"It will be hard to take this franchise (Blue Jays) seriously if they don't lock up this guy (Wells)...

When will people learn. Vernon Wells will 29 when his current contract ends next year. Players peak at the age of 27 and plateau until roughly 30 and depreciate rapidly after 30. Vernon Wells has a career OPS of .828 and while he is a very good defensive player this makes him a good player, not a star.

So if the Jays pay this guy 15 million a year over 5-6 years, then we'll know not to take them seriously, not the other way around.

you're basing your rating of anderson's defense off a messageboard? how do you still have a job?

BaseballThinkFactory.org is much more than just a message board. You should check it out sometime.

In all your rants about how bad Brian Anderson is, you forgot to mention that the White Sox also will need a left fielder/ lead-off hitter to replace Scott Podsednik, as it does not look like they are brining him back.

Placido Polanco isn't a tough out?

I think that the Jays should lock up Frank Cattalenato instead of Vernon Wells. Although they would lose some pop and fielding, we would be able to acquire a shortstop and catcher who would help us out alot more.
We will not be able to lockup Vernon long term this offseason because of all the money he could have south of the border. Cut your losses and try to once again improve for later years

You say that the Jays cant be taken seriously if they dont make a valiant effort to re-sign Wells but if there is an oppurtunity to get a very good starter for Wells via trade, wouldnt it be as good (or better) to do it. Pitcing to me is more important to have even in the AL east. I believe the jays can still be an above average team offensively and a great team on the mound if wells was traded for a starter like Ervin Santana. They could also sign another starter like Meche, Padilla etc and have a very strong rotation (Halladay, Burnett, Santana, Meche/Padilla/etc, Chacin) I think a staff like that would make it easier to win in the AL east than having a potent lineup with wells in it.

the red sox pitching staff is really in decent shape. with meche or padilla they could really have a good staff.... if they got matsuzaka theyd have the best in baseball. the relief corps is horrible.

Wang is due for some regression.....that's based on what?

redsox will have a great rotation for years to come. bullpen will be good. the redsox will take over the AL east while the Yankees fall apart and Bluejays Arise as well

the red sox's biggest need is a legit closer. now that papelbon is moving to the rotation and foulke is (washed up... and) a free agent, there is no one to wrap up the close games. timlin is in his 40's and is too inconsistent. the young guns the sox have are a few years off from assuming such a role. with the thin closer's market this year, theo will need to pull off a trade in order to get a quality closer to solidify the back-end of games.

I agree with raider, santana would be a great pick up, pitching is the most important. Santana, and including a good shortstop or second baseman that the angels have, sorts out pitching and middle infield while leaving a huge hole in center. By re-upping zaun at fairly cheap, your left with over 10 million to get a center fielder and relief pitcher, a starting 3 of halladay, burnett and santana, with chacin four or 5th would make the jays the best rotation in the east. By having 10-12 million to spend on replacing wells and gettin a reliever.... I do this trade. And don'f forget, Adam Lind had an amazing september and should be given the chance for a spot in the batting order.

One of the Royals main needs is a first baseman? I thought that was what they got Ryan Shealy for.

I honestly don't understand how you get to write for a reputable website such as SI.com. How can you argue that the Royals need a first baseman and outfield help? Those positions and third base are the only place where the Royals actually don't need help. I know you were trying to be cool by saying that they need so much help because they're awful, but it just makes you come off looking like someone who doesn't deserve to write for the Podunk Falls Gazette, let alone a national website based on one of the greatest magazines of all time.