lot this year until we got decimated (by injuries) in the beginning.
"In the next three years, I'll be very, very disappointed if we're not playing meaningful games in late September and be a playoff contender."
It was Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro's belief that his club was good enough to win, and history has shown him to be right.
"And I think we're good enough to win, too," Ricciardi said. "Cleveland's got a great club, and Mark Shapiro did a great job.
"But I like our club and think we're good enough to compete and be on the cusp of being a playoff club if we stay healthy."
NOTES, QUOTES
--In 2008, the Blue Jays won't get a chance to ease into their season. The Jays open their season in the Bronx with three games against the Yankees, then go home to face the Red Sox for three games.
--RHP Brandon League was slotted to be the setup pitcher for LHP B.J. Ryan in 2007. Various injuries, though, sidelined League for most of the season and resulted in him having a yearlong search to find his lost fastball that at one time hit 101 mph on the radar gun. League eventually made it back to the Jays in September, and although his velocity was up to 95-96, he is not a sure thing to be on the 2008 squad.
"I told Brandon that if he wants to be on the team next year, he's got to make the team," general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. "I told him to use the year as a mulligan and work hard this offseason and get back to the form he had two years ago."
--One of the priorities for the Jays this offseason is to sign a veteran catcher to be the backup to switch-hitting Gregg Zaun. Last offseason the Jays believed they had a deal with free agent Rod Barajas to take over the No. 1 spot. Barajas, though, got cold feet, fired his agents and backed out of the deal, leaving the Jays to scramble after Zaun. Barajas eventually signed with Philadelphia for a contract that paid him $3 million in 2007 with a club option for $5 million in 2008. Barajas lost his No. 1 job in Philadelphia, became the backup and recently had his option declined. He is again a free agent. The Jays, though, are not interested in going down that road again.
"Yeah we're looking for a veteran backup guy, but I think we're going in a different direction there," GM J.P. Ricciardi said diplomatically.
"I think there are different options for us out there."
--OF/1B Matt Stairs is a player the Jays said they'd like to bring back for 2008, but so far there have been no negotiations other than an understanding that both parties are agreeable to get something done. "We haven't done anything yet, but he's on our agenda," GM J.P. Ricciardi said.
--LHP Joe Kennedy, a free agent, made a good impression on that Jays after he was activated in September and used in a relief role. The Jays went through most of 2007 with two lefties in their bullpen: Scott Downs, in a key seventh- and eighth-inning role, and Brian Tallet, who was used in long and middle relief. Kennedy could be another option if the Jays bring him back.
"He pitched really well in that role, and we'll just have to re-evaluate to see if he fits us financially," Ricciardi said of Kennedy.
"If not, we have Tallet and we have Davis Romero (out all season with a shoulder injury) coming back, so we're not naked in that second lefty. But you never have enough of them."
BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Blue Jays who had double figures in stolen bases this year, Alex Rios (17) and Vernon Wells (10).
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I hope it's just a year where we got it all out of our system. I know you can never count on health, but we've got to be a healthy team to get to where we want to get." -- General manager J.P. Ricciardi, looking ahead to 2008.
ROSTER REPORT
The Blue Jays ended the year with 83 wins and a lot of "what ifs," as in: What if they had stayed healthy? Injuries gutted the Jays, knocking six of their projected starting players out of the lineup for various lengths of time. Given that general manager J.P. Ricciardi said he'll only make minor tweaks to the roster, the Jays need to stay healthy in order to compete.
BIGGEST NEEDS: CF Vernon Wells played all season with a torn labrum in his left shoulder, which affected his swing and caused both his average and power numbers to drop. Ditto for 3B Troy Glaus, who battled foot and heel problems before succumbing to foot surgery in September. The Jays need a return of health to the guts of their lineup, which features Wells, Glaus and 1B Lyle Overbay, who required two surgeries on his right hand.
FREE AGENT: 1B/OF Matt Stairs.
Stairs wasn't expected to play much but because of the injuries to LF Reed Johnson and 1B Lyle Overbay but ended up with 357 at-bats and finished with a .289 average, 21 homers and 64 RBIs. The Jays want to bring him back, but to do so they would have to guarantee him playing time.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: LHP Gustavo Chacin, LHP Scott Downs, RHP Jason Frasor, LF Reed Johnson, RF Alex Rios, RHP Josh Towers, 2B Aaron Hill.
The Jays are interested in signing both Hill and Rios to long-term contracts. Towers is not in their plans and is expected to be non-tendered. Frasor is on the bubble.
IN LIMBO: GM J.P. Ricciardi said he does not expect to do much in the trade market and will not trade his emerging young pitchers or top prospects. Spare parts such as RHP Jason Frasor and LHP Brian Tallet are available but will not bring much in return.
MEDICAL WATCH:
SS John McDonald (sports hernia surgery in October 2007) should be ready for offseason training by mid-November.
CF Vernon Wells (left shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum in September 2007) is expected to be ready by spring training.
3B Troy Glaus (left foot surgery in September 2007) is expected to be ready by spring training.
LHP B.J. Ryan (Tommy John surgery in April 2007) was back throwing soft toss by the end of the season. The Jays will move slowly with Ryan, and he probably won't be back with the club until May or June.
1B Lyle Overbay (right hand surgery in September 2007) is expected to be ready by spring training.
RHP Shaun Marcum (minor right knee surgery in September 2007) is progressing well. The procedure will not affect his offseason training.
LHP Gustavo Chacin (shoulder surgery in August 2007) is expected to be ready by spring training
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